How to Make Coffee with an Aeropress

Small, portable, and endlessly tinkerable, the Aeropress has become one of the most popular manual brewers among home coffee enthusiasts — and for good reason. Here's what it is, how it works, and how to get a great cup out of one.

The quick answer

An Aeropress is a manual coffee brewer that uses gentle air pressure to push hot water through ground coffee and a paper filter, producing a clean, full-flavoured cup in around 1-2 minutes. It's prized for being fast, portable, easy to clean, and highly adjustable — small changes to grind size, water temperature, steep time and pressure all noticeably change the final cup, making it a favourite for home experimentation.

How an Aeropress Actually Works

Ground coffee and hot water go into a cylindrical chamber, where they steep briefly together. A paper filter sits at the base, and a plunger is then pressed down, forcing the brewed coffee through the filter and into a cup below using gentle air pressure rather than gravity alone (as with a pour-over) or full immersion (as with a French press). This combination of steeping and pressure is part of what gives Aeropress coffee its distinctive clean, full body.

What You'll Need

An Aeropress device, Aeropress paper filters (or a reusable metal filter, if you prefer a slightly heavier-bodied cup), freshly ground coffee, a kettle, a scale (helpful but optional), and a stirring implement. Unlike some manual brewers, an Aeropress needs very little additional equipment, which is part of why it's so popular for travel and camping.

A Simple Standard Recipe

A commonly used starting point is roughly 15-17g of coffee to 200-250ml of water, ground medium-fine, with water just off the boil (around 85-92°C). Add the coffee and water, stir gently, let it steep for 1-2 minutes, then press slowly and steadily for about 20-30 seconds. From there, adjusting grind size, steep time or water ratio lets you fine-tune strength and flavour to taste.

Standard Method vs Inverted Method

The "standard" method brews with the Aeropress sitting directly on your cup, filter-side down, throughout brewing. The "inverted" method flips the device upside down during steeping, then flips it back onto the cup just before pressing — this allows for a longer, more controlled steep without any dripping through early. Neither method is definitively "better"; the inverted method simply offers a bit more control over steep time.

Why the Aeropress Is So Adjustable

Because the brewing process combines steeping (like a French press) with filtered pressure (like a pour-over), small variables — grind size, water temperature, steep time, stir intensity and press speed — all meaningfully change the final cup. This makes the Aeropress a favourite for home brewers who enjoy experimenting, since you can chase a specific flavour outcome through small, repeatable adjustments.

Common Aeropress Mistakes

Pressing too hard or too fast can create excessive pressure and a harsh, bitter result — a slow, steady press almost always tastes better. Using coffee ground too fine can also make pressing difficult and lead to over-extraction. Finally, using water that's too hot (straight off the boil) can scorch the coffee slightly, so letting the kettle sit for a minute after boiling is a simple, worthwhile habit.

Common Misunderstandings

A common myth is that the Aeropress makes a version of espresso — while it does produce a concentrated, full-bodied cup, it doesn't use anywhere near enough pressure to be a true espresso, and it isn't a substitute for one. Another myth is that there's only one "correct" Aeropress recipe — in reality, part of its appeal is that there's no single standard method, and enthusiasts often develop and share their own preferred variations.

How This Fits Alongside Amici's Other Brewing Guides

If you're deciding between manual brewers, our French press guide and our guide on making good coffee without a machine cover other approachable manual methods worth comparing against the Aeropress.

Why Choose Amici Coffee?

Amici Coffee is an independent UK coffee business with six carefully selected coffees, each with clear origin and tasting information rather than vague blend descriptions. Beans are roasted in partnership with a certified B Corp speciality coffee roasting partner that holds the highest B Corp score of any coffee roaster we work with — a genuinely world-leading, global leader in ethical coffee roasting. You can order online for delivery, visit our café in person, or set up a subscription so your coffee never runs out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aeropress coffee the same as espresso?
No — it produces a concentrated, full-bodied cup, but doesn't use enough pressure to be true espresso.

What's the difference between standard and inverted Aeropress methods?
The inverted method brews upside down for more control over steep time, then flips onto the cup before pressing.

What grind size should I use for Aeropress?
A medium-fine grind is a good starting point, adjusted to taste from there.

Why does my Aeropress coffee taste bitter?
Pressing too hard or fast, or using too fine a grind, are the most common causes of a harsh, bitter cup.

Is the Aeropress good for travel?
Yes — it's compact, lightweight, and needs minimal extra equipment, making it one of the most travel-friendly manual brewers available.

The Bottom Line

The Aeropress's combination of speed, portability and adjustability makes it one of the best manual brewers for both beginners and dedicated home coffee enthusiasts who enjoy fine-tuning their cup.

Explore Amici's speciality coffees and find a cup that suits your taste, or set up a regular delivery so fresh coffee keeps arriving.