Brew Guide: AeroPress

How to Brew Coffee with an AeroPress

Confession: I only started using my AeroPress regularly a few years ago.

I had owned one for ages. It lived at the back of my ever-growing pile of coffee gear. People would constantly tell me how much they loved theirs. How they take it camping. How easy it is. How it makes surprisingly good coffee for something that looks like a handheld plunger.

And I would always think, "I really need to try mine out soon."

That day never came.

And then, one day, in the middle of making an espresso, my machine stopped working. It had to go in for service and suddenly I had a very real problem.

How exactly was I going to get my caffeine fix in the meantime?

My mind immediately went to the AeroPress.

It was finally time.

And after using it properly for the first time, I couldn't believe I had waited so long to use it.

It was great. I now understood what all the hype had been about.

What I love most about it is the versatility. It looks almost too simple to be taken seriously. A plastic tube, a plunger, a paper (or reusable metal) filter. But you can brew it a few different ways and get noticeably different cups each time. Clean, rich and full. Even a concentrated shot that works for milk drinks.

If you are investing in good, traceable coffee, like the coffees we roast at Mood, it is a fantastic brewer. It lets the flavour show up without a lot of fuss. And for coffees sourced from women producers who put real care into every step of the process, that matters. You want a method that gets out of the way and lets the coffee speak.

So here is how to use it properly.

First Things First: Grind Size

Before we get into recipes, let us talk grind size. It is the easiest thing to adjust and one of the biggest reasons a brew can taste off.

For AeroPress, the general range is medium-fine to fine. This is a starting point. Once you get going, you'll figure out what works best for your preferences as well as the coffee beans you are working with.

Think table salt. That is roughly the ballpark.

If your coffee tastes sour or harsh, the grind is probably too fine or the brew time is too long. If it tastes bitter or thin, it is too coarse .

Grinding fresh also makes a big difference. When we roast at Mood, we are trying to preserve sweetness and clarity. Grinding just before brewing keeps those flavours intact.

If you can, invest in a quality hand or electric grinder outfitted with burrs. This ensures you get a uniform grind on the coffee which leads to a better extraction.

Water Matters More Than Most People Think

Coffee is mostly water, so yes, the temperature matters.

Aim for filtered water around 92 to 96 degrees Celsius. If your kettle does not have temperature control, boil it and let it sit for about 30 to 45 seconds before pouring.

Too hot and you risk pulling bitterness out of the coffee. Too cool and it tastes flat or sour.

The Standard AeroPress Method

This is the classic way to start. Simple, reliable, and produces a clean and balanced cup.

What you need: 16 grams of coffee (medium-fine grind), 250mL of water.

1. Place a paper filter into the plastic cap and rinse it with hot water. This removes any paper taste and warms everything up.
2. Screw the cap onto the AeroPress and place it directly on your mug.
3. Add 16 grams of ground coffee to the chamber.
4. Start your timer and pour in 250mL hot water.
5. Give it a quick stir to make sure all the grounds are wet.
6. After about 3 minutes, insert the plunger.
7. Press down slowly and steadily for 20 to 30 seconds until you hear a gentle hiss.

With the standard method, a small amount of coffee drips through the filter while it brews, similar to a pour over during that early stage. The result is a very clean cup with nice clarity.

This method works beautifully for the style of coffees we roast at Mood. Think chocolate, caramel, citrus. Flavours that are clear and sweet and do not need milk or sugar to carry them.

The Inverted Method

Now for the method that AeroPress fans love to debate.

The inverted method means brewing upside down so nothing drips out during steeping. More control, slightly fuller body.

What you need: 16 grams of coffee (medium to medium-fine grind), 250mL of water.

1. Insert the plunger slightly into the chamber.
2. Flip the AeroPress so the plunger is on the bottom and the open end faces up.
3. Add 16 grams of ground coffee.
4. Pour in 250mL of hot water.
5. Give it a quick stir.
6. Let it steep for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
7. Rinse your paper filter and attach the cap.
8. Carefully flip the whole thing onto your mug. Don't burn yourself (I've been there)!
9. Press slowly and steadily for 20 to 30 seconds.

The biggest difference is immersion time. With the standard method, some water escapes early. With the inverted method, all of it stays with the coffee until you press. The cup usually feels slightly rounder and fuller.

Neither method is better. They are just different. I switch between them depending on the coffee and what kind of cup I am in the mood for.

I find the best way to do the "flip" is to place your mug facedown onto the AeroPress and then flip over so that any spillage is caught inside the mug.

How to Hack an Espresso-Style Shot

Now for the fun one.

The AeroPress cannot technically produce true espresso. It does not generate the same pressure as an espresso machine.

But you can absolutely make a concentrated coffee shot that works beautifully for milk drinks.

What you need: 18 grams of coffee (fine grind), 60mL to 80mL of hot water.

1. Use the inverted setup from the method above (plunger in, flipped upside down).
2. Add 18 grams of finely ground coffee.
3. Pour in 60mL to 80mL of hot water.
4. Stir well.
5. Let it brew for 3 minutes.
6. Attach the filter cap.
7. Flip it onto your mug and press slowly.

You will get a thick, concentrated coffee. Add hot water for an Americano. Add steamed or frothed milk for a latte-style drink. Pour it over ice with milk for an easy iced coffee.

It is not espresso but it comes close!

Quick Troubleshooting

If something tastes off, here are the adjustments worth trying first.

1. Weak: grind finer or increase brew time slightly.
2. Harsh/strong: grind coarser or shorten brew time.
3. Too thin: bump the coffee dose up half to one gram at a time.

The AeroPress is forgiving. Small tweaks make real improvements.

Why I Actually Love This Thing Now

What surprised me most is how well the AeroPress showcases the coffee itself.

There is very little between you and a solid cup of coffee. There is nothing complicated or performative about the AeroPress. Just coffee, water, and a simple brewer.

That is actually everything when it comes to the coffees we source at Mood. Every bean we roast was grown by a woman who put real work, real care, and real intention into it. The AeroPress helps showcase these coffees in their purest form.

So if you have an AeroPress sitting at the back of your cupboard like I did for years, pull it out. Give it a proper try. You might end up more annoyed at yourself for waiting than anything else. I know I was :)

Shop for the AeroPress here.