This is how you make cold brew coffee with an AeroPress
Cold Brew coffee with an AeroPress
It is warm and sunny outside. You are tired of drinking watery iced coffee. You need something smooth and refreshing to get through these long summer days. That’s where cold brew (or cold brew coffee) comes in. It’s the perfect drink to get you through the summer and can be easily prepared with almost anything you have around the house. But can you also make it in your AeroPress? The answer is, of course, yes.
You may now wonder why you want to prepare a cold brew with an AeroPress. The reason is that it is a handy, versatile, affordable coffee machine that can be set up and cleaned quickly. If you’re a real coffee nerd, you should buy one today (if you haven’t already).
If you want to skip all the work of traditional cold brew preparation methods, read on. We’ll show you how easy it is to make delicious cold brewed coffee with your AeroPress. This is by far the most accessible cold brew we’ve ever made. It took about a minute to set up and another minute to cook. The only drawback is that AeroPress cannot prepare a significant amount. You can only make 1-2 cups at a time. But for 2 minutes of work, we think it is well worth it.
Ingredients
- An AeroPress
- 1 paper filter for the AeroPress
- A coffee grinder
- 30 g of coffee, ground as coarse as needed for a French press. You can use any type of coffee, light or dark roast. However, keep in mind that coffees naturally lower in acidity will result in a smoother and more balanced cup of cold brew.
- 132 g water, room temperature
- 24 hours pulling time
Preparation
If you have everything you need, now is the time to prepare your cold brew with the AeroPress. This is how you do it.
Weigh 30 grams of coffee beans
Choose your coffee. Again, there are no rules about what kind of coffee you need for cold brew. It’s all about your personal preferences. Weigh out 30 grams. Look at the weight rather than the amount, as not all coffees are the same.
Grind coarsely
If you plan to steep a cold brew for 24 hours, it’s essential to grind as coarsely as possible, much like a French press. Too fine a grind will remove too many flavors and aromas from the coffee, leading to sourness and bitterness. If you want a shorter draw time, such as 4, 8 or even 12 hours, you can play with a finer grind. Grind the coffee just before brewing for maximum freshness and flavor.
Turn your AeroPress over and add coffee.
If you’ve had your AeroPress for a while, you’ll probably have experimented with reverse cooking (place the press section on top of the brew section and then flip it over). Turning the AeroPress is essential because the coffee has to steep in the water for 24 hours. So turn your AeroPress over, place it on your scale and add the ground coffee.
Add room temperature water and stir gently.
If you want to be precise, add 132 grams of room temperature water. Even though this is a cold brew, the water doesn’t have to be cold. Using room temperature water and letting it steep at room temperature gives good results.
You don’t have to put it in the fridge too steep, which will only slow down the process. After you’ve added the water, stir it gently with a spatula or spoon so that all the coffee comes into contact with the water. Cover the top of the AeroPress with a filter or cup to prevent anything from falling into the coffee.
Use the best possible water. Avoid distilled water (too few minerals) and pure mineral water (too many minerals). Tap water can be a good choice depending on where you live.
Leave it at room temperature for 24 hours
The waiting has begun. Try to forget the coffee. Go to work. Take a nap. Visit your grandmother. Everything is to pass the time until your delicious cold brew is ready. Do not place the coffee in direct sunlight. Find a place where light or heat won’t affect your drink.
Insert a paper filter and rinse
Congratulations, you made it through the day. After 24 hours, all the good qualities have been removed from your coffee. Now it’s time to rinse your paper filter. This may sound like a minor detail, but rinsing the filter before use will wash away the paper taste that can taint the coffee.
The AeroPress filters are so thin that the flavor is unlikely to get through, but it’s generally good practice when brewing coffee. Just make sure to shake plenty of water out of the filter.
Attach the filter to the AeroPress and turn it onto a cup
After rinsing, screw the filter onto the opening of the inverted AeroPress. Place a cup upside down on the opening to avoid spilling coffee everywhere. Hold the cup over the opening while turning the AeroPress over. You can now press the AeroPress down to finish it quickly or wait for all the coffee to drip into your cup by itself.
Clean your AeroPress
After all the coffee is in your glass or cup, throw the coffee grounds in the trash or compost and rinse your AeroPress. It’s amazing how easily you can clean this device.
Finish your cold brew by adding water or milk
Our current result is a coffee concentrate. It’s solid. We add water (or milk) to this to get a tasty, drinkable cup. We recommend starting with equal parts water and coffee and adjusting as needed. So if you have 100 grams of coffee concentrate, add 100 grams of water (the same kind of water you used before). Top it off with a few ice cubes and enjoy.
Depending on your preference, you may want to add more or less water. Experiment with different amounts of water. Divide your concentrate evenly into 4 different cups. If there are 20 grams of coffee concentrate in each cup, add 10 grams of water to one, 15 grams of water to the other, 20 grams to the third, and 25 grams to the last. Each cup will taste a little different. Once you figure out which ratio you prefer, it’s easier to repeat your results next time.