Apparently, you can put milk into an AeroPress rather than using water. And you can use the milk to make any style of coffee you like. But, keep in mind it won’t be the lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites that you can make when using hot water. However, it does come in handy for a bag of cheap beans that don’t taste good any other way.
In fact, it helps reduce strength, bitterness and acidity, as long as you don’t over-extract the beans. Using milk actually brings out the nuttier, smoother aspects of the coffee. While AeroPress doesn’t mention using milk as part of the brewing process on their site, there are several people on Reddit who’ve tried it with great success.
Who Should Use Milk to Brew Coffee in an AeroPress?
If you’re someone that doesn’t like black coffee, using milk in an AeroPress really helps to remove the bitterness and provide a smoother brew. Milk removes the harsh taste most coffee beans have, so it’s a perfect replacement.
Also, if you’re someone who has a bag of coffee beans you don’t like brewed the normal way, you can try it with milk. Several Reddit users have done this and ended up not wasting money on a bag of coffee they didn’t like.
It’s also a good alternative for those who like their coffee really sweet. Instead of adding a bunch of processed sugar, the natural sugars in the milk will mix with the coffee. While you may want to add more sweeteners once done brewing, you shouldn’t have to add nearly as much.
Who Should Avoid Putting Milk Through an AeroPress?
People who are watching their weight might want to avoid using milk in an AeroPress. This is because milk does tend to increase the calories of a cup of Joe, which will be counterproductive to your efforts. Also, those who have a lactose intolerance shouldn’t use milk instead of water for their AeroPress.
How Do You Brew Coffee in an AeroPress with Milk?
For brewing coffee in an AeroPress using milk, you’re going to employ the inverted method. Also, consider if you want to use milk for the entire brew or just a portion of it. It’s a good idea to at least bloom your grounds with hot water and then use hot milk for the rest of the brewing process.
You should also have plenty of practice with the inversion method before you attempt it with milk. Understand that the following steps are not an official way to do this, so you may have to experiment with the variables until you create a cup you like.
Step 1: Setup the AeroPress
You have to invert the AeroPress. This means the plunger will be flush against the counter with the chamber on top. Ensure the rubber tip sits halfway into the chamber. You’ll put the filter cap on afterwards.
Step 2: Grind and Measure the Beans
Use a grind somewhere between espresso and drip. Measure out one to two scoops of grounds and put it in the AeroPress.
Step 3: Heat the Water & Milk
With your kettle and a saucepan, heat up both the water and milk until they both reach somewhere between 175°F and 205°F. Use a thermometer if you have to. But take note that the hotter the water and milk, the higher the chance you have of over-extracting the grounds.
Step 4: Bloom & Stir the Grounds
Moisten the grounds just enough so that it’s wet and use the AeroPress stirring tool to ensure it gets through all the grounds. You may want to be a little more aggressive to remove clumps. Allow this to sit for about 30 seconds.
Step 5: Add the Hot Milk and/or More Water
Now add the heated milk into the AeroPress and let this continue brewing for another minute but no more than 90 seconds. Get your cup ready.
A note about this step: you might have to play with various levels of coffee to milk to water ratio. Some people will use 100% milk, even for the blooming part of the process while others do 2:1:1 of milk-water-coffee.
Step 6: Flip the Device
Put the loaded filter cap onto the bottom of the AeroPress and grab the side of the device. Make sure you hold both the plunger and chamber securely in both hands. Flip the AeroPress over your cup and depress the plunger.
Step 7: Prepare Your Cup
At this point you can add more hot milk or water along with sugar or other favorite sweetener. Or, just drink it as is. Enjoy!
Can You Use Milk to Make Cold Brew in an AeroPress?
Yes, you can definitely make cold brew with milk in an AeroPress. Follow the same instructions for cold brew as given by AeroPress. But, you will use the device right side up and agitate the grounds well for at least a minute (maybe more).
This is because the cold brew method suggests using water at room temperature. Milk is going to be cold and therefore the extraction time will take a little bit longer. For the quick version, you can use a fine espresso grind. But if you want to do the long-brew method, where it sits for 12 to 24 hours, then use a coarse grind.
Is Brewing Coffee with Milk in an AeroPress the Same as a Latte?
While making a cup of coffee with milk in an AeroPress looks like a latte, it isn’t the same thing. This is because lattes require espresso. And while you can make an espresso-like coffee in an AeroPress, it’s not true espresso. Espresso requires compacted beans that come into brief contact with hot pressurized water.
An AeroPress doesn’t require compacted beans. Plus, the pressure provided by the plunger isn’t anywhere near what an espresso machine gives. Therefore, what you get from an AeroPress is latte-ish. It doesn’t matter though, it will still taste delicious.
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.