Nguyen “John” Ha

AeroPress Recipe: My Ratio, Grind Size and Steps

By Nguyen “John” Ha · Updated

What is an AeroPress?

The AeroPress is a small manual coffee maker invented by engineer Alan Adler. He started experimenting in his Palo Alto garage in 2003 and launched it at Coffee Fest Seattle in November 2005 (AeroPress, Inc., n.d.). It combines immersion, where the coffee steeps in the water, with gentle air pressure from the plunger, which shortens the brew time and reduces bitterness. The result is a smooth, concentrated cup, and because you can change the grind, water temperature, and steep time, one brewer covers a wide range of styles. It is also light and nearly unbreakable, which makes it a favorite for travel.

A 2015 AeroPress next to a 2020 AeroPress Go on a stone ledge outdoors
The original AeroPress (left) and the travel-size AeroPress Go (right). Photo: 2015 AeroPress and 2020 AeroPress Go by Bex Walton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped and resized).

My usual AeroPress profile

Coffee
15–20 g
Grind size
300–900 μmThe finer the grind, the shorter the steep
Roast level
Light to medium
Water
200 g90–96 °C (195–205 °F)
Filter paper
1 or 2Use 2 for a brighter aftertaste and a cleaner sip
Two hands pressing an AeroPress plunger down into a glass carafe
The press: a slow, steady push. Photo: Brewing Coffee with AeroPress by Craft Coffee Spot, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped and resized).

How to make AeroPress coffee, step by step

  1. Preheat. Put the paper filter in the cap and rinse it with hot water.
  2. Load. Assemble the AeroPress on your mug and add the ground coffee to the chamber.
  3. Steep. Pour in 200 g of hot water and stir gently for 30 seconds.
  4. Press. Insert the plunger and press down firmly and steadily until all the water has passed through.
  5. Enjoy. Remove the AeroPress and taste. Add hot water or milk if you want a longer drink.

How to adjust the taste

  • For a stronger cup, use more coffee or less water; for a lighter one, use less coffee or more water.
  • If it tastes sour or thin, grind finer or steep a little longer. If it tastes bitter, grind coarser or press sooner.
  • Change one thing at a time, and try different beans to find your favorite.
  • Many people also brew upside down (the “inverted” method) so no coffee drips through before the press. For more ideas, see the official AeroPress recipes.

FAQ

What is a good AeroPress ratio?

My recipe uses 15–20 g of coffee to 200 g of water, roughly 1:10 to 1:13. That is stronger than pour-over, so many people top it up with hot water or milk.

How fine should I grind for AeroPress?

Anywhere from about 300 to 900 μm works. Finer grinds extract faster, so pair them with a shorter steep; coarser grinds need a longer one.

Should I use one or two filters?

One filter is standard. Two filters catch more fine particles and oils, which gives a brighter aftertaste and a cleaner sip.

Can an AeroPress make espresso?

It makes a strong, concentrated coffee, but the hand press creates far less pressure than the 9–10 atmospheres in the espresso definition (Specialty Coffee Association, 2018), so it is not true espresso. See my espresso guide for the real thing.

References

  1. AeroPress, Inc. (n.d.). About AeroPress, Inc. and Alan Adler. https://aeropress.com/pages/about
  2. AeroPress, Inc. (n.d.). AeroPress recipes. https://aeropress.com/blogs/aeropress-recipes
  3. Specialty Coffee Association. (2018, February 1). Defining the ever-changing espresso. 25 Magazine, Issue 3. https://sca.coffee/sca-news/25-magazine/issue-3/defining-ever-changing-espresso-25-magazine-issue-3-zyx36
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