How to make coffee without a coffee maker is not hard as you may think it is. Making a cup of coffee is easy. Consequently, you don’t need fancy pieces of equipment to enjoy that tremendous and healthy cup of coffee. Above all, you can find the things you need in your kitchen.
How to make coffee with The Stovetop Method
Brewing your coffee using The Stovetop Method is probably the easiest and most convenient method of making coffee without a coffee maker. Above all, it doesn’t involve many materials to accomplish.
What you need:
- Freshly Ground Coffee for better taste. The coffee ground is fresh until 20 minutes after grinding. Without a Grinder? Check our blog on Like Hacks in Grinding Coffee Beans Without A Grinder.
- Stove
- Kettle or a Saucepan
- Spoon
- Ladle
- Mug
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Brewing Procedure:
- Firstly, put water into your saucepan. Please take note that every serving or cup is equivalent to 6 ounces of water. Add a little more water since some will be left behind when you transfer the coffee. So, for every two servings or two cups of coffee, add 3/4 cup of water.
- Secondly, put the heat to medium or high heat.
- Thirdly, when the water is boiling, add two tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces of water (single serving) or every cup of coffee. You may add more coffee, depending on your preference.
- Fourthly, turn off the heat immediately.
- Fifthly, cover the pan and wait for four to five minutes to let all the grounds settle at the bottom. On the other hand, if the coffee grounds didn’t sink fully at the bottom, you sprinkle them with cold water to help them drop.
- Lastly, you can use a ladle to transfer the coffee into cups, or you can slowly pour the coffee off the top so that grounds stay at the bottom.
- You can also add sugar or cream if you want.
Combining The Stovetop Method w/ The Strainer Method
Coffee makers have a filtration system to separate the coffee grounds and produce clear and clean coffee. Please don’t get me wrong. When I say clean coffee, it means that there are no sediments or coffee grounds that go with your cup of coffee,
On the other hand, The Stovetop Method doesn’t involve filtering the coffee grounds. So even if we let the coffee ground settle in the bottom of the pot, there are unavoidable instances where coffee grounds sediments go with your coffee when you pour it into your cup.
Consequently, a better way is to combine the stovetop method with the filtration method. This method is faster because separating the coffee grounds from the liquid is faster.
What you need for the Strainer Method:
A fine mesh or a double-mesh kitchen strainer.
Brewing Procedure:
- Follow the Brewing Procedure with The Stovetop Method from Steps 1 to 4.
- Put the kitchen strainer over your cup or mug.
- After turning off the heat, slowly pour the coffee into the strainer and your cup.
- You may add sugar or cream if you desire.
- Enjoy a clear, pure, freshly brewed coffee!
How to make coffee with a DIY Chemex
This method produces excellent coffee without the sediments mixing with your cup of coffee as it involves filtering the coffee grounds. It is undoubtedly a pleasurable way to enjoy that cup of Joe.
What you need:
- Freshly Ground Coffee (medium-coarse)
- Makeshift Filter: a Handkerchief, Cheesecloth, Kitchen Towel, or a Paper Towel. Although, it will be better if you have a standard paper filter.
- Mason Jar, Big Mug, or a Tall Thick Glass that can withstand hot water.
- Rubber band or Clip
- Kettle or any utensil to boil water
- Hot water just below boiling (see instructions below how to prepare this)
Steps in making the DIY Chemex:
- Place your makeshift filter over the jar/mug/glass.
- Gently press the center to create a pouch that will be enough for a serving of ground coffee.
- Fold the makeshift filter’s edges around the glass and secure it with the rubber band or clips. You now have a DIY Chemex!
Brewing Procedure:
- Boil around two cups of water. Once it reaches the boiling point, please remove it from the heat source. Then, let it stand for 30 seconds.
- Scoop a single-cup ground coffee into the filter. Simultaneously, you can gently shake the jar to distribute the coffee grounds in the filter evenly.
- Slowly pour water at the center of your coffee grounds, working your way out to the sides. Use just enough water to get the coffee grounds slightly wet. Wait 30 seconds for the coffee bloom – release of CO2, bubbles, and coffee expands when coffee grounds come in contact with water.
- Moreover, continue by slowly pouring the rest of the hot water around every 30 seconds, in about three to four increments. Indeed, it may take more time if your beans are fresh. Also, it depends on the thickness of your filter.
- Carefully remove the clips or the rubber band and the makeshift filter once all the water has seeped.
- Lastly, you can also add sugar or cream if you want.
Another way to make coffee with the DIY Chemex:
A more convenient way to do this is by using a disposable coffee filter easily accessible on Amazon. Just like the image below.
Check Disposable Coffee Bag’s Price on Amazon
How to make a coffee with a Faux French Press
What you need:
- Freshly Ground Coffee (Coarse is best. Similar to sea salt in size.)
- Hot water just below boiling.
- Mug (1 for brewing – best if with spout for easy pouring, and 1 for drinking)
Brewing Procedure:
- Put a tablespoon of coffee for each cup of coffee you want to make into the mug.
- Boil around two cups of water. Once it reaches the boiling point, please remove it from the heat source. Let it stand for 30 seconds.
- Wet the coffee and wait for 30 seconds for the coffee to bloom.
- Fill the mug with the rest of your water.
- Let the coffee stand for 4 minutes.
- Pour it slowly into your drinking cup. Stop before the grounds start to get into your drinking cup. This way, you’ll get an evenly brewed cup without too much stuck at the bottom.
- You can also add sugar or cream if you want.
How to make coffee with The Coffee Bag / Tea Bag Method
Coffee Bag is a brilliant and straightforward method to make your coffee without a coffee maker. Probably one of the simplest and less messy methods we have on the list.
