For an AeroPress, the most ideal coffee is a single-origin specialty coffee with a medium roast and a medium-find grind. This is because the AeroPress is ideal for bringing out complex flavors of high-quality beans in a brief period of time. It reduces bitterness, enhances the aroma and brings out the complexity of the cup.
Of course, everyone is different and no one can pinpoint one type of coffee, roast or grind. However, unless you like a deep, dark tasting cup of coffee, avoid using a roast designed for espresso. Other than that, you can play with a host of grind types and roasts to see which you like best.
What Kind of Roast Profile Will Suit an AeroPress Best?
Always seek out a high-quality specialty coffee bean. There are several types of beans, but Arabica tends to produce the highest grade and quality of coffee bean.
Then you have to decide what flavors appeal to you most. But the best ones for an AeroPress will have flavors that are chocolate, nutty, fruity and floral. Other adjectives to look out for are “clean,” “bright” and “light.”
How Should You Grind Beans to Suit an AeroPress?
You should always use the same grind as you would for drip coffee. This will be best for use with the special AeroPress paper filters. However, it really will depend on the roast and flavor profile of the beans you’re using.
As a general rule of thumb: the lighter the roast, the finer the grind and the darker the roast, the more coarse the grind should be.
Which Brands of Light Roast Are Good in an AeroPress?
While there is a world of light roasts available to buy, there are only a handful that are best to use in an AeroPress. The following is a small list to get you started.
- White Knight by Fresh Roasted LLC: Organic and Fair Trade, it’s an artisan blend of single origin beans. There are notes of cherry and cocoa that’s clean and bold yet light.
- Breakfast Blend by Real Good Coffee Co.: 100% Arabica sourced from South and Central America. The resulting cup has a smooth and rich body with hints of citrus and notes of milk chocolate and cream.
- Ethiopia Kochere by Atomic Coffee: A light, clean and bright cup of coffee from Ethiopia. It has the taste of spice, floral and ripe fruits with a delicate body and bold flavor.
Which Brands of Light-Medium Roast Are Good in an AeroPress?
While there are a few more brands of light-medium roast available for an AeroPress, they are still quite limited in number. See if any of the following beans pique your interest.
- Guadalupe by Irving Farm: Hailing from the mountains of El Salvador, this light-medium roast yields a cup of Joe that’s low in acid and smooth. There are sweet notes of chocolate, brown sugar and pecan as well.
- Kenya AA by Coffee Bros: One of the highest graded beans in Kenya, the AA by Coffee Bros is divine. From the Karundu, Nyeri region of Kenya, the resulting cup tastes like chocolate with hints of sugary plum and lemon.
- Volcan Baru Bambito by Jaunt Coffee Roasters: Coming from the steep climbs of Panama is this Caturra & Catuai blend of 100% Arabic beans. After brewing a cup in an AeroPress, you notice hints of apple, honey, marshmallow and brown sugar.
- Scope’s Up by Bolt Action Coffee: This Colombian Huila coffee is a wonderful light-medium roast for the ever-loving shooter. It has notes of vanilla, citrus, caramel and tropical fruit with a body and texture that’s smooth and creamy.
Which Brands of Medium Roast Are Good in an AeroPress?
Because medium roasts are most ideal for an AeroPress, there are a host of brands out there to choose from. However, the ones mentioned below are the best for this convenient device.
- La Rosa by Koffee Kult: A distinct bean from the Naranjo district of Costa Rica, this is a honey-processed 100% Arabica beam. It has hints of orange, cherry and cocoa with a bold yet medium body and delicate aroma.
- Medium Roast by Lifeboost: Low acid beans sourced from the mountainous region of Central America, this is one of the most ideal beans for an AeroPress. It provides a smooth cup while delivering bold and chocolate undertones.
- Hawaiian Kona by Volcanica: 100% Kona beans from the Greenwell Estate on the Big Island. This provides a great strong and nutty flavor with hints of tropical fruits but deep enough to pass for espresso.
- Tesouro Medium Roast by Nobletree: A blended coffee specially roasted in NYC, the beans come from Brazil and Columbia. The resulting cup is a delightful blend of melon, nuts and dried fruits.
- Haraz Mocha by Sea Island: Although quite pricey, this perfect bean from Yemen makes for a fabulous cup of AeroPress coffee. Strong chocolate undertones highlight the robust and bold flavors of the bean.
Which Brands of Medium-Dark Roast Are Good in an AeroPress?
There are quite a few medium-dark roasts appropriate for an AeroPress. Consider the following:
- Belle Espresso by Klatch Coffee: Sourced from several areas around the world, this medium-dark roast will not disappoint. It has strong notes of chocolate and nuts with hints of blackberry, brandy and orange.
- Habitat Cariblanco Coffee by Café Britt: From Costa Rica, this 100% Arabica bean will dance on your taste buds. It has a flavor full of dark chocolate.
- Mad Blend V3 by The Mad Alchemy: A blend of 100% Arabica beans from Brazil, Sumatra and Ethiopia, this is rich and flavorful. It has the taste of chocolate combined with nuts, caramel, citrus and berries.
Which Brands of Dark Roast Are Good in an AeroPress?
Dark roasts are only for those with enough gumption to try it.
- Valhalla Java by Death Wish Coffee: A bold, black cup of Joe guaranteed to wake the dead. This blend of beans from Indonesia and South America provides a strong yet deeply chocolate taste.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.