Last Updated on January 26, 2024 by Ibrahim Bat
Every year, the World AeroPress Championship is held worldwide to find the best Aeropress recipe. Looking at the recipes of the top three in this competition, it has been observed that the majority use the inverted method in the Aeropress. (WAC)
In this article from Best Coffee at Home, we will discuss the pros and cons of using the inverted method in Aeropress and explain in detail how you can do this at home.
What Do You Need for the Aeropress Inverted Method?
- Hot water
- Coffee beans
- Aeropress
- Aeropress paper filter
- Grinder
- Scale (optional)
- Thermometer (optional)
How to Brew Coffee With the Inverted Method in Aeropress?
Before delving into the pros and cons of using Aeropress with the inverted method, let’s look at the process step-by-step.
Step 1) Grind Your Beans
The ideal coffee-to-water ratio for Aeropress is 1:16. This means you should use 16 units of water for every unit of coffee grounds. For example, you should use 240 ml (8 fl oz) of water for 15 grams of coffee grounds.
Weigh and grind 15 grams of coffee beans. If you don’t have a scale, use the scoop that comes with the Aeropress package. Its full scoop takes approximately 15 grams of coffee.
Grind your coffee beans in a medium-fine setting. This grind size is roughly the thickness of table salt.
Step 2) Heat the Water
There’s no hard rule about how hot the water should be for brewing coffee in an Aeropress. The inventor of the Aeropress, Alan Adler, recommends a brewing temperature of 175 °F (80 °C). On the other hand, the Specialty Coffee Association recommends 200 °F (93.5 °C) for brewing in an Aeropress.
You can try both and determine the water temperature that suits you best. I recommend 200 °F (93.5 °C), as the Specialty Coffee Association advised. (SCA)
If you don’t have a thermometer to measure the water temperature, boil it and let it rest for 1.5-2 minutes. This way, you will reach the ideal temperature for brewing in Aeropress.
Step 3) Prepare Your Aeropress
Pull the plunger of the Aeropress out so that 1 cm (½ inch) of it remains inside the chamber. Then, preheat your Aeropress by pouring hot water into it and shaking it gently. Once done, empty the water from the inside and flip it upside down onto the countertop.
Finally, place the paper filter into the filter cap of the Aeropress and rinse it with hot water. This way, the paper filter will stick to the filter cap and won’t fall out when attached to the chamber of the Aeropress.
Step 4) Add Coffee Ground and Water
Pour the coffee grounds and then the hot water into your Aeropress. Make sure all the grounds are wet when pouring the water.
If you have a scale, pour 240 grams (8 oz) of water. If you don’t, pour water until it reaches 1 cm (½ inch) below the mouth of the chamber.
Step 5) Stir and Wait
Stir the mixture gently with the paddle that comes with your Aeropress. Then, place the filter cup in its place and wait for 2 minutes for your coffee to brew.
Step 6) Flip and Press
Place your cup upside down over your Aeropress to accommodate the filter cup. Then, holding the junction of your Aeropress with one hand and your cup with the other, turn it over carefully and quickly.
Place the entire system on the counter. Then, without pressing too hard, steadily push the plunger. Continue to press until you hear a hissing sound.
When you hear the sound, your coffee is now ready.
Difference Between Standard and Inverted Method of Aeropress
We’ve previously discussed how to use Aeropress in the standard way. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend you look.
To simplify it, I will not explain the standard method here. Instead, I will only discuss why the inverted method is used and its pros and cons compared to the standard method.
The main reason why baristas often use the Aeropress inverted method is that it allows more control over the brewing process.
In the traditional method, water slowly starts flowing from the bottom when you pour water into the Aeropress. This water filters through too quickly without sufficiently contributing to the extraction of the coffee. As a result, even if you follow the same recipe, you may get different results.
There is a way to prevent the water from dripping early in the traditional method: inserting the plunger early. Stir the mixture after adding the coffee grounds and water to the Aeropress. Then insert the plunger into the chamber and pull it back slightly.
This creates a vacuum effect and will stop the water from flowing. However, some amount of water will have leaked out by the time you insert the plunger.
In the inverted method, however, you won’t have the issue of water leaking from the bottom. Thus, you will have more control over the Aeropress and be able to make more consistent brews.
However, there is a drawback to using the inverted method. This disadvantage involves the potential risk of burning your hand when flipping the Aeropress. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution when employing the inverted method.
Conclusion for Aeropress Inverted Method
You have now learned how to brew coffee using the traditional method in Aeropress.
On the other hand, if you still need some help, you can check out the recipes of World Aeropress Championship winners.
If you ask for my opinion, I am one of those who use the inverted method. The risk of burning your hand while applying this method is remote as long as you are careful. Indeed, I have not burned my hand yet 😊.
Related Articles:
Aeropress Inverted Method
Equipment
- 1 Coffee Grinder
- 1 Scale (optional)
- 1 Thermometer (optional)
Ingredients
- 15 gr Coffee Beans
- 240 ml Hot Water
Instructions
- Grind Your BeansThe ideal coffee-to-water ratio for Aeropress is 1:16. This means you should use 16 units of water for every unit of coffee grounds. For example, you should use 240 ml (8 fl oz) of water for 15 grams of coffee grounds.Weigh and grind 15 grams of coffee beans. If you don’t have a scale, use the scoop that comes with the Aeropress package. Its full scoop takes approximately 15 grams of coffee.Grind your coffee beans in a medium-fine setting. This grind size is roughly the thickness of table salt.
- Heat the WaterThere’s no hard rule about how hot the water should be for brewing coffee in an Aeropress. The inventor of the Aeropress, Alan Adler, recommends a brewing temperature of 175 °F (80 °C). On the other hand, the Specialty Coffee Association recommends 200 °F (93.5 °C) for brewing in an Aeropress. You can try both and determine the water temperature that suits you best. I recommend 200 °F (93.5 °C), as the Specialty Coffee Association advised.If you don’t have a thermometer to measure the water temperature, boil it and let it rest for 1.5-2 minutes. This way, you will reach the ideal temperature for brewing in Aeropress.
- Prepare Your AeropressPull the plunger of the Aeropress out so that 1 cm (½ inch) of it remains inside the chamber. Then, preheat your Aeropress by pouring hot water into it and shaking it gently. Once done, empty the water from the inside and flip it upside down onto the countertop.Finally, place the paper filter into the filter cap of the Aeropress and rinse it with hot water. This way, the paper filter will stick to the filter cap and won’t fall out when attached to the chamber of the Aeropress.
- Add Coffee Ground and WaterPour the coffee grounds and then the hot water into your Aeropress. Make sure all the grounds are wet when pouring the water.If you have a scale, pour 240 grams (8 oz) of water. If you don’t, pour water until it reaches 1 cm (½ inch) below the mouth of the chamber.
- Stir and WaitStir the mixture gently with the paddle that comes with your Aeropress. Then, place the filter cup in its place and wait for 2 minutes for your coffee to brew.
- Flip and PressPlace your cup upside down over your Aeropress to accommodate the filter cup. Then, holding the junction of your Aeropress with one hand and your cup with the other, turn it over carefully and quickly.Place the entire system on the counter. Then, without pressing too hard, steadily push the plunger. Continue to press until you hear a hissing sound.When you hear the sound, your coffee is now ready.
