I started experimenting with making cold brew in the AeroPress last week at the beach. Here’s what I did today, and it turned out pretty good. I’ve been using the scoop and stirrer that came with the AeroPress.
- Set AeroPress up in inverted orientation with plunger inserted about 1cm.
- Add one heaping scoop of drip-grind coffee. AeroPress says this is about 15-16 grams, but I haven’t confirmed this. I have been using Wellsley Farms pre-ground medium roast breakfast blend, because I have a bag of it I’m trying to use up. Once it’s gone, I’ll switch to grinding whole beans by weight.
- Fill the AeroPress to within about 1cm of the top with room temperature, filtered water.
- Start timer and stir vigorously for 1 minute.
- Flip AeroPress and press gently into an 8-ounce tumbler. Add ice cubes to chill.
When I was doing this last week, I used less water to brew, and then topped the glass up with water or milk after pressing. Today, with more water in the chamber, it seemed like the coffee got mixed up a little better, and there was less coffee “sludge” on the stirrer when I removed it. The finished product seemed a little more flavorful, although it was subtle, and I’m not sure I’d be able to tell the difference in a blind taste test. I didn’t really care for it with milk. The milk gave it kind of a watered-down taste, probably because I was expecting it to have a milk-like consistency, which it didn’t, because it’s mostly water. I wonder how it would turn out if I brewed it with all milk instead of water? Might be worth trying one of these days.