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Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

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bassclefjava
Senior Member

Joined: 27 Jul 2010
Posts: 10
Location: Indiana, PA
Expertise: I love coffee

Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso
Vac Pot: Aeropress
Roaster: toastmaster popper

Posted Fri Jul 30, 2010, 5:13am Subject: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

First off, I apologize that this is probably a repitition of a question asked somewhere else, but the 300+ pages of Aeropress info on here is daunting--awesome... but daunting. I have read most of the threads and pages on the AP here on CoffeeGeek, but it makes my head spin a little. I was wondering if I could ask for a synthesis of the effects of the multiple variables available for control on an AP. What would variations of the following parameters (in other words, finer grind = X, coarser grind = Y; cooler water = X, hotter water = Y): Grind Size Water Temperature Amount of Grounds Time of steeping/stirring/etc... Any other variable I missed Thanks in advance. I am loving my 2-day old AP, but the number of variables available to me is almost overwhelming. Where to start?!?!

wbaguhn
Senior Member

Joined: 16 Feb 2009
Posts: 980
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Ponte Vecchio Lusso
Grinder: Cunill Tranquilo, Baratza...
Vac Pot: Cory DR
Drip: Vietnamese gadget, AeroPress
Roaster: Behmor

Posted Fri Jul 30, 2010, 5:48am Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

Start with the instructions on the package. (This is almost always a good starting point for any product.) Finer grind makes it press a little slower, but with a more intense extraction. Coarser grind presses faster. I usually use a pretty fine grind - a little coarser than an espresso grind, around a moka pot grind. For stir time, longer is stronger. The longest I go is typically 30 or 45 seconds. If the coffee is really fresh, using more than 3 scoops made it overflow due to bloom. I haven't intentionally played with water temperature.

al_bongo
Senior Member

Joined: 26 Aug 2008
Posts: 345
Location: Scotland
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Starbucks Barista
Grinder: Solis 166/Iberital MC2
Vac Pot: Cona
Drip: Chemex/Melitta

Posted Fri Jul 30, 2010, 8:28am Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

Not tried this, but when I next dig mine out I fancy this method http://timwendelboe.no/resources/brewing-guide/aeropress/ Not a great fan of the brew following the manufacturers instructions.

Master_Hobbit
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Jan 2009
Posts: 45
Location: Tampa, FL
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Mypressi Twist v1
Grinder: Bartaza Vario
Vac Pot: Yama 3-cup Stove Top
Drip: Chemex; Hario V60

Posted Sat Jul 31, 2010, 10:11am Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

The best instructions I've found come out of the world aeropress championship ( Recipies here ) and that typically runs for a strong cup, using the whole press and the inverted method. I've had good results from every method on there I've tried. That said, if the coffee isn't threatening to peel the enamel off of my teeth, I usually think it's too weak.

MikeX
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Jan 2010
Posts: 24
Location: NJ
Expertise: I love coffee

Grinder: Baratza Maestro
Vac Pot: Aeropress
Roaster: Behmor

Posted Sun Aug 1, 2010, 8:28am Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

This is the great thing about the Aeropress; you have pretty much unlimited parameters. I've found I have to vary these parameters based on the coffee I'm brewing; every bean is different. My baseline is inverted Aeropress, coffee ground a couple of clicks finer than drip on my Baratza, water poured into the press at 200F, let grounds soak for 15-20sec then stir for 10 sec and finally press for 15 sec. The beans I'm brewing now taste much better with a quick steeping and press; they don't like anything longer than a 10sec steep. I've had other beans that like 30-45 sec steeps and have even done 2min steep times with no ill affects on some beans. More steep time, hotter water and finer grinds all attribute to stronger coffee and more bitterness. It will take time to get a feel for where you like your coffee and what works best for the bean you are using. I've used the recommended 175F temp the manufacturer recommends but found I preferred the flavor of 195-205F water temp. I also tend to prefer a little longer steep time than they recommend for most coffees. If you think that is a lot of options, try some different filter types and you will really drive yourself nuts. I've cut a gold filter with great success and now have French Press like coffee when the mood strikes. I love the fact that I can switch filters on the fly in the mornings and get such different cups of coffee from the same beans.

Simpelst
Senior Member

Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 10
Location: Amsterdam
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Delonghi Café Treviso.
Grinder: Tomado blade grinder.
Drip: Krups Typ 264 A & Aeropress.

