- Home
- Cooking Timers
- AeroPress Timer
AeroPress Timer
Choose standard or inverted, pour in the water and press Start. The timer beeps for the stir, the steep and the press.
Step 1 / 3
Stir 0:10, steep 0:50, press 0:30. Brewer upright on the cup, filter at the bottom.
Stir 0:10, steep 1:50, press 0:30. Brewer upside down; fit the cap and flip it before pressing.
AeroPress recipe and brew time, step by step
| Step | Standard | Inverted |
|---|---|---|
| Set up | Rinsed filter in the cap, brewer upright on the cup | Plunger in the base, brewer upside down |
| Coffee and water | 15–18 g, medium-fine; 220–250 g water | 15–18 g, medium-fine; 220–250 g water |
| Stir | 0:00–0:10 | 0:00–0:10 |
| Steep | 0:10–1:00 | 0:10–2:00, then fit the cap and flip |
| Press | 1:00–1:30 | 2:00–2:30 |
Water at about 175–205°F (80–96°C). These are common starting recipes, not the only ones: the maker’s own instructions are shorter, and many people adjust the steep to taste.
How to use it
- Rinse a paper filter in the cap. For the standard method, twist the cap on and stand the brewer on a sturdy cup. For the inverted method, stand it upside down on the plunger.
- Add 15–18 g of medium-fine coffee, pour in 220–250 g of hot water and press Start.
- Stir for the first 10 seconds, then leave the coffee to steep. In the standard method, set the plunger in the top to slow the drip.
- At the beep for the press, push down gently and steadily for about 30 seconds. In the inverted method, fit the cap and flip the brewer onto the cup first.
- Stop pressing when you hear a hiss. That is air reaching the coffee bed, and the brew is finished.
Why AeroPress brew time is short
The AeroPress steeps coffee in water like a French press, but with a much finer grind and with air pressure pushing the brew through a paper filter at the end. Finer grounds extract faster, so a minute or two is enough. The maker’s own instructions are quicker still: add water, stir for about 10 seconds and press gently. Many people steep for 1 to 2 minutes instead because it gives the cup more body.
Water temperature is the other control. The maker suggests cooler water, around 175–185°F (80–85°C), for a smooth cup, while many recipes use water closer to 205°F (96°C), especially for light roasts. Cooler water extracts more slowly, so a short, cool brew is mild and a long, hot one is strong. Move one of the two at a time.
Standard or inverted
In the standard position the filter is at the bottom, so some coffee starts dripping into the cup as soon as you pour. Setting the plunger a little way into the top forms a seal that slows the drip to almost nothing. The standard timer here is 1:30 in total.
The inverted method turns the brewer upside down on its plunger so nothing can drip through, which makes a longer steep practical: 1:50 here, for 2:30 in total. The price is the flip. You are turning over a column of hot water, so fit the cap firmly, hold the cup over the cap, and turn both together in one steady movement. If that worries you, use the standard method with the plunger seal.
Common mistakes
- Pressing hard to get it over with. Heavy pressure compacts the coffee bed and makes the press slower, not faster.
- Pushing on past the hiss. The last of the liquid forced through the puck adds bitterness.
- Grinding too fine. If the plunger will hardly move, go coarser; a 20–30 second press should need only light pressure.
- Flipping an inverted brewer with the cap loose or the plunger barely inserted. Check both before you turn it.
- Using a thin glass or a narrow cup. The brewer needs a sturdy mug that it sits on squarely while you press.
Questions people ask
How long should you steep an AeroPress?
Anywhere from about 10 seconds to 2 minutes. This timer uses a 50-second steep for the standard method and 1 minute 50 seconds for the inverted method, each after a 10-second stir.
What is a good AeroPress recipe to start with?
Use 15–18 g of medium-fine coffee and 220–250 g of water, stir for 10 seconds, steep until 1:00, then press gently for about 30 seconds. Adjust the grind and steep from there.
What is the total AeroPress brew time?
About 1 minute 30 seconds for the standard method on this page and 2 minutes 30 seconds for the inverted method, counted from when the water is in.
What water temperature is best for AeroPress?
Anything from about 175°F to 205°F (80–96°C) is in common use. The maker suggests around 175–185°F (80–85°C) for a smooth cup; hotter water gives a stronger, brighter one.
Is the inverted AeroPress method safe?
It works well but involves flipping hot water, so take care. Seat the plunger firmly, lock the cap, and turn the brewer and cup together. The standard method avoids the flip.
Why do I stop pressing at the hiss?
The hiss means the liquid has passed through and air is now being pushed through the grounds. Stopping there leaves the last, most bitter drops in the puck.