As one of the most beloved brewers in specialty coffee, the AeroPress can be found in cafes, roasteries, and homes around the world. Known for its versatility, the brewer has helped push the boundaries of coffee extraction even further—especially with competitions like the World AeroPress Championship becoming so influential.

But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to learn about how to get the most out of this coffee maker, especially in a coffee shop environment where efficiency and workflow are essential.

To learn more, I spoke with David Cole, Chief Marketing Officer, and Fernando Hernandez, Coffee Specialist and Global Sales Communication at AeroPress, about how to put this iconic coffee maker on every coffeehouse menu.

You may also like our article on the evolution of the AeroPress.

Why the AeroPress is a Coffee Shop Favorite

As one of the best all-around brewers on the market, there are many reasons why baristas, roasters, and homebrewers are such fans of the AeroPress. But its remarkable evolution—especially in recent years—is one of them.

The AeroPress’s early beginnings date back to 2003, when inventor Alan Adler was inspired to design a brewer that could brew a single cup of coffee. More than two years and 30 different prototypes later, Alan debuted the very first AeroPress at the 2005 Seattle Coffee Fest.

Fernando Hernandez is the Coffee Specialist and Global Sales Communication at AeroPress. He explains what made the brewer such an instant success.

“It’s so accessible — if you buy an AeroPress, you can make coffee almost instantly, and all you need is hot water and ground coffee,” he says. “It’s one of the most versatile brewers on the market with hundreds of recipes you can try.”

While many baristas, competitors, and homebrewers choose to do so, you don’t need any equipment like scales and a gooseneck kettle to make coffee with the AeroPress. This only adds to its ease of use, especially for those new to specialty coffee.

David Cole is Chief Marketing Officer at AeroPress. He tells me that the brewing mechanism can produce great results, no matter how skilled the user, thanks to its simple mechanism.

“The air pressure speeds up the process in particular, so the coffee doesn’t get over-extracted,” he says. “Baristas and coffee connoisseurs in over 60 countries have fallen in love with AeroPress and how easy it is to make consistently great coffee.”

How the AeroPress Has Changed Over the Years

While all AeroPress coffee makers remain true to the original design, there has been a lot of innovation with the iconic coffee maker lately.

In 2019, the company launched the AeroPress Go – a compact version of the original brewer, designed for travel and camping. Two years later, the brand was acquired by Canadian holding company Tiny Capital, opening up more opportunities for new products. In the years since, AeroPress has launched a stainless steel filter, the Flow Control filter cap, the AeroPress XL, the latest Clear line, and the AeroPress Go Plus – a complete travel coffee system.

The recent acquisition has certainly helped AeroPress to innovate and diversify its products, but competitions have also played an important role in the brand’s evolution, most notably the World AeroPress Championship (or WAC).

In 2008, the very first WAC took place in Oslo, Norway, with just three competitors. Fast forward to 2023, and over 5,000 competitors from approximately 178 national and regional events competed in the World Finals.

As one of the more informal specialty coffee competitions, the WAC allowed for a lot of creativity, pushing the boundaries of extraction and flavor even further.

Common AeroPress Recipes in Coffee Shops

Baristas and homebrewers can experiment with the AeroPress in many ways, such as changing the dosage and grind size, or bypassing the brewing process.

According to Fernando, coffee bars often have the most success with AeroPress recipes that maximize yield and extraction, and with methods that require minimal supervision from the barista, allowing them to focus on other tasks at the same time.

Fernando shares a popular recipe below that uses the traditional technique:

• Add 18 grams of medium-fine ground coffee and 250 grams of water (93°C to 100°C (200°F to 212°F)) to the brewing chamber and start a timer
• Stir the coffee grounds ten times
• Place the piston in the chamber to create a seal, which helps maintain a constant temperature
  • Alternatively, you can use the Flow Control filter cap to exert more control over the extraction
• After two minutes, gently rotate the AeroPress and push the plunger down with the weight of your arm
• Keep pressing until you hear the hissing sound stop

Improving efficiency

Fernando highlights how this particular method improves both extraction and workflow efficiency, especially when used with the Flow Control filter cap. This brewing accessory features a pressure-controlled valve, which prevents leaks and allows baristas to maximize control over extraction variables while also experimenting with grind size and brew time.

“This recipe lets you use the maximum amount of water so you can extract as much coffee as possible,” says Fernando. “Baristas also don’t have to interact with the brewer as much, so they can work on other coffee orders and tasks.”

He adds that the AeroPress is easy to clean and can be ready to brew more coffee in seconds. Baristas simply press the plunger to remove used grounds and rinse the seal before using it again.

Ultimately, in addition to quality, efficiency and repeatability are the most important aspects of AeroPress recipes for coffee shops. While there is always room for creativity, it is essential that baristas of all skill levels can learn and master recipes to achieve consistent results.

How can coffee shops improve their brewing methods?

The AeroPress is a proprietary brewer that is unlike any other in the industry. In turn, it produces a flavor profile unique to its technology, giving coffee shops the opportunity to attract and engage consumers in new ways. Additionally, offering a wider variety of brewing options is an effective way for cafes to differentiate their business and diversify their revenue streams.

As the quality of specialty coffee continues to increase, it is important to find ways to adapt and improve AeroPress recipes.

Fernando recommends experimenting with the grind size first, then adjusting the brewing temperature to achieve the desired result. Ultimately, this will depend on the coffee you are using.

“We have found that natural and extended fermentation processes (such as carbonic maceration and anaerobic fermentation) benefit from a coarser grind and/or lower water temperature,” he says.

Regardless of the coffee or recipe being used, understanding what’s happening during the extraction process is crucial. The AeroPress Clear Series allows baristas to observe extraction in real time, as the transparent material allows users to have even more control over brewing variables.

“Baristas can see important visual cues, like fine migration and coffee bed level, which can lead to higher, more consistent extraction,” Fernando explains. “When working with different recipes or coffees, baristas can confidently troubleshoot issues, whether they need to stir the slurry a few times or increase the overall brew time.”

The AeroPress Clear is also available in six different colors, so coffee bars can choose from a color palette that best suits their brand identity and preferences.

Stay up to date with innovation in specialty coffee

A basic AeroPress recipe should be a staple in any coffee shop. But with the ever-increasing variety of types, origins, and processing methods, baristas need to know what works best for their menu.

“Since coffee shops offer different types and processing methods, the best way to present this coffee is in a slow bar,” says Fernando.

This involves developing carefully tailored recipes for different coffees and brewing coffee for customers to explain the process to them. In this way, baristas can enhance the consumer experience and share more information about coffee production and processing methods, showcasing the diversity of specialty coffee and the versatility of brewers like the AeroPress.

The AeroPress is a staple in many coffee shop and homebrew bar setups. But for baristas and café owners in particular, it’s important to know how to use it most effectively.

There are many reasons to add the AeroPress to your menu. And no matter what you choose, it’s essential that you make it work for your needs.

Did you like this? Then read our article on using paper and metal filters for the AeroPress.

Photo credits: Julian Bracero

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Keep in mind that: AeroPress is a sponsor of Perfect Daily Grind.

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