AeroPress: Standard & Inverted Methods

September 22, 2026
Di Pacci — Alternative Brewing Guide

Di Pacci Coffee Co. · ✍️ By Mik Di Pacci · Updated September 2026 · 7 min read

Quick Answer: The AeroPress brews smooth, full-bodied coffee in under two minutes using hot water, gentle pressure, and a paper or reusable filter — no machine required. It can be brewed two ways: the standard method (filter-side-down from the start) or the inverted method (flipped for precise steep control). Both are covered below.

AeroPress coffee maker with filters and grounds
⚡ Brews in ~2 Min 🎯 Standard & Inverted ✈️ Travel-Ready 🧼 Easy Cleanup

The AeroPress brews smooth, full-bodied coffee in under two minutes using nothing but hot water, a gentle push, and a paper (or reusable) filter — no machine, no steam, no mains power needed. It's also one of the most flexible brewers available, since small changes to grind, time, and ratio genuinely change the result. Here's how to brew it both ways: the standard method and the popular inverted method.

~1–2 minTypical steep time
2Standard & inverted methods
Medium–fineTypical grind size
Paper or metalFilter options

Standard vs Inverted — What's the Difference

The AeroPress can be brewed two ways, and the coffee itself doesn't change much — it's mostly about workflow and control. In the standard method, the AeroPress sits filter-side-down on your cup the whole time, so water starts draining through as soon as you pour, giving less control over exact steep time. In the inverted method, the AeroPress is flipped upside down so coffee steeps fully sealed with no drainage, then flipped upright onto the cup and filter only at the end, right before plunging. Inverted gives more precise control over steep time and is the more popular method among enthusiasts, but standard is simpler and less fiddly for a quick daily brew.

Grind Size and Ratio

A medium-fine grind — finer than drip/filter, coarser than espresso — is the common starting point, though the AeroPress is genuinely flexible: finer grinds with a shorter steep produce an espresso-like concentrate, while coarser grinds with a longer steep produce something closer to a filter coffee. A common starting ratio is around 1:15 (coffee to water by weight) for a standard-strength cup, adjusted to taste from there. A grinder with fine, repeatable adjustment makes this easier — see our home grinder range.

Standard Method, Step by Step

  1. Rinse the filter with hot water in the cap, both to remove any papery taste and to preheat the cap and your cup.
  2. Assemble the AeroPress filter-side-down directly on your cup or mug.
  3. Add ground coffee to the chamber at your chosen ratio.
  4. Pour hot water (off the boil, roughly 85–96°C is a common range) up to your target level, and stir gently to make sure all the grounds are saturated.
  5. Steep for roughly 1–2 minutes, adjusting time to taste — longer steeps generally extract more.
  6. Insert the plunger and press down slowly and steadily until you hear a hissing sound, which signals the coffee is fully through.

Inverted Method, Step by Step

  1. Insert the plunger slightly into the chamber, then turn the whole assembly upside down so the plunger is on the bottom and the open chamber faces up.
  2. Add ground coffee to the now-upward-facing open chamber.
  3. Pour hot water to your target level and stir to saturate the grounds fully.
  4. Let it steep for your chosen time — since nothing is draining yet, this gives you exact control over steep duration.
  5. Attach the rinsed filter cap, then carefully flip the whole assembly right-side up onto your cup in one confident motion.
  6. Press down slowly and steadily to finish, just as with the standard method.
Tip: practise the flip motion a few times without coffee in it first if you're new to the inverted method — a hesitant flip is the most common way to spill it.

Paper vs Metal Filters

Paper filters

The standard option — produces a cleaner, brighter cup with less sediment and body, since paper traps more fine particles and oils.

Reusable metal filters

Let more natural oils and fine particles through, producing a fuller-bodied, richer cup closer to a French press. No ongoing paper cost.

Common Mistakes

Skipping the filter rinse

An unrinsed paper filter can impart a papery taste that's easy to avoid with one quick rinse.

Pressing too hard or fast

A slow, steady press gives a cleaner result — forcing it can push through sediment.

Water too hot

Water straight off the boil can over-extract and add bitterness — let it sit off the boil for a short moment.

Not experimenting

The AeroPress's biggest strength is flexibility — stick rigidly to one recipe and you miss what the brewer can do.

Ready to Brew?

Shop the AeroPress range or pair it with fresh beans.

Shop AeroPress Shop Coffee Beans

Frequently Asked Questions

Not objectively better — it gives more precise control over steep time since nothing drains until you're ready to flip, which many enthusiasts prefer. The standard method is simpler and produces a very similar cup for most everyday brewing.

A medium-fine grind is the common starting point, but the AeroPress is unusually flexible — finer grinds with a shorter steep lean toward an espresso-like concentrate, while coarser grinds with a longer steep lean toward filter coffee.

AeroPress uses its own specifically-sized paper filters, though reusable stainless steel filter discs are also available as a paper-free alternative that produces a fuller-bodied cup.

Typically around 1–2 minutes of steep time plus a short press, so a full brew from start to finish usually takes well under 5 minutes including setup.

Yes — a finer grind, higher coffee-to-water ratio, and shorter steep time produces a concentrated result often used as the base for AeroPress-based lattes, though it won't be identical to a machine-pulled espresso shot.

About the Author. Mik Di Pacci, Founder & CEO, Di Pacci Coffee Company. Di Pacci Coffee Company is Australia's coffee machine specialist, established in 2010, with five showrooms nationwide. See our AeroPress range or call (02) 9758 0760.

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