How to use an AeroPress (Two Easy Ways!)

crazy by Editorial Staff | Updated on April 24th, 2023

Completing tasks in such a fast-paced world with a lot of competition at every step requires hard work, determination, and sacrificed sleep. However, everyone has their way of keeping up with all this workload.


Similarly, a good couple of cups of coffee makes it possible to go through the day without getting mentally exhausted. Luckily for thousands of people like me and me, AeroPress has made it easier to brew a delicious cup of coffee in just a few minutes.

How to use an AeroPress (Two Easy Ways!)

What is the AeroPress?

The AeroPress is a coffee the brewing machine invented by Alan Adler, the President of Aerobie, in 2005. It’s a simple device consisting primarily of 2 chambers made of plastic. The bigger chamber is where the brewing takes place and has a filter cap screwed at the bottom.

The second chamber fits in the larger one and presses the brewed coffee through the filter and finally into the cup. Using an AeroPress is just as simple, giving it a significant advantage over other brewing machines.

Why should you choose Aeropress?

The Aeropress is a simple and effortless device to brew coffee. But one may think that is it worth it to spend $30 on such a machine? Well, I’d love to explain why it is probably the best deal you can ever get.

Let’s start with its advantages, shall we?

  1. First of all, the $30 retail price includes a year’s supply of filters with it. Also, it is cheaper too as compared to many other brewing machines. If you consider the value over money, you’d be surprised how well worth it is.
  2. It’s a simple and easy way to brew the perfect coffee. It doesn’t require a professional to make an excellent-tasting coffee anymore. All you need to do is pour and push!
  3. The brewing time is just under two minutes. This is probably the fastest method of making an excellent cup of coffee without any hassle (best for people who don’t have much time to spend over a cup of coffee).
  4. It’s super convenient and portable too! You can carry it around to your workplace or even to your college!
  5. It’s made up of highly durable plastic, and the entire machine has no glass material. This means you don’t have to worry about it breaking.
  6. Lastly, the cleanup is as simple as the brewing is. All you need to do is press out the puck of compressed grounds in the dustbin and give the whole thing a quick wash, and you’re good to go!

I know that by now, you must be wondering that with all these pros, there must also be some cons to this wonderful machine. With a heavy heart, I’d like to tell you that it sure does. As you probably know that everything good comes with a cost.

As far as the cons are concerned, firstly, it is not the fanciest brewing machine you’ll come across. There are other much better-looking machines out there. But, would you instead prefer an excellent-tasting coffee or a more beautiful machine? I think we all know the answer to that! Other than this, this coffee brewing machine can only make a maximum of 2 cups in one go.

Well, it’s not the best machine for making coffee for a group of people. But considering the price tag and portability, it is still one of the best deals you will get. It’s probably the best thing for a college student or maybe a hardworking employee.

Where can you buy one?

Aeropress can be bought online from various online stores such as Amazon, Target, and its official website. In addition, the machine has a few accessories: a plunger, a chamber, a seal, a filter cap, a funnel, a filter holder, a scoop, and a stirrer.

The best bang for your buck AeroPress on Amazon

The best of the best

 AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker with Tote Bag and 350 Additional Filters - Quickly Makes Delicious Coffee without Bitterness - 1 to 3 Cups Per Press

Aeropress replacement filter

Aeropress reusable metal filter

What to keep in mind when making an AeroPress coffee?

Brewing coffee using this magnificent machine is a piece of cake. However, there are some things that you must keep in mind to make the perfect cup of coffee. First, make sure that the water is not boiling. Keep the water temperature hot, but make sure it is not boiling. The temperature recommended by the maker of AeroPress is 175°F, so ensure you are not too far off from this.

Furthermore, it is recommended that you have quality coffee beans that have been roasted recently. Also, make sure you have a grinder with you too! It is not essential to have an expensive one. A cheaper grinder would do just fine.

So now that we are almost prepared to make the perfect cup of coffee, I’d now love to guide you on how to use AeroPress to make a pleasant-tasting cup of coffee. Also, just for your knowledge, making a cup of coffee is way less time consuming than explaining how to make it.

So don’t get all worried about how long it is. When you start making it, it will not take more than a few minutes of your time!

Method 1 (The traditional method):

Makes:

1 to 2 cups

Ingredients:

  • Water
  • Coffee beans

What you will need:

  • Kettle or a stove
  • AeroPress and its accessories
  • Coffee grinder
  • Mug or a small jug
  • Funnel (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Grind the coffee beans: coarsely grind 2 scoops of fresh coffee beans. Grind them until fine.
  2. Heat the water: boil your water and then let it cool down till it is around 175°F.
  3. Moisturise the filter: assemble the AeroPress with the filter inside the cap. Place the cup under it and pour a bit of warm water on it to make the filter wet.
  4. Add the coffee: put the ground coffee into the chamber depending on how much you need.
  5. Add water: gently add the hot water into the chamber and make sure you don’t hurt yourself. Use a funnel if necessary, to avoid any injuries. Make sure you don’t overfill the chamber. It is recommended you stay below level 4 marked on the chamber.
  6. Stir: once the water is poured, stir it gently and for around 10-15 seconds.
  7. Press: once the solution is stirred, press the plunger slowly and gently into the chamber until you hear a long hissing sound.
  8. Taste: once the coffee is poured down in your cup, taste it. If you think it is too strong, as AeroPress makes a more concentrated coffee than a regular one, add some more water to it, and you’re good to go.

