The new AeroPress champ shares how they came to love the AeroPress, their competition prep, and their winning recipe.
BY J. MARIE CARLAN
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos by John Olson for AeroPress
The AeroPress is beloved worldwide for its ability to combine elements of pourover, espresso, and French press brewers into one blissful, multi-functional device. In this spirit, AeroPress championships are a playground for coffee competitors to flex their creative muscles.
This past weekend, coffee fans flocked to The Momentary in Bentonville, Ark., for the 2024 U.S AeroPress Championship. Baristas traveled from as far as California and New York to compete for the chance to represent the United States at this year’s World AeroPress Championship in Lisbon, taking place September 19-21.
At the U.S. AeroPress Championship
The competition’s three judges were Joshua Edens (they/she), Konoka Hattori (she/her), and Giovanni Roberts (he/him).
In addition to AeroPress, sponsors included Onyx Coffee Lab (which will cover travel costs for the winner), Third Wave Water, Synesso, and Comandante. The competition coffee was an anaerobic natural from Brazil.
“The vibe was an incredible combination of feeling both casual and serious at the same time,“ says publicist Raquel Tadlock of the competition. “Competitors were open with their recipes and techniques and in constant conversation while actually on stage making their coffees. … They became focused and intent on following their recipe with intense precision; every variable is accounted for—the exact size of coffee grinds, the exact temperature of the water, the exact amount of time the coffee is brewed for, and the exact amount of pressure that is applied to extract the perfect cup.“
Meet Winner Danny Toro
Danny Toro (they/them), a barista at Three Legged Cat in Brooklyn, N.Y., took home the coveted golden AeroPress, along with other sweet prizes: a Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade, Third Wave packets, and WAC cups. Second place went to Dakota Lee, and third place to Mark Kutrovski.
“Competing in this event was an incredible experience, and I’m honored to have shared it with such a skilled group of individuals,“ winner Danny says. “Witnessing such meticulously brewed recipes, along with the passion and dedication behind them, was truly inspiring. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported me through this competition—your encouragement made all the difference. I’m going to Portugal—very excited!
“I still remember the first time I was handed an AeroPress brewer two years ago by Glitter Cat Barista,“ says Danny of their decision to join the competition. “I was initially skeptical of this simple plastic tube, but its versatility quickly piqued my interest. After a few mornings of experimenting with different techniques, I brewed a cup that was truly transformative. It was a Kenyan coffee, full of vibrant stone fruit notes, bright acidity, and incredible sweetness.
“From that moment on,“ Danny continues, “the AeroPress became my go-to method for brewing coffee at home, and a way to convert my friends and family into coffee lovers. This year, I decided to compete in the AeroPress Championship to connect with other passionate brewers and learn from their creativity. The innovation and skill on display at this competition were inspiring and reminded me why I love being part of this incredible community!“
Preparing for Competition
Danny began preparations for the U.S. AeroPress Championship “with hydration packets, a spit cup, and reading the rules (thanks Max)!“ (Max Phills of Loveless Coffees is a friend of Danny’s who tasted their practice brews, and reminded them to read the rules.)
Danny also hit the books in order to get ready for the challenge ahead. “I started by doing a lot of research: reading articles, watching videos, and joining online forums. Once I had a good grasp of what to expect, I set up practice sessions to replicate the competition conditions. This practice, along with having friends act as judges to give feedback, was incredibly valuable. The preparation was challenging, but it made me feel much more confident and ready. Most importantly, I reminded myself to have fun throughout the process!“
Danny says they are excited for the upcoming WAC, and will be maintaining this method of preparation for it: “I plan to stick with the same overall strategy but focus on modifying my current recipe to refine and improve it. Making any small adjustments to my existing recipe to address any areas that need fine-tuning.“
Danny’s Winning AeroPress Recipe
We eagerly anticipate the World AeroPress Championship in September. In the meantime, we can try out this winning coffee recipe, courtesy of Danny!
Recipe:
- Position: Inverted
- Filter: 2x Aeropress Classic, Rinsed
- Dose: 18g
- Grind: 24 clix Comandante
- Water: 80ºC, Brita
Method:
Add 18g coffee. Pour 72ml to bloom for 30 seconds.
At 30 seconds, pour up to 180ml. Stir 10 times with paddle back and forth.
At 1:20, flip and swirl server three times. Plunge slowly until 1:45.
Bypass until desired volume is reached. Enjoy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. Marie Carlan (she/they) is the online editor for Barista Magazine. She’s been a barista for 16 years and writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. When she’s not behind the espresso bar or toiling over content, you can find her perusing record stores, writing poetry, and trying to keep the plants alive in her Denver apartment.
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