AeroPress SOUP Recipe
This pulls a SOUP shot (a low-pressure, espresso-style concentrate) on a standard AeroPress. The trick is a tamped, double-filtered bed and a deliberately slow, gentle press that keeps pressure well under 1 bar, so you extract to espresso strength without the channeling and bitterness real pressure brings. The cup is thick and syrupy with espresso-level body but pour-over clarity. See The SOUP Method for the full theory. 💨
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Brewer | AeroPress (standard, upright) |
| Dose | 20 g |
| Water | 80 g |
| Ratio | 1:4 (concentrate; dilute to taste) |
| Temp | 82°C / 179°F |
| Grind | espresso-fine to a touch coarser; see Grind Size for Pour Over |
| Filters | two wet paper filters (one under the cap, one on top), then tamp |
| Pre-infuse | soak under 15 s before pressing |
| Press | very slow, ~45 s, gentle (well under 1 bar) |
| Brew time | ~1:00 total |
| Roast | light to medium-light |
| Source | Espresso Aficionados community |
| Resulting cup | Thick, syrupy, espresso-like; sweet and clear, foam but no oily crema |
#Pour Schedule
- Setup: Wet a paper filter in the cap and screw it on; place the AeroPress upright on a small, sturdy cup. Add 20 g coffee ground espresso-fine to a touch coarser, level the bed, then lay a second wet paper filter on top.
- Tamp: Press the bed flat with a tamper or the back of the plunger; the top filter keeps it even.
- 0:00: Pour 82°C water to 80 g.
- 0:00-0:15: Let it soak under 15 s (no pressing yet) so the whole puck saturates evenly.
- 0:15-1:00: Insert the plunger and press very slowly and gently for ~45 s, keeping pressure well under 1 bar; ease off if it firms up.
- Finish: You have a thick, espresso-like shot. Drink it straight, top with milk, or dilute Americano-style.
#Why It Works
Espresso forces water through a fine puck at ~9 bar; SOUP does not. The coarser grind plus a slow, sub-1-bar press lets water flow freely and evenly, so you reach espresso strength (~1:4) through high, even extraction rather than pressure: clarity and sweetness instead of the bitterness and oil that light roasts often give under real pressure. The two paper filters and the tamp keep the bed flat so water can't channel. Tune it like any recipe: a tighter ratio (1:2-1:3) for a denser shot, looser (1:6-1:8) for a longer, tea-like cup. See Recipe Variables and Cup Outcomes.
#Continue Reading
- The SOUP Method: what SOUP is and why it works
- OXO Rapid Brewer SOUP Recipe: the same method on a device built to limit pressure
- AeroPress: the brewer and its many methods
- AeroPress Official Recipe: the conventional AeroPress method, for contrast
- Grind Size for Pour Over: dialing the grind between pour over and espresso