FAQs

The AeroPress XL uses the same breakthrough technology as the AeroPress Original. As the only coffee maker on the market that combines the best of 3 brew techniques into one simple to use press, you get uniquely delicious, grit free flavor. Create Americano, espresso style, latte or cold brew tailored to your taste in 1-2 minutes. So what makes the AeroPress XL different? It has twice the capacity of the AeroPress Original.

The AeroPress XL can brew up to six shots of espresso style coffee. If you prefer to brew your coffee by pushing all the water through the grounds, you can brew up to two cups (20 oz./590 ml) at one time.

For day to day use, a simple rinse is sufficient because the plunger wipes the chamber clean as you brew. However, you can wash the AeroPress XL in the dishwasher (top rack only). We recommend occasionally removing the seal from the end of the plunger for a good washing inside and out with warm water and dish soap.

For the best brewing experience, use a medium-fine grind size, shake to level the bed of coffee grounds before pouring in the water, and pour the water slowly.

For the AeroPress Original and AeroPress Clear, we recommend pressing into a glass mug or carafe only if it is sturdy. Do not press into thin or delicate glassware. For the AeroPress XL, do not press into any glass mugs or carafes.

We manufacture a carafe made from crystal-clear, shatterproof Tritan™ that’s perfect for brewing and serving. The carafe is included with the AeroPress XL coffee maker but also sold separately as it’s compatible with the AeroPress Original and Clear coffee makers.

Tritan™ is a trademark of Eastman Chemical Company.

Both the reusable metal filter and the paper micro-filters keep out coffee grounds for a grit-free cup of coffee. The main difference between them is in the flavor profiles that they give you. The reusable metal filter allows oils to pass through for a somewhat fuller-bodied cup of coffee, whereas the paper micro-filter keeps out those oils for a cleaner flavor profile. Whichever filter you use, you’re sure to make a delicious cup!

Yes, the metal used in the AeroPress reusable metal filter is a food-safe, premium grade 316 stainless steel.

The AeroPress reusable metal filter is compatible with the AeroPress Original, the AeroPress Clear, and the AeroPress Go. It is not compatible with the AeroPress XL.

Yes, the AeroPress reusable metal filter is made in the USA, unlike many other filters on the market.

316 and 304 are two different grades of stainless steel. 316 is a premium grade of stainless steel that is much more durable and corrosion resistant than lower grade 304 stainless steel. The AeroPress reusable metal filter is made from 316 stainless steel, unlike other metal filters on the market.

No, the AeroPress reusable metal filter is the one and only metal filter designed and made by AeroPress. All other products on the market are made by third parties.

Yes, the reusable metal filter is dishwasher safe (top rack only).

Because it is made of stainless steel, the AeroPress reusable metal filter is not compostable. However, it is infinitely reuseable, so you can make as many cups of coffee as you like with it. Just wash and reuse for cup after cup of rich, full-bodied coffee!

The AeroPress metal filter has a 178 micron hole size.

For the best brewing experience, use a medium-fine grind size, shake to level the bed of coffee grounds before pouring in the water, and pour the water slowly. Read More

We recommend using a burr grinder instead of a blade grinder with Aeropress coffee makers. If you do use a blade grinder, we have found that it takes around 30 seconds of continuous grinding to achieve a medium-fine grind size with a blade grinder.

A good grinder will grind coffee into particles of uniform size. Very fine particles block the flow of water and make it difficult to press. The same blocking occurs if your grinder is dull because it produces particles of varying size and the fine particles will block the spaces between the larger particles.

Both scoops have the same capacity. A level scoop holds 11.5 grams of coffee or about 2.5 tablespoons. A heaping (rounded) scoop of coffee holds 14 grams or 3 tablespoons.

We don’t currently make a larger AeroPress Original. But if you do two or three 3-scoop pressings into an 8 or 12 cup carafe and then top off the pot with hot water, you will have enough American style coffee to serve a small gathering in less time than it takes to brew a carafe of drip coffee.

All of our tasters agreed that coffee brewed at these temperatures tasted the best. These temperatures deliver smooth, rich brews without the bitterness and acidity that come with using hotter water. One of the advantages of AeroPress coffee makers is the user controls all the brewing process variables including the temperature of the water used. We recommend brewing with water of different temperatures to determine one’s personal preference.

Look down into the chamber from above. The numbers on the outside are visible through the material particularly if looking down against a light background.

Ground coffee floating around in the chamber can make it difficult to judge the water level. Try pouring in half of the water, stirring to wet all the grounds, and then pouring up to the desired level.

