AeroPress coffee is made by passing water through coffee using pressure from your hand. Along with the drip coffee maker, it is one of the most popular methods of brewing coffee in the US and also in Europe and even Asia.
While demand for drip coffee makers has declined in recent years, AeroPress brewers are breaking sales records and earning high ratings from coffee lovers and professionals. This is all thanks to AeroPress's compact size, ease of use, and ability to produce high-quality coffee following a variety of recipes. Its only drawback is that it can only brew 1-2 cups of coffee at a time.
Thanks to the AeroPress, you can make not only strong hot coffee, but also cold brew that is pure, clear, and denser than cold brew made in a pour-over.
Want to start making AeroPress cold brew? First you need to decide what coffee beans to use.
Choosing Beans for AeroPress Cold Brew
Any beans will work in an AeroPress—it's all up to your preferences.
- Lovers of strong coffee should use espresso beans and brew the coffee in the AeroPress a little longer than usual. Acidic varieties from Columbia or rich, strong varieties from India will work well.
- For those who like to savor their coffee and make it last, brighter varieties are best. Try beans from Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, etc.
- If you need something universal, or if you like to experiment, try varieties from Central America: Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Your drink will be interesting, bright, and not very strong.
And of course, the AeroPress is great for experimenting. Try different coffee varieties and recipes until you find your perfect match!
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee With the AeroPress
The recipe involves making cold brew concentrate and then adding pure water to make a ready-made cup of cold brew. This is the easiest way to prepare cold brew.
This method is very similar to brewing regular coffee with the AeroPress. The only differences are the ratio of coffee to water, water temperature, and brewing time.
What You Need:
- Freshly roasted coffee beans
- Grinder
- AeroPress
- Clean filtered or bottled water
- AeroPress paper filter
- Mug
- Milk (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making AeroPress Cold Brew Coffee
1. After you've chosen your best coffee beans, weigh 30 grams of beans. Accuracy is very important. Always measure your coffee by weight, not volume. Beans that appear to be the same size may actually vary in weight due to density.
2. Since the coffee will be infused for 24 hours, it is very important that the grind is coarse. Too fine a grind will over-extract the coffee, resulting in unwanted acidity and bitterness.
If you don't want to wait so long, you can always reduce the infusion time by 8, 6, or 4 hours. If you do this, use a finer grind. You may need to experiment a few times to get it just right.
If you can't even wait a few hours, check out this video that shows how to make AeroPress cold brew coffee in just two minutes using a fine espresso grind:
But the highest-quality cold brew will definitely come from a longer infusion time, so we recommend just being patient!
3. Place the AeroPress on a scale, add the ground coffee, and zero out the scale. You need to brew using the inverted method, that is, by placing the piston on the top of the coffee maker and then turning the assembly over. The inverted method has a better effect on the extraction process.
Once the scale has been zeroed, add approximately 132 mL (4.5 fl oz) of room temperature water (59-77°F/15-25°C) to the AeroPress. It's important to use high-quality water when making AeroPress cold brew. We recommend using bottled water with a mineralization of 100mg/L (anywhere between 75 and 175 mg/L is okay). If you want to use tap water, filter it first.
4. Gently stir the entire contents of the AeroPress with a spoon so that the coffee grounds are completely soaked in the water.
5. Cover the AeroPress with something to keep out dust, dirt, odors, etc.
6. AeroPress cold brew should be infused at room temperature. You don't need to put the AeroPress in the refrigerator—this will further slow the extraction process. Place the AeroPress in a dark place out of direct sunlight, as sunlight can spoil the taste of the drink.
7. Wait 12-24 hours.
8. After 24 hours, your coffee will be completely extracted. Before pouring your concentrate into cups, rinse the paper filter and put it over the opening of the inverted AeroPress. This will ensure no coffee grounds get into your drink.
Then turn the AeroPress over, place it on a cup, and gently push the plunger so that all the concentrate pours into the cup.
9. Your cold brew coffee is ready to drink! You should dilute the concentrate with cold water or milk in a 1:1 ratio. Add syrup or cream if desired.
Now enjoy your refreshing, soft, full-bodied cup of cold brew. Its light acidity will be a pleasant surprise, and the drink is so tasty you don't even need to add sugar or other garnishes.
AeroPress Iced Coffee
If you want to enjoy cold coffee without a long wait, then the second option is to prepare the AeroPress coffee as usual, but pour the strong coffee directly over ice.
