A Simple Method for Great Coffee at Home
This beginner AeroPress recipe uses a simple, forgiving method to help you brew great coffee at home.
The AeroPress has a reputation for being clever and technical — which can feel intimidating if you’re new to brewing coffee at home.
But in reality, it’s one of the most beginner-friendly coffee makers you can use. You don’t need special techniques, precise pours, or complicated ratios to get a good cup.
If you can heat water and press gently, you can make smooth, balanced coffee with an AeroPress — especially if you’re still deciding between whole beans vs ground coffee. This guide shows you how, without competition recipes or overthinking — just a reliable way to make good coffee at home.
What AeroPress coffee actually is
AeroPress brewing combines immersion and gentle pressure.
That means:
- The coffee grounds sit fully immersed in hot water (like French press)
- After a short brew, you gently press the coffee through a filter
- The result is a clean, smooth cup with good body
Why this helps beginners:
- Immersion makes extraction more forgiving
- Gentle pressure speeds things up without espresso-level complexity
- Small mistakes don’t ruin the coffee
Compared to other methods:
- French press: fuller body, more sediment
- Pour-over: cleaner but requires more technique (see our beginner pour-over guide if you’re curious)
- AeroPress: clean, balanced, and easy to control
AeroPress is one of several beginner-friendly brewing methods, each with its own balance of control and ease.
What you need (keep it simple)
You don’t need much to get started.
Essential
- An AeroPress
- Coffee (whole beans or pre-ground)
- Hot water
- A mug
Helpful but optional
- Burr grinder
- Kitchen scale
- Timer (If you don’t have a scale or timer, don’t worry — this recipe works by approximation.)
If you’re unsure which grinder works best with AeroPress, this beginner guide to AeroPress coffee grinders explains what actually matters without overcomplicating the choice.
The simple beginner AeroPress recipe
This method is designed to be easy, forgiving, and repeatable.
Coffee
- About 1 rounded AeroPress scoop
- Medium-fine grind (slightly finer than drip, much coarser than espresso — see our coffee grind size chart if you’re unsure)
Water
- Hot, just off the boil
- Around 200–205°F / 93–96°C
Brew time
- About 1½ to 2 minutes total
Step-by-step method
- Insert a paper filter and rinse it with hot water
(This removes any paper taste and warms the brewer.) - Add the coffee to the AeroPress
Place the AeroPress on your mug in the standard (upright) position. - Pour hot water up to the “2” mark
Don’t worry about being exact. - Stir gently for about 10 seconds
This helps all the grounds get evenly wet. - Insert the plunger and let it steep
Let the coffee brew for about 1 minute. - Press slowly and steadily
Press for 20–30 seconds until you hear a gentle hissing sound. - Enjoy
Taste first, then adjust next time if needed.
Why each step matters (without overthinking)
- Medium-fine grind: extracts flavour without bitterness
- Hot water: helps bring out sweetness and balance
- Short brew time: keeps flavours clean and smooth
- Slow press: prevents harsh, bitter extraction
You don’t need perfect technique — just consistency.
Common beginner mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Grinding too fine
Using coffee that’s ground too fine is one of the most common AeroPress mistakes for beginners.
Very fine coffee can:
- make the plunger difficult to press
- cause over-extraction, leading to bitterness
If pressing feels hard or the coffee tastes harsh, it’s usually a grind issue — not something you did wrong. This is explained in more detail in our coffee grind size chart
Fix: Grind slightly coarser next time. The press should feel smooth and controlled, not forced.
Pressing too hard
It’s easy to assume that pressing harder will extract more flavour, but with AeroPress, the opposite is often true.
Forcing the plunger can:
- push bitter flavours into the cup
- make the coffee taste rough or dry
A slow, steady press gives better balance.
Fix: Let gravity and gentle pressure do the work. Aim for a smooth press that takes around 20–30 seconds.
Overthinking ratios
Beginners often worry about exact measurements, but AeroPress is very forgiving.
You don’t need:
- perfect ratios
- precise gram measurements
- advanced brewing charts
Small variations won’t ruin your coffee. If you want to understand ratios more clearly, our water ratio guide explains how they affect flavour.
Fix: Focus on consistency instead. Use roughly the same amount of coffee each time and adjust one thing at a time if needed.
Expecting espresso-like results
AeroPress uses pressure, but it does not make true espresso.
If you expect espresso, the coffee may feel:
- thinner than expected
- less intense than café espresso
That doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Fix: Think of AeroPress coffee as smooth, concentrated coffee — not thick, syrupy espresso. It’s designed to be balanced and easy to drink.
Final reassurance for beginners
If your first few cups aren’t perfect, that’s completely normal. Small adjustments and repetition matter far more than precision. With AeroPress, you’re rarely far from a good cup.
How to adjust flavour (simple fixes)
If you’re unsure whether grind size or brewing time is causing the issue, this grind size troubleshooting guide breaks it down simply. If you’re unsure how to describe what you’re tasting, our coffee flavour notes guide can help.
If the coffee tastes bitter
- Grind slightly coarser
- Use a little less coffee
- Press more gently
If it tastes weak or watery
- Add a bit more coffee
- Grind slightly finer
- Brew a little longer
If it tastes sour
- Use hotter water
- Brew for an extra 15–20 seconds
Small changes make a big difference — adjust one thing at a time.
Is AeroPress good for beginners?
Yes — especially if you want:
- A fast, simple brewing routine
- Consistent results without complex technique
- Easy clean-up
- Room to experiment later without pressure
If you prefer very full-bodied coffee, a French press may feel more familiar. But for many beginners, AeroPress becomes a long-term favourite because it grows with you as your taste develops.
Final thoughts
You don’t need advanced recipes or special gear to enjoy AeroPress coffee.
Start simple. Brew consistently. Make small adjustments only when needed.
Once you’re comfortable with this beginner method, you’ll already have the foundation to explore different grinds, ratios, or styles — if you ever want to, including how roast level affects flavour in light vs medium vs dark roast coffee .
For now, this recipe is more than enough to make good coffee at home.