How I am brewing with the Aeropress

Over the last few weeks, I have been brewing using almost exactly the same recipe when I choose to use my Aeropress (which has been my go-to brewer recently). There are times when I really want to explore brewing variables but at the moment I just want to make some good cups of coffee. I have arrived at a recipe which I can use to make good cups of coffee consistently and that's what matters to me the most right now.

I was chatting with someone yesterday who does not brew their own coffee at home and today I thought that I am not sharing the way in which I am brewing right now. I think sharing how I brew is useful so that (i) I can remember old recipes and; (ii) I can share what recipe gets me to a good cup of coffee. So, if you're looking for a new Aeropress recipe to try or if you are new to the Aeropress and need a starting point, I have a recipe for you.

Here's how I am brewing at home at the moment:

Ratio: 15 grams of coffee to 250 grams of water

Special equipment: Cloth filter (optional)

1. Grind coffee to the 17 setting on my Baratza Encore (a medium setting).
2. Place cloth filter in Aeropress filter cap and check that there are no gaps between the filter and the brewing chamber on the edges (this will help prevent any sediment getting through the filter). You can use a paper filter instead and you do not have to check it because they are a lot easier to put in than a cloth filter.
3. Pour coffee into the Aeropress. Pour 250 grams of water over the coffee and start the timer.
4. Stir the coffee three times.
5. Attach the plunger to the top of the Aeropress and pull the plunger up slightly.
6. Wait until 1:10.
7. Remove the plunger from the Aeropress. Stir the coffee three times.
8. Place the plunger back on the Aeropress. Push slowly. Your push should take about 30 seconds, perhaps more.
9. Remove the filter cap, remove the cloth filter (if you are using one), then discard your used ground coffee into the bin.
10. Rinse Aeropress, filter cap, and whatever you used to stir the coffee.
11. Enjoy your brew.

The above recipe is based on Tim Wendleboe's Aeropress recipe with a few modifications in terms of the time, dose, and brewing ratio.

I have made some incredible brews with this recipe without using a cloth filter. If you are new to brewing at home, I'd recommend opting for a paper filter, which do not require the level of maintenance that a cloth filter does. If you do choose to use a paper filter, I suggest you put two paper filters in your Aeropress. I have found this leads to a better cup than you can make with one filter.

I may change my recipe in the future but for now what I shared above is what I like to use. While it's interesting to experiment with coffee, sometimes I need to take a break from new recipes, and that's fine. Coffee is not just about the process: it's about the final cup of coffee that you make.