Everyone talks a lot about the inverted method, but I feel like you get the same controlled steep time by easing the plunger in a little and then pulling back out a little to create negative pressure inside tube.
I tried both, and for the coffee I use regularly (which isn't as good as it could be, it's not high grade, and it's not fresh ground - it's also less than half the price of "proper" beans) -- I can't really tell the difference.
For really good coffee I haven't tested back-to-back, but I generally find that letting it steep "right way up" is fine. Also letting the coffee steep in a pre-heated cup/kettle/teapot is fine. Maybe this makes a difference if one makes "pretend-espresso" rather than a full cup of "Americano" (actually more like Lungo -- but still not, as the pressure is lower than the initial pressure for a lungo).
I like my aeropress, but it's no espresso machine. It's different from a French press and a pour-over -- but I'm not prepared to claim that it's the best coffee.
This x 1000. To my mind, espousing the inverted method betrays a scant grasp of vacuums and basic physics.
Allowing a drop or two of coffee to escape early to the cup massively outweighs the risks of using very hot water to give something a very high centre of gravity.
And ditto from my perspective. But it still bugs me when I have my kids running around that the exception that proves the rule will arise, and it's more robust to have the AP directed into the mug at brew time than inverted, so I just rely on the vacuum to work the magic.*
But for me, the key point is that there's no appreciable difference in the coffee either way.
*Although you might legitimately point out that the whole caboodle is taller as a result doing it the old fashioned way, which increases the chances of it being knocked over.
I have been using aeropress for 2 months 3 times a day.
After second cup I switched to inverted and haven't switched back.
Just so many different brews with the same coffee with inverted with steep time, amount of water, coarse, find grinds.
I have only had the plunger slip out once.
Trick is u dont need to flip fast. I like to meet cup with press while flipping... Coffee barely drips and if it does into cup
I do not pre moisten filter. Usually there are a few drops from rinsing cap.
I do like the paddle unless you put too much water in.
The scoop can be awkward but I put the whole thing in the aeropress and turn to put the grinds in.
Finer grinds are better IMO.
Otherwise increase steep time or add more coffee.
The inverted method essentially involves waiting for 45-90 seconds and then pressing. It's not going to leak or anything when you flip it unless you go absolutely wild. It's no harder than making a non-inverted aeropress or a pourover.
Or if you accidentally put the plunger in the wrong side and don't notice before you fill it up. I did that once :)
The nicest thing about the inverted method is the consistency of results, because nothing's leaking out during steeping.
Still, I hesitate to recommend it to some people, not because it's difficult, but because I know they might use boiling hot water straight from the kettle and risk injury. Under the right conditions, it can separate when screwing on the filter cap, due to the steam pressure.