How to Brew AeroPress Coffee

Start with this recipe

This is a dependable starting point. Change one variable at a time after tasting it.

1. Put a paper filter in the cap, rinse it, and attach the cap to the chamber.
2. Set the AeroPress on a sturdy mug. Add 15g coffee, ground medium-fine.
3. Start a timer and pour 180g water at 195°F / 91°C.
4. Stir gently for 10 seconds, then insert the plunger slightly to stop dripping.
5. At 1:15, press slowly. Stop when you hear the first hiss, around 1:45–2:00.
6. Swirl the cup and taste it once it cools slightly.

Adjust strength and extraction

• For a stronger cup, use a lower ratio such as 1:10 or dilute a concentrated brew afterward.
• For a lighter cup, move toward 1:15–1:17.
• If the cup is sour or thin, grind a little finer or steep slightly longer.
• If it is bitter or drying, grind a little coarser or use slightly cooler water.

Ratio changes strength. Grind and time change extraction. Keeping those jobs separate makes dialing in much easier — see calibrating the grind if the cup will not come right.

Temperature by roast

• Light roast: 195–205°F / 91–96°C
• Medium roast: 185–200°F / 85–93°C
• Dark roast: 175–190°F / 79–88°C

These are starting ranges, not rules. If the coffee tastes balanced, the number is working.

The inverted method

The inverted method prevents early dripping and allows a longer steep, but it also requires flipping a brewer full of hot water.

Hot-water warning: Keep the plunger inserted by at least ½ inch / 1.25cm, work on a clear counter, and hold both parts firmly while flipping. Use the standard method if grip, balance, or heat is a concern.

1. Insert the plunger securely and stand the brewer upside down.
2. Add 15g coffee and 180g water.
3. Stir, steep for 60–90 seconds, and attach the rinsed filter cap.
4. Hold the chamber and plunger together, flip onto a sturdy mug, and press slowly.

The James Hoffmann recipe

Probably the most widely used AeroPress recipe there is, and a good second recipe to try once the baseline above is working. It is gentler than most: no inverting, no stirring, and a longer steep. At roughly 1:18 it is also lighter than the baseline recipe above, so expect a more tea-like cup rather than a bold one.

1. Set the AeroPress in the standard position on a sturdy mug. Do not rinse the filter or preheat the brewer.
2. Add 11g coffee, ground medium-fine.
3. Pour 200g water, aiming to wet all the grounds as you go.
4. Insert the plunger about 1cm into the chamber straight away. The vacuum stops the coffee dripping through.
5. Steep for 2 minutes.
6. Holding the chamber and plunger together, swirl gently — do not stir — then let it settle for 30 seconds.
7. Press gently all the way down.

Use around 90–95°C for a medium roast and 85–90°C for a dark roast. The swirl instead of a stir is deliberate: it redistributes the grounds without driving extra extraction, which keeps the cup sweet rather than sharp.

Recipe as documented at aeroprecipe.com and timer.coffee.

Verified championship recipes

Competition recipes are intentionally unusual. They are useful for experimentation, not as everyday defaults.

Carolina Ibarra Garay, 2018 world champion

• 34.9g coffee, coarse grind
• 100g brewing water at 185°F / 85°C
• Inverted brewer and rinsed paper filter
• Pour for 30 seconds, then stir vigorously for 30 seconds
• Flip and press for 30 seconds
• Dilute with 60g hot water and 40g room-temperature water

Wendelien van Bunnik, 2019 world champion

• 30g coffee, coarse grind
• 100g brewing water at 198°F / 92°C
• Inverted brewer and rinsed filter
• Pour in 10 seconds and stir 20 times
• Flip at 40 seconds and press, producing roughly 60g concentrate
• Add about 120g water, adjusting dilution to taste

Sources: 2018 winning recipe and 2019 winning recipe.

Cleaning

Eject the coffee puck, rinse the cap and seal, and let the parts dry separately. A quick rinse after each brew prevents old coffee oils from affecting the next cup.

The rubber seal hardens and shrinks over years of use. If the plunger starts sliding down on its own or the press feels loose, replace the seal rather than the brewer.

Want the same clean cup with more control over how flavors separate? Try pourover next.