Brew Guide · 7 min read

AeroPress: 3 Recipes from Beginner to Pro

The AeroPress is the most versatile brewer ever made. Here are three recipes that cover the full range — from your first brew to competition level.

Why the AeroPress is Special

Invented in 2005 by Alan Adler (who also invented the Aerobie frisbee), the AeroPress is a completely unique brew device. It combines immersion brewing with pressure filtration, which means it can produce everything from a clean, tea-like cup to a concentrated espresso-style shot — depending on your recipe.

It's also forgiving. Unlike a V60, where a 10-second timing mistake changes the cup, the AeroPress gives you a wide margin of error. That makes it perfect for learning, traveling, and experimenting.

🧳 Travel-friendly Unbreakable, compact, brews anywhere
⏱️ 1–2 minutes Fastest quality brew method
🧹 Easy cleanup Pop the puck, rinse, done
🎯 Forgiving Hard to make a bad cup

Recipe 1: The Classic (Beginner)

This is the standard method described in the AeroPress manual. It's simple, consistent, and produces a clean cup with medium body.

Beginner Classic Method
15 gCoffee
200 mlWater
85°CTemp
MediumGrind
1:30Time
1 Place a filter in the cap and rinse with hot water. Attach to AeroPress.
2 Set AeroPress on your mug (normal orientation). Add 15g of coffee.
3 Start timer. Pour 200ml of 85°C water in 10 seconds.
4 Stir 3 times. Insert the plunger to create a seal (prevents dripping).
5 At 1:00, press slowly and steadily for 30 seconds. Stop when you hear a hiss.

Recipe 2: The Inverted (Intermediate)

The inverted method flips the AeroPress upside down during steeping. This gives you full control over steep time since no coffee drips through while you wait. It produces a richer, more full-bodied cup.

Intermediate Inverted Method
17 gCoffee
220 mlWater
90°CTemp
Medium-fineGrind
2:00Time
1 Insert the plunger about 1cm into the chamber. Flip upside down so the plunger is on the bottom.
2 Add 17g of medium-fine coffee.
3 Start timer. Pour 220ml of 90°C water. Stir 5 times.
4 At 1:30, attach the cap with a rinsed filter. Carefully flip onto your mug.
5 Press slowly for 30 seconds. The total brew is 2:00.
⚠️
Careful with the flip. The inverted method involves flipping a cylinder of hot liquid. Keep a firm grip on both the mug and the AeroPress, and flip in one confident motion. A hesitant flip is how spills happen.

Recipe 3: Championship Style (Advanced)

Inspired by winning recipes from the World AeroPress Championship. This uses a finer grind, lower temperature, and a longer steep to extract maximum sweetness and complexity. The result is a concentrated, syrupy shot that tastes like a great espresso.

Advanced Championship Style
20 gCoffee
200 mlWater
80°CTemp
FineGrind
3:30Time
1 Inverted position. Add 20g of finely ground coffee.
2 Pour 60ml of 80°C water. Stir vigorously for 10 seconds. This is your bloom.
3 At 0:30, pour remaining 140ml. Stir once gently.
4 Cap with two paper filters (stacked) for extra clarity. Wait until 3:00.
5 Flip and press very slowly — 30 seconds minimum. The slow press maximizes extraction.
6 Dilute with 50ml hot water if desired. Taste and adjust.

Comparing the Three

Classic Inverted Championship
Body
Clarity
Sweetness
Difficulty

Tips for All Recipes

  • Use fresh coffee. The AeroPress is sensitive to stale beans — more so than French press. Within 4 weeks of roast is ideal.
  • Wet the filter. Always rinse paper filters before brewing. It removes paper taste and helps the filter seal properly.
  • Don't press too hard. If you need to push hard, your grind is too fine. The press should feel like pushing a syringe — firm but smooth.
  • Experiment with temperature. The AeroPress manual says 80°C, many competitors use 85–92°C. There's no wrong answer — it depends on the bean.
  • Save your recipes. When you find a combination that works, log it. The AeroPress is so versatile that you can easily forget what produced that incredible cup last week.