How to make espresso with Aeropress- An ultimate guide
There’s no doubt that espresso or espresso-based coffee is everyone’s favorite drink worldwide. Whether you want to get a caffeine boost or make the classic cappuccino, espresso is one of those things that people are very particular about. Traditionally, an espresso machine is used to make espresso.
However, you can make it at home without fancy equipment. Aeropress is one of those handheld gadgets used to make espresso-like coffee. Best of all, it delivers good taste and produces a great cup of coffee without spending big bucks. In this article, you will learn how to make espresso with Aeropress at home. Let’s get into it!
What is Aeropress?
The Aeropress is a manual coffeemaker machine that makes one cup of coffee at a time. It is incredibly versatile and ideal for on-the-go- brewing. The key elements that make this manual brewing method different from other methods are its quick brewing time and consistent high pressure. High pressure helps extract more of the flavors of coffee beans that create a great brew. While other drip coffee makers rely on gravity to pass the water through the grounds. In immersion brewing, coffee is immersed in the water.
What is an Aeropress Espresso?
A concentrated coffee drink, an espresso, is made by forcing boiling water under 9 to 10 bars of pressure through finely-ground coffee grounds at 90 to 96°C temperature. Its balanced flavor, intense taste, and crema on top make it a crowd-favorite drink. It is used as a base for many espresso-based beverages such as latte, cappuccino, macchiato, mocha, and more.
When it comes to making espresso without an espresso machine, Aeropress espresso is probably one of the best ways to make it. It makes condensed coffee that is espresso-style coffee and has a similar body and intensity to traditional espresso.
Things you should take into account before making espresso with Aeropress
Coffee beans
The secret ingredient to pulling a good espresso is the high-quality coffee beans. Even good equipment can’t help you if you don’t choose good coffee. You may see the coffee beans that are marketed as espresso. Most people pick out espresso coffee beans to make espresso. Espresso is traditionally made with dark roast coffee beans. You can use high-quality dark roast coffee beans for making espresso.
If you are making it at home, you can experiment and try something different. If you know a good roaster, who can build coffee blends that taste great and work well in the espresso brewing process, then give it a try. However, it should retain the characteristics of espresso when you serve it with milk.
On the other hand, single-origin coffee is well-suited to make espresso compared to a blend. Moreover, you can discover some new flavor complexities in espresso brewing when choosing single-origin coffee.
Water temperature:
When it comes to pulling a perfect shot of espresso, you should be careful about water temperature. Always use the hot water, not the boiling water, because it will make your coffee bitter. Boil the water and let it sit for about 30 seconds to 1 minute before using. The recommended temperature by Alan Alder (Aeropress inventor) for the Aeropress espresso recipe is 175°F.
Use a finer grind and a shorter brew time.
Another important factor that you should take into account to make espresso is the grind size. Finely ground coffee is used if you make espresso using an espresso machine. Most manual coffee makers brew coffee to either immerse coffee in water or use gravity to pass the water through the coffee grounds. That’s why a coarser grind size is recommended for manually brewed coffees. Aeropress uses pressure to brew espresso-like coffee. So use the much finer grind for Aeropress espresso.
The quick brew time, finely ground coffee and high pressure help you make condensed coffee that is close to espresso.
How to make espresso with an AeroPress
With the word ‘press’ in the name of espresso, it is certain that it’s all about pressure. So if you are looking for manual coffee brewers that can approximate this palatable drink, nothing is better than Aeropress.
Aeropress espresso may have a different texture than machine espresso, but its caffeine content and flavor match the machine espresso. When you press down the plunger of Aeropress, it creates air pressure that forces coffee through the paper filter and into your coffee cup.
Aeropress doesn’t make espresso, but you can brew a flavorful cup of espresso-style coffee than French press espresso, which requires coarse ground coffee beans.
What you’ll need:
You will need some basic tools to make Aeropress espresso at home.
· A burr grinder for even grind
· A temperature control electric kettle
· A coffee scale with a timer
- Dark roast or espresso beans
- Aeropress and filters
- Mug
Preparation:
Boil water:
Boil one cup or 234ml of water at 185°F – 205°F heat and let it sit for about one minute.
Grind your coffee:
Grind about two tablespoons of dark roasted coffee beans. To make Aeropress espresso, you need fine ground beans. It is recommended to use freshly ground beans to enjoy a good shot of espresso.
When you are going to brew espresso, the size of the grounds is the crucial aspect, regardless of the manual or machine coffee maker. If the size of the coffee grounds is too big, then water will flow freely through the grounds, and you will not get the desired espresso.
