How To Brew: Aeropress (Filter + Espresso)

An extremely versatile piece of brewing equipment, we’re going to look at a basic espresso style recipe and a filter recipe. For filter we are going to use the inverted technique which is explained below, for espresso we will use the standard technique where the cap and filter are in place from the beginning. 

Inverted Aeropress technique

With the plunger inserted 5-8mm into the chamber, place the Aeropress with the plunger on the bench. This will mean you brew inside the chamber, open top, then place the cap and filter on later before flipping it onto your cup/carafe. 

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Filter

15g Medium ground coffee

200ml water 95 degrees celcius

2min 30 seconds total brew time

  1. Boil the kettle, then allow it to sit for a minute off boil

  2. Grind 15g of coffee to a medium coarseness

  3. With the aero press in the inverted position, place the ground coffee into the chamber, level the bed of coffee and slowly pour 200ml 95 deg water for 15-20 seconds

  4. Before you reach the 30 second mark, stir the bed of coffee front to back, side to side

  5. At this point, rinse your filter paper in the cap (or rinse your metal filter if you’re using one)

  6. At the 2 minute mark, place your filter cap on the top of the chamber and press down gently to release the excess air.

  7. Quickly (but not too quickly) invert the aero press so the filter is facing into your cup, and begin to press gently for a 30 second extraction.

  8. Remove the aeropress and give the coffee a stir in the cup to avoid *stratification

TIPS:
- When stirring in the chamber (step 4), use 4 movements only, or else you’ll agitate the bed too much, possibly resulting in an uneven extraction. Once up and down, once side to side.

  • *(step 8) stratification occurs during most coffee brewing methods where the water passes through a bed of coffee. This means is the water that passes through first, will be extracting differently to the water passing through last. By stirring the final brew, you’re combining all of the parts of the extraction, giving you a better overall flavour balance.


Espresso Style

14g fine ground coffee

50-60ml 90 degrees celcius water

1min total brew time

  1. Boil the kettle, let it sit off boil for approx 2 minutes

  2. Finely grind 14g coffee suitable for espresso

  3. Rinse the cap and filter paper, attach to the chamber and place over your cup in the standard orientation

4. Place the ground coffee in the chamber, and level out the bed by palming the sides

5. Pour 50-60ml 90 deg water, and stir for 15 seconds

6. Insert plunger and extract gently for 25-30 seconds, this should give you 40ml liquid espresso which is perfect for a standard 200-250ml coffee cup 

TIPS

This is a great option for quick, espresso based coffee at home or on the road, and is suitable for making milk based coffees, long blacks or drinking it as an espresso  

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