If you’re getting more and more interested in brewing coffee, you should explore different brewing methods, especially the AeroPress. This apparatus is known for its versatility. Aside from using it to brew a usual black coffee, you can also brew an espresso-like one as well. Talking about flexibility further, this brewer is also used for cold brew.
The AeroPress is the brewing apparatus that most homebrewers and baristas have because it’s very convenient. It’s easy to assemble and disassemble, it’s not heavy to carry around, and talking about quality further, it’s very durable. Aside from its quality, it’s admired by many because it can help to bring out good and complex flavors of any coffee.
Other brewers think that the AeroPress is too complicated to use since three detachable parts should all be used for brewing. To tell you the truth, using it is not complicated at all. If you’re a newbie, here are instructions on how you can practice this brewing method.
Brewing Time
1 to 3 minutes
Coffee Grind Type(s):
Medium, Medium-Fine, or Fine
What You’ll Need:
For your recipe, you need these two: coffee (medium, medium-fine, or fine grind size) and water.
Necessities:
- AeroPress (all three detachable parts)
- Plunger
- Chamber
- Filter Cap
- AeroPress seal filter (paper or metal)
- AeroPress Stirrer or any stirrer (for agitation)
- Grinder (manual or electric)
- Digital Weighing Scale
- Timer
- Kettle (preferably a gooseneck-type)
- Coffee Server (make sure it’s durable enough that it will not break once you start plunging)
- Drinking Cup
Optional:
- AeroPress Funnel (for a smaller container mouth)
- Scooper (for coffee beans)
- Thermometer
- Metal Milk Pitcher (if you don’t want to risk your glass container)
- Spoon (for tasting)
- Extra cup (for the coffee beans/grounds)
- Fellow’s Prismo (for a strong espresso-like brew)
Steps on How to Brew Coffee via AeroPress Coffee Maker?
Speaking of versatility, the AeroPress is known by many coffee enthusiasts as you can brew a decent cup by using any of its two methods; the traditional and the inverted. These methods have their distinct ways of how these affect the taste of the coffee. You can give both a try to explore further.
Aeropress Using the Traditional Method:
The traditional method is known to be easier than the inverted method because there’s no need for you to add extra effort in flipping the AeroPress. The filter cap is facing the bottom and the plunger is on the top-part. The distinct feature of this method is that it’s a combination of immersion and drip. Here are the steps:
- Assemble your AeroPress.
- Put a paper filter on the filter cap, and attach it to the chamber.
- You are not limited to use one filter only as some brewers use more than one.
- You can also use a metal filter if you prefer it more than paper filters.
- If you’re going to use the Fellow’s Prismo as your filter cap, all you need is to attach it to the chamber.
- Leave the plunger on the side for a while.
- The filter cap will give you a stronger espresso-like brew.
- Put a paper filter on the filter cap, and attach it to the chamber.
- Prepare your recipe, and make sure your water and coffee are near to you.
- Use your electric grinder’s ground bin or an extra cup to hold the beans or grounds as you weigh.
- Put the cup or bin on the scale, and tare it.
- Put the coffee, and weigh it based on your recipe.
- Use a scooper to remove the excessive beans or grounds inside the bin.
- Set the cup or bin aside for a while.
- In using the traditional method, the filter cap should be on the bottom-part, facing down.
- Put it on top of the coffee server or milk pitcher.
- You can also put on your drinking cup directly if the filter cap fits on the mouth of the cup.
- If the mouth of the cup is too small for the size of the filter cap, use the AeroPress funnel to make sure that there are no leaks at all.
- Boil your water.
- Monitor the water’s temperature with a thermometer, if possible.
- If you’re targeting a lower temperature, around 88-degrees to 89-degrees Celsius, it’s advisable to use a thermometer.
- If you prefer 90-degree to 96-degree Celsius, you can either use a thermometer or just count 30 to 45 seconds.