Even when using the optimal medium-fine grind, it is normal for a minor amount of liquid (about 2-3%) to drip through prior to stirring and pressing. If a lot of liquid runs through prematurely, remember to shake to level the grounds and pour the water slowly. If an excess amount still runs through prematurely, you need to use a finer grind of coffee.

You may need to use a better or sharper grinder. A good, sharp grinder (ideally a good burr grinder) grinds coffee into particles that are all the same size. A cheap or dull grinder produces a wide variety of particle sizes and the very small dust-like particles at the fine end of the particle size distribution block the flow around the larger particles, turning the layer of coffee particles into a barrier that blocks your pressing.

Press gently, there is no rush. Pressing hard actually compacts the coffee particles into a barrier, making it harder to press. You can try pressing down half an inch, then hold the plunger there and let the air pressure in the chamber do the pressing for you. Then after 5 or so seconds of waiting, press another half inch down and repeat until finished pressing.

If the above two points don’t work, use a coarser grind (ideally medium-fine) until you get to where a minor amount drips through prior to pressing and slow, gentle pressing takes 20 to 40 seconds.

Many people say that espresso must be made with 9 bars of pressure. If you use this definition then no, AeroPress coffee makers do not make espresso. But if you define espresso by the taste of the drink in the cup, certainly many people think AeroPress coffee makers can brew espresso. Since coffee brewed by AeroPress coffee makers can be made into lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso based drinks, we feel it is important to use the term “espresso” when describing what AeroPress coffee makers brew so potential customers will understand how coffee brewed by AeroPress coffee makers can be enjoyed.

Yes. Please see our cold brew page for instructions on how to make cold brew style coffee with AeroPress coffee makers.

You can use any coffee when brewing with AeroPress coffee makers and you’ll get a delicious cup! But the bottom line is that the best coffee for AeroPress coffee makers is whatever coffee tastes best to you. Experiment with different roasters, origins, and roast levels, and maybe you’ll find your next favorite coffee!

Depending on what roast you’re using, you may want to switch up your brewing temperature. If you are brewing with light or medium roasts, a great place to start is a brewing temperature of around 175°F (80°C) water for dark roasts and 185°F (85°C) for medium and light roasts. But as always – experiment and see what tastes best to you!

We found in our taste tests that using slightly different brew temperatures for different roasts can yield great results. A great starting point is to brew with 175°F (80°C) water for dark roasts and 185°F (85°C) for medium and light roasts. These temperatures deliver smooth, rich brews without the bitterness and acidity that come with using hotter water, but as ever, they’re just a starting point. One of the advantages of AeroPress coffee makers is the user controls all the brewing process variables including the temperature of the water used. We recommend brewing with water of different temperatures to learn what tastes best to you!

Yes, you can make up to three 8 oz. cups of American style coffee at a time by brewing “espresso style”. Start by putting three rounded scoops of fine drip grind coffee in the AeroPress chamber, shake to level the bed of grounds, then fill up to the (3) on the chamber with hot water and stir for 10 seconds. Insert the plunger and press gently. You’ve now brewed three espresso-style concentrated “shots”. Then, divide the “shots” into three different mugs and add hot water to bring the total serving to 8 oz. (237 ml) each. Enjoy!

A lot of people want to know how much coffee to use when they first begin brewing with an AeroPress coffee maker. As a starting point, we recommend one heaping scoop of medium-fine grind coffee, or 14 grams of coffee per cup.

Both the AeroPress Original and AeroPress Go scoops have the same capacity. A level scoop holds 11.5 grams of coffee or about 2.5 tablespoons. A heaping (rounded) scoop of coffee holds 14 grams or 3 tablespoons.

The instructions provided with the AeroPress Original and the AeroPress Go and also available to download from this website describe a starting point from which users can deviate if they wish. The taste of brewed coffee is affected by all the variables in the brewing process. When using an AeroPress coffee maker the user selects the water temperature, the brew time, the coffee to water ratio, etc. AeroPress coffee makers enable the user to control all the brewing process variables and thereby brew a particular coffee with a desired brewing recipe. Taste is personal. There is no right answer to the question of how to brew a particular coffee and there is certainly no right answer for how to brew all coffees. With that said, we think the method described in the instructions is a good one for most coffees.

