Slow Pour brew guide
How to brew AeroPress coffee
Use 15 g of coffee ground medium-fine and 220 g of water at 90°C. Pour it all in, stir, put the plunger in to hold the water, steep until 2:00, then press slowly for about 30 seconds.
What you need
- An AeroPress or similar press, with its paper filters
- A sturdy mug
- A kettle, a scale and a timer
- A burr grinder
The recipe
A press steeps the coffee and then pushes it through a paper filter, so it’s forgiving: the grind and the pour matter less than with a dripper. These numbers make one mug.
- Coffee: 15 g
- Water: 220 g
- Ratio: 1:14.7
- Grind: medium-fine (about 400 to 600 microns, like table salt)
- Water temperature: 90°C (194°F)
- Total time: about 2:30
- Makes: about 190 ml
Step by step
Zero the scale with the coffee in, then follow along. The times are from your first pour.
- Heat the water to 90°C
- Put a paper in the cap, rinse it and twist the cap on
- Stand the press on a sturdy mug
- Grind 15 g, medium-fine, put it in and zero the scale
- 0:00 Pour to 220 grams.
- 0:15 Stir three times.
- 0:25 Put the plunger in, just a centimetre. It holds the water in while it steeps.
- 0:30 Steep.
- 2:00 Press slowly. About thirty seconds. Stop at the hiss.
- 2:30 Done. Enjoy.
Upside down
Many people brew it upside down: the plunger in first, standing on its end, so nothing drips through while it steeps. Then the cap goes on and you flip it onto the mug. It gives you full control over the steeping time, but take care when you flip it. The standard way above is simpler and safer.
If it doesn’t taste right
Sour or thin means the water didn’t take enough from the coffee: grind a step finer next time. Bitter or harsh means it took too much: grind a step coarser. Weak means you need a little more coffee for the same water; too strong, a little more water. Change one thing at a time so you learn what each one does.
Questions
Why is it hard to press?
The grind is too fine, or you’re pressing too fast. Grind a little coarser and press gently: about 30 seconds is right.
Can AeroPress make espresso?
It makes a strong, concentrated coffee, but not true espresso, which needs much higher pressure. Use less water and a finer grind for a short, strong cup.
Why stop pressing at the hiss?
The hiss is air pushing through the wet grounds. Pressing on squeezes out bitter, dry flavours.