Posted Sun Aug 1, 2010, 3:48pm Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

I've experimented with different coffee to water ratios and I feel the best ratio is amount of cups multiplied with 0.75. This for the Aeropress means 2 times 0.75 = 1.5 scoop of coffee. I don't use the Aeropress scoop by the way. If you only fill the Aeropress container to number 2 instead of number 4 you're going to use 0.75 times 1 scoop otherwise 2 times 0.75. This ratios will also work well for drip coffee. Decide how much coffee you will drink, pour it into your kettle and heat the water. When your water begins to boil start grinding your coffee. Pour the hot water over the coffee and stir it for 10 seconds. Push the water trough the filter in about 30 seconds. Use a stopwatch for convenience. You can also make some nice fresh tea with the Aeropress.

fajimr
Senior Member

Joined: 11 Jul 2006
Posts: 148
Location: Utah
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Elektra MCaL, Elektra T1...
Grinder: SJ for espresso & Virtuoso...
Vac Pot: Yup
Drip: nope- prefer press pot
Roaster: SC/TO

Posted Sun Aug 1, 2010, 7:50pm
Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

MikeX Said:

, coffee ground a couple of clicks finer than drip on my Baratza.

Posted August 1, 2010 link

just for reference, what setting is this on the baratza?

thanks
jim

Posted Tue Aug 3, 2010, 6:55pm Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

Thanks so much for all the help. It has been a blast playing around with the AP. I still don't think I have found "my brew" yet. I have tried the traditional and the inverted method. So far, I have found that I prefer the upright (not inverted) method. For me, there is just too much acidity in the inverted method. Could this mean that I am doing it wrong? I use two scoops and I have been using hotter water. I have tried stirring/steeping for anywhere between 45 and 80 sec. I know that I should get some more acidity this way, but it seems to be much stronger than a clover, which I have had many times. Any suggestions, or is this what I should expect?

clumeng
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 342
Location: Ann Arbor
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Vivaldi II
Grinder: Vario, Maestro, Pharos
Vac Pot: Aeropress
Drip: Technivorm, Chemex

Posted Tue Aug 3, 2010, 8:43pm Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

A scale is geeky but it will improve your consistency as you vary the grind, time and water temp. If anything try to grind a bit finer or even decrease your brew time. Obviously the beans are important and you can really get fresh beans to pop with the AP. I had an amazing cup this AM with Guatamala Finca Pampojila from 49th Parallel - 20g, fine ground (a bit coarser than espresso but finer than drip), inverted with short vigorous stir and steep time of around 20-25 sec (was distracted at the time) but I know it was pretty short. Really smooth with lots of florals and very little acidity.

Simpelst
Senior Member

Posted Thu Aug 5, 2010, 1:20pm
Subject: Re: Brewing parameters for an Aeropress

bassclefjava Said:

Thanks so much for all the help. It has been a blast playing around with the AP. I still don't think I have found "my brew" yet. I have tried the traditional and the inverted method. So far, I have found that I prefer the upright (not inverted) method. For me, there is just too much acidity in the inverted method. Could this mean that I am doing it wrong? I use two scoops and I have been using hotter water. I have tried stirring/steeping for anywhere between 45 and 80 sec. I know that I should get some more acidity this way, but it seems to be much stronger than a clover, which I have had many times. Any suggestions, or is this what I should expect?

Posted August 3, 2010 link

The number 4 on the Aeropress corresponds with two small cups of coffee. So in your case if you fill the container till the number 4 you should use 2 times 0.75 = 1.5 scoop of coffee. When you want to make for example 10 cups of coffee you don't have to use five paper filters and extract the coffee 5 times. You just fill the Aeropress 5 times till the number 4 and pour this water in your kettle to boil it. Now you multiply the amount of cups which is 10 with amount of coffeescoops which is 0.75. When the water starts to boil grind 10 times 0.75 = 7.5 scoops of coffee. Pour the coffee into the Aeropress and pour the hot water till the water reaches the number 4. Now stir the substance for a while and push the coffee and the water trough the filter into a thermos. Now remove the Aeropress and pour the remaining hot water into the thermos. This will give you a balanced taste without the need to push the water and coffee 5 times trough 5 different filters.

So the Aeropress is a handy tool for a single person, but even if you have guests there's no need to use anything else for an easy, fast and nice fresh coffee. Try this and let me know. The Aeropress is my weapon of choice and I don't use the drip coffee or moka express method anymore. I even take it with me when I go to my parents to make them nice coffee. I only like my coffee from the Aeropress or an excellent Espresso. So when there's no excellent Espresso nearby the Aeropress is my favourite. I've even tried it several times with my own constructed blend and it was fantastic.

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