Brewing the Perfect Cup of Coffee Using AeroPress

KEYS TO A PERFECT CUP:

For a quality brew on the go or whenever the mood strikes you, nothing beats the simplicity and portability of the AeroPress. Small enough to fit in your backpack or the glove compartment of your car, the AeroPress is perfect for coffee enthusiasts with active lifestyles.

Brewing the perfect cup of coffee using the AeroPress method requires a steady hand and a little elbow grease. This simple yet innovative device relies on manual pressure (i.e., you) to force water through freshly ground coffee to yield a rich, flavorful brew.

As with other brewing methods, a digital scale is very helpful, whether you’re a beginner or a pro. This ensures that your brewing ratio of coffee to water is on point and consistent from one brew to the next.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Here’s what you’ll need to achieve a high-quality brew using AeroPress:

Ingredients and materials:	Equipment and gear:
Freshly ground Trinidad coffee AeroPress paper filters Filtered water	AeroPress Water kettle Digital scale (grams preferred) Digital timer (many scales include this) Spoon or scoop Your favorite coffee mug or carafe

BREWING COFFEE:

Step 1:

Heat the water to 176°F. Some kettles will hold heated water at a set temperature. If yours doesn’t, run the kettle so that the water is done heating right before you brew to ensure you’re pouring water that’s at the ideal temperature.

Step 2:

Remove the filter holder from the bottom of the brew chamber. Insert two AeroPress paper filters (just stack one on top of the other) and pre-wet them with hot water from your kettle.

Pro tip: We like using two paper filters because it enhances clarity in the beverage while providing a little extra resistance while tamping down the plunger. Use the end of the AeroPress paddle to even out the paper filter in the holder so that it is perfectly flat.

Step 3:

Grind 18-20 grams of your favorite Trinidad Coffee beans. Using the right grind size is important – we prefer particles that are slightly coarse.

• If you grind your beans too coarse, your brew will be underextracted and you’ll notice that the plunger goes down too easily.

  
  

• On the flip side, if you grind too finely, your coffee will be overextracted and the plunger may be very difficult to press down.

Step 4:

Pre-assemble your AeroPress by inserting the plunger assembly into the brew chamber just enough so that only the rubber seal portion is inside the chamber.

Step 5:

Flip the pre-assembled AeroPress upside-down so that the brew chamber is on top and the plunger assembly is on the bottom. Place these pieces on your digital scale. (You’ll know you did this step correctly if the letters and numbers on the brew chamber are upside-down.)

Step 6:

Carefully pour the ground coffee into the brew chamber. The grounds will be resting on the rubber plunger. Give the AeroPress a gentle shake to level the bed of coffee.

Step 7:

Zero out your digital scale and start the timer. Pour 50 grams of water (this should take about 10 seconds).

Step 8:

Use the paddle to gently agitate the coffee/water mixture by going back and forth three times.

Step 9:

At the 0:25 mark, pour an additional 150 grams of water into the brew chamber using a slow, methodical motion to saturate the entire bed. This step should be completed by the 0:50 to 0:55 mark on your timer.

Step 10:

Use the paddle to once again stir the mixture three times back and forth.

Step 11:

Attach the filter holder to the brew chamber. Remove air from the chamber by carefully pushing down on the chamber until you begin to see bubbles seep out from the filter holder. Allow the coffee to steep.

NOTE: At this stage, the AeroPress assembly is still upside-down with the filter holder on top.

Step 12:

At the 1:35 mark on your timer, place your mug or carafe over the filter holder and carefully flip the entire brewing apparatus (i.e., the AeroPress and your mug/carafe) so that the AeroPress is right-side up with the plunger assembly on top and your mug/carafe at the bottom.

Step 13:

Press down on the plunger so that all of the liquid is expelled into your mug or carafe. This step should take 15 to 20 seconds to complete (your timer should display 2:00 or so by the time you’re done).

Pro tip: Note the amount of resistance you encounter as you press down on the plunger as this can be a valuable indicator of whether your coffee is ground to the proper particle size. As previously mentioned, if the plunger goes down too easily, you have probably ground your beans too coarse. Conversely, if the plunger is too difficult to push down, you may have ground your beans too fine.

When the plunger is all the way down you may hear a hissing sound indicating that no more water is passing through the coffee grounds.

Step 14:

Give your mug a little swirl or a quick stir, and your freshly brewed coffee is now ready to enjoy. For a more refined profile, pour your fresh brew from the original carafe into another from a height to aerate the coffee and accentuate delicate flavors and aromas.

Step 15:

Ready for another cup? The AeroPress is as easy to clean as it is simple to set up. Unscrew the filter holder from the brew chamber and press down slightly on the plunger to eject the coffee puck.

Rinse both the plunger assembly and the brew chamber with hot water and you’re ready to brew another round or pack it up for another day.

What You’ll Like About the AeroPress Method:	What You May Not Like About the AeroPress Method:
Portable and easy to use on the go or when traveling Full extraction so you enjoy all the delicate flavors and nuances Fewer pours than the Kalita and Hario methods Perfect for all roasts, even dark	Requires manual extraction so you will need a stable surface when pressing down on the plunger Specialized paper filter Limited batch size (7 to 8 ounces of brew) Flipping the AeroPress unit upside-side and then right-side up

Ready to try another brewing method?

If you want to mix things up in your coffee routine, try brewing in a French Press and discover the difference in flavor, depth, and body.