How to Make AeroPress Cold Brew Coffee – What Is AeroPress Cold Brew!?

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What is so great about cold brew coffee, seriously? Ah, so many things!

First of all, it’s such a refreshing beverage. Secondly, cold brew is so quick, easy, and convenient to make. On top of that, the brewing method is quite forgiving and then the health benefits of cold brew are reasons enough in themselves.

And now, why do we love the AeroPress coffee maker? Cause it brews FAST! And it’s very simple to use. AeroPress-brewed coffee tastes better because the method prepares clean and flavorful coffee that’s perfectly balanced.

So why not get to know how to make AeroPress cold brew coffee at home? This coffee maker is well-equipped for making cold brew. Although the latter is usually prepared in large batches. In that case, using AeroPress might be tricky since it’s quite tiny in comparison to, let’s say, French Press.

Regardless, when has any such hindrance stopped us from experimenting with our coffee! So how about a full-blown guide, with instructions of course, that you can easily follow to make the most delicious, refreshing cold brew AeroPress-ed coffee!

But First, Why Cold Brew AeroPress?

Using an aeropress

Why should you even consider preparing your cold brew with an AeroPress in the first place? After all, the small capacity of this manual coffee maker does limit how much cold brew you can make at a time. So why choose AeroPress to begin with?

I mean you can just as easily opt for a really good French Press coffee maker instead? Well, speaking of which, it’s time to compare the filters of both. The built-in AeroPress filter is paper while that of French Press is metal, right? And cold brew coffee should be filtered through the former – paper filter.

Even when brewing with French Press, only the initial filtering is done through the coffee makers’ own metal filter and then you use a paper filter for another round of filtering. On the other hand, with AeroPress then, you’re actually saving a step.

Another very tempting reason to choose AeroPress for cold brewing – quick, less wasteful experimentation. So when trying out new coffee beans or new cold brew recipes, or even different types of grind sizes, the small capacity of an AeroPress is great in terms of getting fast results and not creating too much mess or waste.

Just think of the amount of precious coffee grounds you’ll be saving when testing with AeroPress!

So What Coffee Beans to Use for AeroPress Cold Brew?

Low-acid coffee, no doubt, is the best for a more balanced, smoother tasting cold brew.

As for what type of coffee beans to use? You can choose from this list of top coffee beans perfect for preparing the most flavorful cold brew.

What about the roast type? Dark or medium roast works. What actually matters is the grind size. For AeroPress cold brew, the size of the coffee grounds should be coarse.

And now, here is some of the best coarse ground coffee (already ground to its perfect, appropriate size for full-flavor extraction, so you don’t have to go through the extra trouble of grinding coffee beans at home). You can get any from the many top brands listed. And just so you know, they’re all not just for a cold brew but also for percolator and French Press.

So let’s get on with the brewing process…

AeroPress Instructions for Cold Brew Coffee

Image of aeropress

Preparing cold brew could seriously not get any easier than this!

Although I, like many others I’m sure, have just one complaint – with an AeroPress, you cannot make big batches of cold brew. Just 1 to 2 cups instead with each round of brewing. But, fortunately enough, one round takes not more than just 2 minutes. Totally worth it then!

The brewing time is less than 5 minutes only. And the following instructions are for preparing 2 cups of cold brew using the AeroPress.

THINGS YOU’LL NEED:

  • AeroPress coffee maker
  • Paper filter for AeroPress (just 1)
  • Coffee beans (30 grams)
  • Coffee grinder (for grinding coffee beans)
  • Water, at room temperature (132 grams)

Step 1

You start by weighing those coffee beans – 30 grams is all you need. And you must absolutely adhere to this because you want to achieve just the perfect brew potency.

However, coffee is measured using weight and not volume. Beans, even though they may seem similarly sized, do not weigh the same.

Step 2

Now that you know the amount of coffee beans to use, it’s time to grind those beans. And the correct grind size here is coarse (maybe even coarser in comparison to the grind size for French Press). Too fine and over-extraction becomes unavoidable, along with too much bitterness and acidity taking over.

But then if your steeping time is shorter (anywhere between 4 and 12 hours only), it’s completely okay for the grind size to be slightly finer. Nevertheless, I would not recommend this and instead advise you steep for longer. Just be a little more patient, the delightful taste of your cold brew will be worth all that wait. For sure!

Step 3

Time to now invert your AeroPress coffee maker! Meaning position its plunger inside the top and then just flip the thing over. This is the AeroPress cold brew inverted technique. And it’s very important since the steeping of water and coffee in there takes place for almost 24 hours.

So set the manual coffee maker on the scale and add those coffee grounds.

Step 4

Moving on to adding water. To be more specific, 132 grams of water (at room temperature of course). Steeping happens at room temperature and not inside the refrigerator because the latter tends to slow down extraction.