So this was the traditional method of making a good cup of coffee within a couple of minutes. It’s pretty easy and convenient once you practically do it. Now let’s move on to the second method, which is known as the Reverse/Upside-DownMethod.

Method 2 (Reverse Method):

Makes:

  • 1-2 cups

Ingredients:

  • Water
  • Coffee Beans

What you will need:

  • Kettle or a stove
  • AeroPress and its accessories
  • Coffee grinder
  • Mug or a small jug
  • Funnel (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Grind the coffee beans: coarsely grind 2 scoops of fresh coffee beans. Grind them until fine.
  2. Heat the water: boil your water and then let it cool down till it is around 175°F.
  3. Put together the AeroPress upside-down: once you have boiled the water and coffee beans are ready, assemble the Aeropress by putting the plunger in the chamber and then flipping it upside down, making the plunger touch the surface of the table rather than the chamber. Also, make sure you don’t put the cap or the filter on.
  4. Add the coffee: put the ground coffee into the chamber depending on how much you need.
  5. Add the water: pour the hot water until the chamber is almost full. Use a funnel if needed to avoid any injuries.
  6. Stir: use a spoon or the stirrer to stir the solution once.
  7. Steep for a minute: once you have stirred it once, let it steep for a minute as it is (you can adjust the timings from next time onwards if the coffee comes out too strong or too weak for your taste).
  8. Put on the filter: after the minute has passed, carefully put the paper filter in the drain cap on the chamber and screw it tightly.
  9. Moisturize the filter: Once it is on, pours some hot water and rinse it.
  10. Flip the apparatus: once ready, place the mug upside-down on top of the cap and flip the AeroPress upright in one fluent motion.
  11. Press: once the AeroPress is upright, press the plunger gently and slowly as directed above.
  12. Taste: once you have a cup of coffee ready, taste it, and dilute it with more water if needed.

That’s it! You have the perfect cup of coffee right in front of you. As I mentioned earlier, the method seems pretty long, but it is effortless once you do it yourself.

How to clean your AeroPress?

When it comes to cleaning your coffee maker, it is just as easy as brewing a cup of coffee. Once you have made yourself a fantastic cup of coffee, all you need to do is take the filter off of the chamber and then plunge it a couple of times again into the trash. Once done, give it a good rinse and voila! Your AeroPress is ready to be used again!

Also, if you’re wondering whether it is safe to clean the AeroPress in a dishwasher, you need not worry about it. It is entirely safe to clean it in a dishwasher.

How better is the AeroPress as compared to the good old French Press?

So, many of you must be wondering that how good is this new AeroPress as compared to the much older competitor, the French Press. Well, to clarify things, I will give you a short comparison of how the AeroPress holds the upper hand compared with the French Press. Firstly, the AeroPress does not leave any grit or silt in your coffee mug, which, the French Press does.

Moreover, the brewing time on the Aeropress is just 1.5 minutes as compared to 5 minutes on the French Press. Therefore, the AeroPress keeps the coffee hotter as it takes less time to be brewed than the French Press, which often makes the coffee colder than expected.

Last but not least, let’s not forget that the Aeropress can be cleaned easily, which is not the case for the French Press. However, despite all these advantages of the AeroPress over the French Press, there is one area where the French Press leads by far.

You might have guessed if you already use a French Press or are aware of it. It can prepare anywhere between 1-8 cups of coffee at a time, which exceeds the AeroPress quantity of 2.

FAQs

How to accurately measure the water level in AeroPress?

The best way to measure the water level is to look down the chamber right from above the chamber. In case the coffee makes it difficult to judge the water level while pouring in, let the grounds settle and then add water to the desired level.

Does the AeroPress filter contain any Dioxin which is bad for me?

No, the AeroPress filter does not contain any Dioxin. But, yes, Dioxin is bad for you. According to the World Health Organization, dioxin is highly toxic for you.

How Should AeroPress be stored?

Always store your AeroPress with the silicone seal pushed all the way. This ensures there is no compression and makes sure that AeroPress lasts a longer time.

Is AeroPress coffee acidic enough to cause stomach problems?

No. several people report that AeroPress coffee is gentler on their stomach than regular coffee. This is because AeroPress coffee contains only about one-ninth of acidity of French Brewed coffee and one-fifth of drip-brewed coffee.

How to Clean the Seal?

Cleaning the seal is easy. Just use dish soap with hot water. You should also remove the seal and wash it inside out periodically.

Is the Seal in the AeroPress harmful for my health?

No, the seals in the AeroPress are made from thermoplastic elastomer, which the FDA and the EU approve. So, you do not have to worry.

Does the AeroPress Brewed Coffee contain less caffeine?

No. It has the same level of caffeine. The only difference is that the coffee brewed in AeroPress is not as bitter as that brewed from others. Perhaps that is what makes people feel that it has less caffeine.

In a nutshell

AeroPress, compared to most other brewing machines, is a much faster, reliable and easier method of making the perfect cup of coffee, without sacrificing the quality. As a result, it is an ideal and a very convenient gadget for coffee lovers.

Whether you spend your time at home, love traveling, live in a hostel, or spend most of your time at your office, this device is what you need to be able to prepare a cup of coffee on the go. Also, this $30 coffee brewer can be the perfect gift for a coffee lover.

So, to keep up with this fast-paced world, make sure you don’t tire yourself and keep your mind fresh all the time. Get yourself an AeroPress coffee brewing machine and make yourself the perfect cup of coffee anywhere and any time.

How to brew using aeropress

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.

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Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.