Directions:
Insert a paper or metal filter
Now place paper or metal filter in the filter cap and moisten it with hot water.
Add finely-ground coffee into the chamber:
Setup your Aeropress and add 20 grams of finely ground coffee beans into the chamber.
Add water and stir
Start your timer, add half a cup of hot water, stir for 10 seconds, and cap. After stirring, mix it with a spoon and let it sit for 30 seconds.
Tamp the coffee grounds
Now place another filter on top and tamp the grounds with a tamper to copy the machine espresso brewing.
Twist your filter cap
Twist your filter cap onto the Aeropress’s chamber and place it over your coffee mug.
Press
You do not need to wait for the coffee grounds to brew. You can press the plunger until it reaches the grounds. Push it down as hard as possible and transfer your espresso into the mug. Plunge it as quickly as possible because Aeropress depends on the pressure to extract flavor and make an espresso-like brew.
Enjoy
Enjoy your Aeropresso espresso!
FAQ
Can you make espresso without a machine?
Technically, you can’t brew true espresso without a machine. However, you can make espresso-like coffee using a manual coffee maker like the Aeropress and other brewing methods like stovetop coffee makers.
How many grams of coffee beans are required to make Aeropress espresso?
If you want to pull a single shot of espresso, it will require about 6 to 8 grams of coffee grounds. You will require between 15 grams and 17 grams of coffee grounds to make a double shot of espresso. Some people also use 20 grams of coffee grounds to make it. To make Aeropress espresso, your coffee grounds should be very fine. Weigh your grounds on a scale to ensure you use the correct quantity of grounds for the espresso shot.
Which filters will produce a great result for the Aeropress espresso recipe?
There’s no doubt that the type of filter you use to make Aeropress espresso matters a lot. The body and flavor of your shot rely on what type of filters you use. Usually, two types of filters are used for the Aeropress espresso recipe, i.e., paper filter and metal filter. Both filters produce great results but choose the metal filter if you want to pull an espresso shot akin to machine espresso.
Paper Filter:
It filters out almost all the microscopic coffee particles and causes the coffee acids to taste good. With the coffee particles, the paper filter also soaks up the natural oils that are found in coffee that reduce the body of your shot.
Metal Filter:
Unlike paper filters, metal filters brew a heavier cup of coffee that is quite similar to true espresso. When fine grounds pass through the mesh, it allows the natural oils of coffee to end up in your coffee mug. These natural oils are responsible for strong flavors and produce an aromatic shot of espresso with lower acidity.
How to clean Aeropress after making espresso?
Aeropress is a simple coffee maker that can be cleaned easily after making espresso. Remove the drain cap from the Aeropress and hold it over your kitchen composter. Now press the plunger gently to pop out the coffee grounds. Rinse it with hot water, and you are done.
Aeropress Espresso vs. True espresso- what’s the difference?
Aeropress is a great coffee brewer, but you can’t make the true espresso with it. True espresso is usually made with an espresso machine. Here’s the difference between Aeropress espresso and true espresso.
True espresso
It is a very intense, aromatic, and rich espresso with a heavy body. It creates a layer of crema on the top that is harder to make with other coffee brewers.
Aeropress Espresso
Espresso that is made with Aeropress is aromatic, crisp, and rich and has a slightly heavier body. It doesn’t produce a layer of crema. However, a thin layer of bubbles tops the shot of Aeropress espresso. It produces intense espresso but not as intense as machine espresso.
How Much Caffeine Is in a Shot of Espresso?
A single shot of espresso is one fluid ounce that contains about 62.8 mg of caffeine. If you talk about one eight-ounce cup of coffee, it has around 94.8mg of caffeine. In comparison, one eight-ounce cup of black tea contains about 30mg to 50mg of caffeine. As one shot of espresso has more caffeine content than a regular cup of coffee, so be cautious about drinking too much espresso. Don’t forget your daily caffeine limit while enjoying an espresso shot.
What to serve with Aeropress espresso coffee?
Most people don’t add sugar to the espresso, while some love to sweeten their espresso. Aeropress espresso is usually served with cookies like biscotti. The bitterness of espresso contrasts with the sweetness of biscotti in a great way and enhances your espresso experience.
Bottom Line:
If you are a coffee enthusiast and love to make quick and easy coffee recipes that taste great, owning an Aeropress can be a great addition to your coffee arsenal. No matter your skill level, you can learn how to make Aeropress espresso with this manual coffee brewer at home and hone your skills. Aeropress coffee is quite similar to true espresso, which means you do not need to spend big bucks to pull a shot of espresso.
Happy caffeinating!
