The World AeroPress Championship (WAC) is definitely a unique event.
It’s a chance for coffee enthusiasts from around the world to compete against each other. And showcase their brewing skills with the AeroPress.
What better way to celebrate the brilliance of the AeroPress than its own event?
When the competition started in 2008, it featured only three competitors.
Norwegian Championship in AeroPress 2014 flickr photo by pkhamre shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
Today, the WAC is a worldwide event. It attracts thousands of AeroPress fans from over 60 different countries.
The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. But it’s coming back with a mixture of in-person and virtual festivities.
Watch this brief video from the 2019 WAC to get a feel for what it’s like at the event.
Paying attention to the WAC allows AeroPress owners to discover great-tasting AeroPress recipes.
Want to get the most out of your AeroPress? Then check out the past 12 winners and the best World AeroPress Championship recipes.
It’s brew time!
The Best World AeroPress Championship Recipes – 2008 to 2019
Let’s start with the most recent WAC winning recipe and then work our way backwards.
Norwegian Championship in AeroPress 2014 flickr photo by pkhamre shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
2019 – Wendelien van Bunnik (Netherlands)
The most recent winner of the WAC, Wendelien van Bunnik, used the following steps:
Brewing Method: Inverted
- Use 30 grams of coarse coffee grounds and 100 grams of spa water
- Setup the AeroPress for the inverted method
- Heat the water to 197.6-degrees Fahrenheit
- Add the water and stir about 20 times in 10 seconds
- Attach the filter cap and gently press out the extra air
- After 40 seconds, flip the AeroPress and press the coffee
- Add 100 grams of water to the extracted coffee
- Taste and add more water until you achieve the desired strength
- Cool the brew down to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit and enjoy
Notes:
Bunnik used hotter water compared to most competitors.
Using a higher temperature helps dissolve the compounds. And extract more flavor from the coffee grounds.
She also gradually added water after pressing the coffee to help cool it down.
These simple steps help produce more flavorful coffee with less effort.
2018 – Carolina Ibarra Garay (USA)
For her 2018 winning recipe, Carolina Ibarra Garay used the following recipe:
Brewing Method: Inverted
- Use 35 grams of coarse coffee grounds and 100 grams of water
- Heat the water to 185 degrees Fahrenheit
- Rinse the filter paper with hot water
- Pour 100 grams of water for 30 seconds
- Stir the water and coffee vigorously using a pair of wooden chopsticks
- Add the filter cap, flip the AeroPress, and press into a glass
- Do not preheat the coffee cup
Notes:
Garay used a pair of wooden chopsticks for stirring. The slender shape of the chopsticks makes stirring a little more convenient.
The coffee grounds were also very coarse (8/10 on a scale of 1 to 10). Coarse coffee grounds tend to brew weaker coffee.
Depending on your preferences, you may want to use slightly finer grounds.
Norwegian Championship in AeroPress 2014 flickr photo by pkhamre shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
2017 – Paulina Miczka (England)
Paulina Miczka from England won the 2017 WAC, thanks to her simple recipe:
Brewing Method: Inverted
- Use 35 grams of coarse coffee grounds and 370 grams of water
- Add 150 grams of water for 15 seconds
- Stir the water and coffee for about 20 seconds
- Add the filter cap and let the AeroPress rest for about 30 seconds
- Flip the AeroPress and start pressing
- Pour the brew and add 160 to 200 grams of hot water
Notes:
The 2017 WAC winner used more water compared to other competitors.
Most of the water is added after pressing the coffee, which may taste too watery for some people.
You may want to try topping off the coffee with slightly less water.
2016 – Filip Kucharczyk (Poland)
Filip Kucharczyk won the 2016 competition using the following recipe:
Brewing Method: Inverted
- Use 35 grams of coarse coffee grounds and at least 250 grams of hot water
- Heat the water to about 177 degrees Fahrenheit (81 degrees Celsius)
- Pour 150 grams of water over coarse coffee grounds
- Stir the water and coffee for about 30 seconds
- Add the lid to the AeroPress and wait about one minute
- Flip the AeroPress, swirl the contents, and press
- Top off the drink with 100 to 120 grams of water
Notes:
Kucharczyk swirled the contents of the AeroPress before plunging.
Swirling the ingredients may help produce a more evenly concentrated brew. It keeps the coffee grounds from clumping.
Adding only 100 to 120 grams of water at the end also keeps the coffee from being too watered down.
Norwegian Championship in AeroPress 2014 flickr photo by pkhamre shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
2015 – Lukas Zahradnik (Slovakia)
Lukas Zahradnik from Slovakia used an interesting approach. Here’s the recipe he used to win the 2015 competition:
Brewing Method: Inverted
- Grind the coffee to a medium-fine setting
- Heat 230 grams of water to 174.2 degrees Fahrenheit (79 degrees Celsius)
- Add 60 grams of water to the coffee
- Wiggle the contents of the AeroPress for 15 seconds
- Allow the mixture to sit for 30 seconds
- Pour the rest of the water in 10 seconds
- Flip the AeroPress and press for about 45 seconds
Notes:
Zahradnik used only 60 grams of water at the start.
Most competitors start with at least 100 grams. Using less water makes the coffee more concentrated, resulting in a bolder taste.
He also wiggled the ingredients instead of stirring.
But, wiggling may not properly mix the water with the coffee. Try stirring instead of wiggling if the coffee tastes watered down.
2014 – Shuichi Sasaki (Japan)
Shuichi Sasaki was the first winner from Japan.
