AEROPRESS - How-To Guide
If you have read my blog post
about the AeroPress you know that I’m in love with it. I think
everybody who likes coffee needs to try the AeroPress, I promise, you
will not regret it. The best thing about the AeroPress is how simple it
is to use, so here is an easy to use guide. As with all guides, that is
all it is, a guide, I highly recommend messing around to find out what
exactly works for you.
- First of all a list of things you will need. The AreoPress, freshly roasted coffee, a kettle, scales, grinder and, of course, a cup.
- Boil the kettle.
- Place one of the paper filters in the basket provided and screw the basket back into the cylinder, place on top of your cup. Wet the paper by pouring boiling water through the filter, this has both the benefit of wetting the filter paper (removes that nasty paper flavor) and heating the cup. Remember to throw out the water from the cup.
- Freshly grind about 18 grams of your favorite coffee; your grind should be medium-fine (finer than you would use for French Press but not as fine for an espresso machine) and place the ground coffee in the chamber.
- Pour a small amount of your hot water into the chamber and pre-infuse the coffee, use the plastic spoon provided to mix the water and coffee together, then pour in the remaining water. The water should not be boiling, about 85dg is about right. As a rule I wait at least a minute after the kettle has boiled before I use it.
- Quickly replace the plunger; this creates a vacuum and prevents the coffee from dripping into the cup.
- Let the coffee brew for 50 seconds to 1 minute.
- When ready press down on the plunger, not too hard. I don’t push the plunger all the way down to the ground coffee as I find this can sometimes make the coffee a little bitter. Once I hear the first hiss (air passing through the grinds) I stop (I find that this method produces a cleaner tasting coffee).
- Remove the AeroPress from the cup, what you are left with is a strong tasty coffee. At this stage I add a little extra hot water to water it down a little, but it’s up to you!
- Now you have tried your first brew in the AeroPress, don’t be afraid to play around with times, weights and methods, and above all enjoy!
Craig
www.coffeeshop.ie