Some people brew with their AeroPress coffee maker upside down, which has been referred to as the “inverted method”. People who use the inverted method apparently do so to prevent premature drip-through of their coffee, to give them complete control over longer steep times, and to allow them to use coarser grind sizes.  However, we strongly discourage using this method as it can cause the coffee maker to be less stable and prone to mishaps that expose the user to potential burns from hot liquid. If you want to use a long steep time, we instead recommend using the normal method and simply insert the seal on the end of the plunger a half inch or so into the top of the chamber to stop drip-through while waiting for your longer steep time. The seal stops drip-through just like putting your finger on the top of a straw stops dripping out of the bottom of a straw. We think shorter steep times and our recommended medium-fine grind size brew better tasting coffee but taste is certainly personal and people should brew their coffee the way it tastes best to them.

These methods are not necessary with the new AeroPress Flow Control Filter Cap. It allows you to eliminate drip-through, extend your brew time for as long as you want, and use whatever grind size you prefer!

SAFETY NOTICE: The “inverted method” can cause the coffee maker to be less stable and prone to mishaps that expose the user to potential burns from hot liquid. Be advised that we strongly discourage using the inverted method because it is less stable and therefore prone to tipping over and exposing the user to hot liquid.

No. The bleaching process used by filter paper manufacturers until the late 1980s used chlorine gas and the chlorine gas bleaching process created dioxin as a byproduct. In the late 1980s the filter paper mills switched to using what is called the non-elemental chlorine bleaching process (they use a chlorine compound, not chlorine gas) to eliminate producing dioxin as a byproduct.

Yes, all AeroPress micro-filters are compatible with both the AeroPress Go and the AeroPress Original.

Coffee brewed by AeroPress coffee makers contains about one-fifth the acidity of drip brewed coffee and one-ninth the acidity of French press brewed coffee. Because of this it’s easier on your stomach.

Tests done by an independent researcher showed that the caffeine content of coffee brewed by AeroPress coffee makers is the same as comparable strength coffee brewed using other methods. People often find they enjoy their coffee stronger when it is brewed in an AeroPress coffee maker because of the lack of bitterness, so that would result in more caffeine per cup.

All materials used in AeroPress coffee makers are FDA and EU approved for use in contact with food, are free of BPA and phthalates, and are made in the USA.

We stopped putting the water level marking numbers on the AeroPress Original plunger because we were concerned that they encouraged the use of the plunger in microwave ovens and we just do not know what effect microwaves have on the life of the rubber seal.

The bottom circular rim of the chamber is firmly clamped down on the paper micro-filter when you screw the filter cap onto the bottom of the chamber. Therefore all the coffee that you press down must go through the micro-filter paper. There is a tiny amount of coffee that instead of going straight through the filter and into your mug goes sideways through the micro-filter paper and emerges outside of the chamber in the filter cap. The side holes in the filter cap are there to enable this small amount of coffee to drip down into your mug. If those side holes were not there, some of this coffee would be pushed up and over the rim of the filter cap and then drip outside your mug.

The biggest mug you can press into with the AeroPress Original has a top inner diameter of 3.75 inches (95mm). The smallest mug you can press into with the AeroPress Original has a top inner diameter of 2.75 inches (70mm).

We removed the ridges from the AeroPress Original plunger because they were scratching the inside of the chamber and had no function. We initially put the ridges on the plunger because we thought they would provide needed additional strength. That was not the case and to our surprise they were a source of scratching of the inside of the chamber.

Use the funnel to transfer the ground coffee from your coffee grinder bin to the AeroPress Original or AeroPress Go chamber. It was not an intended use but users have told us that the funnel fits on the bottom of the chamber and enables you to press into smaller mugs. If you do this, we advise you to make sure you use a sturdy mug and that you firmly hold the mug and AeroPress Go or AeroPress Original chamber during pressing to avoid spilling.

Plunger with Seal: 5.26″ tall, 3.28″ diameter

Chamber: 4.75″ tall, 4.22″ diameter (at widest part of the hexagon)

Compressed Plunger + Chamber: 5.26″ tall (height of the Plunger), 4.22″ diameter (diameter of Chamber)

The AeroPress Original and the AeroPress Go have the same cylinder diameter but the flange that supports the chamber on your cup is smaller on the Go. The Go can sit on a cup with a maximum inside diameter of about 3.25” whereas the AeroPress Original can sit on a cup with a maximum inside diameter as big as about 3.75”. The AeroPress Original and the AeroPress Go will both press into a mug with a minimum opening diameter of 2.75”.

The seal does eventually wear down over time. To maximize seal life, always eject the used
coffee right after brewing and store your AeroPress coffee maker with the seal pushed all the way through the chamber. This keeps the seal free of compression for longer seal life. There is no adhesive on the seal, so you can easily remove it and then replace it on the AeroPress plunger.

