AeroPress Recipes: Five Ways to Brew It Differently

AeroPress Recipes: Five Ways to Brew It Differently

AeroPress Recipes: Five Ways to Brew It Differently

The AeroPress is popular for a good reason: it’s quick, compact, easy to clean and remarkably flexible.

A small change to the dose, grind, water or brewing time can create a very different cup. You can make something light and bright, a short concentrated coffee, a smooth inverted brew or an iced coffee—all with the same brewer.

If you’re using an AeroPress for the first time, begin with our step-by-step AeroPress brew guide. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, try these five recipes.

Before you start

For consistent results, use:

  • Freshly roasted coffee

  • Fresh, filtered water

  • A digital scale

  • A timer

  • An AeroPress paper filter

  • A sturdy mug or serving jug

Rinse the paper filter with hot water before brewing. This helps remove any papery flavour and warms the cap and cup.

The grind descriptions below are starting points. If the coffee tastes weak, hollow or sour, try grinding slightly finer. If it tastes harsh, bitter or difficult to press, go slightly coarser.

Always press slowly and steadily. Stop if you feel excessive resistance.

Recipe one: the easy everyday AeroPress

This is the best recipe to try first. It produces a balanced, clean cup without too many steps.

You’ll need

  • 15g coffee

  • 220g water

  • Water at approximately 92–94°C

  • A medium-fine grind

Method

  1. Place a rinsed paper filter into the cap.

  2. Attach the cap and position the AeroPress over a sturdy mug.

  3. Add 15g of ground coffee.

  4. Start your timer and pour in 220g of water.

  5. Stir gently three times to make sure all the grounds are wet.

  6. Insert the plunger slightly to create a seal.

  7. Leave the coffee to brew until 1 minute 30 seconds.

  8. Press slowly for approximately 30 seconds.

  9. Stop when you hear the first sustained hiss.

What to expect

A balanced cup with good sweetness and body. This recipe works well with approachable coffees that have chocolate, caramel or nutty flavours.

If it tastes too strong, add a small amount of hot water to the finished cup. If it tastes too weak, grind finer before increasing the dose.

Recipe two: a brighter, filter-style AeroPress

This recipe uses more water, a slightly coarser grind and a gentler extraction. It works particularly well with floral, citrusy and fruit-led single-origin coffees.

You’ll need

  • 14g coffee

  • 230g water

  • Water at approximately 90–92°C

  • A medium grind

Method

  1. Place the AeroPress over your mug with a rinsed paper filter in the cap.

  2. Add 14g of coffee.

  3. Pour in 50g of water and gently swirl the brewer.

  4. Wait for 30 seconds.

  5. Pour slowly until the scale reaches 230g.

  6. Insert the plunger slightly to stop the coffee dripping through.

  7. At 1 minute 45 seconds, remove the plunger and stir gently.

  8. Replace the plunger and press slowly.

  9. Aim to finish at approximately 2 minutes 15 seconds.

What to expect

A lighter, more aromatic cup with greater clarity. Let it cool for a few minutes before drinking—delicate flavours often become easier to taste as the temperature drops.

Try it with a washed coffee such as Ethiopia Konga Co-operative, or browse our current single-origin coffees.

Recipe three: the inverted AeroPress method

The inverted method turns the AeroPress upside down during brewing. This prevents coffee dripping through the filter before you are ready to press, allowing full control over the immersion time.

It also introduces a greater risk of spilling hot water. Keep the AeroPress stable, don’t overfill it and turn it carefully.

You’ll need

  • 16g coffee

  • 200g water

  • Water at approximately 92°C

  • A medium-fine grind

Method

  1. Insert the plunger approximately 1cm into the brewing chamber.

  2. Turn the AeroPress upside down so it stands securely on the plunger.

  3. Add 16g of coffee.

  4. Start the timer and pour in 200g of water.

  5. Stir gently for five seconds.

  6. Leave it to brew until 1 minute 15 seconds.

  7. While it brews, place a rinsed paper filter into the cap.

  8. Secure the cap firmly onto the chamber.

  9. At 1 minute 15 seconds, place a sturdy mug upside down over the AeroPress.

  10. Hold the mug and AeroPress together, then flip them carefully in one controlled movement.

  11. Press slowly for approximately 30 seconds.

What to expect

A rounder cup with more body than the brighter filter-style method.

