How to Master the AeroPress
The AeroPress is your ticket to brewing exceptional, espresso-style coffee concentrate that's smooth and rich, whether you're at home or exploring the great outdoors.
This guide will walk you through the simple steps to mastering this versatile coffee maker, from a classic brew to a café-quality flat white. Its compact, durable design makes it the perfect travel companion for any Australian adventure, ensuring you're never without a fantastic cup of coffee.
Forget complex machines; the AeroPress offers a quick, easy, and clean way to a consistently delicious brew.
The secret to a truly remarkable AeroPress coffee experience lies in the quality of your beans. By sourcing your coffee from a consistent supplier of freshly roasted beans, you ensure that every cup is bursting with optimal flavour and aroma.
Freshly roasted coffee has a depth and complexity that pre-ground, stale beans simply can't match, allowing you to unlock the full potential of your AeroPress with every plunge.
Gearing Up for Your AeroPress Journey
Before you embark on your AeroPress brewing adventure, you'll need a few key equipment and items. While the AeroPress itself comes with most of what you need, a couple of extra tools will elevate your coffee game.
You'll need:
-
An AeroPress coffee maker
-
AeroPress paper filters (or a reusable metal filter)
-
A coffee grinder (a burr grinder is recommended for consistency)
-
A kettle (a gooseneck kettle offers more control)
-
A sturdy mug
-
A timer
-
And, of course, your favourite whole-bean coffee
The Standard Method: A Classic Approach
The standard method is the original and most straightforward way to brew with an AeroPress. It's a great starting point for beginners and delivers a clean, flavourful cup.
-
Step 1: Place a paper filter into the detachable plastic cap.
-
Step 2: Twist the filter cap onto the AeroPress chamber and place it directly onto your mug.
-
Step 3: Add one heaping scoop (around 17 grams) of medium-fine ground coffee into the chamber and give it a gentle shake to level the grounds.
-
Step 4: Start your timer and pour hot water (ideally between 80°C and 96°C) over the grounds until it reaches the number 4 on the chamber.[1]
-
Step 5: Stir the coffee and water for about 10 seconds.
-
Step 6: Insert the plunger and press down gently and steadily. You should feel some resistance. The plunging process should take about 30 seconds. Stop when you hear a hissing sound.
-
Step 7: Your coffee is now ready. You can drink it as is, or add hot water or milk to your liking.
The Inverted Method: For a Fuller Bodied Brew
The inverted, or upside-down, method prevents any coffee from dripping through the filter before you're ready to plunge. This allows for a longer steep time and a fuller-bodied, more robust flavour.
-
Step 1: Insert the plunger into the chamber, stopping at the number 4 mark.
-
Step 2: Stand the AeroPress on the plunger, so it's upside down.
-
Step 3: Add your medium-fine ground coffee into the chamber.
-
Step 4: Pour in hot water and stir to ensure all the grounds are saturated.
-
Step 5: Place a paper filter in the filter cap and wet it with hot water, then twist the cap onto the chamber.
-
Step 6: Let the coffee steep for your desired time (usually 1-2 minutes).
-
Step 7: Carefully and securely place your mug upside down on top of the filter cap. In one swift motion, flip the entire assembly over so the mug is now upright.
-
Step 8: Press the plunger down slowly and steadily until you hear the hiss.
Crafting an Espresso-Style Concentrate
One of the AeroPress's most celebrated features is its ability to create a strong, espresso-like coffee concentrate. This is the perfect base for your favourite milk-based coffees, like a flat white.
-
Step 1: Use a finer grind of coffee, similar to the consistency of table salt.
-
Step 2: Use a higher coffee-to-water ratio. A good starting point is 1:5, for example, 18 grams of coffee to 90 grams of water.
-
Step 3: Follow either the standard or inverted method.
-
Step 4: Press firmly and consistently. This will produce a small, concentrated shot of coffee.
Your At-Home Flat White
With your espresso-style concentrate, you can easily whip up an Aussie café favourite.
-
Step 1: Brew a concentrated shot of coffee using your AeroPress.
-
Step 2: Heat approximately 150ml of milk in a saucepan or microwave until it's hot but not boiling (around 65°C).
-
Step 3: Froth the milk to create a velvety microfoam. You can do this with a handheld milk frother or by shaking the hot milk vigorously in a sealed jar.
-
Step 4: Gently pour the frothed milk into your coffee concentrate.
Experimenting with Your Brew
The beauty of the AeroPress lies in its versatility. By tweaking a few key variables, you can tailor your coffee to your exact preferences.
-
Grind Size: A finer grind will result in a more intense, stronger brew, while a coarser grind will produce a lighter-bodied cup.
-
Water Temperature: The ideal water temperature is between 80°C and 96°C. Using hotter water will extract more from the coffee, potentially leading to bitterness, while cooler water will result in a mellower, less acidic brew. For darker roasts, a lower temperature is often preferred to avoid over-extraction.
-
Coffee-to-Water Ratio: For a stronger brew, increase the amount of coffee. For a more delicate cup, use less. A common starting ratio is around 1:15 (1 gram of coffee to 15 grams of water).
-
Steep Time: A longer steep time will result in a stronger, more extracted coffee. With the inverted method, you have complete control over this variable.
The Ultimate Travel Brewer
The AeroPress's lightweight, compact, and durable design makes it the ultimate coffee companion for any Australian adventure. Whether you're camping in the bush, on a road trip along the coast, or simply want a great coffee at the office, the AeroPress is easy to pack and even easier to clean.
The AeroPress Go model is even more compact, with all its accessories fitting neatly inside a travel mug. This means you can enjoy a café-quality brew no matter where your travels take you.
For amazing coffee beans, subscribe today. Get fresh roasted coffee on your doorstep on the regular.
