James Hoffmann Aeropress recipe focuses on maximum extraction and clarity. He uses 11g of coffee to 200ml boiling water in the upright position, steeps for 2 minutes, then presses – no fancy techniques or inverted methods required. The key is his emphasis on even saturation and letting the coffee fully extract before pressing slowly and steadily.
James Hoffmann, one of the most respected voices in specialty coffee, keeps his AeroPress recipe surprisingly simple and practical. As a World Barista Champion and coffee consultant, he’s tested countless methods, but his personal approach focuses on consistency and great flavor without unnecessary complexity.
James Hoffmann Aeropress Guide
How much Coffee to use?
James Hoffmann recommends using 55g per liter for light roasts — that’s about 11g for a 200ml cup. For medium to dark roasts, he suggests 60–65g per liter, or 12–13g per 200ml. You want to extract more from lighter roasts and a bit less from darker ones.
What Coffee Beans to use?
You can use any beans, but light or medium roasts work best. Washed Ethiopian beans are a great choice — they give you a clean, floral, and bright cup that really shines with this recipe.
What’s the Best water temperature?
For medium or light roasts, use water around 90–95°C to bring out the flavors. For darker roasts, go a bit cooler, around 80–85°C to avoid bitterness. Match your water temperature to your roast level – hotter for lighter beans, and a little cooler for darker ones – and you’ll get much better results from the same recipe.
What’s the Best Grind Size?
For lighter roasts, grind finer than pour-over – almost close to espresso size, since these beans need more surface area to extract their complex flavors properly. For darker roasts, go slightly coarser than that fine grind because they extract more easily, and you don’t want to over-extract bitter compounds.
What do you need for the James Hoffman Aeropress Recipe?
You’ll need the following tools:
- Aeropress
- Paper filter
- Coffee grinder
- Digital scale (Optional)
- Timer (Optional)
- Stirrer or spoon
- Hot water
- Mug or server
Step by Step Instructions
Here’s how to make coffee using the James Hoffmann Aeropress method:
1. Set Up the Aeropress
Pull the plunger out of the AeroPress. Place a paper filter into the filter cap and screw it onto the main chamber. You don’t need to rinse the filter. Put the AeroPress on top of a sturdy mug or cup.
2. Grind the Coffee
Weigh out 11 grams of coffee. Grind it fairly fine—finer than what you’d use for pour-over but not quite as fine as espresso. If you’re using darker roasted coffee, go a bit coarser to avoid over-extraction.
3. Heat the Water
Bring your water to a boil if you’re using light-roasted coffee. For medium roasts, aim for a temperature between 90°C and 95°C (194°F to 203°F). For dark roasts, drop the temperature to around 85°C to 90°C (185°F to 194°F).
4. Add Coffee and Water
Add the ground coffee into the chamber of the AeroPress. Start your timer and pour 200 grams of hot water into the AeroPress. Pour quickly and evenly so all the coffee gets wet. After pouring, don’t stir and just pop the plunger on top to stop any dripping. Let the coffee brew for a full two minutes.
5. Swirl gently
At the 2-minute mark, hold the AeroPress firmly and gently swirl it. You’re not trying to stir hard, just enough to break up the crust and help the coffee settle. After swirling, let the coffee rest for another 30 seconds
6. Finish and clean up.
Once you’ve pressed all the way, pull the plunger back slightly to stop any dripping. Twist off the cap, pop out the coffee puck, and give everything a quick rinse.
Who is James Hoffman?
James Hoffmann is a well-known coffee expert and educator from the United Kingdom. He gained international recognition after winning the World Barista Championship in 2007, a major achievement in the coffee industry. Since then, he has become a trusted voice among coffee lovers worldwide.
He is best known for his YouTube channel, where he shares in-depth coffee content, including brewing guides, product reviews, and equipment tests. With over two million subscribers, his channel has become a go-to help for anyone wanting to learn more about coffee.
James Hoffmann always takes a clear and honest approach. He doesn’t promote products for the sake of trends. Instead, he tests everything himself, using scientific methods and personal experience. His goal is to help people make better coffee at home without wasting money or time.
How is James Hoffman’s Recipe different from the standard Aeropress?
James Hoffmann takes a very simple approach to brewing coffee in the Aeropress. Many coffee enthusiasts get caught up in complex techniques and the inverted method, but Hoffmann strips everything back to the basics, with some key tweaks that make a huge difference.
1. Longer Brew Time
First, his recipe uses a longer brew time. Most Aeropress guides recommend brewing for just 1 minute or under. Hoffmann’s method stretches the total time to 2.5-3 minutes, which gives the coffee more time to extract and develop a stronger flavor.
2. Upright Method
He uses the normal upright position, not inverted. Most serious AeroPress users flip their brewer upside down for total control, but Hoffmann sticks with the original right-side-up method. He prioritizes safety and consistency over fancy techniques.
3. Gentle Swirl
Instead of aggressive stirring like many recipes suggest, Hoffmann does one gentle swirl at the end to settle the grounds. It’s subtle but effective.
4. Temperature and Grind size Tweaks
He talks about using different water temperatures and grind sizes depending on the roast level. For lighter roasts, use a finer grind and boiling water. For darker roasts, opt for a slightly coarser grind and a little cooler water.
James’s method is a bit slower and more thoughtful, but it gives you way more control over taste. You don’t just make coffee—you dial it in to taste just right.
