Meet SOUP: The Espresso Revolution you can brew at Home
- roman rose
- Aug 30
- 5 min read
At JOEPRESSO, our mission has always been simple: bring café-quality coffee into your home without the cost, bulk, and complexity of traditional espresso machines. For years, coffee enthusiasts have used our AeroPress attachment to brew rich, delicious espresso-style coffee anywhere.
But recently, a new idea has captured the attention of the global coffee community: SOUP shots, aka turbo shots or gushers. Even allongé is related.
Popularized by coffee educator Lance Hedrick in his video “Espresso Without Pressure? The SOUP Method Changing Coffee Forever”, SOUP is one of the most exciting innovations in coffee brewing in years. And best of all? With JOEPRESSO, you can make it at home—easily, affordably, and consistently.
In this article, we’ll break down what SOUP is, why it matters, and how JOEPRESSO + AeroPress makes it possible for anyone to explore this revolutionary style of brewing.
What Exactly is SOUP?
SOUP stands for Spro, Only Un Pressurized. In other words, it’s a style of brewing that mimics espresso but doesn’t rely on the 9 bars of pressure you’d get from a traditional espresso machine.
Instead, SOUP uses gentle prewetting, a fast flow, and extremely low pressure (often less than 1 bar) to extract coffee in a concentrated, flavorful, and surprisingly forgiving way.
Espresso is intense, demanding, and unforgiving, and channeling that causes astringency is almost unavoidable. On the other hand, SOUP is approachable, flexible, and remarkably delicious—even if your prep isn’t perfect.
Key differences between SOUP and espresso:
Pressure
Espresso: ~9 bars
SOUP: ~0.5–1 bar
Flow rate
Espresso: 1–2g/s
SOUP: 5–7g/s
Brew ratios
Espresso: usually 1:2
SOUP: flexible from 1:2 to 1:8
Grind size
Espresso: very fine, difficult to dial in
SOUP: half way to filter grind, much more forgiving
What you get is a cup that combines the clarity and sweetness of filter coffee with the strength and punch of espresso. It’s clean, juicy, and expressive—showcasing the true character of your coffee in a way that’s often lost in the intensity of traditional espresso.
Why Coffee Lovers Are Excited About SOUP
When Lance Hedrick introduced SOUP to a wide audience, the response was immediate and enthusiastic. Coffee fans around the world started experimenting, sharing recipes, and marveling at how much flavor this low-pressure method could pull from their beans.
Here’s why SOUP has generated so much buzz:
Approachability Dialing in espresso is notoriously finicky. Tiny changes in grind or prep can ruin a shot. SOUP, by contrast, is forgiving—grind a little coarser or pour a little faster, and you’ll still get amazing results.
Clarity of Flavor Because SOUP doesn’t hammer the puck with pressure, you avoid channeling, which causes overextraction and produces astringent, bitter, harsh taste. The result is sweetness, clarity, and nuance.
Versatility With ratios ranging from a concentrated 1:2 to a tea-like 1:8, SOUP lets you explore coffee in new ways. You can brew something close to espresso for milk drinks or stretch it into a bright, filter-style shot.
Accessibility No $5,000 espresso machine required. Anyone with an AeroPress and a JOEPRESSO attachment can start brewing SOUP right at home. Lance even points out that it’s easier to control the pressure and flow with manual methods than when using a full control espresso machine like the Decent.
Where JOEPRESSO Fits In
While SOUP can technically be brewed with just an AeroPress, JOEPRESSO takes it to the next level.
The JOEPRESSO attachment converts your AeroPress into a brewer that can accept real espresso baskets, enabling true percolation with a shower screen, better puck geometry, and more consistent extractions. This makes it the perfect partner for SOUP brewing.
Why JOEPRESSO is the best way to make SOUP:
True Espresso Basket With the addition of a 4 cup non-pressurized basket, offering 18–22g capacity, JOEPRESSO allows larger doses that are better suited for SOUP’s longer ratios.
