AeroPress Recipe: How to Make Great AeroPress Coffee at Home

The AeroPress is small, nearly unbreakable and very forgiving, which is why it lives in so many kitchens, desk drawers and camping bags. This guide gives the official AeroPress recipe, what to change if you buy your coffee pre-ground, and the answers to the questions people ask most.

What you need

• An AeroPress Original and AeroPress paper filters
• 16 to 18 g of coffee, about one heaping AeroPress scoop
• Hot water, a sturdy mug and a stirrer

The official AeroPress recipe

These are the maker's own instructions for the Original model. (AeroPress)

1. Set up. Put a paper filter in the cap, twist the cap onto the chamber and stand it on your mug.
2. Add the coffee: one heaping scoop, or 16 to 18 g, ground medium-fine.
3. Add water at 85°C (185°F) up to the number 4 on the side of the chamber. AeroPress says boiling water is fine too.
4. Stir gently for 3 seconds.
5. Put the plunger in partway. This makes a vacuum that stops the coffee dripping through early.
6. Wait 30 seconds.
7. Press down slowly with gentle, steady pressure until you hear a hiss. Do not push hard.

The result is a smooth, full cup. AeroPress says the Original holds 10 oz, enough for one or two cups. (AeroPress)

Can I use pre-ground coffee in an AeroPress?

Yes. The official instructions for pre-ground coffee use the same amount, a medium grind and a longer wait: 60 seconds instead of 30. That makes our coffees ground-to-order a good match: choose Ground when you order any of our coffees and follow the 60 second version.

What temperature water should I use for an AeroPress?

AeroPress recommends 85°C (185°F), and says boiling water also works. If you do not have a thermometer, let the kettle sit for a minute or so after it boils.

Is the inverted AeroPress method better?

You may have seen people brew with the AeroPress upside down. AeroPress explains that people do it to stop coffee dripping through early, to steep for longer and to use coarser grinds. It does not recommend it: "we strongly discourage using this method as it can cause the coffee maker to be less stable and prone to mishaps that expose the user to potential burns from hot liquid." (AeroPress) The plunger trick in step 5 stops early dripping without the risk.

Why does the AeroPress use paper filters?

AeroPress says its paper micro-filters absorb bitter oils and catch fine grounds, which is why the coffee comes out smooth and grit-free. They are chlorine-free and compostable. (AeroPress) We sell 350-count packs that fit both the Original and the AeroPress Go.

How do I clean an AeroPress?

Almost no cleaning is needed day to day. Pop the used coffee puck straight into the compost, then rinse the plunger seal. AeroPress says a rinse is enough because the plunger wipes the chamber as you press, and recommends a wash with gentle soap every two weeks. It is dishwasher safe on the top rack. (AeroPress)

Which coffee is best for an AeroPress?

Because it brews a short, concentrated cup, the AeroPress is good with coffees that have body and sweetness.

• Constellation Medium Roast: smooth and luxurious, our everyday blend.
• Red Eye to Rome Espresso: dark chocolate and dark fruits. Make a stronger, shorter AeroPress with less water and top it up with hot milk.
• Young Aces Medium Roast: cocoa, chocolate, hazelnut and brown sugar.

Where did the AeroPress come from?

Inventor Alan Adler started work on it in his garage in Palo Alto in 2003, and it was introduced at Coffee Fest Seattle in November 2005. (AeroPress) It even has its own competition: the World AeroPress Championship began in Oslo in 2008 with three competitors and now runs events in 70 countries. (World AeroPress Championship)

Once the AeroPress is part of your routine, try a pour-over for a lighter, brighter cup with our V60 pour-over guide. For more on grind and dose, read our coffee brewing tips.