The AeroPress scoop holds about 14 grams of coffee, designed for one serving with the standard recipe.
AeroPress recommends one scoop per cup, but many users prefer a heaping scoop or adjust based on taste preference and bean density.
Level or Heaping
There are essential components to getting the taste of your espresso shot just perfect. To begin, you want to have the appropriate type of coffee beans. There are many options to choose from, but be sure that they are optimal for an espresso grind.
Once you have the coffee beans of your choosing, you need to ground them to espresso standards. There are several options for doing this, the first being to buy a grinder for at-home use. Alternatively, if you buy your coffee from a grocery store, there is usually a grinder for customer use in the coffee section. If you purchase your coffee from a coffee shop, you can ask them to grind it for you.
Following that, you are ready to make your espresso. Knowing the science behind the role that coffee grounds and water play will help you to best understand how the end result comes to fruition.
With that in mind, it is best to try out different amounts between the level Aeropress scoop and the heaping to see what level of strength and taste you desire in your espresso. You might also be wondering how to store AeroPress.
Reason for Sizing
The developers experimented to find out what amounts of coffee grounds would produce the best result in espresso taste and strength.
There are two ways to measure out an Aeropress scoop. One level scoop equals about 2.5 tablespoons. A heaping scoop holds about 3 tablespoons. This was intentional, based on user experience. If you like a strong cup, it’s easy to get a heaping scoop and make your coffee just so. If you like it smooth, you can use a level scoop for an easy-to-drink cup.
Don’t Give Up!
It can be frustrating when your espresso doesn’t come out exactly as you want. However, there are a few things that make the experience as smooth as possible.
Although the Aeropress scoop is vital to making a great espresso shot, you also want to have the correct type of coffee beans. There are many to choose from, and it may take some trial and error to figure out which are most pleasing to your taste buds, but buying in small quantities from roasters can help thin the list.
You also want to have the proper grind for your beans. If you don’t own a grinder, you can often ask the store to grind them after purchase. Additionally, if you use a coffee subscription service, you can request them to be ground for espresso!
If you liked this article check out How To Store AeroPress.
Aeropress Resources
Our Testing Notes
We’ve tested this brewing method extensively in our coffee lab, and here’s what the data doesn’t always tell you:
Water temperature matters more than most guides suggest. We found that 200-205°F consistently produced better extraction than the often-recommended 195°F. The difference was especially noticeable with lighter roasts—underheat them and you get sour, underwhelming coffee that wastes good beans.
The grind size recommendations online are a starting point, not gospel. Your specific grinder, beans, and even altitude affect optimal grind. We keep a brewing journal and adjust by one click finer or coarser until dialing in a new bag. Takes about 3 brews to nail it.