AeroPress vs French Press — which should I get?

French Press for big servings and full body. AeroPress for a single cup, more clarity, and travel. They're complementary, not competitors.

Do I need a special grinder?

AeroPress is forgiving — even a hand grinder works. The pressure makes up for grind imperfections.

Can I make espresso with an AeroPress?

Espresso-LIKE, not real espresso. There's not enough pressure for true crema, but you'll get a concentrated, syrupy shot for milk drinks.

Versatile · clean · espresso-like

AeroPress brew guide.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 1–2 min
Ratio: 1:14
Grind: Medium-fine
Water: 185°F / 85°C

Overview

AeroPress is the Swiss Army knife of coffee brewing. Pressure + immersion + paper filter = a clean, concentrated cup that can mimic espresso, drip, or anything in between. Travels great. Bulletproof to mess up. Endlessly tweakable.

Best beans for AeroPress

Light to medium roasts work best. The short brew time and pressure extract bright, complex flavors quickly — perfect for showcasing a good single origin.

Shop beans for AeroPress

Gear up

Equipment you'll need.

AeroPress (standard or AeroPress Go for travel)
Paper filters (or metal mesh for less paper waste)
Burr grinder
Kettle
Digital scale (recommended)
Stirrer (comes with the press)

The method

Step by step.

1
Bring water to 185°F — slightly cooler than other methods. Boil and let sit 1 minute.
2
Insert a paper filter in the cap and rinse with hot water. Screw the cap onto the AeroPress chamber.
3
Place AeroPress (cap-down) on top of your mug. Add 15g of medium-fine coffee.
4
Pour 220g of water (1:14 ratio) — hit the grounds evenly. Stir 5 times with the included stirrer.
5
Wait 1 minute. Insert the plunger and slowly press down for 30 seconds. You should feel firm, even resistance.
6
Stop when you hear a hiss (means all the water's out). Don't push past that or you'll get bitter dregs.

Troubleshooting

Common mistakes & fixes.

Plunger sucks back up
Fix: Insert it carefully — push down just enough to create a seal, then wait, then press.
Brew is sour
Fix: Increase steep time to 2 minutes, or grind a touch finer.
Brew is bitter
Fix: Cooler water (180°F), shorter steep (45 sec), or coarser grind.
Plunger is impossible to push
Fix: Grind too fine. AeroPress is forgiving but not THAT forgiving.

From our roasters

Pro tips.

Try the inverted method: assemble upside-down, brew, then flip onto your mug. Gives you full control over steep time without drips.
Dilute the strong AeroPress brew with hot water for an Americano-style drink.
Travel hack: AeroPress Go fits in a backpack, makes café-quality coffee in any hotel room.

Brew it with these