E6: Coffee Smarter - Aeropress Brewer

E6: Coffee Smarter - Aeropress Brewer

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Overall, I’m going to say the Aeropress is an accessible brewer, even for beginners, and it offers a full bodied flavor that brings out the rich flavors of a coffee bean. As someone who travels and camps I appreciate how easy it is to pack, clean, and brew great cups of coffee.

SIMPLE HOW-TO: Traditional Method

An every-time disclaimer: Be sure to pour the proper ratio of water to coffee grinds. For example, if using a 1:15 ratio, 20 grams of coffee would require 300 grams of water to be brewed properly. You may prefer a different ratio, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Generally, 1:15 up to 1:18 are the preferred coffee-to-water ratios to produce enjoyable cups of coffee.

For best results, grind whole beans with a burr grinder immediately before brewing.*

1. Grind coffee medium-fine.
2. Add round filter to grate and screw onto cylinder. Add grinds.
3. Pour in enough hot water to just cover the grinds, stir, and let sit for 30 seconds. I use a six rotations of the paddle system.
4. Add remaining hot water. Put plunger in the top of the cylinder creating a seal. Let coffee brew for 2 minutes.
5. Gently press down on plunger pushing coffee into your mug.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Aeropress is an immersion coffee brewing device meaning that the grinds are submerged or immersed in the water during the flavor extraction. 

• It has a unique history. It was invented by Alan Adler, a professor of engineering at Stanford. He also invented the aerobie, the flying disc with the hole cut out of it you might see thrown around on the quad at a college campus.

• It is popular for those who are drinking their coffee outdoors due to the speedy brewing recipes, the lightweight and durable design, and because it is easy to clean.

• There are two popular methods to using the Aeropress:

  • The Traditional Method is recommended by Aeropress.

  • The Inverted Method has been popularized by users and subsequently adoped by Aeropress to prevent any dripping during the brew process. It’s literally the same process, just upside-down.
    

• Recipes can be found with tighter water to coffee ratios when attempting to brew a more espresso-like coffee. We generally recommend a range of 1 gram coffee grind to 15-17 grams of water (1:15 - 1:17), but some Aeropress recipes call for as tight as a 1:10 ratio.

• The Aeropress and the smaller more travel friendly version the Aeropress Go are moderately affordable coffee brewers at $35-40. The round filters are cheap. I bought a pack of 350 filters for only $8.

• WARNING: Grind size is especially important. If using a finer grind, be careful when pressing down on the press. That’s hot, hot, hot water in that tube!

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