Check Disposable Coffee Bag’s Price on Amazon
What you need:
- Freshly Ground Coffee
- Coffee Bag
- Hot Water just below boiling
Brewing Procedure:
- Fill a single serving (2 heaping tablespoons)of coffee ground into the coffee bag. Close the bag tightly.
- Boil water into a kettle, pan, or pot. Once the water boils, immediately turn the heat off. Meanwhile, let the boiled water cool for about 30 seconds.
- Place your coffee bag in a clean cup or mug. And slowly pour the water into it. Then, fill the cup/mug at the desired level.
- Let the coffee bag steep in hot water for around 4 minutes. You can adjust your brew’s strength by adjusting the steeping time: 2-3 minutes for a light-tasting cup of coffee. And 5-6 for a strong-tasting coffee.
- Once you’ve reached your desired steep time, carefully remove the coffee bag, and discard it.
- You can add sugar and cream if you want.
The DIY Coffe Bag
Consequently, you can make your coffee bag if you don’t have a disposable coffee bag available. So, cheer up! No coffee maker and no disposable coffee bag? That’s not a problem!
What you need:
- Paper filter or a cheesecloth
- String ( Not wax coated)
How to make a coffee bag:
- Get a square-shaped paper filter or a cheesecloth.
- Put two heaping tablespoons of coffee grounds in the center of the paper filter.
- Fold up the four corners and twist the paper filter. Then, wrap your coffee grounds inside the paper filter.
- Tie the paper filter with the coffee grounds with a small piece of string. Make sure you leave one long end to hang outside your cup, just like a teabag.
- That’s it! The bag will look like a teabag, just with coffee grounds inside.
Brewing Procedure:
Follow the same brewing procedure in using a disposable coffee bag. Kindly skip Step #1.
How to make coffee with the Cowboy Method
Cowboy Coffee is an old-fashioned American way to make coffee without a coffee maker. Cowboys have been brewing coffee even before the invention of many coffee equipments.
What you need:
- Freshly Ground Coffee (Medium-Fine) – 2 tablespoons for every 6 ounces (cup) of water.
- Campfire (Old-fashioned way) or Stove
- Water
- Pot, Kettle, or Pan
- Mug or Cup
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Brewing Procedure:
- Put water into your pot. Six ounces of water for every serving/cup. For every two servings or two cups of coffee, add 3/4 cup of water. Adding a little more water is essential since some will be left behind with the coffee grounds when you transfer the coffee.
- Add the fresh coffee ground into the pot—two tablespoons for every serving/cup of coffee.
- Put the pot over a campfire for the old-fashioned way. But, of course, a more convenient way to do it at home is to put it over the stove.
- Let it boil for two minutes. Then, remove the kettle from the heat.
- Meanwhile, allow the coffee grounds to settle at the bottom of the pot in 4 minutes.
- If some sediments/grounds remain on top, sprinkle it with cold water to help the sediments/grounds to sink to the bottom.
- Slowly pour the pot contents into your mug, avoiding grounds to come with it as much as possible.
Watch Cowboy Kent Rollins’s entertaining and informative video on How to Make Cowboy Coffee.
How to make coffee with The Swedish Egg Method
You’re reading it right. The Swedish have a unique and exciting way to make their coffee using a raw egg. And, believe it or not, with the shell and all. It is also called Norwegian and Scandinavian coffee. Swedish coffee certainly might be the smoothest coffee you’ll ever have without using a coffee maker. The logic behind this method is that the egg white removes impurities from the coffee. As a result, it removes the bitterness and acidity from the coffee grounds. Therefore, enhancing the coffee’s taste. At the same time, this also results in a light, clear brew with a smooth texture that is easy to drink.
What you need:
- 1 Fresh egg
- Fresh Ground Coffee (Medium) – (1 to 1 ½ tbsp for one serving)
- 1 Cup of Room-temperature water
- 1 Cup of Ice cold water
- Saucepan
- A cup or small bowl
- Filter (strainer, cheesecloth, or a handkerchief will do.
N.B. The ingredients above will make one cup of coffee. Therefore, multiply the quantities accordingly according to your need.
Brewing Procedure:
- Start boiling the room temperature water in a small saucepan or a pot.
- While boiling the water, crack the egg into a cup with the shell and all! And, stir.
- Add the fresh coffee ground to the egg and stir together thoroughly.
- When the water starts boiling, add the egg-coffee slurry.
- Let the mixture boils for 3 to 5 minutes. Keep your eye on it to prevent it from overflowing.
- When you see the slurry clumps and float on top, remove the pot from the heat source. Then, add 1 cup of ice-cold water into the mixture. Let it stand for a minute as the egg and coffee clumps sink to the bottom of the pot.
- While waiting for the mixture to steep, put your makeshift filter over your empty cup/mug.
- After a minute, slowly pour your Swedish coffee through the filter and into your cup. And, enjoy!
Conclusion
To sum up, it is not the end of the world for coffee lovers like us if we don’t have a coffee maker around. But, as you have seen, there are many ways to enjoy that cup of Joe using simple tools and materials that we can find in our household.
Indeed, if you find yourself in a situation where a coffee maker isn’t around, you can always look back and do any coffee brewing methods above.
On the other hand, this pandemic has restricted our outside activities like camping. And, you want to have the same adventure still, try setting up a tent and a campfire outside your home. Then, try to enjoy brewing your coffee the Cowboy way. Believe me; it will make a difference leveling up your coffee drinking experience. At the same time, if you have kids, they’ll surely enjoy this fun and adventure activity outdoors-creating a loving family bonding experience. Just what we need to relieve our stressful pandemic life.
Recommendation:
If you’re looking for a great coffee maker to invest in, you can check our recommendations on The Best Coffee Maker for Home.