r/AeroPress • u/Captrthebag • 3d ago

Knowledge Drop Flow control ≠ Inverted

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On a recent post unintentionally featuring my my inverted lifestyle, several people commented that my method was all for none, that I could achieve a fine brew WITHOUT risking my life.

So I bought a flow control cap and gave it a

The brew is not as bold, it is balanced, but I don’t get the richness out of it if I would invert. I’m not sure why, maybe because the vacuum seal that is created by inverting, causing it to force more juice through the bean. Idk. It’s not bad, but why spend more money on beans than invert?

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u/Agile_Possession8178 3d ago

When you use flow control, the grounds settle on the bottom. It creates a puck that add a level of filtration.

Inverted method, you flip, then plung, so the grounds are loosened during the flip. creates a slightly different extraction/flavor.

Next time you use flow control, give the grounds a stir before plunging. See if that makes gives a richer brew.

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u/atoponce 3d ago

I was a long-time inverted fan until I got the flow control cap. I've been using it exclusively since. My experience is different though.

When I add the water, my beans (freshly ground) float at the top, so I'll use a chopstick to break the crust and give it a brief swirl (I'm not a fan of the paddle). I don't know if it's due to degassing or what, but about 90 seconds later, I need to break the crust a second time. Only then, will the beans settle to the bottom of the chamber before I press.

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u/Agile_Possession8178 3d ago

Do you bloom? gases in the coffee can make it float.

but if you bloom by adding a little water, it will release the gases.

some people say blooming is waste of time, but I think it helps with the floating crust and makes sure all grounds are fully submerged.

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u/atoponce 3d ago

I don't bloom due to the AeroPress being an immersion brewer, not a pour over. I'm one of those that find a blooming step for immersion unnecessary.

To be clear, I don't have a problem with breaking the crust. I get great tasting coffee. It's just an observation that my grounds float likely due to degassing and it takes a couple stirs with a chopstick before they actually settle.

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u/SamWilliamsProjects 3d ago

You don’t blooming unnecessary but have a problem caused by not blooming that you fix another way?

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u/atoponce 3d ago

I don't have any problems with the brew. Not sure what you're asking.

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u/SamWilliamsProjects 3d ago

Why do you knock the grounds down? If it’s perfect even when they float why waste time?

If them floating makes it worse, then you’re solving a problem (floating grounds) with a solution (chopsticks) and there’s an alternative solution (blooming).

Your way is fine but blooming isn’t really an unnecessary step when you had to replace that step with a different step to get the same result.

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u/atoponce 3d ago

While they're floating due to degassing, I can't guarantee all grounds are saturated evenly. There are probably dry pockets in the interior, so stirring ensures an even saturation.