Can I Use Dark Roast for AeroPress? (Solved & Explained!)

You can use dark roast for an AeroPress, but you should know that it will easily become bitter tasting. The richness of the roast will provide an exuberantly bold flavor that you may or may not like. However, there is a particular way to brew it to give the best taste.

The good news is that you can use any type of roast in an AeroPress if it suits your preferences. But dark roast’s flavor profile will have some moxie, to say the least.

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What’s the Best Way to Brew Dark Roast in an AeroPress?

There is a specific way to make a dark roast in an AeroPress. You can go the traditional route. But, you may find that it’s really bitter this way. If this is the case, try brewing it in the following method:

1. Assemble your AeroPress as normal, sticking the filter and cap onto the chamber. Then, fill it up with a level spoonful of grounds.
2. Pour in water that’s no more than 175°F and stir the ground for five seconds.
3. Lightly depress the plunger and then flip the AeroPress upside down for 30 to 45 seconds.
4. Turn the AeroPress right side up and remove the plunger; stir for another five seconds.
5. Place your cup underneath and, with a gentle touch, push the plunger down.

You may have to play with the chemistry of your coffee making a bit beyond the suggested method above. This will heavily rely on you and what you prefer. You may find it better to use fewer coffee grounds than you would for medium roast. Or, you might find that a shorter extraction time is better.

What Happens if I Use a Dark Roast in an AeroPress?

The worst that can happen if you use a dark roast in an AeroPress is that it will be very bitter tasting. This will be particularly true if you use water hotter than boiling.  If you don’t control the brewing conditions, the cup will not turn out the way you might prefer.

Which Brands of Dark Roast Coffee Beans Work Best in an AeroPress?

There are several brands of dark roast that work best in an AeroPress. However, it’s important to understand that not all types will be appropriate or produce a good cup of coffee. This is because the varying processes professional roasters use to produce their beans.

Some burn them, like at Starbucks, where it will create a very undesirable tasting coffee. Consider the following four brands to see if they pique your interest.

Dark Roast by Lifeboost

The dark roast coffee offered by Lifeboost is rich and has low acidity. It comes from the high-altitude regions of Nicaragua while also being organic, fair trade and free of pesticides. It’s strong and robust, bursting with hints of caramel and chocolate. But, it has a beautiful intensity that’s very moderate.

For the AeroPress, you will have to adjust the water and tinker with the brewing method. It’s a little pricey, but it works beautifully in an AeroPress.

Klatch Coffee Belle Espresso

For a medium-dark roast, the beans offered by Klatch Coffee has a unique flavor profile that combines nuts, chocolate, blackberry and brandy along with hints of orange. It’s an Arabica bean and they even give a recipe for how to use it with an AeroPress on the packaging.

But, it does come as a whole bean, so you will have to grind them yourself. But, baristas and coffee lovers everywhere attest to its fabulous taste and ease of use in an AeroPress.

Single-Origin Columbian Dark Roast by Peet’s

This fruity and floral dark roast bean from Peet’s provides a well-balanced flavor profile, making it perfect to use in an AeroPress. You can buy it ground or whole bean and, as the name suggests, it comes from Colombia. When brewed in an AeroPress it has a sweetness that’s rich with balanced acidity. It’s cost effective while also providing a complex brew.

Guatemala Single-Origin Antigua Reserve by Volcanica

Also available a whole bean or ground, Volcanica’s single-origin coffee from Guatemala is one of the best dark roasts to use in an AeroPress. It’s wonderfully sophisticated and smooth, which means it’s actually more appropriate for an AeroPress than a French Press.

It has nutty and chocolaty notes with a creamy mouth-feel. It also doesn’t have the heaviness like other dark roasts because the bright acidity offsets it.

What Type of Roast is Best for an AeroPress?

The best type of roast for an AeroPress is a medium one. This provides a balanced and even flavor while giving the most out of a quick blend of coffee and water.

Can I Use an Espresso Roast for AeroPress?

You can use an espresso-style roast for an AeroPress. If you want to go for that bold, strong and robust flavor, it’s definitely possible. But, you will have to experiment with brewing times, amount of grounds and water temperature to attempt to get the best cup.

Can I Use any Kind of Roast for an AeroPress?

Yes, you can use almost any kind of roast for an AeroPress. If it suits your tastes and preferences, then no one is stopping you from attempting it. The trick is having the ability (and patience) to play around with varying temperatures and brewing times.

For instance, the normal brewing time for the average medium roast is about one minute. But, for light roasts, you may want to use more beans and for darker roasts, use fewer beans. Of course, this will depend on the type of grounds, its flavor profile and how you want your coffee to taste.

Why Does My Dark Roast Taste Bitter Out of an AeroPress?

Your dark roast tastes bitter coming from an AeroPress because the roast lends itself to a darker, stronger flavor. This isn’t often suited to an AeroPress. But, it could also be due to the fact that you over-brewed the grounds, which tends to make coffee bitter tasting.