8 Greatest Coffees for Aeropress: Our Group’s 2024 Favorites

What’s the greatest espresso for Aeropress? It’s actually one of many manufacturers like Koa Espresso, Espresso Bros and Volcanica.

Photograph: Julia Bobak

Espresso lovers know that the Aeropress is without doubt one of the greatest instruments for making wonderful espresso at dwelling – or on the go. It brews a candy, easy, and robust cup, good for highlighting the wealthy flavors of high-quality espresso beans.

Which high-quality espresso beans, you ask? That’s the place this listing is available in. 

I brewed and tasted dozens of beans to spherical up these 8 greatest coffees for Aeropress. With numerous roast ranges, origins, and worth factors, one (or extra) is simply best for you!

What are the perfect espresso beans for Aeropress?

Picture	Merchandise	Particulars
BEST OVERALL BEST OVERALL	Koa Espresso Kona Grande Domaine	Vienna (Medium-dark) roast Hawaii, USA origins Toasted nuts, milk chocolate, tropical fruit
BEST LIGHT ROAST BEST LIGHT ROAST	Espresso Bros. Ethiopia Daye Bensa	Gentle-medium roast Sidama, Ethiopia origins Caramel, apple, peach
BEST MEDIUM ROAST BEST MEDIUM ROAST	Volcanica Colombian Supremo	Medium roast Bucaramanga, Colombia origins Bittersweet chocolate, caramel, orange
BEST DARK ROAST BEST DARK ROAST	Out Of The Gray Kenya AA	Darkish-medium roast Kenyan origins Blackcurrant, fennel, tea, florals
BEST DECAF BEST DECAF	Purity Espresso Calm	Medium roast Unspecified origins Darkish chocolate, vanilla, crimson apple
BEST ORGANIC BEST ORGANIC	Fabula Espresso Medium	Medium roast Peruan origins Praline, nuts, chocolate
BEST FOR ESPRESSO DRINKS BEST FOR ESPRESSO DRINKS	Stumptown Hair Bender	Medium roast Latin America, Indonesia, East Africa origins Citrus, darkish chocolate, raisins
BUDGET PICK BUDGET PICK	Peet’s Espresso Guatemala San Sebastian	Darkish roast Antigua, Guatemala origins Vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, guava

My staff and I put the Aeropress to work and tasted over 15 coffees to compile this listing of the perfect espresso beans on your Aeropress. We discovered distinctive choices in all classes, whether or not you favor gentle roasts, espresso blends, and even decaf.

The best brew for you depends upon your preferences and finances, however listed here are eight unbelievable coffees to select from.

Greatest General

The Koa Espresso Kona Grande Domaine was a straightforward selection because the Greatest General espresso for brewing with an Aeropress. Not solely was it my private favourite, however it was the unanimous winner of our style exams. Sadly, it’s additionally the costliest choice on the listing, so relying in your finances, it won’t be your on a regular basis Aeropress brew. Nevertheless it’s properly definitely worth the splurge if you wish to deal with your self to the best possible cup of Aeropress espresso.

Photograph: Julia Bobak

I really like the medium-dark Vienna roast of this espresso, which is simply darkish sufficient to reinforce the sweetness and physique with out obliterating the inherently fruity character of the beans. I discovered it to be a profoundly nutty brew, heavy with the richness of toasted cashews. There’s a decadent milk chocolate sweetness, and I obtained a touch of acidity within the type of pineapple and passionfruit – a beautiful reminder of this espresso’s island origin.

Koa harvests the beans from their property within the Mauna Loa area of the well-known Kona espresso belt, the place the right mixture of local weather and soil yields among the greatest espresso beans on the earth. The Grande Domaine mix is 100% Kona espresso, combining their premium Kona espresso beans with a fraction of extra-special Kona Peaberry.

Greatest Gentle Roast

I’ve been impressed with each espresso I’ve tried from Espresso Bros. Their experience in sourcing and roasting is obvious, and their beans at all times arrive recent.

