8 BEST COFFEES FOR AEROPRESS: OUR TEAM’S 2024 FAVORITES

What is the best coffee for Aeropress? It’s certainly one of the brands like Koa Coffee, Coffee Bros and Volcanica.

Photo: Julia Bobak

Coffee lovers know that the Aeropress is one of the best tools for making amazing coffee at home – or on the go. It brews a sweet, smooth, and strong cup, perfect for highlighting the rich flavors of high-quality coffee beans.

Which high-quality coffee beans, you ask? That’s where this list comes in. 

I brewed and tasted dozens of beans to round up these 8 coffees that tasted best for the Aeropress. With various roast levels, origins, and price points, one (or more) is just right for you!

The 8 Best Coffees We Highly Recommend for Aeropress

Image	Products	Details
OUR TOP PICK OUR TOP PICK	Koa Coffee Kona Grande Domaine	Vienna (Medium-dark) roast Hawaii, USA origins Toasted nuts, milk chocolate, tropical fruit	CHECK PRICE
	Coffee Bros. Ethiopia Daye Bensa	Light-medium roast Sidama, Ethiopia origins Caramel, apple, peach	CHECK PRICE
	Volcanica Colombian Supremo	Medium roast Bucaramanga, Colombia origins Bittersweet chocolate, caramel, orange	CHECK PRICE
	Out Of The Grey Kenya AA	Dark-medium roast Kenyan origins Blackcurrant, fennel, tea, florals	CHECK PRICE
	Purity Coffee Calm	Medium roast Unspecified origins Dark chocolate, vanilla, red apple	CHECK PRICE
	Fabula Coffee Medium	Medium roast Peruan origins Praline, nuts, chocolate	CHECK PRICE
	Stumptown Hair Bender	Medium roast Latin America, Indonesia, East Africa origins Citrus, dark chocolate, raisins	CHECK PRICE
	Peet’s Coffee Guatemala San Sebastian	Dark roast Antigua, Guatemala origins Vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, guava	CHECK PRICE

My team and I put the Aeropress to work and tasted over 15 coffees to compile this list of top coffee beans for your Aeropress. We found exceptional options in all categories, whether you prefer light roasts, espresso blends, or even decaf.

The right brew for you depends on your preferences and budget, but here are eight incredible coffees to choose from.

Best Overall

1. Koa Coffee Kona Grande Domaine

• Roast: Vienna (Medium-dark)

• Origin: Hawaii, USA
• Flavor profile: Toasted nuts, milk chocolate, tropical fruit
• Available as: Ground or whole beans

SEE ON KOA COFFEE

The Koa Coffee Kona Grande Domaine was an easy choice as the Best Overall coffee for brewing with an Aeropress. Not only was it my personal favorite, but it was the unanimous winner of our taste tests. Unfortunately, it’s also the most expensive option on the list, so depending on your budget, it might not be your everyday Aeropress brew. But it’s well worth the splurge if you want to treat yourself to the absolutely tasty cup of Aeropress coffee.

Photo: Julia Bobak

I love the medium-dark Vienna roast of this coffee, which is just dark enough to enhance the sweetness and body without obliterating the inherently fruity character of the beans. I found it to be a profoundly nutty brew, heavy with the richness of toasted cashews. There is a decadent milk chocolate sweetness, and I got a hint of acidity in the form of pineapple and passionfruit – a lovely reminder of this coffee’s island origin.

Koa harvests the beans from their estate in the Mauna Loa region of the famous Kona coffee belt, where the perfect combination of climate and soil yields some of the best coffee beans in the world. The Grande Domaine blend is 100% Kona coffee, combining their premium Kona coffee beans with a fraction of extra-special Kona Peaberry.

Light Roast

2. Coffee Bros. Ethiopia Daye Bensa

• Roast: Light-medium

• Origin: Sidama, Ethiopia
• Flavor profile: Caramel, apple, peach
• Available as: Whole beans

SEE ON COFFEE BROS

I’ve been impressed with every coffee I’ve tried from Coffee Bros. Their expertise in sourcing and roasting is evident, and their beans always arrive fresh.

What struck me about these beans from Ethiopia is their broad appeal – which is not always true of light roasts. The Ethiopia Daye Bensa coffee will please Third Wave coffee fans looking for a brightly acidic brew. But I think coffee traditionalists will be equally happy with its compelling natural sweetness.

The coffee is grown in the famous coffee region of Sidama, Ethiopia. The beans are naturally processed in the sun, contributing to their sweetness and fruit-forward flavors.

I’d call the roast a Half City, adding a touch of caramelization. I tasted ripe stone fruit and caramel, with a moderate acidity that was more green apple than punchy citrus.

When I brew this one in my Aeropress, I like to use a slightly higher coffee-to-water ratio, and I definitely recommend drinking it black.

Medium Roast

3. Volcanica Colombian Supremo

• Roast: Medium

• Origin: Bucaramanga, Colombia
• Flavor profile: Bittersweet chocolate, caramel, orange
• Avaiable as: Ground or whole beans

SEE ON VOLCANICA

A good medium roast is a key addition to your brewing arsenal, and Volcanica’s Colombia Supremo coffee is the one I always keep on hand. Everyone loves this coffee. There’s simply nothing not to like.

