I’m convinced no reasonable person can function without coffee. Which is funny, considering I survived without it until my mid-30s. Maybe something about a decade in cubicle life drains your energy — who knows? All I know is I wouldn’t be awake at 5 AM writing this without my Aeropress within reach.
Most mornings we don’t think about what coffee we’ll have — it’s automatic. If someone gets between us and the coffee maker, sparks might fly. “What?! All the mugs are dirty?” Ugh.
If you want to retire early, though, you have to consider trade-offs. A daily Starbucks run adds up to thousands of dollars that could otherwise speed you toward retirement. A few common options used in U.S. homes can eat into your savings — but there’s one choice that doesn’t look so bad: the Aeropress. What’s that? It’s your new coffee maker.
I’d never heard of it until I read a comparison of brewers aimed at serious coffee snobs. The test included machines that cost up to $10,000 — and the Aeropress, at about $30. I thought you needed an expensive machine for good coffee. Turns out marketing wants you to believe that.
I timed the Aeropress method to match a Keurig — around three minutes. Here’s how we make it:
1) Measure 8 ounces of cold tap water. (We found Minneapolis tap makes great coffee — must be the minerals.)
2) Get the Aeropress ready and keep the little stir paddle nearby. It’s handy for cocktails too.
3) While heating the water in the microwave (roughly 1:40–2:00 minutes), add one heaping scoop of finely ground coffee to the Aeropress. Freshly ground beans are best.
4) If you have a thermometer, check the water the first few times — you want about 175–190°F. I had to wait about 30 seconds once to hit the right temp. After a couple tries you’ll know exactly how long to heat it.
5) Pour about half the water (4 oz) over the grounds to wet them — this is the “bloom.” Stir with the paddle for about 10 seconds.
6) After stirring, set a timer for 45–50 seconds. Lately we use the inverted method: start with the plunger up, bloom, then after the wait flip the Aeropress gently onto your mug. This keeps coffee from leaking out before it’s ready.
7) Press down gently. The Aeropress maker suggests using the weight of your elbow — don’t rush. Pressing takes about 15–30 seconds; stop when the plunger reaches the “1” mark.
8) Don’t push all the way through — stopping around “1” helps avoid a bitter cup.
9) Top off the mug with the remaining 4 oz you set aside. Enjoy.
10) Clean up is easy: push the grounds and paper filter into your compost or trash.
So there you go — quick Aeropress instructions for making excellent coffee at home. You’ll spend about $30 on the Aeropress and maybe $15–20 for a big bag of beans at Costco now and then. Store beans in a dark, dry place — do not keep them in the fridge or freezer.
This is, hands-down, the best coffee you can make at home without an espresso machine. With a decent burr grinder, the flavor is leagues above most plug-in brewers. Bonus: the Aeropress works when the power’s out — you can boil water on a camp stove. Take it camping; it makes the outdoors even better.
A few extra notes from our experience:
– We used a Keurig for a while for convenience, but they’re hard to keep clean, K-cups are awful for the environment, and the coffee just didn’t taste great after we tried Aeropress.
– We still treat ourselves to Starbucks or Caribou sometimes. With our dining-out budget, it’s fun to check out the local coffee scene.
– There are tons of Aeropress variations. We landed on the inverted method after experimenting: assemble inverted, add grinds and water, stir, wait 3 minutes, stir again, attach the cap, then press. It was a revelation.
– Invest in a burr grinder — better grind, better coffee. We use a Baratza Virtuoso for a bit over $200. There are good reviews online explaining why it’s worth it.
Have an Aeropress or another minimal setup you love? Share your tips and praise in the comments — I’d love to hear how you brew.