The AeroPress looks like something you'd find in a science lab, but it's honestly one of the easiest ways to make a really smooth, clean cup of coffee, and it's brilliant if you're short on space or want something to take away with you, whilst still looking like an aficionado in front of your friends. It's also very forgiving, so it's hard to get badly wrong, and it takes about three minutes from start to finish.
What you'll need
An AeroPress with a paper filter, a kettle, a sturdy mug, a timer (your phone is fine) and some scales if you have them. You'll want about 15g of Ginger Dog Coffee ground medium-fine, somewhere between table salt and the coarser grind you'd use for a caffetiere, and around 225ml of water. If you buy your coffee ready ground, a filter grind will do the job nicely.
Any of our blends work well here, and because the AeroPress gives such a clean cup you'll pick up the differences between them really easily. If it's a late one, Tico is our decaf.
Step 1 - Rinse the filter
Pop a paper filter into the cap and rinse it with a little hot water. This gets rid of any papery taste and warms things up at the same time, so it's worth the extra ten seconds. Then twist the cap onto the AeroPress and sit it on top of your mug.
Step 2 - Add the coffee and water
Put your 15g of coffee in, then pour in around 225ml of water that's just off the boil. Let the kettle sit for about 30 seconds after it clicks off, because water straight from a rolling boil can make the coffee taste harsh. A little bit of coffee will drip through into your mug while you do this, and that's completely normal.
Step 3 - Stir and wait
Give it a good stir for about ten seconds, then pop the plunger in just far enough to stop it dripping and start your timer for around a minute and a half. This is the bit where you can stand over it doing nothing, which Douglas is very good at.
Step 4 - Press
Push the plunger down slowly and steadily, taking about 30 seconds, and stop as soon as you hear a hiss. Resist the urge to squeeze out every last drop, because that's where the bitter bits are hiding. If it's really hard to push, your grind is probably too fine, and if it drops through with no resistance at all, go a little finer next time.
Step 5 - Enjoy the moment
Hold the AeroPress over the bin and push the plunger right through, and the little coffee puck pops out in one go, which is easily the most satisfying part (Douglas watches this bit with great interest, in case it turns out to be a biscuit). The cup you've made is strong and smooth, so drink it as it is, or top it up with a splash of hot water for an americano-style cup, or warm milk if you fancy something creamier.
Give it a go and see what you think. Whichever blend you choose, we're so glad you found us!
