You can use any kind of coffee in an AeroPress. It will handle anything from light roast to deep, dark espresso. But which one to use will heavily rely on how you like your coffee to taste. This includes whether you brew for boldness, the most caffeine possible or if you brew for flavor subtlety.
However, the best kind is a medium roast that comes from Ethiopia, Hawaii, Central America or South America. It should be an Arabica varietal that has a bouquet of fruity and floral to nutty and chocolate.
What Kind of Coffee Should You Avoid for an AeroPress?
Since you can use almost any kind of coffee in an AeroPress, there really isn’t anything you should avoid. However, it’s always better to use fresh coffee you grind yourself. You can use pre-ground, pre-packaged coffee but it isn’t as advisable as fresh ground.
What Are the Best Kinds of Light Roast Beans to Use in an AeroPress?
Using a light roast is perfectly fine in an AeroPress. But, understand that light roasts tend to be more acidic when brewed with hot water. However, they usually have a lovely floral bouquet with fruity and citrusy notes. Consider these recommendations of light roast beans.
- Atomic Coffee Ethiopia Kochere: Known for its fruity, floral and spice-like profile, these light roast beans from Ethiopia are ideal in an AeroPress. It has a delicate body but a bold flavor that some liken to tea.
- Coffee Bean Direct Colombian Supremo: This light roast has subtle flavors of lemon, brown sugar and milk chocolate. It’s suited to an AeroPress because of its even balance and defined taste.
- Lifeboost Light Roast: This organic coffee is a top choice for a light roast. It’s vibrant yet well-balanced in acidity. It’s strong enough for a caffeine boost yet light enough to dance on the taste buds.
What Are the Best Kinds of Light-Medium Roast Beans to Use in an AeroPress?
The light-medium roasts below are most ideal for an AeroPress. This is because of the fast brewing time it takes to make a cup of Joe.
- Irving Farm Guadalupe: Coming from El Salvador, this light-medium roast bean offers a nice balance of acidity with flavor. It gives a semi-bold cup from an AeroPress that has hints of walnut, chocolate and brown sugar with citrus notes.
- Sumptown Guatemala El Injerto Bourbon: This light-medium roast from Guatemala is one of the most ideal coffees for an AeroPress. In fact, the company has a recipe specifically for the device on their website. It has notes of orange sherbet with cherry and milk chocolate.
What Are the Best Kinds of Medium Roast Beans to Use in an AeroPress?
Because medium roast is the standard recommendation for an AeroPress, there are a host of coffee beans to try.
- Caffe Vita Bistro Blend: This medium roast bean blend comes from three places: East Africa, South America and Indonesia. It provides a smooth and sweet cup of Joe from an AeroPress with notes of caramel, baking chocolate and almond.
- Ethiopia Sidamo: With a silky body and an aroma of lemon with jasmine, this medium roast has a honey under taste. When preparing it in an AeroPress, it’s not just a cup of coffee. It’s an experience into elegance and luxury.
- Koa Coffee Estate: This 100% Kona coffee bean comes in a fabulous medium roast. When brewed in an AeroPress, it produces the loveliest flavors like milk chocolate, fruit and honey.
- Lifeboost Medium Roast: Sourced from Nicaragua, this medium roast offers a lowly acidic and smooth cup of coffee from an AeroPress. It has notes of strawberry-like sweetness with chocolate and nuts.
- Sparrows Coffee Joven Cauca: Hailing from Colombia, this is an excellent medium roast for an AeroPress. It has a smooth body with touches of citrus, marmalade and sweet chocolate.
- Volcanica Hawaiian Kona Coffee: This extra fancy, 100% pure Kona bean gives a buttery richness that’s smooth and spicy for a medium roast. After brewing a cup in an AeroPress, you’ll notice notes of clove and cinnamon.
What Are the Best Kinds of Medium-Dark Roast Beans to Use in an AeroPress?
For those that like the kick of caffeine in the morning, going with a medium-dark roast for an AeroPress will be best. Therefore, there’s only one that’s advisable:
Café de Loja Coffee: This medium-dark roast bean comes from Ecuador. It has a deep, fruity taste that’s dark and lowly acidic. These qualities very much come out in an AeroPress. But, it provides a well-balanced and crisp cup of coffee.
What Are the Best Kinds of Dark Roast Beans to Use in an AeroPress?
Because those who adore a dark roast are going all the way by using an AeroPress, there are a few to try . . . if you dare!
- Peet’s Colombia Single Origin: This is a lovely dark roast from Colombia that offers a fruity and floral taste. It has a well-balanced character with a rich sweetness which is surprisingly crisp and slightly smoky.
- Dancing Moon Mexican Chiapas: This organic dark roast from Mexico is full of flavor that often gets muddled using other brewing methods. But, in an AeroPress, it provides a plethora of flavors that include cashews, citrus, brown sugar and cocoa.
- Tiny Footprint Coffee: Imported from Nicaragua, these dark roast beans are great in an AeroPress. It’s bright and earthy with notes of fig, apricot and bold chocolate.
Which Kinds of Espresso Beans Are Ideal for an AeroPress?
For coffee aficionados that can’t get enough of their espresso beans, there are two recommended for an AeroPress.
- Death Wish: Combining the best of both Arabica and Robusta varieties of coffee beans, this is the strongest coffee available on the market. This is not the kind of coffee for the faint of heart.
- Intelligentsia Black Cat Analog Espresso: This gives a well-rounded and full-bodied blend that produces a sweet and chocolaty espresso flavor. It packs a punch from an AeroPress with a balanced acidity.
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.
