Brew Guide
How To Make Coffee With Your
Aeropress
Using the Inverted Method
A complete guide to the inverted Aeropress technique—the method preferred by baristas and competition winners for its clean, concentrated, endlessly customizable cup.
The Inverted Technique
Why Use the Inverted Method?
The inverted Aeropress method flips the brewer upside down so the plunger sits on the bottom and the open chamber faces up. This gives you full control over steep time because no coffee drips through before you press—resulting in a cleaner, more consistent, and more concentrated cup every time.
The standard Aeropress method lets coffee begin draining the moment you add water, which means your steep time is inconsistent. The inverted method solves this by sealing the bottom with the plunger, turning the Aeropress into a true immersion brewer. You decide exactly when extraction stops.
The Aeropress is one of the most versatile brewers ever made. It's portable, nearly indestructible, and produces everything from espresso-style concentrates to clean, tea-like brews. The inverted method is the foundation most championship-winning recipes are built on.
Recipe at a Glance
Coffee
17g (fine, like table salt)
Water
270g at 195–205°F
Ratio
1:16 coffee to water
Total Time
~2 minutes
Equipment
What You Need
You need an Aeropress with paper filters, a burr grinder, a kettle, a scale, a timer, and a sturdy mug. The inverted method requires a flat, stable surface—and a confident flip. Everything comes together in under two minutes.
Aeropress & Filters
The standard Aeropress kit includes everything you need. Paper filters produce a clean cup; metal filters let more oils through for a heavier body. We recommend paper for this recipe.
Burr Grinder
Grind consistency matters even more with the Aeropress because small changes have a big impact. A burr grinder ensures an even grind that extracts uniformly.
Kettle & Scale
A gooseneck kettle gives precise pouring control, and a scale ensures you hit the 17g coffee / 270g water ratio every time. Consistency is the key to dialing in your cup.
Great Coffee
The Aeropress is remarkably revealing—it highlights bright acidity and delicate flavors. Fresh roasted, single-origin specialty coffee shines in this brewer.
Step by Step
Inverted Aeropress Brewing Steps
Follow these six steps to brew a clean, concentrated Aeropress coffee using the inverted method. The entire process takes under two minutes once your water is hot.
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1
Grind & Prep
Grind 17g of coffee slightly finer than drip—about as fine as table salt. Place a paper filter in the cap and rinse it with hot water to remove paper taste. Set up the Aeropress inverted: plunger on the bottom, inserted about 1cm into the chamber.
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2
Add Coffee & Bloom
Add the ground coffee to the inverted chamber. Start your timer and pour 34g of water (195–205°F). Give it a quick stir to saturate all the grounds, then wait 20 seconds for the bloom—this lets CO₂ escape for more even extraction.
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3
Fill & Wait
Pour the remaining water until you reach about a quarter inch from the top of the chamber (270g total). Place the stirrer or your hand over the top to retain heat. Wait 1 minute.
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4
Attach Filter & Flip
Screw on the filter cap with the pre-wet paper filter. Place your mug upside down on top of the Aeropress, then flip the whole assembly over in one confident, smooth motion. Set it down on a stable surface.
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5
Press
Press down slowly and steadily for about 20 seconds. Stop pressing when you hear a hissing sound. Do not press all the way through—the last bit of liquid contains bitter, over-extracted dregs you don't want in your cup.
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6
Dilute to Taste
The Aeropress produces a concentrated brew. Add hot water for an Americano-style cup, or pour over a full glass of ice and add milk for an incredible iced latte. Experiment until you find your perfect strength.
Dial It In
Tips & Pro Techniques
The beauty of the Aeropress is how much you can experiment. Small changes to grind size, water temperature, steep time, and ratio produce dramatically different cups—and that's the point.
Don't press all the way. Stop at the hiss. The last drops of liquid sitting at the bottom of the chamber are bitter and over-extracted. Pushing them through the filter undoes the clean, sweet cup you just brewed.
Experiment with your ratio. Start at 1:16 (17g coffee to 270g water), then try 1:14 for a stronger concentrate or 1:17 for a lighter cup. Every coffee responds differently.
Adjust your grind, not just your time. If your coffee tastes sour, grind finer. If it tastes bitter, grind coarser. Grind size has a bigger impact than steep time with the Aeropress.
Try it iced. The concentrated Aeropress brew is perfect for iced lattes. Press directly over a tall glass of ice, add cold milk, and you have a cafe-quality iced drink at home.
Common Questions
Aeropress FAQ
What is the inverted Aeropress method?
The inverted method flips the Aeropress upside down so the plunger seals the bottom and the open chamber faces up. This prevents coffee from dripping through prematurely, giving you full control over steep time for a more consistent extraction.
What grind size should I use for the Aeropress?
For the inverted method, grind slightly finer than drip—about as fine as table salt. This is finer than a French press grind but coarser than espresso. The finer grind extracts more flavor during the short steep time.
What is the best coffee-to-water ratio for Aeropress?
Start with a 1:16 ratio—17g of coffee to 270g of water. Since the Aeropress produces a concentrated brew, you can dilute after pressing. For a stronger concentrate (great for iced drinks), try 1:14.
Why should I stop pressing when I hear a hiss?
The hissing sound means air is pushing through the coffee bed. The liquid below the grounds at that point is the most over-extracted, bitter portion of the brew. Stopping at the hiss gives you a cleaner, sweeter cup.
Can I make iced coffee with an Aeropress?
Absolutely—the Aeropress is one of the best brewers for iced coffee. Brew a concentrated cup using the inverted method, then pour it directly over a full glass of ice. The concentrated brew stands up perfectly to dilution. Add milk for an incredible iced latte.
Inverted method vs standard method—which is better?
Neither is objectively better—they're just different. The inverted method gives you more control over steep time and tends to produce a cleaner, more concentrated cup. The standard method is simpler and less risky (no flipping). Most competition winners use the inverted method.
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