Top 5 Best Coffee Beans for AeroPress in 2023

As a barista, I’ve seen firsthand how AeroPress has taken the specialty coffee world by storm since it was launched a few years ago. It’s become a favorite among professional baristas and home brewing enthusiasts because of its versatility, durability, and affordability.

One thing that often stumps people is figuring out which coffee beans are best for AeroPress.

To help you out, I’ve put together a list of the 5 best coffee beans for the AeroPress, along with some tips for brewing the perfect cup.

Top 5: Best Coffee Beans for AeroPress in 2023

Here is a brief overview of the five best coffee for AeroPress based on the category that performs the best.

1. Koa Coffee Estate Medium – Best Overall
2. Volcanica Ethiopia Natural Coffee – Best Light Roast
3. Volcanica Coffee Guatemala Antigua Reserve – Best Dark Roast
4. Volcanica Cold Brew Coffee Blend – Best for Cold Brew
5. Trade Coffee Packs – Best Coffee Subscription

Koa Coffee Estate Medium – Best Overall

My number one pick for the best coffee beans for AeroPress is Koa Coffee Estate Medium, grown in Hawaii. Koa Coffee is high quality grown on fertile and mineral-rich volcanic soil.

So, if you are a coffee lover in need of high-quality coffee for AeroPress, Koa Coffee is the best choice. It has a sweet and mellow flavor and is lower in acidity, unlike other coffee beans.

In addition, the coffee beans are hand-picked when ripe and then processed. After that, the beans are roasted to produce a delicate and unique coffee that gives you a lingering aftertaste.

Volcanica Ethiopia Natural Coffee – Best Light Roast

Volcanic Ethiopia Natural Coffee is a naturally processed coffee grown in red volcanic and topical soil without pesticides. The volcanic soil provides this coffee with so many nutrients giving it a unique flavor. 

Further, Volcanic Ethiopian Natural Coffee is processed using the traditional African Method. For example, the ripe coffee beans are hand-picked and dried on African coffee berry beds for about 15 to 18 days. The beans are then roasted to ensure they have optimum flavors, making them suitable for AeroPress.

Volcanica Coffee Guatemala Antigua Reserve – Best Dark Roast

The Guatemala Antigua coffee has a rich and full-bodied taste, making it the best coffee for AeroPress. Apart from that, the coffee is smooth, has a sophisticated flavor, and has a great dark, roasted aroma, which is great for any morning.

On the other hand, this dark roast coffee is grown on rich volcanic soils in Guatemala, making the coffee rich in minerals. Thus 100% customer satisfaction is guaranteed with its distinguishable taste and fine smoky-spicy overtones with a sweet and superb finish. 

Volcanica Cold Brew Coffee Blend – Best for Cold Brew

Cold Brew Coffee originated in Japan during the seventeenth century when Dutch traders brought it over and made it popular. This coffee blend has sweet and earthy flavors with low acid, and Volcanica balances the taste with chocolatey and nutty notes to make it even more satisfying. Plus, cold-brew extraction uses cold water instead of hot water, making this treat different from other kinds of coffee.

Aside from its delicious flavor, Cold Brew Coffee can also benefit your health. It boosts metabolism and may even help with weight loss. It also supports heart health, brain function, and improved mood.

Volcanica’s cold brew blend comes in 16 bags, so you can choose from different grinds like drip, espresso, and French press. And it’s reasonably priced and easy to find.

Trade Coffee Packs- Best Coffee Subscription

Most people, especially coffee enthusiasts, have dubbed Trade Coffee the “Netflix of coffee” due to its selection of over 400 types of coffee. From specialty roasters like Merit and George Coffee to traditional offerings, there is something for everyone on this unique platform. 

With a Trade Coffee subscription, you’ll take a quiz to determine which type of coffee best suits your tastes. Plus, there are two subscription tiers: the Hookup and the Classic. The former provides access to an unlimited variety of coffee beans, whereas the latter offers more traditional flavors only.

Trade Coffee isn’t a specific brand of coffee but rather a hub for getting great quality coffee from top-notch brands at an affordable price. You can also choose how often you’d like to receive your coffee delivery – every six weeks or every week. Plus, there’s the First Match Guarantee which means if you don’t love the first batch of beans, they’ll send you a new one for free!

You can save even more on your first order with a $25 discount – plus, you’ll get additional subscription packs with every order thereafter. So if you’re looking to try out new coffee beans without breaking the bank, Trade Coffee is definitely worth considering!

Understand Your Beans: Things That Affect the Taste of Your Coffee Beans

Many factors can affect the taste of your coffee beans. Some factors are hard to analyze and confuse coffee lovers, while others are straightforward. Either way, the following are the three main factors that can influence your coffee bean’s taste. 

Coffee Origin

Coffee’s flavor is influenced by where the beans are grown. The two main coffee species are Arabica and Robusta, and they grow in different areas that provide the right amount of sun, rainfall, and wind. The soil where the coffee is grown also has a big impact on the beans.

For example, if the soil is not healthy, the plants may not be able to absorb enough nutrients, leading to underdeveloped or deformed fruit. So, when looking for a good cup of coffee, look for beans grown on healthy soils like volcanic soil. For instance, Ethiopian beans are grown on rich volcanic soil, giving them a unique and flavorful taste.

