Real espresso with 9 bars of pressure and crema — no. But espresso-like, concentrated shots with lots of body are possible. It works surprisingly well for Americanos or as a base for milk drinks.

Can you make espresso with the AeroPress?

Real espresso with 9 bars of pressure and crema — no. But espresso-like, concentrated shots with lots of body are possible. It works surprisingly well for Americanos or as a base for milk drinks.

Why that is

Espresso has a technical definition: 9 bars of pressure, 25–30 seconds brew time, 92–96 °C water temperature, fine grind. Under these conditions, coffee oils emulsify with CO₂ and form the typical crema. The AeroPress, operated by hand, only generates about 0.3–0.5 bars of pressure — far off the 9 bars of an espresso machine.

What the AeroPress can do:

• Produce a concentrated, intense coffee with less water and a finer grind size.
• Achieve a flavor profile close to espresso — strong, with body and chocolate/caramel notes.
• Serve as a base for a latte, cappuccino, or Americano if you don’t have access to an espresso machine.

What it cannot do:

• Create crema. It lacks the pressure for that.
• Achieve the same concentration as a real espresso. A 25 ml espresso has about 8–10% dissolved solids (TDS). An AeroPress shot is around 3–5%.
• Replicate the specific texture of an espresso — the silky, almost syrupy mouthfeel created by the high-pressure emulsion.

Recipe for an espresso-like AeroPress shot:

• 17 g of coffee, finely ground (finer than table salt, but not as fine as for an espresso machine).
• 50–60 ml of water at 90 °C.
• Let steep for 30 seconds, then push through with firm pressure in 15–20 seconds.
• Dilute the result with 100–150 ml of hot water for an Americano.

For people who don’t have the space or budget for an espresso machine at home, the AeroPress is the best alternative for concentrated coffee. It costs €35 instead of €300–1,500.

In practice at Green Wall Coffee

At Sophienstraße 27, we serve real espresso from a portafilter machine. But for guests who want a latte alternative at home without an espresso machine, I recommend the AeroPress shot with frothed milk. Not a real latte, but close to it — and for a €35 investment, an unbeatable value for money.

Related questions

• How does the AeroPress work?
• How do I make the perfect espresso?
• What is a ristretto and what is a lungo?

Come visit us at Sophienstraße 27 — Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.