What struck me about these beans from Ethiopia is their broad enchantment – which isn’t at all times true of sunshine roasts. The Ethiopia Daye Bensa espresso will please Third Wave espresso followers on the lookout for a brightly acidic brew. However I feel espresso traditionalists might be equally pleased with its compelling pure sweetness.

The espresso is grown within the well-known espresso area of Sidama, Ethiopia. The beans are naturally processed within the solar, contributing to their sweetness and fruit-forward flavors.

I’d name the roast a Half Metropolis, including a contact of caramelization. I tasted ripe stone fruit and caramel, with a average acidity that was extra inexperienced apple than punchy citrus.

Once I brew this one in my Aeropress, I like to make use of a barely greater coffee-to-water ratio, and I undoubtedly advocate ingesting it black.

Greatest Medium Roast

3. Volcanica Colombian Supremo

• Roast: Medium

• Origin: Bucaramanga, Colombia
• Taste profile: Bittersweet chocolate, caramel, orange
• Avaiable as: Floor or complete beans

An excellent medium roast is a key addition to your brewing arsenal, and Volcanica’s Colombia Supremo espresso is the one I at all times hold readily available. Everybody loves this espresso. There’s merely nothing to not like.

I tasted wealthy chocolate and luscious caramel balanced by a mild orange acidity. It’s tremendous easy, particularly brewed with the Aeropress, with a medium physique and lingering end.

Colombia is the world’s second-largest espresso producer, and its longstanding place within the espresso trade yields persistently high-quality beans (1). Some affiliate its market dominance with boring flavors or the not-so-impressive Juan Valdez model, however this thrilling Fairtrade single origin is a reminder that nice roasters ship nice Colombian beans.

Greatest Darkish Roast

4. Out of the Gray Kenya AA

• Roast: Darkish-medium

• Origin: Kenya
• Taste profile: Blackcurrant, fennel, tea, florals
• Obtainable as: Floor or complete beans

I really like Kenyan espresso. Admittedly, that’s a private choice, however I feel it’s one of the crucial thrilling single origins available on the market. 

The most effective Kenyan beans are wealthy in complexity. However not like its well-known neighbor Ethiopia, identified for subtlety and delicate flavors, Kenyan espresso is daring and punchy. Consider it like Ethiopian espresso turned as much as 11.

So whilst you’ll not often see a darker Ethiopian espresso, these Kenya AA beans from Out of the Gray haven’t any drawback taking up a heavier roast with out dropping their distinctive character.

This espresso is so complicated that everybody who tasted it skilled it a bit in another way. I believed the flavors had been predominantly berry-like, with tasting notes of black tea, florals, and grapefruit acidity. However different tasters famous extra natural flavors or a molasses sweetness. You’ll simply have to select up a bag and take a look at it your self!

Greatest Decaf

5. Purity Espresso Calm

• Roast: Medium

• Origin: Unspecified mix
• Taste profile: Darkish chocolate, vanilla, crimson apple
• Obtainable as: Complete beans, pods, espresso sachets

Purity Espresso constructed its model round espresso for good well being, however the good flavors are what hold me coming again. I admire a model that gives a small, curated choice; they’re placing unbelievable care into each bean.

Purity Calm makes use of the identical mix because the medium-roast Movement, decaffeinated by way of the Swiss Water course of. Nevertheless, roasting is outsourced to a roastery that makes a speciality of decaf. 

Photograph: Julia Bobak

I used to be curious to do a style comparability of the common and decaf variations. The decaf has a barely darker roast profile, which I feel is an efficient name. It offers it physique, and the added caramelization retains the flavors as wealthy because the caffeinated model.

I loved the style of each equally, to be trustworthy. The decaf was very chocolatey with notes of vanilla sweetness. I obtained a touch of apple brightness, however it’s muted in comparison with the common Medium. There’s additionally a Half-Caff model, although I haven’t tried it.