- While heating the water, start grinding your coffee beans with your electric or manual grinder.
- Don’t forget to use either a medium, medium-fine or fine grind size.
- Once you’re all set with the water, pre-heat your AeroPress.
- Pour an adequate amount of water in the chamber and let it drip.
- Make sure there’s enough to rinse the filter and pre-heat the filter cap.
- The hot water will drip down to the coffee server, milk pitcher, or drinking cup for pre-heating as well.
- Give the hot water a swirl inside the container to pre-heat it well before removing the liquid inside.
- If you’re using the server or pitcher as the container, pre-heat your cup, and then set it aside.
- If you’re using your drinking cup as the container, dispose of the hot water after giving it a swirl while pre-heating.
- Put the container and the AeroPress back on the scale.
- Put the coffee grounds inside, and then tare the scale again.
- If you didn’t wet the AeroPress funnel, you can use as you put the coffee inside to make sure that no grounds are wasted as you put these inside the chamber.
- Even the grounds by giving the AeroPress a shake.
- Start the timer, and then pour the water for about 20 to 30 grams to apply the bloom.
- Don’t forget to wet the grounds thoroughly.
- Wait for 20 to 45 seconds and then continue the next pour, based on your set recipe.
- Pour until it reaches your set water volume by grams.
- Keep an eye on your scale while pouring the water to monitor the volume.
- As you pour the water, pour in a circular motion to introduce a little agitation.
- You can also use the AeroPress stirrer or any to agitate your coffee further. It’s advisable after doing a continuous flow-pour.
- Don’t over-agitate if you don’t want to end up with a very bitter brew.
- Once you reached your desired water volume for the brew, move the container and the AeroPress out of the scale.
- Continue to monitor the timer, whether it’s on the scale or a separate one.
- Brew the coffee for about 1 to 3 minutes.
- Place the AeroPress plunger on top to cover the hole.
- Once you hit the target brewing time, start plunging downward to apply pressure on your brew.
- You can consider plunging slowly and count for 10 to 20 seconds.
- It’s also an option to plunge until the seal reaches the grounds inside, or stop the plunge after hearing the hiss-sound.
- Some brewers use the By-Pass method at the end of the brew. It’s the adding of water on a brewed coffee to adjust the taste.
- If you’re planning to apply the By-Pass method, remove the AeroPress, and put it aside.
- Put the container back on the scale, and then tare it.
- Add more water, depending on your preferred by-pass volume.
- Taste it to know if you added the right volume for a better taste.
- If you used the server or the pitcher as the container, give it a swirl to mix your coffee.
- Remove the water in your drinking cup and pour the coffee in it.
- If you used the drinking cup as the container, use a stirrer for mixing.
- You can now enjoy your cup of joe that’s brewed via the traditional method.
Aeropress Brewing Using the Inverted Method:
The inverted method is the second method wherein immersion is fully maximized. The brewer can control the brew, regardless of how long he or she wants to let the coffee stay with the water before the plunge. It’s known to be harder than the traditional method because, before the plunge, you’ll have to flip the whole AeroPress. The plunger, attached to the chamber, is on the bottom part, while the filter cap will be used in the concluding part.
Some brewers are struggling in flipping the AeroPress, especially when they’re too conscious of leaks. Nonetheless, the good side of using this method is you get a more consistent and precise water ratio. Here are the steps:
- Assemble your AeroPress for the inverted method.
- Attach the plunger to the chamber by inserting the plunger seal on the chamber rim.
- Make sure the plunger seal is around 1 centimeter below the rim.
- Put the filter on the filter cap, regardless if you’re using a paper or a metal filter.
- Place the filter cap on top of the container, whether it’s a coffee server, a milk pitcher, or your drinking cup.
- If you’re using the Fellow’s Prismo, just leave it on top of the container as well.
- Prepare your recipe.
- Put the ground bin or the extra cup on the scale, and then tare it.
- Put the coffee, and weigh it as per your recipe.