The seal can be cleaned using hot water and dish soap. We advise you to occasionally remove the seal from the plunger and wash it inside and out with hot, soapy water to prevent the accumulation of coffee oils. Use a paper towel to provide a little abrasiveness.

Your seal has become compressed and is no longer big enough to tightly seal the chamber. Whenever the seal is inside the chamber, it is being held compressed. Eventually the compression forces prevail and the seal becomes too small. To maximize the life of your seal you need to minimize the time your seal is held compressed. This means eject the spent coffee immediately after every pressing and store the seal either pushed all the way through or removed from the chamber.

Buy a new seal: The seal can easily be replaced on the end of the plunger so one solution is to buy a new seal on our website. With care, a new seal should last at least three years.

For a quick fix: Joe Lindsay sent us his short-term fix: First place the rubber end of the plunger in some hot water for a couple minutes. Then press the rubber end of the plunger onto a flat surface such as a cutting board. While pressing roll the seal around on its edge so that you are pressing the edge out, widening the circumference of the seal.

Yes. The black seal is fitted onto the end of the plunger. There is no adhesive. To fit the seal back onto the end of the plunger, position the seal on the end of the plunger and then turn the seal while pressing it onto the plunger until it gets fully seated.

The weight of the AeroPress Original (including the chamber and plunger, the filter cap, the scoop, and the stirrer) is 7.75 ounces.

When camping, backpacking or traveling light, the parts of the AeroPress Original you would take along (the chamber, the plunger, the filter cap, and however many paper microfilters you thought you’d need) weigh 6.5 ounces. You would leave the AeroPress scoop and stirrer at home, and use whatever spoon you were already bringing on your hike as a scoop and stirrer.

Holding the AeroPress coffee maker with the seal facing you, brace your fingers around the chamber flange and push both of your thumbs against the seal. This will push the plunger up through the chamber making it easier to pull the two pieces apart.

This is like removing a screw top lid stuck on a jar. You can try lubricating the filter cap with a little water or cooking oil to make it easier to turn. Or, you can buy a sheet of rubber like material that is intended to help you grip the lids of jars to make it easier to twist the lids – try using one of those. You also can try running hot water over the filter cap (not the chamber). The filter cap expanding with heat may make it easier to turn.

AeroPress brand products are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase from an authorized retailer. If you think you purchased a defective AeroPress product that is under warranty, please contact us and report the problem. We will promptly be in touch.

Always eject the used coffee right after brewing and store your AeroPress coffee maker with the silicone seal pushed all the way through the chamber. This keeps the seal free of compression for longer seal life.

AeroPress coffee makers are manufactured in the USA.

Yes, you can take AeroPress coffee makers camping! While either the AeroPress Original or the AeroPress Go can be taken camping, the AeroPress Go is perfect for a camping trip. We optimized the AeroPress Go’s design to make it compact, lightweight and durable, and the included drinking mug doubles as a carrying case.

Take a piece of paper towel and soak it with a little canola or olive oil. Lay the oil-soaked paper towel flat over the residue, pressing to adhere, and leave it for 10 minutes. Then, remove the oily paper towel and wipe away any remaining oil with a clean paper towel. Wash your AeroPress chamber with dish soap and warm water. This should remove the residue.

The seal is made of silicone. Silicones are rubber like materials that are primarily made of silicon and oxygen. They are frequently used in the manufacture of kitchen implements including those used for baking because of their non-toxicity and excellent durability including resistance to heat. Up until October of 2018 the AeroPress seal was made of a thermoplastic elastomer. Both the silicone and the thermoplastic elastomer are made in the USA and are FDA and EU approved for use in contact with food.

In the summer of 2014 we switched to making the chamber and plunger out of polypropylene for the AeroPress Original. We have always used polypropylene when manufacturing the AeroPress Go. This means that all of the AeroPress Original and AeroPress Go parts, except the silicone seal, are now made of polypropylene. We made the change because tests indicated the polypropylene is more durable. We regret the polypropylene is less transparent but feel the additional durability is more important. All materials used in AeroPress coffee makers are made in the USA, are free of BPA and phthalates, and are FDA and EU approved for use in contact with food.

No. AeroPress coffee makers have always been free of phthalates and have been free of BPA since August of 2009.

Most AeroPress coffee maker parts are made of #7 polypropylene plastic, which is recyclable. The paper micro-filters are both recyclable and compostable. The plunger seal and the lid of the AeroPress Go mug are made of silicone, which is not recyclable.