AeroPress's own recipe calls for 16 to 18 g of coffee (one heaping scoop) with water poured to the 4 mark on the chamber. If you'd rather weigh both sides, most roaster recipes put the AeroPress ratio between 1:13 and 1:17, with 1:16 (15 g of coffee to 240 g of water) a popular middle ground.
| Water | Coffee at 1:16 | Coffee at 1:13 (stronger) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 g | 9.4 g | 11.5 g |
| 200 g | 12.5 g | 15.4 g |
| 240 g | 15 g | 18.5 g |
What the official AeroPress recipe says
AeroPress keeps its instructions simple and measured by scoop and chamber marks, not by ratio:
- Coffee: 16 to 18 g, or 1 heaping scoop.
- Water: fill to the 4 mark on the side of the chamber.
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C). AeroPress says boiling water is fine if your kettle doesn't have a temperature setting.
- Steep time: 60 seconds for medium ground coffee from the store, or 30 seconds for freshly ground, medium fine coffee.
The bigger carafe models use 32 to 36 g (2 heaping scoops) filled to the 8 mark. The AeroPress Go Mug uses 12 to 14 g of medium fine coffee filled to the 3 mark.
Why your AeroPress ratio can drift
The chamber marks are handy, but they aren't a precise water measurement. AeroPress's own help center says that if you want more consistent amounts, you should measure the water with a measuring cup or a scale. The grounds also take up room in the chamber, so "fill to 4" holds a little more or less water depending on your dose and grind.
Scoops vary too. A heaping scoop of fine, fluffy grounds and a heaping scoop of coarser grounds won't weigh the same. That's why two people following the same recipe can end up with very different cups.
Roasters who publish weighed recipes land in a fairly tight band. Two Chimps Coffee recommends 1:16, which is 15 g of coffee for a 240 ml cup, and suggests 18 g with the same water if you want it stronger (about 1:13). Dean's Beans uses 12 g of coffee to 200 g of water, roughly 1:16.7.
How to weigh an AeroPress brew
- Set the AeroPress on your mug, with a rinsed paper filter in the cap.
- Weigh your coffee. Start with 15 g for a 240 g cup.
- Put the mug and brewer on a scale and zero it.
- Pour hot water until the scale reads 240 g, then stir.
- Steep, then press gently until you hear a hiss.
- Taste and adjust only one thing next time: dose, grind or steep time.
Writing down three numbers (coffee, water, time) is the fastest way to repeat a cup you loved.
Making it stronger or milder
If your coffee tastes thin, add coffee before you add time. Moving from 15 g to 18 g with the same 240 g of water takes you from 1:16 to about 1:13, which is a noticeable jump. If it tastes harsh or heavy, go the other way, or keep the dose and add a splash of hot water after pressing.
Some people brew a small, strong concentrate and top it up with hot water. That works too. Just weigh the coffee and the brew water so the base stays the same from day to day.
A practical tip: for an 18 g dose, the MeasureMate digital measuring spoon lets you scoop the beans and weigh them in one step, with a display that reads in 0.1 g steps. Press the tare button to zero it between scoops, and you can switch between grams and ounces if your recipe uses either. For more on getting consistent doses, see our guide to measuring coffee grounds.
Quick questions
How many grams is one AeroPress scoop?
AeroPress equates one heaping scoop with 16 to 18 g of ground coffee. A level scoop holds less, and the weight changes with grind size, so weigh it once to see what yours holds.
Can I make two cups in an AeroPress?
The carafe models are designed for it: 32 to 36 g of coffee with water filled to the 8 mark. For one cup, AeroPress says to cut that in half.
What water temperature does AeroPress recommend?
185°F (85°C). If you don't have a temperature control kettle, AeroPress says boiling water works.
Ratios based on AeroPress's official brewing instructions and help center, Two Chimps Coffee and Dean's Beans.