- You can use the scooper to get rid of the grounds or beans if you exceed your target grams.
- Set the bin or cup aside until needed.
- In using this method, the plunger should be on the bottom part, and it should stand firm.
- Put the assembled AeroPress on the scale.
- Let it stand, wherein the plunger is on the bottom and the chamber is on top.
- Boil the water.
- It’s advisable to use the thermometer to monitor the temperature of the water if you’re aiming below 90 degrees Celsius.
- You can also use the thermometer for targeting a temperature that’s more than 90 degrees Celsius, or you can count 30 to 45 seconds.
- While heating the water, grind your coffee beans with your manual or electric grinder.
- Keep in mind to use a medium, medium-fine, or fine grind size.
- After you’re set with the water, quickly pre-heat your AeroPress, container, and filter before the temperature cools down.
- Pour an ample amount of water on the filter cap to rinse the filter or the Fellow’s Prismo.
- Let the hot water drop down the container, regardless if it’s a coffee server, milk pitcher, or the drinking cup.
- Give it a little swirl to pre-heat the container well.
- Pour an adequate amount as well in the chamber.
- Give it a swirl to pre-heat the brewing apparatus thoroughly.
- You don’t have to remove the water immediately inside the container since you’re not going to use it yet. However, you need to remove the water inside the AeroPress.
- Pour an ample amount of water on the filter cap to rinse the filter or the Fellow’s Prismo.
- Put the AeroPress on the scale, and tare it.
- Put the coffee grounds inside the chamber.
- Use the AeroPress spoon and the AeroPress funnel as you put the grounds inside to minimize wastage.
- Give it a shake to even the grounds.
- Start the timer, and pour the water for around 20 to 30 grams for the blooming stage.
- Make sure to wet the coffee grounds well.
- Wait for about 20 to 45 seconds before the next pour.
- Pour the water until you reach your target water volume by grams.
- Monitor the scale during the pour to avoid putting excessive water, which can make your coffee watery.
- While pouring the water, do a circular motion to put a little agitation.
- You can use the AeroPress stirrer as well to agitate your coffee or a different stirrer.
- This step is more suitable if you chose the continuous-flow-pour.
- Don’t over-agitate to avoid over-extraction.
- After reaching your target water volume, move the AeroPress out of the scale.
- Monitor the time and let it brew for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on your recipe.
- Put the filter cap or the Fellow’s Prismo on top of the chamber, and lock it.
- Make sure to lock it tightly to prevent undesirable leaks.
- Empty the container and prepare to flip the AeroPress.
- Before you flip the AeroPress for plunging, you have to decide whether to flip it onto the mouth of the container or flip it with the container.
- If you prefer to flip it alone, make sure your container not too far.
- If you want to avoid excessive leaks from the filter cap, flip the container, and put the mouth on the filter cap before flipping both.
- When you’re ready, flip the AeroPress quickly and plunge.
- Plunge slowly if you prefer to, and count for 10 to 20 seconds.
- You can plunge until the seal hits the grounds inside the chamber, or stop when you hear the hiss-sound.
- Set it aside after plunging.
- Plunge slowly if you prefer to, and count for 10 to 20 seconds.
- If you want to do the By-pass method, put the container back on the scale, and tare it.
- Add more water as desired by-pass volume.
- Give it a taste to know if you added the right volume for a better taste.
- If you used a coffee server or milk pitcher, give the container a swirl.
- Use a stirrer to mix your coffee after by-passing.
- Enjoy your cup of joe via the inverted method.
References:
https://www.beanground.com/aeropress-inverted-vs-normal/
https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2018/03/5-aeropress-lessons-i-learned-4-champions-recipes/
https://www.homegrounds.co/coffee-grind-chart/
https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2017/08/aeropress-coffee-guide-brew-different-flavor-profiles/
https://longandshort.london/upright-vs-inverted-methodology-of-an-aeropress/
