# Inverted AeroPress Source: https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress-inverted/ Last updated: 2026-10-16 > The inverted AeroPress method means brewing with the AeroPress upside down, standing on its plunger, so no coffee drips through while it steeps. You then fit the filter cap and flip it onto a mug to press. AeroPress strongly discourages it because the brewer is less stable and can tip, risking burns. It suggests seating the plunger in the chamber or using the Flow Control cap instead. ## At a glance - Grind: Medium-fine (table salt) - Category: Hybrid & Air-pressure (Hybrid) - Difficulty: Intermediate - Origin: Global & Modern - Also known as: upside-down AeroPress, AeroPress inverted method, inverted method ## Steps 1. **Know the risk**: AeroPress strongly discourages this method because the brewer is less stable upside down and can tip, risking burns. Consider the upright alternatives first. 2. **Set it up upside down**: Push the plunger a little way into the chamber and stand the AeroPress on a flat, stable surface, resting on the plunger, with the open end of the chamber facing up. 3. **Add the coffee**: Measure the coffee with the scoop that comes with your AeroPress and add it to the chamber. 4. **Add water and stir**: Pour in hot water, leaving room at the top, and stir. Nothing drips through, because the chamber is upside down. 5. **Fit the filter cap**: Put a paper filter in the filter cap and screw it firmly onto the chamber. 6. **Flip it carefully**: Put a sturdy mug upside down on top of the filter cap, hold the AeroPress and mug together, and turn them over in one careful movement. 7. **Press**: Press the plunger down slowly and steadily into the mug. The **inverted AeroPress** method is brewing with the [AeroPress](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress/) **upside down**. The plunger goes in first, the AeroPress stands on it, and the coffee steeps in the open chamber where it **can't drip through**. Then you fit the filter cap and flip it onto a mug to press. It's popular, but **AeroPress itself strongly discourages it**, because an upside-down AeroPress full of hot water can tip. Here's why people do it, how it works and the **two upright ways** AeroPress suggests instead. ## The short version - **Brewing the AeroPress upside down**, standing on its plunger, so nothing drips through while it steeps. - **Why people do it:** to stop drip-through, control a longer steep and use coarser grinds. - **AeroPress strongly discourages it:** it's less stable and can tip, risking burns. - **Safer options:** seat the plunger about half an inch into the chamber while it steeps, or fit a [Flow Control cap](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress-flow-control/). - **AeroPress repeats the warning for the glass [Premium](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress-premium/).** ## Why do people brew the AeroPress upside down? With the AeroPress the right way up, some coffee starts dripping through the filter as soon as you add the water. AeroPress says people turn it upside down to: - **Stop that early drip-through**, so all the water stays with the coffee - **Control a longer steep** - **Use coarser grinds**, which need more time ## Is the inverted method safe? AeroPress **strongly discourages** it. Upside down, the AeroPress stands on the narrow end of its plunger with a chamber of hot water on top, so it's **less stable and prone to tipping**. Mishaps, especially during the flip, can expose you to **burns from hot liquid**. AeroPress repeats the warning for the glass [Premium](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress-premium/). *General safety guidance only, not professional advice. Always follow the instructions that come with your AeroPress.* ## How do you stop drip-through without inverting? AeroPress suggests two upright alternatives that do the same job: 1. **Seat the plunger.** Brew the normal way up. After adding the water, put the seal on the end of the plunger **about half an inch into the top of the chamber**. That stops the drips while the coffee steeps. Press when you're ready. 2. **Fit a Flow Control cap.** The [AeroPress Flow Control](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress-flow-control/) filter cap has a valve that stays closed until you press, so nothing drips through, however long you steep. It fits the standard-size AeroPress models; the XL has its own Variable Flow Control Cap XL. | | Inverted | Plunger seated | Flow Control cap | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Stops drip-through | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Brews upright | No | Yes | Yes | | Flip needed | Yes | No | No | | Extra kit | None | None | Flow Control cap | | AeroPress's view | Strongly discourages | Recommended alternative | Recommended alternative | ## What grind size should I use? Around **medium-fine**, like any AeroPress, or **coarser for a longer steep**. Grind finer if it's sour and thin, coarser if it's bitter or hard to press. ![Chart of coffee grind sizes from extra fine to extra coarse, with medium-fine highlighted for the inverted AeroPress](https://dailyextraction.com/diagrams/grind-size.svg#medium-fine "Start around medium-fine, then go coarser if you steep for longer.") ## How do you brew the inverted AeroPress, step by step? If you choose to brew inverted, take it slowly and keep it on a flat, stable surface, well away from the edge: 1. **Set it up upside down.