I tasted rich chocolate and luscious caramel balanced by a gentle orange acidity. It’s super smooth, especially brewed with the Aeropress, with a medium body and lingering finish.

Colombia is the world’s second-largest coffee producer, and its longstanding place in the coffee industry yields consistently high-quality beans (1). Some associate its market dominance with boring flavors or the not-so-impressive Juan Valdez brand, but this exciting Fairtrade single origin is a reminder that great roasters deliver great Colombian beans.

Dark Roast

4. Out of the Grey Kenya AA

• Roast: Dark-medium

• Origin: Kenya
• Flavor profile: Blackcurrant, fennel, tea, florals
• Available as: Ground or whole beans

SEE ON OUT OF THE GREY

I love Kenyan coffee. Admittedly, that’s a personal preference, but I think it’s one of the most exciting single origins on the market. 

The best Kenyan beans are rich in complexity. But unlike its famous neighbor Ethiopia, known for subtlety and delicate flavors, Kenyan coffee is bold and punchy. Think of it like Ethiopian coffee turned up to 11.

So while you’ll rarely see a darker Ethiopian coffee, these Kenya AA beans from Out of the Grey have no problem taking on a heavier roast without losing their unique character.

This coffee is so complex that everyone who tasted it experienced it a little differently. I thought the flavors were predominantly berry-like, with tasting notes of black tea, florals, and grapefruit acidity. But other tasters noted more herbal flavors or a molasses sweetness. You’ll just have to pick up a bag and try it yourself!

Decaf

5. Purity Coffee Calm

• Roast: Medium

• Origin: Unspecified blend
• Flavor profile: Dark chocolate, vanilla, red apple
• Available as: Whole beans, pods, coffee sachets

SEE ON Purity Coffee

Purity Coffee built its brand around coffee for good health, but the good flavors are what keep me coming back. I appreciate a brand that offers a small, curated selection; you know they’re putting incredible care into every bean.

Purity Calm uses the same blend as the medium-roast Flow, decaffeinated via the Swiss Water process. However, roasting is outsourced to a roastery that specializes in decaf. 

Photo: Julia Bobak

I was curious to do a taste comparison of the regular and decaf versions. The decaf has a slightly darker roast profile, which I think is a good call. It gives it a good body, and the added caramelization keeps the flavors as rich as the caffeinated version.

I enjoyed the taste of both equally, to be honest. The decaf was very chocolatey with notes of vanilla sweetness. I got a hint of apple brightness, but it’s muted compared to the regular Medium. There’s also a Half-Caff version, though I haven’t tried it.

Like all Purity Coffee, Calm decaf is Organic, Smithsonian Bird Friendly, and Rainforest Alliance certified.

Organic

6. Fabula Coffee Medium

• Roast: Medium

• Origin: Peru
• Flavor profile: Praline, nuts, chocolate
• Available as: Ground or whole beans

SEE ON FABULA COFFEE

Fabula offers exclusively organic coffee, and I enjoyed brewing all of it with my Aeropress. Indeed, light roast fans should take note of their organic single-origin from Mexico, an unique and interesting brew. But the Medium Roast is the best-seller and the one I’m inclined to recommend here as the most broadly appealing of the bunch.

I thought this single origin from Peru struck an impressive balance between exotic and familiar.

It’s a sweet and rich medium-bodied brew with chocolate, nuts, and caramel notes. I detected very little bitterness or acidity, making this an easy coffee to sip all day. It’s equally tasty with or without added milk.

For Espresso Drinks

7. Stumptown Hair Bender

• Roast: Medium

• Origin: Latin America, Indonesia, East Africa
• Flavor profile: Citrus, dark chocolate, raisins
• Available as: Whole beans

SEE ON AMAZON

Is your morning cup of coffee usually a latte or cappuccino? Then you and I are in the same boat. My go-to choice for a rich and flavorful Aeropress “shot” is the Hair Bender from Stumptown Coffee Roasters.

Hair Bender is the brand’s most popular blend, which doesn’t surprise me at all. These espresso beans are the definition of crowd-pleasing. The combination of nutty Latin American beans, earthy Indonesian beans, and bright and fruity East African beans produces a perfectly balanced brew.

I’d almost be tempted to call this blend a little boring when brewed as a regular coffee. But its complexity is revealed when prepared as a concentrated shot of espresso with a mouth-coating body. You’ll first taste rich dark chocolate and a bold, jammy sweetness, with a lingering orange zest in the aftertaste. It’s great on its own and holds up beautifully to milk in a cappuccino. 

Budget Pick

8. Peet’s Coffee Guatemala San Sebastian

• Roast: Dark

• Origin: Antigua, Guatemala
• Flavor profile: Vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, guava
• Available as: Ground or whole beans

SEE ON PEET’S COFFEE

I bring up Peet’s whenever anyone asks me for a budget-friendly coffee brand. In my opinion, they’ve successfully navigated the nearly impossible task of scaling up without reducing quality. Their growth has enabled them to source even better coffees while keeping prices reasonable, and they continue to roast, grind, and ship fresh coffee.