Improved Puck Depth A deeper puck means more even flow and less chance of channeling.
Paper Filters Top & Bottom Use one filter under the puck and optionally one on top for cleaner shots and smooth flow.
Durable & Portable Perfect for home use or travel—you can make SOUP anywhere.
Simply put, JOEPRESSO transforms AeroPress into a true low-pressure espresso-style brewer—and SOUP is where it really shines.
Brewing SOUP with JOEPRESSO: A Starter Recipe
Here’s a simple JOEPRESSO recipe to get you started:
Dose: 18g medium-light roast coffee (coarser than espresso grind)
Grind: Start with your filter grind setting divided by 2
Water in: 72g (about 1:4 ratio) at 90–95°C
Yield: 54g (about 1:3 ratio)
Time: 10 seconds after soak
Method:
Place a paper filter in the bottom of the JOEPRESSO 4 cup non-pressurized basket (sold separately).
Add 18g coffee, distribute, and tamp lightly. Optionally place another filter on top.
Pour 72g hot water into the AeroPress chamber.
Let it soak until the bottom of the puck is evenly saturated.
Press gently, aiming for ~6g/s flow or ~10 seconds to his. The shot should run smooth and fast without force.
Taste, then adjust grind or ratio to your preference.
Want it bolder? Try a 1:2. Prefer more clarity? Go for a 1:4 or even 1:5. SOUP invites experimentation.
SOUP vs Espresso: Complement, Not Competition
Some might ask: does SOUP replace espresso? The answer is no—it complements it.
Espresso remains the gold standard for intensity, body, and milk-based drinks. But SOUP opens new possibilities:
For light roast coffees that are hard to use with traditional espresso recipes.
For those who don’t own a machine, it’s an accessible entry point.
For seasoned baristas, it’s a new flavor dimension.
For travelers, it’s a portable way to enjoy café-quality shots anywhere.
At JOEPRESSO, we see SOUP not as a competitor to espresso, but as an exciting expansion of what’s possible with coffee.
Why SOUP is the Future
We believe SOUP represents a major shift in how people approach “espresso.”
For decades, espresso has been defined by pressure—9 bars, mechanical pumps, heavy equipment. But SOUP proves you don’t need that to make something just as compelling.
It’s coffee’s natural evolution:
Lighter roasts → demand clarity
Specialty beans → deserve nuance
Home brewers → need accessibility
SOUP checks every box. And with JOEPRESSO, it’s easier than ever to explore.
Try SOUP with JOEPRESSO
If you’re curious about SOUP, there’s no better way to start than with JOEPRESSO. It’s affordable, durable, and purpose-built to brew espresso-style coffee—including SOUP shots—without an expensive machine.
With JOEPRESSO, you can:
Make traditional espresso-style AeroPress shots
Explore SOUP and its incredible clarity
Brew anywhere—home, office, travel, outdoors
We like to think of it this way: espresso is tradition, SOUP is innovation—and JOEPRESSO lets you enjoy both.
Final Thoughts
The world of coffee is always evolving. From pour-over to cold brew, from immersion to pressure, each new method unlocks fresh ways to experience our favorite beverage.
SOUP—Spro, Only Un Pressurized—is the latest breakthrough, and it’s already changing the conversation. Allonge shots have already shown that faster flow rates produce better results with lighter roasts, turbo shots took it to the next level. Now, low pressure removes channeling and provides better clarity and lower astringency.
At JOEPRESSO, we’re proud to give coffee lovers everywhere the tools to explore it fully. Whether you’re a seasoned barista, a casual home brewer, or someone just discovering specialty coffee, SOUP is worth trying. And JOEPRESSO is the easiest, most consistent way to make it happen.
So grab your AeroPress, attach your JOEPRESSO, and start brewing the method that’s reshaping coffee culture. Once you taste your first SOUP shot, you’ll see why this simple, pressure-free approach is making waves worldwide.