Aeropress Inverted — The Finest Cup
I bought the Aeropress for travel—and discovered it makes my favorite morning cup at home, too. After trying a couple dozen recipes, my steady winner is the inverted method: short steep, flip, and a gentle plunge for a sweet, clean cup.
When I travel, I pre-grind my coffee. I used to bring my grinder and grind in the hotel room, but ground coffee can maintain its character for a week plus, so I grind ahead of time.
Inverted setup: plunger near the “4” mark; coffee bed just under “3”.
Equipment
- Aeropress + paper filters (pre-wet)
- Burr grinder (medium-fine grind)
- Digital scale & kettle (optional—but helpful)
- Instant-read thermometer (optional)
Brew Ratio & Targets
| Coffee | Water | Grind | Temp (°F) | Stir | Steep | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 g (≈ 1½ Aeropress scoops) | 120 g (to just past the “1” mark inverted) | Medium-fine | ~194°F (works 180–197°F) | 20 sec | 30 sec | Flip & gentle plunge |
These are the exact targets I use day-to-day; the temp range reflects championship recipes I’ve tried.
Scale or scoop: I like 17 g coffee (about 1½ scoops), medium-fine grind. 
Flip and plunge gently for a sweet, clean cup.
Step-by-Step (Inverted Method)
- Prep: Wet the silicone plunger and insert so the rubber sits near the “4” mark. Add ground coffee to just under the “3” mark.
- Heat: Bring water to a boil; let it settle a moment (I like ~194°F; 180–197°F all work well).
- Pour & stir: Add 120 g water (to a touch past “1” inverted). Stir for ~20 seconds (“one-Mississippi…”).
- Steep: Wait ~30 seconds. Longer steeps can extract more bitterness and reduce flavor clarity.
- Cap: Set a pre-wetted paper filter in the cap and lock it on.
- Flip & plunge: Carefully flip onto a sturdy cup and plunge gently.
“Precise” vs “Abouts”
I love the scale, thermometer, and burr grinder—but my “abouts” work just as well on the road: 1½ scoops ground medium-fine, kettle off boil, water to just past “1,” 20-sec stir, 30-sec steep, flip, plunge.
Water
I usually use good-tasting tap water (no bottled/filtered fuss), but any clean water you enjoy drinking will brew fine coffee.
The Aeropress Timer app: try profiles like “The Jay” or the Championship Pack to experiment.
Variations & the Aeropress Timer App
- Try championship-style recipes—the Jay profile is closest to mine; Eystein Veflingstad’s Championship Pack recipe is another favorite.
- Play with water temp in that 180–197°F window and adjust stir/steep by ±5–10 sec to match your beans and preference.
Troubleshooting
- Bitter/ashy: Water too hot, stir/steep too long, or grind too fine → drop temp 5–10°F or shorten by ~10 sec.
- Thin/flat: Water too cool or grind too coarse → raise temp 5–10°F or grind a notch finer; ensure a full 20-sec stir.
- Leaky invert: Pre-wet the plunger and don’t overfill; keep a steady hand when flipping.
Nutrition
Black coffee: ~0–5 kcal per 8–12 oz serving (no sugar/cream).