Aeropress Scoop Size – How Many Grams Of Coffee Does It Fit?

Making a consistently great cup of coffee with the Aeropress means getting your variables correct each and every time:

• coffee amount
• grind size
• water amount
• water temperature
• steep time

The Aeropress kit makes the preparation of a cup of coffee as easy as possible, by helping out with measurements not just on the liquid chamber, but also by providing a coffee scoop.

Alan Adler, the inventor of the Aeropress, designed the Aeropress scoop’s size to hold as much coffee as he thinks is needed to make a consistently great cup, based on his experiments.

How many grams of coffee does the Aeropress scoop hold?

Based on my measurements, a leveled Aeropress scoop holds 16.5 g of whole coffee beans on average, equaling roughly 3 tablespoons of coffee. The capacity of the Aeropress Go scoop is the same as the original Aeropress’.

The official Aeropress site states 11.5g for a leveled scoop, but that is wrong. I tried it with all kinds of beans and all roasts, but I always measured around 16.5g.

The scoop itself is a small, black plastic scooper to measure your coffee beans. It is a handy tool accurately sized to measure the exact amount needed to prepare a perfectly brewed cup of coffee or espresso.

I say “average”, because there is usually a deviation of around d 0.5 g, depending on the type of coffee bean you use, and its roast level.

The AeroPress website states that the AeroPress Original scoop and AeroPress Go scoop have roughly the same capacity. Unfortunately, the official website does not indicate whether they measured whole beans or ground coffee. It makes a world of difference.

Regardless, a measuring scoop like this is a lifesaver if you don’t have a coffee scale or are on a trip.

How Much Coffee Should You Use With the AeroPress?

Once you figure out the ideal coffee grounds/water ratio, you can make delicious coffee without another measuring system. This will require some experimenting on your part.

For me, in the Aeropress coffee recipe I love the most, I use slightly less than a leveled scoop of coffee (whole beans, equaling about 14 g), and I fill the brewing chamber to the top of the circled 1 with hot water.

But this will be different with each and every Aeropress coffee recipe you try, especially if you are brewing something special like an Aeropress espresso or cold brew coffee.

Just look at the winning recipes at the Aeropress World Championships. Each recipe calls for different amounts of coffee…

So which is best? It’s up to you to try them and find out.

Why Is It Important to Use the Right Amount of Coffee When Using an AeroPress?

The amount of coffee ground can alter the coffee results in terms of strength and taste.

You will likely get a bitter or strong cup of coffee if you add more coffee than the recommendation. Similarly, too little coffee will need a large amount of water, leading to a lighter flavor.

This implies that the size of the coffee scoop plays an essential role in making the best espresso shot or coffee using the AeroPress.

Using the AeroPress Scoop vs. Using a Digital Scale

The scoop is super simple to use, but the scale is super exact. Which one should you use? As with most things in life, it depends.

Pros

AeroPress scoop is a handy tool that can help you make precise measurements of coffee grounds, even if you are a beginner.

• Unlike the Timemore Black mirror scale I am using, it is relatively small and can fit into smaller spaces. This is especially helpful if you are on a travel or camping trip and want a smaller, portable measuring tool to carry with you.
• Whether you intend to make espresso, Americano, or latte, the AeroPress scoop will succeed in making your cup of coffee consistent and tasteful every time.
• The scoop also comes in handy for measuring sugar or salt while cooking. In addition to cooking, the scoop can help scoop ingredients like baking ingredients, chocolate, or spices.

Cons

There are a few instances when you should use a scale instead of the AeroPress scoop.

• A coffee scale is 100% accurate. My testing shows that the scoop measurements deviate buy +/- 0.5 g. So if you’re looking to make consistent cups of coffee, using a scale will help you get there.
• If you’re measuring preground coffee, the AeroPress scoop size can vary greatly with each measurement. Depending on the grind size and how tightly you pack it, you can see deviations of +/- 1-3 g. This can cause large differences in taste and result in inconsistent cups of coffee.

Tips for Brewing the Perfect Cup of Coffee With an AeroPress

Brewing the perfect cup of coffee with an AeroPress requires a few simple steps.

• To make a great cup of coffee, you can start out by using a standard 1:10 coffee-to-water ratio, i.e., 13 grams of coffee (a level scoop) in 130 grams of water. You can always decrease the quantity of water for a much stronger and richer taste to your liking.
• You also want to get the best coffee beans for your AeroPress coffee. You can check out our list of best coffee beans for AeroPress.
• You will get the most accurate scoop measurements, and the best-tasting coffee if grind whole-bean coffee yourself with a burr grinder. A medium-fine grind works great for the Aeropress. This grind size is finer than used for drip coffee, but not as fine as espresso grind. Coarser grinds will produce a sour, dull flavor, while finer grinds will make the taste of your coffee bitter.
• Using the Aeropress scoop to measure preground coffee is not exact. You can get quality beans from a nearby coffee shop and have them grind them for you, but your results will vary.
• One more thing to be careful with is the water temperature. The ideal temperature for the Aeropress is about 175°F for dark roasts and about 185°F for medium and light roasts.
• Keep an eye on your brew time. Too long will cause over-extraction, and too short will under-extract your coffee.
• Try the inverted method as well as the standard method of brewing coffee with the Aeropress to see which you like better.

Thanks to the AeroPress scoop, taking measurements is quick and simple once you find your favorite recipe. Compared to other measuring tools, there is little to learn to make a great cup of joe with an Aeropress.

However, it is up to you to experiment and find the perfect scoop size for your taste. What has worked for you? Please let me know in a comment.