11 votes

The ultimate AeroPress technique (Episode #3)

9 comments

  1. [8]
    jlj
    (edited )
    Link
    Thanks for this. I've been modifying my technique, over the eight years I've been using an AeroPress. I think, for at least the first year or two, that technique was terrible. But, then again, so...

    Thanks for this. I've been modifying my technique, over the eight years I've been using an AeroPress. I think, for at least the first year or two, that technique was terrible. But, then again, so was the coffee I was buying.

    My current coffee subscription sells a brew guide, which I bought, last year. The AeroPress technique therein differs from this one, but not markedly, I'd say. I'm curious to try this because, a) coffee is coming through continually, as opposed to only at the finish with my current inverted-press technique; and b) my grind is never that fine; I guess I misunderstood what qualified as espresso grade.

    I'm on a Roaster's Choice sub, but all of them are fairly light. I think this might lead me to getting even more out of them, which is exciting.

    Edit: Wow! A significantly different flavour profile this morning; richer, with a longer finish. I won't say better, as I think some of the citrus notes are lost with this method. But very interesting, and lots of fun, experimenting. Thanks once again.

    5 votes
    1. [7]
      bhrgunatha
      Link Parent
      I started to use mine inverted because of the immediate leakage when you first start pouring water, before you can add the plunger to create the necessary vacuum. I've had a few accidents (as I...

      I started to use mine inverted because of the immediate leakage when you first start pouring water, before you can add the plunger to create the necessary vacuum.

      I've had a few accidents (as I expect everyone using the inverted method has) although never as bad as he makes it sound in the 2nd video.

      I've experimented with all the suggestions I've seen in r/coffee and settled on a very basic inverted method that gives me consistently good results - much the same as the intent of this video.

      I use more coffee than he does because I fill the chamber 100% with water. I do adjust the amount of coffee depending on the coffee I've got.
      I fill the chamber about 10-20% and stir. Then I pour the rest of the water to completely fill the chamber and wait 4 minutes. Then turn it back over and press completely - past the hiss - with as little pressure as I can. How hard I press is usually determined by how fine the grind is.

      It's pretty simple but still a nice little ritual. I am going to try turning it back over and let it rest for 30 seconds before pressing after watching these videos though to see if that makes a difference or not.

      As I said I've tried all the tricks and tips I've read but rejected them (despite enjoying the ritual of those extra steps even more) because I don't notice any improvement or it tastes worse.

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        wervenyt
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        I've definitely had the nightmare experiences that he described in the second video. 150 mL of boiling water and coffee grounds flying 1.5-2 m, giving me blisters on my forearms, that bad....

        I've definitely had the nightmare experiences that he described in the second video. 150 mL of boiling water and coffee grounds flying 1.5-2 m, giving me blisters on my forearms, that bad. However, the risk can be mitigated by not leaving >1/3 of the aeropress empty, meaning that the maximum thermal expansion of the air in that space is a matter of a few milliliters, rather than dozens.

        3 votes
        1. bhrgunatha
          Link Parent
          That is bad and would probably put me off inverted. The worst I've had was was not attaching the coffee basket/puck properly and having all that lovely coffee spill out all over the surface when...

          That is bad and would probably put me off inverted.

          The worst I've had was was not attaching the coffee basket/puck properly and having all that lovely coffee spill out all over the surface when turning it over to server.

          1 vote
      2. [4]
        Deimos
        Link Parent
        My method sounds exactly the same as yours... except that I only steep the coffee for a minute and a half instead of four minutes. I'll try out a cup today with four minutes and see what I think.

        My method sounds exactly the same as yours... except that I only steep the coffee for a minute and a half instead of four minutes. I'll try out a cup today with four minutes and see what I think.

        2 votes
        1. [3]
          bhrgunatha
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          That was a suggestion from someone on r/coffee. Hoffman's second video (in what must surely now be a legendary series) does say there's a diminishing return from 2-4 minutes so I'll experiment...

          That was a suggestion from someone on r/coffee.

          Hoffman's second video (in what must surely now be a legendary series) does say there's a diminishing return from 2-4 minutes so I'll experiment further when I add the 30 seconds delay.

          2 votes
          1. [2]
            Deimos
            Link Parent
            Yeah, I was actually surprised at how little difference it seemed to make to the taste to let it sit for almost triple as long. I tried 3 minutes today too and didn't really notice much of a...

            Yeah, I was actually surprised at how little difference it seemed to make to the taste to let it sit for almost triple as long. I tried 3 minutes today too and didn't really notice much of a difference either. I'd probably need to make two cups with different timings and have them side-by-side to compare between to be able to figure out if I like one better than the other.

            3 votes
            1. bhrgunatha
              Link Parent
              So it begins - next you'll be getting an assistant in to help you blind triangle test! I'm interested to hear what you finally settle on! I don't think my palate is refined enough to rely on a...

              So it begins - next you'll be getting an assistant in to help you blind triangle test!
              I'm interested to hear what you finally settle on!

              I don't think my palate is refined enough to rely on a single test, and I'm definitely not patient enough to test every single tweak so what I generally do is try some new technique for a few days.

              Haven't had a chance yet but my test will be - inverted 1:30 steep after stirring, flip back, wait 30 seconds and plunge. I'm changing 2 variables there but a consistent local maxima is good enough for me!

              2 votes
  2. ChuckS
    Link
    All this technique, and especially to press gently instead of with a lot of pressure, is leaving me wondering if the aeropress is really just a fancy French press.

    All this technique, and especially to press gently instead of with a lot of pressure, is leaving me wondering if the aeropress is really just a fancy French press.

    2 votes