He’s also one of the few winners to use the normal brewing method instead of the inverted method. Here’s his recipe:
- Brewing Method: Normal
- Use 16.5 grams of medium ground coffee and 250 grams of soft mineral water
- Heat the water to 172 degrees Fahrenheit (78 degrees Celsius)
- Rinse the paper filter with warm water
- Add 40 grams of water to the coffee
- Allow the ingredients to bloom for 25 seconds
- Stir the contents five times
- Add the remaining water and stir once
- Press very slowly for 75 seconds
Notes:
This recipe is unique, as it involves adding water twice before you start pressing the coffee.
Instead of topping off the water after pressing, you add it all.
Sasaki also left about 45 grams of the concentrated coffee in the AeroPress.
The leftover liquid tends to contain more bitter acids, allowing you to enjoy a less bitter cup of coffee.
Norwegian Championship in AeroPress 2014 flickr photo by pkhamre shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
2013 – Jeff Verellen (Belgium)
Jeff Verellen is a two-time winner of the WAC.
For his second win, Verellen used a slightly different recipe compared to his first win:
Brewing Method: Normal
- Use 17 grams of medium-fine coffee grounds and 270 grams of water
- Heat the water to 174.2 degrees Fahrenheit (79 degrees Celsius)
- Add only 50 milliliters of water and allow to sit for 40 seconds
- Add the remaining water
- Press slowly for 30 seconds
- Leave about 50 grams in the AeroPress
Notes:
As with Sasaki’s 2014 recipe, Verellen left water and coffee in the AeroPress.
This ensures that you end up with less of the bitter acids in your coffee.
Verellen also used a limited amount of coffee grounds, resulting in a lighter coffee.
If you prefer a stronger brew, you could easily double the coffee to about 35 grams.
2012 – Charlene de Buysere (Belgium)
Charlene de Buysere is another winner who used a simple recipe with only a few steps.
Here’s how she prepared her winning cup of coffee:
Brewing Method: Normal
- Use 18.3 grams of coarse ground coffee and 250 grams of water
- Heat the water to 185 degrees Fahrenheit (85 degrees Celsius)
- Wet the filter before placing it in the AeroPress
- Add about 40 grams of water to the coffee and let it sit for 30 seconds
- Poor the rest of the water into the machine and press
Notes:
De Buysere’s recipe is comparable to the winning recipes from 2013 and 2014.
She used less coffee grounds and poured all the water into the AeroPress before pressing.
If you want to try a variation of this recipe, leave the remaining water out until after you press the coffee.
Use the extra water to top off the coffee and achieve the strength you want.
Norwegian Championship in AeroPress 2014 flickr photo by pkhamre shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
2011 – Jeff Verellen (Belgium)
Jeff Verellen won in 2013 with a much simpler recipe.
His 2011 recipe involved several detailed steps. Here’s a summary:
Brewing Method: Normal
- Rinse the paper filter in hot water
- Measure out 17 grams of coarsely ground coffee
- Heat 270 grams of water to 176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius)
- Add a splash of water to the filter before pouring the coffee grounds
- Add about 40 grams of water
- Let it sit for about 30 seconds
- Slowly add the rest of the water
- Let the AeroPress steep for about one minute
- Start pressing the AeroPress
Notes:
Verellen also used the normal position instead of the inverted position.
You may not need to follow every step of this recipe to achieve comparable results.
For example, adding a splash of water to the filter may not make much of a difference.
2010 – Marie Hagemeister (Denmark)
Marie Hagemeister offered up a simple recipe in 2010.
This allowed her to beat out the tough competition. Here’s a closer look:
Brewing Method: Inverted
- Use 20 grams of coffee and water heated to 176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius)
- Soak the filter paper with hot water
- Add the coffee grounds and slowly pour the water over it
- Stir for about 10 to 12 seconds
- Press the AeroPress and serve
Notes:
Hagemeister used finely ground coffee, which can be hard to press.
If you struggle to press the AeroPress, try using slightly more coarse coffee.
Norwegian Championship in AeroPress 2014 flickr photo by pkhamre shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
2009 – Lukasz Jura (Poland)
Lukasz Jura from Poland provided one of the easiest recipes to follow.
It only includes a few basic steps:
Brewing Method: Inverted
- Use 19.5 to 20 grams of coffee
- Use slightly coarse than filter grind
- Heat 200 milliliters of water to 167 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius)
- Add the coffee grounds and water
- Stir the ingredients four times
- Stop stirring, secure the filter, press, and serve
Notes:
Jura didn’t let the water and coffee sit before pressing.
If you find that the coffee tastes too weak, you may want to try letting it steep for about 30 seconds.
2008 – Anders Valde (Norway)
Unlike the previous world AeroPress championship recipes, the 2008 recipe is not available.
The WAC was still in its infancy, as this was the very first year. I’m certain they weren’t aware of how much of a global event it would become.
Luckily, AeroPress started keeping track of the recipes the following year.
Norwegian Championship in AeroPress 2014 flickr photo by pkhamre shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
Conclusion
So there we have the Best World AeroPress Championship Recipes! Quite a few to get through, but we did it. Together. Go team!
Want to experiment with different ways of brewing using the AeroPress? Pick one of the top competitors from the WAC and try their recipe.
I hope you found these recipes useful and give them a brew.
Have you tried one or more of these recipes? How did it turn out?
Was it worthy of a gold medal (or a gold AeroPress)? Got another recipe to suggest?
Let me know in the comments below. Stay caffeinated!