Like all Purity Espresso, Calm decaf is Natural, Smithsonian Chook Pleasant, and Rainforest Alliance licensed.

Greatest Natural

6. Fabula Espresso Medium

• Roast: Medium

• Origin: Peru
• Taste profile: Praline, nuts, chocolate
• Obtainable as: Floor or complete beans

Fabula presents solely natural espresso, and I loved brewing all of it with my Aeropress. Certainly, gentle roast followers ought to pay attention to their natural single-origin from Mexico, an distinctive and attention-grabbing brew. However the Medium Roast is the best-seller and the one I’m inclined to advocate right here as probably the most broadly interesting of the bunch.

I believed this single origin from Peru struck a formidable stability between unique and acquainted.

It’s a candy and wealthy medium-bodied brew with chocolate, nuts, and caramel notes. I detected little or no bitterness or acidity, making this a straightforward espresso to sip all day. It’s equally tasty with or with out added milk.

Greatest For Espresso Drinks

7. Stumptown Hair Bender

• Roast: Medium

• Origin: Latin America, Indonesia, East Africa
• Taste profile: Citrus, darkish chocolate, raisins
• Obtainable as: Complete beans

Is your morning cup of espresso normally a latte or cappuccino? Then you definately and I are in the identical boat. My go-to selection for a wealthy and flavorful Aeropress “shot” is the Hair Bender from Stumptown Espresso Roasters.

Hair Bender is the model’s hottest mix, which doesn’t shock me in any respect. These espresso beans are the definition of crowd-pleasing. The mix of nutty Latin American beans, earthy Indonesian beans, and vibrant and fruity East African beans produces a superbly balanced brew.

I’d nearly be tempted to name this mix a bit boring when brewed as an everyday espresso. However its complexity is revealed when ready as a concentrated shot of espresso with a mouth-coating physique. You’ll first style wealthy darkish chocolate and a daring, jammy sweetness, with a lingering orange zest within the aftertaste. It’s nice by itself and holds up superbly to take advantage of in a cappuccino. 

Funds Decide

I convey up Peet’s each time anybody asks me for a budget-friendly espresso model. In my view, they’ve efficiently navigated the almost unattainable activity of scaling up with out lowering high quality. Their progress has enabled them to supply even higher coffees whereas conserving costs affordable, and so they proceed to roast, grind, and ship recent espresso.

I typically flip to Guatemalan beans for my Aeropress espresso, and I’m not alone. In 2020, Excellent Each day Grind named Guatemala as an rising specialty area (2).

In actual fact, the flavors of this Guatemalan single origin remind me of my best choice Kona beans, although the roast is a tad darker. I get punchy bittersweet chocolate balanced by candy notes of tropical guava and vanilla.

If you happen to benefit from the Kona espresso as an occasional splurge, enable me to counsel Peet’s Guatemala San Sebastian as your every day drinker. It’s a couple of quarter the value.

How I Examined The Greatest Aeropress Coffees

Every espresso was brewed twice, first utilizing Residence Grounds’ commonplace recipe for find out how to use an Aeropress after which as a extra concentrated espresso-style espresso. Each espresso was tasted by me and not less than two different tasters. We rated the coffees utilizing a spreadsheet to attain style, aroma, aftertaste, physique, and mouthfeel.

I checked the roasting date of every espresso and rejected any beans that didn’t arrive inside a month. Contemporary is greatest.

How To Select The Greatest Espresso Beans For The Aeropress

One motive the Aeropress espresso maker is so well-liked is its versatility; it’s appropriate for an enormous number of coffees. The one essential factor is that you just purchase recent, high-quality beans like those on this listing.

That stated, not each espresso might be to your style. So listed here are some issues to think about when discovering the perfect espresso to make use of in your Aeropress.

Which roast degree is greatest?

Excellent news! The Aeropress works with any roast of espresso you get pleasure from.