I often turn to Guatemalan beans for my Aeropress coffee, and I’m not alone. In 2020, Perfect Daily Grind named Guatemala as an emerging specialty region (2).

In fact, the flavors of this Guatemalan single origin remind me of my top choice Kona beans, though the roast is a tad darker. I get punchy bittersweet chocolate balanced by sweet notes of tropical guava and vanilla.

If you enjoy the Kona coffee as an occasional splurge, allow me to suggest Peet’s Guatemala San Sebastian as your daily drinker. It’s about a quarter the price.

How I Tested The Beans

Each coffee was brewed twice, first using Home Grounds’ standard recipe for how to use an Aeropress and then as a more concentrated espresso-style coffee. Every coffee was tasted by me and at least two other tasters. We rated the coffees using a spreadsheet to score taste, aroma, aftertaste, body, and mouthfeel.

I checked the roasting date of each coffee and rejected any beans that didn’t arrive within a month. Fresh is best.

How To Choose The Right Beans For The Aeropress Coffee

One reason the Aeropress coffee maker is so popular is its versatility; it’s suitable for a huge variety of coffees. The only important thing is that you buy fresh, high-quality beans like the ones on this list.

That said, not every coffee will be to your taste. So here are some things to consider when finding best coffee beans for Aeropress.

Which roast level is best?

Good news! The Aeropress works with any roast of coffee you enjoy.

Manual brewing methods like the Aeropress are wonderful because you can easily tweak the brewing variables to optimize extraction for any coffee, whether a dark espresso blend or an exotic light single origin. The world of coffee is your oyster, to mix a metaphor.

If you try your favorite coffee in the Aeropress and it doesn’t taste quite right, try adjusting the water temperature, grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, or brew time. I promise you’ll find the sweet spot.

Think about the flavor profiles you enjoy

No roast or country of origin is best for the Aeropress, so you only need to decide what flavor profiles suit your palate.

Do you like balanced, easy-drinking brews? Pick a coffee blend. Prefer complex and exotic flavors? Consider a single origin. Or take this advice from Blue Bottle Coffee (3):

Every coffee’s flavor is a unique combination of the coffee plant, processing method, roast, and blend. Here is just a rough guideline to consider when shopping for beans:

• Dark roasts tend to be lower in acid, more bitter, and have a heavy body. They often feature flavors of dark chocolate, toasted nuts, molasses, earthiness, and dried fruit. 
• Medium roasts strike a nice balance between sweetness, acid, and bitterness. They have a medium body and flavors like nuts, milk chocolate, ripe fruit, brown sugar, and caramel.
• Light roasts have a mild body, gentle sweetness, and high levels of acidity. You’ll find fruit, floral, and herbaceous flavors.

The great thing about a single-serving brewer like the Aeropress is that it’s easy to sample many coffees without brewing a whole pot every time. So have fun and explore!

What grind of coffee do you use for Aeropress?

The grind size we recommend for Aeropress is a medium-fine grind, slightly finer than you would use for a drip coffee machine. However, different coffees require slight variations for optimal extraction. I usually go a little finer with lighter roasts or when brewing a strong coffee similar to espresso. Just avoid going too fine, or you’ll have an impossible time pushing the plunger!

Can you use pre-ground coffee in Aeropress?

Yes, you can use pre-ground coffee in an Aeropress; it’s quite forgiving of grind size. Pre-ground coffee tends to be a little coarser than is ideal for this brewer, so I’d suggest increasing the brew temperature or extending the steeping time to compensate.

Even if you’re buying pre-ground coffee, it’s still important that it be fresh. For the best ground coffee, choose brands that don’t grind until you order and that ship immediately.

What does Aeropress coffee taste like?

Aeropress coffee is known for being sweet and smooth, with very little bitterness. When Alan Alder invented the Aeropress, he was inspired by the espresso machine. He realized that faster extraction yielded less bitter coffee and that this could be facilitated through added pressure (4).

That’s why the Aeropress can also brew a strong, concentrated shot of coffee similar to espresso. It lacks the high pressure required to achieve true espresso, so Aeropress “shots” aren’t quite as flavorful and full-bodied and don’t have a layer of crema.

The Aeropress is traditionally brewed using paper filters, which yields a clean cup. However, you can swap in a metal filter for Aeropress for a fuller-bodied brew with an oilier mouthfeel – similar to a French press or Moka pot. It’s up to your taste, though I definitely recommend a metal filter if you want to make a pseudo-espresso.

The Verdict

If you’ve learned anything from this guide, I hope it’s that there is no shortage of delicious coffees for brewing with Aeropress. Whether you prefer dark or light roasts, blends or single origins, coffee or espresso, there’s a perfect Aeropress coffee for you.

My top pick for the best coffee for Aeropress in 2024 is the Koa Coffee Grande Domaine, a splurge-worthy blend of 100% Kona coffee beans that will please any coffee drinker. It’s rich, flavorful, and absolutely stunning as an Aeropress brew. Happy brewing!