Don’t have access to an espresso machine but want to make an espresso? Try using an Aeropress.
It’s also a lot more affordable and smaller to have at home!
Do you want to make a rich, espresso-like cup of coffee? No sweat if you don’t have an espresso machine.
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At CoffeeSphere, we share a lot of recipes that call for shots of espresso. While espresso is only truly made with an espresso machine, we know not everyone has one at home.
This shouldn’t stop you from making the recipe! There are a few next best options if you don’t have the espresso machine at home.
Here, we’re covering how to make espresso with an Aeropress.
I’ve divided this guide into four easy parts. All you need is an Aeropress and a little time to make it happen.
What is espresso?
Espresso is the name of a strong black coffee originating from Italy. It is a highly concentrated, full-flavored form of coffee that requires a special coffee equipment (espresso machine) to do the work.
In the espresso machine, the hot water is pressurized through tightly packed and finely ground coffee to create the concentrated coffee.
It is the base for many coffee drinks, including the latte, cappuccino, macchiato, americano, mocha and more.
Read More: A Guide to 20+ Popular Types of Coffee
Difference between drip coffee and espresso
The main differences between drip coffee and espresso are the brewing time and the fineness of the coffee grind.
Drip coffee is a simpler brewing method which doesn’t require complicated equipment. It mainly relies on gravity. Technically, hot water and ground coffee are all you need for a cup of drip coffee.
You can find fairly inexpensive automatic drip coffee makers like a 4 Cup Mr Coffee Coffee Maker, all the way to an aesthetically pleasing and more expensive SMEG Coffee Maker.
Espresso, however is brewed by forcing hot water through ground coffee under pressure. That’s why an espresso machine is needed to make an espresso.
But don’t worry. If you don’t have an espresso machine at home, you can still make espresso like coffee.
What is an Aeropress?
An Aeropress is a simple manual coffee brewing kit that contains a brewing chamber and a plunger that looks like a syringe.
It forces coffee through a thin sheet of paper filter directly into a cup. It is light, small, highly portable, and easy to use.
Aeropress was invented by Alan Adler back in 2005 to allow coffee drinkers to alter the variables that are necessary for optimal coffee brewing.
We’ve previously shared how you use an Aeropress to make cold brew coffee. It really is a versatile coffee brewing tool.
The selling point of this method is also the ability to brew coffee as fast as possible.
There is even a competition for Aeropress enthusiasts all across the world called the World AeroPress Championship.
If you’re interested in knowing more about the Aeropress, I recommend watching the documentary, AeroPress Movie available on Amazon Prime Video. It features Alan Adler, the Aeropress inventor, a bit about the history and follows the contestants in one of the championships.
Making Espresso with an Aeropress
An Aeropress really comes in handy when you don’t have access to an espresso machine.
The best thing is there are no special skills or pricey equipment required. It uses nothing more than the Aeropress, hot water, coffee, and a little elbow grease.
You need the following tools and ingredients:
- Aeropress
- 2 Aeropress filters
- Coffee grinder
- Tamping device (a clear plastic squeeze bottle)
- Coffee cup
- Thermometer
- 18 grams of coffee beans
- 1 cup of hot water
Part 1 : Grind coffee
Grind 18 grams of coffee beans. Espresso calls for a fine grind size, similar to that of table salt.
I set my Hario ceramic mini hand grinder to 4 clicks from a closed position.
Part 2 : Prep the Aeropress
Place one paper filter into the filter cap and wet with water.
Put on the filter cap. And add ground coffee.
Tamp it down. I used a clear plastic squeeze bottle as a tamper. You can use anything that has a flat bottom, such as a spice jar or a wooden dowel, as long as it will fit in the brewing chamber.
Wet another paper filter and adhere it onto the bottom of the squeeze bottle.
Push the moisten filter down onto the compacted coffee ground and leave it there. The purpose is to keep our coffee ground undisturbed during the brewing process.
Part 3 : Let’s brew
Place the Aeropress on a cup.
Heat water to 200°F and pour in slowly.
Part 4 : Press it!
Insert the plunger and start pressing down slowly.
Keep your hands steady throughout the whole process until the end.
Enjoy your espresso!
Final Thoughts
The process of making espresso is complicated. Unlike typical drip coffee, a good shot of espresso is all about pressure. A perfect 9-bar pressure is needed to make the perfect espresso shot in most cases. Aeropress espresso may come close, but the quality and structure may differ from what you will get with an espresso machine.
So in conclusion, this Aeropress espresso is a good substitute to resemble a traditional cup of espresso from an espresso machine, and it is the best alternative you should consider.
