AeroPress Brewing Guide for Beginners

The AeroPress is one of the most versatile, forgiving, and portable coffee brewers ever made. It uses a combination of immersion and pressure to produce a concentrated, full-bodied cup in under two minutes. If you're new to manual brewing, this is one of the best places to start.

What You'll Need

• AeroPress (original or AeroPress Go for travel)
• AeroPress paper filters (or metal filter for more body)
• Kettle (gooseneck not required)
• Grinder (burr preferred, but blade works in a pinch)
• Scale and timer
• Sturdy mug to press into

The Ideal AeroPress Ratio

The AeroPress is flexible, but a good starting point is 1:15 for a concentrated, flavorful brew.

• 15g coffee to 225ml water
• 18g coffee to 270ml water

Want something stronger and more espresso-like? Try 1:12 with a finer grind.

Grind Size

Use a medium-fine grind for the standard method (similar to V60). For the inverted method with longer steep times, a medium grind works better.

Method 1: Standard AeroPress

Step 1: Prep the Filter

Insert a paper filter into the cap, rinse with hot water, and attach to the chamber.

Step 2: Add Coffee and Water (0:00–0:10)

Place the AeroPress on your mug. Add ground coffee. Pour all your water in at once — no need for a slow pour.

Step 3: Stir (0:10–0:20)

Give it 3-4 good stirs with the AeroPress paddle or a spoon.

Step 4: Press (0:20–1:30)

Insert the plunger and press down slowly and steadily. Stop when you hear the hiss of air. Total brew time: 1:00–1:30.

Method 2: Inverted AeroPress

The inverted method lets the coffee steep fully before pressing, giving you more control over brew time.

Step 1: Invert and Add Coffee

Place the plunger in the chamber and flip upside down. Add your ground coffee.

Step 2: Add Water and Steep (0:00–1:30)

Pour all your water, stir briefly, and let it steep for 1-2 minutes.

Step 3: Attach Cap and Flip

Attach the filter cap (with rinsed filter), flip the entire AeroPress onto your mug, and press.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
Weak or watery	Under-extracted	Grind finer, steep longer
Bitter or harsh	Over-extracted	Grind coarser, steep shorter
Hard to press	Grind too fine	Grind coarser
Gritty cup	Grounds bypassing filter	Use two paper filters

Tips for Better AeroPress Coffee

1. Experiment freely — the AeroPress is very forgiving
2. Try different water temperatures — 175°F for lighter roasts, 205°F for darker
3. Use the inverted method for more control over steep time
4. Stack two paper filters for an even cleaner cup
5. Press gently — forcing it too fast creates a bitter, over-extracted brew

The AeroPress is the Swiss Army knife of coffee brewing. It's fast, easy to clean, nearly unbreakable, and makes genuinely excellent coffee anywhere you go.