So what is an Aeropress? I’m not sure exactly how to explain it, but since pictures are worth a thousand words, here is a photo of the Arepress setup.
I didn’t include the stir stick in this photo or the filters, but I show those in later steps. The Aeropress coffee maker was designed by Alan Adler, who was apparently already famous for inventing a superior disc for disc golf in the 1980’s.
While the Aeropress is one of the newer inventions in the coffee world, it has risen to fame pretty quickly, even inspiring its own contest called the Aeropress Championship. Naturally, I had to buy one!
So why is it so superior? The unique design that uses air pressure to force the water through the coffee grounds allows for a shorter brewing time, making your coffee taste sweeter and less bitter. I definitely found this statement to be true, but I was also very confused by this interesting invention.
Like most items out there, it comes with a set of instructions. But like many things in the coffee world, they aren’t exactly gospel. Many renowned coffee houses use something called the “inverted method” and one video I watched on YouTube even suggested that you just throw the instructions away. When I searched for the best grind, water temperature, and steep time, the answers I got varied so greatly, I almost decided to give up on the Aeropress all together!
Much like my cold brew journey, I decided to just go to the kitchen and experiment. I tried several different coffees and several different roasts, and so far, this has been one of my favorites. I tried the instructions and I also tried this “inverted method” and I am using the inverted method here.
Always start with fresh water. I have and electric goose neck kettle that I absolutely adore! I think the instructions say 175 but the last winner of the Aeropress championship used 185 so I figured why not?
As the water is heating, I set the Aeropress up for the inverted method. Put the plunger end into the main piece up to the top of the number 4. Place the set up on a flat surface and put the funnel in the top to pour the coffee in easily.
I used the wonderful little scoop that comes with the press and my delicious Grounds and Hounds coffee from my subscription. Apparently, I forgot to take a picture of the grind, but I decided to use a grind just a bit coarser than what you would buy in the store, although apparently a number of different grind sizes work, so go ahead and experiment.
Here’s me placing the filter in the lid, you can wet it to help seal things and take away any paper taste, but sometimes I don’t and I honestly can’t say I notice a difference, although I did it for the purpose of this post.
After pouring in the coffee grounds and giving it a shake to level the grounds, I poured the water in until it was just above the number 3 mark and I stirred it about 10-15 times before screwing the lid on and letting it steep for one minute, untouched.
Since my cup of choice is too small for the lid of the Aeropress, I used the funnel again to assist me. When I turn the Aeropress upside down, it fits perfectly into the funnel, allowing me to use a wider range of mugs.
I plunge slowly, taking about 20-30 seconds to plunge steadily and evenly. Pretty soon, you’ll hear a hissing sound before your plunger reaches the coffee grounds and I like to stop almost a soon as I hear this sound. The air pressure forces the water out and the hissing sound indicates that all the water is pressed out. I am not sure of this, but I have heard that if you continue to press after this, it presses out more of the oils and particles in the coffee grounds, making for a less “clean” cup.
You will get a tiny amount of coffee with a very big flavor. Since it makes almost an espresso, I add water to make a “cup” of coffee. You can also try filling the Aeropress with water instead of making a concentrate and adding water after, but I like this method best for this particular coffee.
I think that’s the trick, finding what’s best for your tastes and the kind of coffee you’re using. Some coffee makers are a bit more rigid in their instructions and sometimes that is really nice. It feels like there’s less of a chance to fail when you have clear guidelines. I find I enjoy both. I have a lot of fun experimenting, but sometimes I just wanna know exactly what I’m getting into. That is exactly why I have so many different coffee making devices.
So if you’re feeling adventurous, go out and get an Aeropress and experiment! Youtube is a great source for Aeropress “recipes” and ideas. Oh, and if you find one you like, tell me so I can go try it!
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