Most brewing devices are built around one method and one outcome. The AeroPress is different. The same small device sitting in your cupboard can produce something close to a light filter coffee or something close to a concentrated espresso style shot, depending on how you use it. That range is exactly why it has such a loyal following among people who own machines costing many times more.
This guide covers how it works, what you need, and both major brewing methods so you can decide which suits you, or try both and decide for yourself.
How the AeroPress Actually Works
An AeroPress brews through immersion, meaning your coffee sits in contact with water for a short period, then forces that water through a paper filter using gentle air pressure from the plunger. This combination gives you the clean, sediment free cup you'd expect from filter coffee, but with more body and a faster brew time than most pour over methods.
Because you control the steep time, water temperature, and pressing speed directly, you have more influence over the final result than almost any other brewing method at this price point.
What You'll Need
- An AeroPress and at least one paper filter (rinse it before brewing to remove any papery taste)
- Freshly ground coffee, ideally ground just before brewing
- A kettle, ideally one that lets you control temperature
- A scale, helpful but not essential once you've found a recipe you like
- A stirrer or spoon
The Two Methods, Explained Properly
Both methods use the same device and the same core ingredients. The difference is the order you do things in, and that order changes what you can control.
The Standard Method
This is the method shown on the AeroPress packaging, and it's the simplest way to get started.
- Place the chamber on top of your mug or carafe, with the wide opening facing up
- Add your ground coffee into the chamber
- Pour in your hot water and give it a gentle stir to make sure all the grounds are saturated
- Let it steep for your chosen time
- Insert the plunger and press down slowly and steadily until you hear a light hiss of air
Because the filter sits at the bottom of the chamber from the very start, some water naturally drips through during the steep, even before you press. This makes the standard method slightly more forgiving and a touch quicker to set up.
The Inverted Method
This method flips the device upside down before brewing, which changes the order water meets the filter.
- Insert the plunger into the chamber just slightly, enough to create a seal, then turn the whole assembly upside down so the plunger is at the bottom and the open chamber faces up
- Add your ground coffee into the upward facing opening
- Pour in your hot water and stir gently
- Let it steep for your chosen time
- Attach the rinsed filter cap firmly onto the chamber
- In one confident motion, flip the entire assembly right side up onto your mug
- Press down slowly and steadily
Because the filter isn't in contact with the brew until you attach the cap, the inverted method gives you full control over your exact steep time with no early drip through. Many people find this produces a slightly fuller bodied cup, simply because none of the brew escapes early. The trade off is the flip itself, which takes a little practice to do confidently without spilling.
Neither method is more "correct" than the other. The standard method is easier to learn first. The inverted method gives you tighter control once you're comfortable with the device. Plenty of experienced AeroPress users settle on one and never look back, and plenty of others switch between the two depending on the coffee they're brewing.
A Reliable Starting Recipe
If you're brewing for the first time, this is a solid place to begin, using either method:
- 15 grams of coffee, ground medium-fine, similar to coarse table salt
- 200ml of water, just off the boil, around 85 to 90 degrees Celsius
- Steep for 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring once after pouring
- Press over roughly 30 seconds, slow and steady rather than rushed
This will give you a clean, balanced cup. From here, the fun is in adjusting one variable at a time. A finer grind or longer steep will pull more strength and body. A coarser grind or shorter steep will give you something lighter and brighter.
Common Adjustments Worth Knowing
Too weak or watery? Try a finer grind, a longer steep, or slightly more coffee.
Too bitter or harsh? Try a coarser grind, a shorter steep, or slightly cooler water.
Want something closer to an espresso style shot? Use less water, a finer grind, and a firmer, slower press. This concentrate works well on its own or topped up with hot water or milk.
Why It's Worth Mastering
The AeroPress rewards curiosity more than almost any other brewer we sell. There's no wrong way to explore it, only different cups waiting to be discovered. Once you've got a feel for both methods, you'll likely find yourself reaching for whichever one matches your mood that morning, rather than sticking rigidly to either.
Looking to expand your home brewing further? Our cold brew guide compares the Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker against the Toddy Essential Brewer, for when you want something for the warmer months.