The Aerobie AeroPress coffee maker is one of the most popular coffee devices out there and is well known for giving an intense but smooth brew with as little effort as possible. Any ground coffee can go into an AeroPress, but for the best results, it is always recommended that you grind your own beans if you can.
Grinding your own coffee beans does require a couple of extra steps, and while it may not seem as quick and easy as buying a bag from the store, you will notice a difference in the flavour. Even if you choose to buy your coffee pre-ground, the coarseness of the grind is important to consider when using an AeroPress.
This article will go into detail about the AeroPress coffee maker, how different grinds can affect your coffee, and what sort of grinder you might opt for if you want to have the best AeroPress coffee possible.
How Does an AeroPress Coffee Maker Work?
The AeroPress coffee maker is uniquely easy to use and great for a quick brew with a lot of flavour. You place it on top of your cup, insert the filter, fill the chamber with grounds and hot water, agitate and let it saturate before pushing down on the plunger to force the coffee through the filter under pressure.
Does AeroPress Grind Beans?
The AeroPress has almost everything you need to make a great coffee, in a convenient and portable package that is practically indestructible, but it does not come with a grinder. Either you need to buy your coffee pre-ground, or purchase a separate grinder to use alongside your AeroPress if you want to start from the bean.
What Grind is Best for AeroPress?
There are many different flavours and styles of coffee that different grind sizes will give you in an AeroPress and it often comes down to personal preference. A medium-fine or fine grind is generally considered the best for an AeroPress because you will get complete saturation and a full-bodied flavour without your coffee becoming muddy or being too acidic.
How Does a Different Grind Affect the Taste of AeroPress Coffee?
Whether you are buying them pre-ground or grinding them yourself, you need to know the differences that different grinds will make on your coffee. A finer grind will give you a shorter cup that has a stronger flavour, whereas a coarser grind will take longer to fully brew and will give you more acidity and body.
Is Grinding Your Own Coffee Better?
While pre-ground coffee is an easy and simple solution for most people, it is well known that freshly ground beans will always taste better. There are many complex reasons why this is the case, including oxidation, moisture, and CO2 depletion, but put simply: if you want the best coffee possible, you always want to grind the beans yourself.
Should I Use a Blade or a Burr Grinder for AeroPress?
For almost all coffee makers, a burr grinder is going to be the better option because it produces consistent grounds without affecting their flavour, by crushing the beans under uniform pressure. Blade grinders are inconsistent and work at high speeds, which creates heat and friction that can make your coffee taste even less fresh than pre-ground.
Can You Use a Blade Grinder for an AeroPress?
You can use any sort of ground coffee for an AeroPress, so if a blade grinder is what you have available then it can give you the grinds that you need. It will, however, be unlikely to give you the fresh brew flavour that grinding your own beans is meant for, so you might be better off buying pre-ground.
How Do Burr Coffee Grinders Work?
Burr grinders come in two main varieties: the flat burr grinder and the conical burr grinder. They both work by grinding the beans between two sets of burrs, or serrated surfaces, to pulverise them into smaller and smaller particles, with the distance between the burrs determining the size of the grind that you end up with.
What Grind Setting Should I Use for AeroPress?
Aerobie, the company that makes the AeroPress, recommend an espresso, or fine consistency but you may choose to go for a medium-fine grind and brew your coffee for longer. The exact setting will depend on your machine, but you are looking for your grounds to be around the size of salt granules for medium-fine, and smaller for fine.
Which Coffee Grinder is Best for AeroPress?
Among the top coffee grinders for AeroPress at the moment are the Porlex Mini, the BAIYEA Hand Crank, the Onyx Kitchen Premium and the Bevalig Ceramic grinder. The Porlex Mini is a favourite among AeroPress users because of its convenient travel size, which is one of the biggest benefits of the AeroPress itself.
What Should I Look for in a Coffee Grinder for an AeroPress?
The main things to consider when you are looking at different coffee grinders are the grind range, the hopper capacity and dimensions, and easy cleaning. You want a grinder that gives you the options that you want, can make enough grounds for your needs, is the right size for you, and is not a challenge to look after.
Does a Porlex Mini Fit in an AeroPress?
One of the major appeals of the Porlex Mini is that users have said that they can remove the bottom of the grinder and put the whole thing inside of the AeroPress itself, making it very portable. It also allows you to grind your beans directly into your AeroPress, meaning a lot less hassle while you’re making your brew.
How Do You Set Up a Porlex Mini Grinder for AeroPress?
If you are using your Porlex Mini to grind beans for your AeroPress, you will want to turn the wheel to the right grind setting, clockwise to make it finer and counterclockwise to make the grind more coarse. For a medium-fine grind, you are listening for 5-6 clicks, whereas for a fine grind you only want 3-4.
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.