If you feel uncomfortable flipping a brewer containing hot water, use the standard orientation instead. The difference in the cup is not worth burning yourself.

Recipe four: a stronger concentrate-style AeroPress

This recipe creates a short, intense coffee. It isn’t espresso—the AeroPress cannot produce the same pressure as an espresso machine—but it works well when you want a concentrated cup or a base for a longer drink.

You’ll need

  • 18g coffee

  • 90g water

  • Water at approximately 94°C

  • A fine grind, but not as fine as espresso

Method

  1. Fit a rinsed paper filter and place the AeroPress over a sturdy cup.

  2. Add 18g of coffee.

  3. Pour in 90g of water.

  4. Stir firmly for ten seconds.

  5. Insert the plunger slightly and leave to brew until 1 minute.

  6. Press slowly for 20–30 seconds.

  7. Stop if the brewer becomes excessively difficult to press.

How to serve it

Drink it as a short, strong coffee, or add:

  • Hot water for a longer black coffee

  • Warm milk for a small, strong milk drink

  • Cold milk and ice for an easy iced coffee

  • A little extra water if the concentration is too intense

What to expect

A heavier, stronger and more concentrated cup. Coffees with chocolate, caramel and nut flavours tend to work particularly well.

Recipe five: iced AeroPress coffee

Brewing directly over ice gives you a chilled coffee in a few minutes. The hot water extracts flavour efficiently, while the ice cools and dilutes the concentrate.

You’ll need

  • 18g coffee

  • 120g hot water

  • 100g ice

  • Water at approximately 92–94°C

  • A medium-fine grind

Method

  1. Add 100g of ice to a heatproof serving glass or jug.

  2. Fit a rinsed paper filter to the AeroPress and place it over the vessel.

  3. Add 18g of coffee.

  4. Pour in 120g of hot water.

  5. Stir gently for ten seconds.

  6. Insert the plunger slightly and leave the coffee to brew until 1 minute 15 seconds.

  7. Press slowly over the ice.

  8. Swirl the drink until most of the ice has melted.

  9. Add a few fresh ice cubes before serving.

What to expect

A bright, refreshing iced coffee with enough strength to remain flavourful after dilution.

If it tastes watery, grind slightly finer or reduce the brewing ice. If it tastes too intense, add a little cold water after brewing.

A naturally processed coffee can work beautifully here, especially if you enjoy ripe fruit flavours. Our Indonesia Mbohang has notes of blueberry, banana and chocolate.

Which AeroPress recipe should you try first?

Choose the everyday recipe if you want a reliable, balanced cup.

Choose the filter-style recipe if you enjoy clean, bright and delicate coffee.

Choose the inverted method if you want more control over immersion and a rounder cup.

Choose the concentrate recipe if you prefer stronger coffee or want to add milk.

Choose the iced recipe when you want something cold and refreshing.

How to adjust an AeroPress recipe

Treat every recipe as a starting point. Coffees extract differently, grinders vary and your own preferences matter more than rigid rules.

Change one thing at a time:

If the coffee tastes sour or thin

  • Grind slightly finer

  • Extend the brewing time

  • Use slightly hotter water

  • Add a little more coffee

If it tastes bitter or harsh

  • Grind slightly coarser

  • Shorten the brewing time

  • Use slightly cooler water

  • Press more gently

If it tastes too strong

Add a small amount of hot or cold water after brewing. Diluting a well-extracted concentrate is often better than changing several brewing variables at once.

If it tastes too weak

Try a finer grind before dramatically increasing the coffee dose. Under-extracted coffee can taste weak even when you use plenty of beans.

One brewer, plenty of possibilities

There is no single correct AeroPress recipe. Its versatility is exactly what makes it useful.

Start with one method, taste the result and make one small adjustment next time. Keep a quick note of your dose, water, grind and brewing time and you’ll soon find the version that works for you.

Explore more Modern Standard brew guides, shop our brewing equipment, or choose a fresh coffee from our single-origin collection.

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