** Push the plunger a little way into the chamber and stand the AeroPress on the plunger, open end up. 2. **Add the coffee**, measured with your AeroPress scoop. 3. **Pour in hot water**, leaving room at the top, and stir. 4. **Let it steep.** Nothing drips through. 5. **Fit the filter cap** with a paper filter and screw it on firmly. 6. **Flip it carefully.** Put a sturdy mug upside down on the cap, hold both together and turn them over in one movement. 7. **Press slowly and steadily** into the mug. For recipes, see the main [AeroPress guide](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress/). ## Where did the inverted method come from? The inverted method came from **AeroPress users, not the company**, and nobody knows for sure who first turned one upside down. CoffeeGeek says it grew out of the long-running AeroPress discussion thread on its forums, which began in **December 2005**, partly from users trying to match the cup made by the Clover, a far more expensive commercial brewer. CoffeeGeek also says the AeroPress's inventor, **Alan Adler**, who posted in that thread, was never a fan of the method. ## Should I brew inverted? - **Brew upright with the plunger seated** if you want longer steeps with no extra kit. - **Get a [Flow Control cap](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress-flow-control/)** if you'd like longer steeps and coarser grinds without thinking about drips. - **If you brew inverted**, know that AeroPress strongly discourages it, including with the glass Premium. More on choosing in the [AeroPress kit guide](https://dailyextraction.com/tools/aeropress-brewer/). ## Inverted vs other AeroPress methods - **[AeroPress Original](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress/):** the upright method AeroPress recommends. - **[AeroPress Flow Control](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/aeropress-flow-control/):** stops drip-through the right way up. - **[Iced AeroPress](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/iced-aeropress/):** an AeroPress brewed over ice. Explore every hybrid brewer in the [hybrid chapter](https://dailyextraction.com/methods/hybrid/). ## Words used in this guide - [Steeping](https://dailyextraction.com/glossary/steeping/): Steeping is leaving ground coffee to sit in water so its flavour dissolves out, as in a French press or cold brew. ## FAQs ### What is the inverted AeroPress method? It's brewing with the AeroPress upside down. The plunger goes in first and the AeroPress stands on it, so coffee can't drip through while it steeps. You then fit the filter cap and flip the whole thing onto a mug to press. ### Why do people use the inverted method? AeroPress says people use it to stop coffee dripping through before they press, to control a longer steep and to use coarser grinds. ### Is the inverted AeroPress method safe? AeroPress strongly discourages it. Upside down, the AeroPress is less stable and can tip over, and a mishap can mean burns from hot coffee. It recommends brewing upright instead. ### How can I stop drip-through without inverting? AeroPress suggests two ways. Brew upright and, after adding the water, put the plunger's seal about half an inch into the top of the chamber, which stops drips while it steeps. Or fit a Flow Control filter cap, which has a valve that stays closed until you press. ### Can I use the inverted method with the AeroPress Premium? AeroPress strongly discourages it with the Premium, which has a glass chamber. Brew the Premium standing upright on a mug. ### Who invented the inverted AeroPress method? Nobody knows for sure. It came from AeroPress users rather than from the company. CoffeeGeek says it grew out of the AeroPress thread on its forums, and that the AeroPress's inventor, Alan Adler, was never a fan. ## Sources - [I have heard of people using an "inverted method". Why do they use it?](https://help.aeropress.com/en-US/i-have-heard-of-people-using-an-%22inverted-method%22-why-do-they-use-it-123217) - [AeroPress Flow Control filter cap (help centre)](https://help.aeropress.com/en-US/articles/aeropress-flow-control-filter-cap-66939) - [AeroPress Premium coffee maker](https://aeropress.com/products/aeropress-coffee-maker-premium) - [How the AeroPress inverted method was born](https://coffeegeek.com/blog/history/how-the-aeropress-inverted-method-was-born/) - [AeroPress inverted brew method](https://coffeegeek.com/guides/howtos/aeropress-inverted-brew-method-how-to/) - [The inverted AeroPress method: a guide](https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/10/the-inverted-aeropress-method-a-guide/)