The short answer: one recipe to start
Use 15 g of medium-fine coffee (slightly finer than table salt), 200 g of water at 200 °F (93 °C), steep for 1 minute, then press for 30 seconds. That’s a 1:13 ratio that produces a strong, clean cup you can drink straight or dilute with hot water for an Americano-style drink.
The AeroPress is the most forgiving brewer you can own — small changes in grind, time, and ratio let you swing from espresso-style concentrate to a light filter cup without buying new gear.
What you need
• AeroPress (original or Clear) with a paper or metal filter.
• Coffee: 15 g whole bean, ground medium-fine (slightly finer than drip).
• Water: 200 g at 200 °F / 93 °C. A thermometer or temperature-controlled kettle helps, but 30 seconds off the boil is close enough.
• Scale and timer — or use the Brew Ratio Calculator to convert your dose to scoops if you don’t have a scale.
• Mug to brew into and a stirring paddle or spoon.
Standard method: step by step
1. Prep: Place a paper filter in the cap, rinse it with hot water, and lock the cap onto the chamber. Set the chamber on your mug, filter-side down.
2. Add coffee: Pour 15 g of ground coffee into the chamber.
3. Pour water: Start your timer and pour 200 g of water in a steady stream, making sure all the grounds are wet. This takes about 10 seconds.
4. Stir: Give the slurry 3–4 gentle stirs with the paddle.
5. Steep: Insert the plunger just inside the top of the chamber to create a seal (this stops dripping). Wait until 1:00 on your timer.
6. Press: Remove from the mug, place back, and press the plunger down slowly and steadily for 25–30 seconds. Stop when you hear a hiss.
7. Serve: You have roughly 170–180 ml of strong coffee. Drink it as-is, or add 50–80 ml of hot water for a longer cup.
Inverted method (and when to use it)
The inverted method flips the AeroPress upside down so coffee steeps without dripping through the filter. It’s popular for longer steep times and for getting a more immersion-style body.
How: Insert the plunger about 1 cm into the chamber. Flip it so the plunger is on the bottom. Add coffee, pour water, stir, steep for 1:30–2:00. Lock the filter cap on, flip the whole thing onto your mug, and press.
The inverted method produces a slightly heavier body and lets you steep longer without losing liquid. It’s a small difference — try both and keep whichever you prefer.
Dialing in: what to change
The AeroPress rewards small adjustments:
• Too bitter or harsh? Grind coarser or shorten the steep by 15 seconds.
• Too sour or thin? Grind finer or add 15 seconds to the steep.
• Want it stronger? Increase the dose to 17–18 g and keep the water at 200 g (ratio ≈1:11).
• Want a lighter cup? Use 12 g of coffee for 200 g of water (ratio ≈1:17).
Track what works with the Brew Ratio Calculator. Once you have a recipe you love, it’s perfectly repeatable.