The Aeropress is a fantastic little brewer that can make really delicious iced coffee. The recipe is really easy and you can have a ready glass in less than 2 minutes.
How to make Aeropress Iced Coffee
What you’ll need
- An Aeropress
- A kitchen scale
- 15 grams of coffee beans
- A burr grinder
- 110 ml of water
- 110 grams of ice cubes
- A large glass or mason jar
Step 1: Measure and grind coffee
Using your weighing scale, measure out 15 grams of coffee beans. Grind them to a medium consistency, the same that you would use for drip coffee. You can grind a couple of clicks finer if you want a stronger brew.
Step 2: Prep your Aeropress
Place the plunger 1/3 of the way inside the brew chamber and place the Aeropress upside-down(plunger on the countertop). Add the coffee grounds to the Aeropress. Wet a paper filter to wash out the papery taste and place it in the plastic filter basket. Keep aside.
Step 3: Put water to boil
Start heating your water using your favorite kettle. Let it go all the way to the boil.
Step 4: Add ice
Add 110 grams of ice to a large glass and keep it aside.
Step 5: Add water to the Aeropress
Add 30 grams of water to the Aeropress. Try to wet the grounds as evenly as possible. Let the coffee bloom for 20 seconds, and then add the remaining 80 grams of water. Stir gently for 10 seconds.
Step 6: Invert and plunge
Let the coffee slurry sit for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Then attach the filter cap and invert the Aeropress onto your glass of ice. Plunge down.
Step 7: Swirl and enjoy
Give the glass a quick swirl to really mix the ice and coffee, and then enjoy!
Brewing tips:
Dialing in the grind size
As with any brew, the grind size is really important. We prefer the inverted method for iced coffee, which is why we recommend using a medium grind.
If you decide to brew regular Aeropress-style, then you’ll need to grind a little finer. If the coffee is too coarse, the water will just leak all the way through the coffee and filter before it has a chance to brew properly.
How much ice to use
Most iced coffees call for a 1:1 ratio of water and ice. After drinking hundreds of cups of homemade iced coffee, I can confirm that the 1:1 ratio is indeed the very minimum you need!
A 1:1 ratio means there is enough ice to rapidly cool the hot coffee as it drips down. You can even use slightly more ice than water if you want a cooler, slightly less intense drink.
It’s useful to measure in grams as it’s difficult to measure ice by volume.
So if you were using 100 grams (ml) of water, you’d use 100 to 120 grams of ice.
Regular vs inverted
I believe that the inverted Aeropress method is superior to the original Aeropress method, and for a very simple reason:
The Aeropress was put in the hands of master baristas worldwide and they nearly unanimously decided to flip the thing upside down!
This is not to hate on the regular Aeropress method: it brews really sweet and flavorful coffee. However, for a slightly more flavorful brew, the inverted method does a better job.
In the inverted method, no water leaks before getting a chance to properly infuse with coffee solubes!
When you brew with the regular Aeropress method, you’ll see that some water invariably drips right as you pour it.
Can you use coffee ice cubes?
Some folks like to use coffee ice cubes in iced coffee instead of regular ice. If you stick to the 1:1 ratio, you will find that the resulting brew is quite strong and flavorful.
Adding coffee ice cubes will really intensify the flavor and it may become overpowering.
You’ll also need to match the type of coffee you used to make the ice cubes to the type of coffee you are currently brewing!
But if that’s what you’re looking for, then go for it!
Is Aeropress iced coffee better than iced pour over?
Aeropress coffee and pour over coffee have their own advantages. Aeropress tends to be a little sweeter, whereas pour over tends to be a bit more brighter.
If you’re looking for a really acidic kick, stick to pour over, as it does a better job of extracting those compounds.
If you’re looking for a very balanced cup of coffee, the Aeropress will always deliver.
Easy Aeropress Iced Coffee
Equipment
- Aeropress
- Weighing Scale
- Burr grinder
- Glass or mason jar
Ingredients
- 15 grams Coffee beans
- 110 ml Water
- 110 grams Ice
Instructions
- Measure out 15 grams of coffee and grind to a medium consistency
- Place the plunger in the Aeropress and place the Aeropress plunger-down on the countertop. Add coffee to the Aeropress. Wet a coffee filter and place it in the filter basket, then set aside.
- Heat 110 ml of water to a boil
- Add 110 grams of ice to a glass
- Pour 30 grams of water over the coffee grounds and let them bloom for 20 seconds. Add remaining 80 grams of water and stir for 10 seconds. Let the slurry rest for 1 minute and 30 seconds.
- Attach the filter basket and flip the Aeropress onto the glass. Plunge all the way down.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Conclusion
Iced coffee is incredibly refreshing and has a stronger kick than regular cold brew. All you need is an Aeropress, ice, coffee, water, and a couple of minutes to make a really delicious drink.
