The interesting thing about the Aeropress is that it is a mix of two different brewing methods - a little like an espresso machine and a little like a filter coffee maker. Initially the water and coffee steep together, as they would in a French Press. However, to complete the brew, a piston is used to push the water through the grounds and then through a paper filter. It is easy-to-use, durable, and a very portable brewer that many coffee professionals and enthusiasts take with them when they travel around the world.
The Ratio and Grind Size
For best results with an Aeropress, you should first decide what kind of cup of coffee you want to drink.
For a short and strong brew - we recommend a ratio of 35-36g of ground coffee per 12oz cup of coffee. As for the grind size, if you want a quicker brew you will need to grind relatively fine. You can use a coarser grind if you choose but you will need to extend the brewing time for best results.
For something closer to a regular cup of coffee - we recommend a ratio of 26-27g of ground coffee per 12oz cup of coffee. Again, you can match your brewing time to your grind size.
Steps to Brewing with the Aeropress (Traditional Method)
Grind the coffee just before you start brewing. Be sure to weigh the coffee first.
Boil a kettle/pot of fresh water suitable for brewing coffee.
As the water comes to a boil, prepare the Aeropress by first placing a paper filter into the filter holder and locking it into the body of the brewer.
Place your mug on a scale and put the main part of the brewer on top of the mug. And add the coffee grounds.
Once the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat and wait 20 seconds before adding the water to the Aeropress.
Using the scale as a guide, add the desired amount of water into the Aeropress, then give the coffee a quick stir.
Put the piston part of the Aeropress in place. This creates a vacuum above the coffee, preventing the liquid from dripping out of the bottom of the brewer before you want it to.
Give a moment for the coffee to steep with the water. We recommend starting with one minute. Extending the steep time will extract more of the coffee.
Take the mug and Aeropress off the scale and slowly push down the piston plunger until all the liquid has been strained.
Pull the piston back out a little bit to stop it from dripping any further. Remove the filter holder and holding the brewer over the waste bin, push the piston plunger out to get rid of the grounds. Tap out any loose bits, rinse and clean the bottom of the piston and brewer.