Roast Level

Roasting is the process of changing the beans’ chemical and physical properties. It’s good to know that there are three types of roast levels with varying degrees. The three levels include:

1. Light roast: This level represents the most preferred choice of specialty coffee. It intends to preserve the natural flavors of the coffee beans and has bright flavors, unlike darker roasts and dry textures. 
2. Medium roast: Compared to light roast, medium roast also tends to preserve the natural flavors of the coffee beans. Besides, the medium roast level replaces the brightness produced in the light roast level with a caramelization flavor. Apart from that, the stage also reduces the beans’ acidity and the bright note in the light roast level. The beans at this stage look oily and fairly dry.
3. Dark roast: At this stage, the coffee beans don’t retain their original flavors, plus they are oily, glossy, and ashy. Also, the coffee beans are bold with low acidity.

Grind Size

Choosing the right coffee grind size as described in this article is crucial when brewing a cup of coffee, no matter your brewing method. If you grind the coffee beans fine, you will increase the ground’s exposed surface area. This will result in quick extraction and water passing through the beans quickly.

Other factors like variety, origin, and processing methods can also affect your grind size. 

Whole Bean vs. Pre-ground? Grind It Yourself!

Coffee enthusiasts know that there’s a lot of hard work and process involved to make the perfect cup of joe. From harvesting, processing, and roasting to packing and selling, getting those beans right into your mug takes time and effort. But should you choose between pre-ground coffee or whole-ground coffee beans?

If you want to savor the best flavor and aroma from your coffee for a longer period, then properly storing whole beans is your answer. Unlike pre-ground beans which undergo physical processing that reduces their flavors drastically, whole beans possess more robust aromas and tastes that will linger long after brewing. Of course, grinding bean manually requires effort but enjoying great-tasting gourmet brews at home makes it well worth the extra steps!

The downside is that whole beans are more expensive because they need to meet quality standards during the packaging process. On the other hand, pre-ground is usually much cheaper since it doesn’t have a lot of restrictions concerning its packaging.

So, if you want to create unique roasts and blends or an easy cup of coffee without much work, go for pre-ground coffee. But if you want to get the best out of your coffee beans, then scooping your whole beans every time you brew is the way to go!

Tips for Brewing the Best AeroPress Coffee Beans

Want to ensure that you have the optimal experience with your cup of AeroPress coffee? Follow these simple tips to ensure each sip is as flavorful and enjoyable as possible.

Use a medium-fine grind size

I always recommend using a medium-fine grind size when brewing with an AeroPress. If the grind is too coarse, you’ll end up with a drip-through rate that’s up to twice as fast. On the other hand, if it’s too fine, you might have trouble pressing the AeroPress.

A good rule of thumb is to use a medium grind size, the same grind you’d use for drip coffee makers.

Most store-bought coffee is already ground to fine, which is not the best for this brewing method. If you don’t have a grinder, specialty coffee bean websites will usually be able to send you beans ground to the size of your choice.

Shake to level the bed of coffee grounds

Before pouring in hot water, give your AeroPress a gentle shake to level out the bed of coffee grounds. This will help ensure that the water is distributed evenly and extract the maximum flavor from your beans.

Temperature is important

Many people assume that boiling water is always best, but using water that is too hot can produce bitter, unpleasant flavors due to over-extraction. On the other hand, using water that isn’t hot enough can lead to sour or flavorless coffee.

For the Aeropress, I recommend using water at these temperatures:

• 185°F (85°C) for dark roasts
• 195°F (90°C) for light roasts

Using less pressure is better

Applying too much pressure makes the process more difficult and time-consuming. When you press down too hard, the coffee grounds can become compacted in the chamber, making it tough to plunge all the way down. Instead, try starting by pressing down just half an inch and holding the plunger there to let the air pressure in the chamber do the work. After a few seconds, press down another half inch and repeat until you’re finished. You’ll find that this method is faster and easier!

Perfect brew time

The key to brewing the best cup of coffee is finding the perfect brew time. Brew for too long and your coffee may taste bitter or burnt, and brew for too short and it may be too acidic.

The official Aeropress instructions recommend stirring the coffee and water together for 10 seconds for hot coffee, and briskly for 60 seconds for cold brew before pressing. This will help you achieve the perfect balance of flavor and strength.

Final Words

As a barista, I am always excited to recommend the AeroPress to coffee lovers looking to make their own brew at home. This equipment is super easy to use and delivers an amazing cup of coffee every time. 

Getting the right beans is the key to getting the most out of your AeroPress. Koa Coffee Estate Medium is the cream of the crop when it comes to the overall flavor, while Volcanic Ethiopian Natural Coffee provides a stellar light roast. If you’re a fan of cold brew, Volcanic Cold Brew Coffee is an ideal selection. Try out the Guatemalan Antigua Reserve from Volcanic Coffee if you want something more intense. But if you want to keep it fresh, Trade Coffee Packs offers an amazing coffee subscription.

It’s important to remember that with any brewing method, the origin, roast level, and grind size can make a huge difference in your final cup of coffee.

As you practice with your AeroPress, you’ll become more comfortable playing around with these variables to find your perfect flavor.

And before you know it, you’ll be brewing like a pro barista!