Learn How to Make AeroPress Coffee

We coffee devotees love our trusted drip coffee makers and our never-fail French presses. We love the first sip of a freshly brewed pour-over coffee and the gurgling sound of steaming espresso being pulled. OK, OK, you get the gist—we’re obsessed with any and all types of coffee.

So of course, when we need to figure out how to make AeroPress coffee, we’re game. The beauty of this brewing tool is that it’s quick and easy, and it’s ideal for a single serving. Inventor Alan Adler created the AeroPress because he wanted a way to make a single serving of coffee just as strong as a whole pot. He found that brewing one cup of coffee in a regular pot resulted in a weak brew. After months of testing, the AeroPress was born.

How to Make AeroPress Coffee

Ingredients

• Coffee grounds, at least enough for one AeroPress scoop
• Water

Tools You’ll Need

AeroPress

Shop Now

AeroPress Filters

Shop Now

Coffee Grinder

Shop Now

Tea Kettle

Shop Now

• AeroPress: Can’t make an AeroPress coffee without the AeroPress!
• AeroPress filters: Just like your average drip coffee, you still need a filter for the coffee grounds. These filters are made specifically for your AeroPress.
• Coffee Grinder: To keep the process manual, you can use the Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill, or make things easy and go automatic with one of these other top-rated coffee grinders.
• Tea kettle: If the name of the game for your busy mornings is speed, then electric kettles are the way to go. This KitchenAid 1.25-Liter Electric Kettle heats up quicker than many other electric options.

Directions

Step 1: Boil water

We love easy steps—simply boil water in an electric or stovetop kettle.

Step 2: Grind beans

Grind the beans to a medium coarseness, about halfway between what you’d use for espresso vs drip coffee. The grounds should not be so fine that they resemble confectioners’ sugar.

Step 3: Disassemble to reassemble

Rabizo/Getty Images

The AeroPress comes in three parts: the plunger, the brew chamber and the basket. Lay these three parts out in front of you while your water boils. Press an AeroPress filter into the basket. Attach the basket to the brew chamber and place over a coffee mug.

Step 4: Fill the chamber

Your AeroPress will come with a scoop. For one espresso-style serving, fill the scoop once with coffee grounds and pour them into the chamber. Shake the chamber slightly to level the grounds.

If you’re planning on more of an American-style coffee cup, pour 4 scoops of grounds into the chamber.

Step 5: Start brewing

Rabizo/Getty Images

Pour the boiling water into your AeroPress. The chamber has numbers on the outside (1 through 4), and this will help you determine how much coffee you’d like to make. Pouring to the number 1 will fill an espresso cup, while pouring to the number 4 will give you a full-bodied, 6-ounce cup of coffee. Use the paddle that came with your AeroPress to stir the grounds and water.

Place the plunger in the chamber at an angle, then straighten it out and pull up slightly. This will create a pressure seal. Gently press down on the plunger, similar to how you’d use a French press. The plunge should take a little less than 2 minutes.

Step 6: Wait for the hiss, and serve

Once the plunger is at the end of the chamber, you may hear a hiss. This is a sign that your coffee is done brewing. Pull out the plunger and enjoy your quick brew.

FAQs About AeroPress Coffee

Do I need espresso beans for AeroPress?

No. Espresso beans are roasted differently than regular coffee beans and might result in very bitter coffee.

Why is my AeroPress coffee bitter?

Your grounds might not be coarse enough. Try grinding to a more coarse consistency and plunging a bit faster. A quicker plunge means less time for the grounds to become bitter from steeping.

AeroPress vs. French press: Are they the same?

They are similar. Think of an AeroPress as the faster version of a French press. While coffee can be brewed in about 2 minutes in an AeroPress, it takes about 5 minutes in a French press. The AeroPress is also meant for a single serving, whereas a French press has a larger capacity.