Guide brewing strategies just like the Aeropress are great as a result of you may simply tweak the brewing variables to optimize extraction for any espresso, whether or not a darkish espresso mix or an unique gentle single origin. The world of espresso is your oyster, to combine a metaphor.

If you happen to strive your favourite espresso within the Aeropress and it doesn’t style fairly proper, strive adjusting the water temperature, grind dimension, coffee-to-water ratio, or brew time. I promise you’ll discover the candy spot.

Take into consideration the flavour profiles you get pleasure from

No roast or nation of origin is greatest for the Aeropress, so that you solely have to resolve what taste profiles fit your palate.

Do you want balanced, easy-drinking brews? Decide a espresso mix. Want complicated and unique flavors? Contemplate a single origin. Or take this recommendation from Blue Bottle Espresso (3):

Each espresso’s taste is a novel mixture of the espresso plant, processing methodology, roast, and mix. Right here is only a tough guideline to think about when looking for beans:

• Darkish roasts are usually decrease in acid, extra bitter, and have a heavy physique. They typically characteristic flavors of darkish chocolate, toasted nuts, molasses, earthiness, and dried fruit. 
• Medium roasts strike a pleasant stability between sweetness, acid, and bitterness. They’ve a medium physique and flavors like nuts, milk chocolate, ripe fruit, brown sugar, and caramel.
• Gentle roasts have a gentle physique, mild sweetness, and excessive ranges of acidity. You’ll discover fruit, floral, and herbaceous flavors.

The beauty of a single-serving brewer just like the Aeropress is that it’s straightforward to pattern many coffees with out brewing a complete pot each time. So have enjoyable and discover!

What grind of espresso do you employ for Aeropress?

The most effective grind dimension for Aeropress is a medium-fine grind, barely finer than you’d use for a drip espresso machine. Nevertheless, totally different coffees require slight variations for optimum extraction. I normally go a bit finer with lighter roasts or when brewing a powerful espresso much like espresso. Simply keep away from going too superb, otherwise you’ll have an unattainable time pushing the plunger!

Can you employ pre-ground espresso in Aeropress?

Sure, you need to use pre-ground espresso in an Aeropress; it’s fairly forgiving of grind dimension. Pre-ground espresso tends to be a bit coarser than is right for this brewer, so I’d counsel rising the brew temperature or extending the steeping time to compensate.

Even when you’re shopping for pre-ground espresso, it’s nonetheless essential that it’s recent. For the perfect floor espresso for Aeropress, select manufacturers that don’t grind till you order and that ship instantly.

What does Aeropress espresso style like?

Aeropress espresso is thought for being candy and easy, with little or no bitterness. When Alan Alder invented the Aeropress, he was impressed by the espresso machine. He realized that sooner extraction yielded much less bitter espresso and that this may very well be facilitated via added strain (4).

That’s why the Aeropress can even brew a powerful, concentrated shot of espresso much like espresso. It lacks the excessive strain required to realize true espresso, so Aeropress “pictures” aren’t fairly as flavorful and full-bodied and don’t have a layer of crema.

The Aeropress is historically brewed utilizing paper filters, which yields a clear cup. Nevertheless, you may swap in a steel filter for Aeropress for a fuller-bodied brew with an oilier mouthfeel – much like a French press or Moka pot. It’s as much as your style, although I undoubtedly advocate a steel filter if you wish to make a pseudo-espresso.

The Verdict

If you happen to’ve realized something from this information, I hope it’s that there is no such thing as a scarcity of scrumptious coffees for brewing with Aeropress. Whether or not you favor darkish or gentle roasts, blends or single origins, espresso or espresso, there’s an ideal Aeropress espresso for you.

My high decide for 2024 is the Koa Espresso Grande Domaine, a splurge-worthy mix of 100% Kona espresso beans that may please any espresso drinker. It’s wealthy, flavorful, and completely beautiful as an Aeropress brew. Completely happy brewing!