| Time | 3 minutes |
|---|---|
| Yield | Variable; weigh the finished cup |
Ingredients and equipment
- 18 g coffee, medium-fine grind as a starting point
- 100 g brew water near 90°C
- Up to 120 g additional hot water for controlled dilution
- Paper filter, stable cup, scale and AeroPress with a secure cap
Brew a concentrate; dilute separately
- Rinse the paper filter and assemble the AeroPress in its standard, upright position on a stable mug. A compatible flow-control cap is optional; follow its instructions if used.
- Add 18 g coffee, start the timer and add 100 g hot water, wetting all grounds. Without a flow-control cap, some liquid may pass through early; that is normal and changes the contact time.
- Place the plunger gently at the top if your device's instructions permit it, without pressing yet. Steep for around 90 seconds, then press smoothly for approximately 30 seconds. Stop if resistance becomes excessive.
- Weigh the collected concentrate. Add bypass water in stages—start with 80 g, taste, then add more up to about 120 g if desired. Record the actual final beverage mass.
Because water is retained in grounds, 100 g brew water plus 120 g bypass water does not guarantee exactly 220 g finished drink. That figure is a nominal input total; your final yield is better expressed as the amount you measure in the cup.
Two independent controls, one clear experiment
Bypass water changes the final concentration without passing through coffee grounds. First find an extraction that tastes balanced; then vary dilution. If the concentrate tastes sour before dilution, adding more water may hide strength but will not repair the flavor balance. Change grind or steep time in the next brew instead.
Comparison: split one concentrate evenly into two marked cups. Add 30 g bypass water to one and 60 g to the other. Taste each at a similar temperature. Note intensity, clarity and finish; this isolates dilution more cleanly than brewing two different coffee doses.
Safer equipment use and method limits
Use a stable surface, never press over your hand, and follow the manufacturer's hot-water and pressure guidance. This guide avoids recommending inverted brewing, which can spill hot liquid when flipped. For heavily roasted coffee, begin with slightly cooler water; for weak flavor, check grind and contact time before increasing dose. Read our strength-versus-extraction explanation to interpret the result.