Check out this video for an overview:
This method of preparation requires a medium-coarse grind and 16 grams of ground coffee per serving.
Use hot water (185°F/85°C) for brewing and cold water for diluting the concentrate.
The brewing process takes less than two minutes.
As for the taste, you get a delicious, balanced iced coffee without bitterness. It's a slightly less intense drink than AeroPress cold brew.
And you can brew this drink anywhere: at home or even during a picnic or while camping.
What You Need:
- Freshly roasted coffee beans
- Grinder
- AeroPress
- Clean filtered or bottled hot and cold water
- AeroPress paper filter
- Mug
- Ice cubes
- Milk (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the equipment. The coffee will be brewed using the standard method (not inverted). Make sure the inside of the AeroPress is clean and dry, then install the filter. Which type of filter you choose depends on individual preferences. For example, paper can produce a cleaner and lighter drink, while metal will allow oils to pass through and give a more aromatic, full-bodied coffee. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Choose the right coffee. Almost any variety or blend will work. However, experts advise sticking to medium-coarse grinds and medium roasts. Since the coffee will be brewed using hot water, these grinds will very quickly give the coffee all its flavor and aroma. As for the dosage, it is best to stick to the standard here: 16 grams of coffee per 8 oz glass. Add the grounds to the AeroPress.
3. Add hot water. Fill the AeroPress up to the "2" mark (about 132 mL) and stir for 40-60 seconds to mix the water and coffee grounds.
4. Gently lower the piston. If you feel too much resistance, stop pushing for 10-15 seconds before continuing. Pour all the coffee into the cup with ice.
5. Add the remaining water. Add 108 mL of ice-cold water.
6. Your iced coffee with AeroPress is ready, and it's just as good as its hot counterpart. There's no need to add anything—just enjoy the natural flavor.
AeroPress Cold Drip Coffee
If you like cold coffee but the previous two cold brew recipes seem too boring or uninteresting. then take a closer look at the cold drip method.
Watch this video for an overview:
The original cold drip device is large and looks very similar to steampunk equipment from science fiction films. It takes up so much space and is quite expensive, so the AeroPress is a great alternative.
Unlike with the cold brew method, the coffee is not infused for a long period of time; instead, cold water drips through the coffee layer and the coffee is slowly extracted drop by drop.
Just follow the instructions step-by-step and you will succeed.
What You Need:
- Freshly roasted coffee beans
- Grinder (manual)
- AeroPress
- AeroPress paper filter, moistened
- Clean cold water
- Ice cubes
- Plastic bottle
- Decanter or container
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Rinse the paper filter and place it in the cover of the AeroPress. By washing the filter, you get rid of the papery taste.
2. Screw the cap onto the AeroPress and place it on the decanter. The decanter should be large (0.5-1 liter).
3. Grind 50 grams of coffee and add to the AeroPress. A coarse grind is recommended. You can experiment with the grind size to find your perfect flavor.
4. Tap the AeroPress lightly to level the coffee grounds into the bottom. Place a paper filter on top of the coffee. It will help distribute the water evenly.
5. Take an empty plastic bottle and cut off the bottom while leaving the cap on.
6. Place the bottle (cap down) on the AeroPress. Pour 600 mL of cold water into the bottle. Another option is to put 300 g of ice in a bottle and add 300 mL of water.
7. By slightly unscrewing the lid, you can increase the drip rate. It should be about 1 drop per second. It sounds complicated, but it's actually very simple.
8. Check every 15 minutes until all the water has drained through the coffee. It doesn't usually take more than 2 hours.
9. After complete extraction, you can enjoy your delicious cold drip coffee with a pleasantly rich taste.
Use PUCK PUCK!
If you like the cold drip method, then you should consider optimizing the brewing process. The Aeropress itself is a very handy device, and if you add a special adapter called the PUCK PUCK, it will increase your chances of getting the perfect cup of coffee.
The adapter fits neatly onto the top of your Aeropress and connects to a bottle or any other container, allowing you to automatically control the drip rate through a dedicated app. You won't even have to check on the coffee while it's brewing.
Conclusion
Feel free to try all the methods we described to see which one you prefer when preparing cold coffee on a hot summer day. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Be sure to follow the steps in each method, as making coffee with AeroPress is all about the details. Brewing time is one of the most important factors affecting your drink.
Another important thing to focus on is grind size. When preparing a cold drink using the traditional method, use the coarse grind that is commonly used for cold drinks.