After you add water, gently stir the mixture using a spoon or paddle. The idea here is to make sure that all of those coffee grounds are covered by water.

Also, if you can, don’t use distilled water or mineral water – the former lacks enough minerals while the latter has too many of them. So tap water’s just fine (although this depends on where you stay)

And now place a cup or filter at the top for preventing anything from falling or slipping into your coffee.

Step 5

Let the steeping begin – 24 hours is the maximum amount of waiting time before you can taste your delicious, flavorful cold brew coffee.

Make sure though that direct sunlight is not a part of this process. The ideal setting for steeping is a spot free of direct light and heat.

Step 6

If you let 24 hours pass without taking a sip from that batch, then congratulations (you do indeed have a lot of patience and willpower!). Your coffee then is extracted properly, which means it’s time to use the paper filter. But first, rinse this filter to get rid of its papery taste.

Now place the filter into the basket and screw that onto the inverted coffee maker. And now before you flip the AeroPress, place a cup over the brewer to catch potential drips when you flip it upside down.

Holding that cup on top of the AeroPress, turn it over. And then plunge all the way down slowly or you can also remove that plunger to let liquid gold drip for 1-2 minutes.

Step 7

You finally have your very strong coffee concentrate. Now it’s up to you to decide if you want to add milk or water. But how much to add? If the coffee concentrate measures 100 grams, then the same amount of water/milk goes into it. But then of course, you can add how much ever you like depending on your personal tastes and preferences.

Also drop some ice cubes into the glass, cup, or mug. And then just sip and enjoy!

Step 8

Wait, there’s a final step, which is to clean the coffee maker after everything is done. First, throw out (or compost) the used coffee grounds. Then rinse the AeroPress properly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Brewing Process

Does AeroPress Make Cold Brew Coffee?

Preparing cold brew, in general, uses a traditional technique, even in the case of AeroPress. The process requires lots of patience because of the longer steeping time, even in the case of AeroPress!

All you have to keep in mind is that the grind size should be coarse and the water used for brewing at room temperature.

What Coffee Beans Are Best for Cold Brew?

Dark-roasted or medium-roasted coffee beans are the most suitable for cold brew. Or you can pick your favorite ones. To be honest, the grind size is what actually counts, which should be coarse for cold brew.

Regular coffee beans also prepare a delicious cold brew. But, once again, ensure that the size of the grind is coarse. And for that, a burr coffee grinder for French Press seems more than just workable because both brewing methods require the same coarse grind. If the grounds become too fine, this will only form gritty, thick sludge at the bottom.

How do you Sweeten Cold Brew?

Simple syrup – water and sugar in equal parts heated till all the sugar dissolves. And when this mixture cools down, keep it in the fridge.

You can use this homemade syrup or sweetener for your iced coffee as well as iced tea. And feel free to use brown sugar instead of the regular kind.

Can I Drink Cold Brew Coffee Hot?

So you made cold brew at home following the instructions I discussed earlier? Now, in addition to that, add one more step after the cold-brew concentrate is ready. Add almost boiling water (temperature of water between 185 degrees and 205 degrees Fahrenheit) into the coffee concentrate.

The smooth flavor and low acidity of cold brew stay the same, only that you now have a hot beverage. How hot you want the beverage to be can be controlled by adjusting the temperature of the hot water you use.

What Is the Golden Ratio for Cold Brew?

For that perfect, well-balanced cold brew, the general coffee-to-water ratio is 1:5.

And if you’re most likely to mix the coffee concentrate with something, then use equal parts of coffee concentrate, milk, cold water, etc.

Which Brewing Method Is Better, French Press or AeroPress?

With French Press, coffee tastes more flavorful, more full-bodied, and is also more aromatic.

On the other hand, with AeroPress, you surely get a stronger bite. And this can be achieved by increasing the amount of coffee grounds you add, adjusting the grind size (make it finer), tamping the coffee maker’s coffee bed for increasing resistance, or simply opting for a dark roast.

How Much Caffeine Is There In An AeroPress Cold Brew?

With AeroPress, around 6 oz. of coffee is prepared (much less than what you get when you make French Press coffee). In 6 oz. of coffee brewed using AeroPress, about 110 milligrams of caffeine is to be expected.

Last Words…

At first, even a few simple steps like these can seem intimidating, tough, or time-consuming but once you get the first few brews prepared (not so perfectly of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day after all!), the process will and does get much easier, quicker, and more straightforward.

And the best part about cold brew, made using any brewing method, is that it can be stored in your refrigerator for around 2 weeks. Although I doubt you’ll ever be able to resist a delicious, flavorful, refreshing, and just plain smooth-tasting batch of cold brew for THAT LONG!