AeroSweep

How-to guide

Give chaff and fines a better place to separate.

AeroSweep moves ground coffee from a narrow catch cup onto a wider, smooth base tray. Use the tray alone for chaff removal, or place the ridged Fines Separator Insert on top to trap some fines during the same workflow.

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Variables to control

Separation surface

Before

Blow chaff from a narrow catch cup

After

Expose the grounds on a wider tray

Fines handling

Before

Keep or remove fines with a separate workflow

After

Optionally trap some fines during the same chaff-removal step

Key benefits

Ground-coffee preparation tray that makes chaff removal and optional fines trapping easier to repeat.

Wider tray gives airflow more exposed surface area than a catch cup.
Use the smooth base tray alone for chaff removal.
Place the ridged Fines Separator Insert on top for optional fines trapping.
Prototype testing retained roughly 1–3 g of fines from a 20 g dose, depending on shaking.
One workflow can handle both chaff removal and partial fines trapping at the same time.
Does not replace a dedicated sieve or define an exact micron range.

How to use it

The main workflow, kept simple.

This is the core guide. Everything else on the page supports these five steps.

Choose the setup.

Use the smooth base tray alone for chaff removal. Add the ridged Fines Separator Insert when you also want partial fines trapping.

Setup rule

The insert sits on top of the base tray. It is not a cap.

Add ground coffee.

Grind your coffee, then pour the grounds into AeroSweep. Spread the grounds across the tray so more surface is exposed.

Setup rule

Keep the tray open while blowing out chaff. The grounds need exposure for airflow to work.

Move the grounds gently.

Keep AeroSweep open and move the grounds side to side with controlled motions while applying your chaff-removal airflow.

Handling rule

Use the same airflow and movement pattern when comparing brews.

Trap fines if needed.

With the Fines Separator Insert in place, use about 15 gentle side-to-side movements as a starting point. More movement usually traps more fines.

Fines rule

Shake count is a rough control, not a measurement.

Transfer to AeroPress.

Use the spout to pour the prepared grounds into the AeroPress chamber. If you used the insert, decide whether to leave the trapped fines behind or return them before brewing.

Transfer rule

Keep the movement controlled so the prepared dose stays together.

Quick version guide

One base. One optional insert.

Choose the setup that matches the preparation state you want to test.

Base tray

Smooth tray for visible chaff removal on a wider surface.

Add the insert

Place the ridged Fines Separator Insert on the base for partial fines trapping.

Choose the result

Leave the trapped fines behind or return them to the dose before brewing.

Fast check

Use Chaff when you want the grind distribution mostly untouched.

Use Fines when partial fines trapping is part of the test.

Start with about 15 gentle side-to-side shakes.

Use a similar shake count when comparing brews.

Use a dedicated sieve if you need exact particle-size separation.

Why use it?

Make the separation step less improvised.

A catch cup is good at catching coffee, not separating it.

A wider tray gives chaff more exposed surface to leave from.

The optional ridged insert lets the same step also trap some fines.

Want to experiment?

Treat AeroSweep as a preparation variable.

Compare one state at a time:

• no separation
• chaff removal only
• chaff removal plus partial fines trapping
• fewer shakes
• more shakes
• trapped fines discarded
• trapped fines mostly recovered

Keep the rest of the recipe stable.

Companion note

The smooth AeroSweep base is for airflow-based chaff removal.

The optional Fines Separator Insert adds partial fines trapping.

A dedicated sieve is still better for exact particle-size separation.

Use the tool that matches the level of control you need.

White paper link

AeroSweep white paper

The longer technical version with context, workflow logic, fines-trapping mechanism, prototype observations, and limitations.

Read the white paper

Print / download link

Release files coming soon

The release profile uses PETG and a 0.4 mm nozzle without supports; PLA also works. Prefer a dedicated stainless-steel nozzle for parts used around coffee, hand wash gently, and let every part air-dry completely. The base is 20.1 × 14.4 × 5.0 cm (7.91 × 5.67 × 1.97 in), and the insert is 18.8 × 13.1 × 2.0 cm (7.40 × 5.16 × 0.79 in). The parts fit current Bambu Lab printers except the A1 mini. AeroSweep is not dishwasher safe.