How to Make Espresso-Style Coffee with AeroPress in 20 Seconds

If you’ve ever wanted a strong, espresso-like shot of coffee without a machine, a bulky setup, or expensive gear, you’re not alone. Many coffee drinkers crave that bold, concentrated flavor—like what you’d get in a traditional espresso—but don’t want the commitment of a full espresso machine or the complexity of pressure profiling. There’s a simple tool that’s been around since 2005 that can deliver just that, and it might already be sitting in your kitchen drawer.

Yes, you can brew an espresso-style shot with an AeroPress in about 20 seconds. Using fine coffee grind, 17–20 grams of coffee, 80°C water, and a 20-second press, you’ll get a thick, concentrated brew similar to espresso that can be used for lattes, americanos, or drunk straight.

What Is an AeroPress and Why Do People Love It?

The AeroPress is a compact, plastic coffee maker invented by American engineer Alan Adler in 2005. Shaped like a syringe, it uses manual pressure to extract coffee through a paper or metal filter. Unlike traditional espresso machines, it doesn’t require electricity or high-pressure pumps. But despite its simple design, it’s earned a cult following for its versatility, ease of use, and rich extractions.

Coffee enthusiasts and professionals alike praise the AeroPress. Coffee Geek called it "the most valuable tool in the coffee world." Two-time AeroPress Championship winner Jeff Verellen said, "No other method is as easy and fun." Even Circa CEO Matt Galligan carries one everywhere he travels.

Who Invented the AeroPress—and Why?

The AeroPress wasn’t created in a corporate R&D lab. It was invented by Stanford educator and amateur inventor Alan Adler, who simply wanted better coffee at home. Dissatisfied with his drip brews, Adler experimented with key variables: brew time, temperature, and grind size. His goal was to build a device that could control all those factors simply and effectively—and the AeroPress was the result.

Made from durable plastic, the standard AeroPress kit includes the main cylinder, a filter cap, a rubber seal, a stirrer, a scoop, a year’s supply of paper filters, and a funnel. It retails for just $25 (around ¥150), making it one of the most affordable specialty brewing tools available.

How to Brew Espresso-Style Coffee with AeroPress in 20 Seconds

To achieve an espresso-like shot using the AeroPress, follow this precise method:

• Grind: Use a fine grind, about the size of table salt or slightly finer. This mimics the grind size used for traditional espresso.
• Dose: Add 17–20 grams of finely ground coffee into the chamber.
• Water Temp: Heat your water to around 80°C (not boiling).
• Preparation: Place a paper filter in the filter cap, rinse it with hot water to remove any paper taste, and attach the cap to the chamber.
• Bloom & Pour: Add the coffee grounds to the chamber, then pour hot water up to the specified fill line (usually around 120–150ml depending on your target strength). Stir gently to ensure even saturation.
• Press: Wet the rubber seal, insert the plunger, and press down steadily over about 20 seconds until you hear a hiss. The result is a thick, concentrated coffee extract similar to espresso.

This method produces a small, intense shot that you can drink as-is, or dilute with water or milk to make an americano or latte. It’s especially useful for making cafe-style drinks at home without an espresso machine.

How Easy Is Cleanup?

Cleanup takes less than 20 seconds. Remove the cap, push the puck of coffee grounds out, and rinse the parts under running water. The paper filter can be replaced, but many users report reusing the same filter 5–6 times without noticeable impact on taste. There are no moving parts, no pumps, and nothing to descale.

Can You Adjust the Strength or Flavor?

Yes. The AeroPress gives you full control over the final cup. You can adjust coffee-to-water ratio, grind fineness, water temperature, and brew time to create a lighter or stronger brew. For a more espresso-like intensity, use a finer grind and a higher coffee dose. For a milder cup, go coarser or add more water after pressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really make espresso with an AeroPress?

You can brew an espresso-style concentrated coffee using an AeroPress by using a fine grind, 17–20g of coffee, around 80°C water, and pressing for 20 seconds. While it’s not true espresso made under 9 bars of pressure, the resulting shot is thick, rich, and similar enough to be used in lattes, americanos, or enjoyed straight.

What grind size should I use for espresso-style AeroPress coffee?

Use a fine grind, similar to table salt or slightly finer. This helps mimic the extraction conditions of traditional espresso and contributes to the thicker, more concentrated brew that resembles espresso.

How long does it take to brew with an AeroPress?

The full process—including setup, pouring, stirring, and pressing—takes about 60 seconds in total, but the actual pressing time to produce the espresso-style shot is around 20 seconds.

Do you need special filters for espresso-style brewing?

No, you can use the standard AeroPress paper filters that come with the kit. For best results, rinse the filter first to eliminate any paper taste. Metal filters are also available and can slightly alter the extraction by letting more oils through.

Why does the recipe use 80°C water instead of boiling?

Using water around 80°C helps prevent over-extraction and bitterness, which is especially important when using a fine grind and pressing for 20 seconds. This temperature range is ideal for balancing extraction and flavor clarity in a concentrated brew.

Is the coffee from an AeroPress stronger than regular drip coffee?

Yes. Because you use a finer grind, a higher coffee-to-water ratio, and a full immersion followed by pressure extraction, the resulting brew is much more concentrated—similar in strength to espresso or stronger than typical drip coffee.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Blends for AeroPress Espresso Style

For making espresso-style coffee with your AeroPress, we recommend FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend, crafted specifically for espresso and moka pot brewing. It produces outstanding crema even with basic equipment, offering a rich, full-bodied profile perfect for lattes and cappuccinos. The Black Cocoa Blend is another excellent choice—affordable yet bold, with deep flavors suited for everyday use. For a more traditional espresso taste, the Specialty Blend combines Brazilian and Colombian beans, delivering familiar, balanced notes. All three are ideal for creating thick, concentrated shots with your AeroPress. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.