The History: From Toy to Tool- The AeroPress
Unlike every other method in our guide, the AeroPress wasn’t born in a laboratory or an ancient coffeehouse—it was born in a toy factory. Invented by Alan Adler (the mastermind behind the Aerobie flying ring), the AeroPress was designed to solve a simple problem: how to make a single, high-quality cup of coffee without the bitterness of a percolator or the mess of a French Press. Today, it is so respected that it has its own World Championship.
The Science: The Best of Both Worlds
The AeroPress is a hybrid. It uses Immersion (like a French Press) to extract body and sweetness, but finishes with Pressure (like Espresso) to force the coffee through a paper filter.
The Result: An incredibly clean, concentrated, and smooth cup. Because the brew time is so short, it is naturally lower in acid than almost any other method.
The Master Technique: The “Inverted” Method
While the official instructions are great, the “Inverted Method” is the favorite of professionals because it gives you total control over the steep time.
While the official instructions are great, the “Inverted Method” is the favorite of professionals because it gives you total control over the steep time.
The Setup: Put the AeroPress together and stand it upside down on the plunger.
The Ratio: 15g of medium-fine coffee to 240g of water.
The Steep: Add your water (85°C to 90°C) and stir gently. Let it sit for 2 minutes.
The Flip: Screw on the cap (with a rinsed paper filter), quickly flip it onto your mug.
The Plunge: Press down slowly and steadily.
The “Hiss”: Stop pressing as soon as you hear the “hiss” of air reaching the bottom. This prevents the very last, bitter oils from entering your cup.
Costa Rica: The honey-processed beans from here offer a sweetness that the AeroPress extracts beautifully without the bitterness.
Honduras: Known for “clean” but fruity profiles that the AeroPress highlights perfectly in a quick brew.
The Contemporary Traveler
“The AeroPress is the only method in our series that didn’t exist when the ‘Old Brown’ roasts were being served in London. However, its portability makes it the modern traveler’s essential. It is the bridge between the historical rituals we’ve studied and the fast-paced precision of the 21st century.”
“Courtesy of James Hoffmann. A deeper look at the ‘AeroPress’ technique mentioned above.”