Like most people, you probably rely on your drip coffee maker to provide you with fresh, hot coffee every morning. But what happens if that brew button does nothing? When you have a power outage? Or worse, you’re forced to stay at a hotel or campsite without a coffeemaker in sight?
I’ve experienced all of these issues running a cafe, and let me tell you — there were times when I had to get creative to serve my caffeine-deprived regulars.
So let’s find a way to get some coffee in you! Depending on what you have on hand, we can teach you how to make coffee without a coffee maker. While none of these methods compare to a hot batch made with freshly ground coffee, at least you’ll be able to get your java fix while waiting for that replacement drip coffee maker to arrive.
Key Takeaways
- There are numerous alternative brewing methods to make coffee without a traditional coffee maker, including the use of stovetops, coffee bags, and strainers.
- Some unconventional methods highlighted are the Swedish egg coffee technique and the “hanky” method, showing the versatility of coffee brewing in desperate times.
- The article also gives survival tips for coffee lovers, suggesting keeping instant coffee or a percolator handy for emergencies, and outlines a few frequently asked questions about coffee brewing without standard equipment.
No Coffee Maker, No Problem: Alternative Brewing Methods
Now that we’ve gotten your questions out of the way, it’s time to get to the important part: telling you how to make coffee without a coffee maker. There are several options available for making coffee without a machine, so choose wisely.
The Stovetop Method
If you’ve got limited supplies on hand, this option will probably work for you. Using kitchen basics, you can brew up a cup or even a pot of coffee right on your stovetop. Follow these easy steps to find out how to make stovetop coffee.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Ground coffee
- Water
- Small saucepan
- Spoon
- Ladle
- Mug
HOW TO BREW IT
- Pour water into your pan. Use slightly more water than the amount of coffee you want because you’ll lose some of it to boiling and soaking into the grounds.
- Stir the coffee grounds right into the water. Use the same amount you would put in your coffee maker for the amount of water you used.
- Set a burner to medium-high and bring your coffee to a boil. Stir occasionally to avoid burning the grounds on the bottom of your pan.
- Boil your coffee uncovered for two minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for four minutes. This allows the grounds to settle on the bottom. Don’t forget to turn off the stove.
- Use a ladle to scoop brewed coffee into your mug, without taking any grounds with it. A small ladle is perfect for this. If you don’t have a ladle at all, you can pour the coffee from your saucepan very slowly. The grounds are heavy and will mostly stay on the bottom.
Are you one of those people who wakes up with all your synapses firing, ready to take on the day? Or maybe you’ve found yourself asking the question, “Can you steep coffee like tea?” If you answered yes to either or both of those questions, you’re in luck; you can make yourself a little tea bag for coffee grounds, just as the French did during the 18th Century.
First, get out that kitchen toolbox, Morning Person!
YOU’LL NEED:
- Ground coffee
- Hot Water
- Coffee filter
- String (any kind will work as long as it’s not coated with wax!)
- Mug
HOW TO BREW IT
- Measure a single serving of coffee grounds, then pour it into your filter.
- Close the filter tightly, making a little pouch full of grounds.
- Tie it with a length of string, leaving one long end to hang outside your cup just like a tea bag.
- Heat water using any method you have available, such as a kettle, pot, or even a cup in the microwave.
- Place the coffee bag you created into an empty mug.
- Slowly pour the hot water over the coffee bag in the cup, being careful not to overfill your cup.
- Allow the coffee to steep for about four minutes. You may increase or decrease the time as necessary to make your brew stronger or weaker.
- Remove the filter and discard it before drinking.
THE STRAINER METHOD
If your coffee maker went kaput and you don’t have any filters, you probably have terrible luck and need to make a trip to the grocery store. However, if you happen to have a strainer, things may just turn out okay for you. Like the stovetop method above, using a strainer is another popular way of making coffee without a filter.
But not just any old strainer will do. Be sure to use a strainer with very small holes, such as a double-layer mesh strainer, which will prevent your coffee grounds from going into your cup.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Ground coffee
- Water
- Kettle or saucepan
- Mesh strainer (a small, conical one is ideal)
- Mug
HOW TO BREW IT
- Measure the proper amount of water for the number of cups you wish to make and pour it into your kettle or saucepan.
- Add the correct amount of coffee grounds for the number of cups you are brewing. Stir it in.
- Bring the water to a boil and keep it boiling for two minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Hold your mesh strainer above your mug and pour the coffee through it. The strainer will catch any grounds that come out of the saucepan, as the coffee flows into your mug. Unlike the saucepan method, you won’t need to wait extra time for your grounds to settle because you’re using the strainer.
THE HANKY METHOD
Who needs a Keurig when you can make a cup of coffee using this more rustic, less expensive brewing method that doesn’t destroy the environment?
It takes a bit of patience, but the result pretty much guarantees you won’t be drinking coffee grounds. Use a mason jar instead of a regular coffee mug to make your Hanky Method brew look painfully hip. You know, if you’re into that kinda thing.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Coffee grounds
- Hot water
- Binder paper clips or clothespins
- Clean hanky or other clean, linen or cotton cloth (cheesecloth works)
- Mug or mason jar
HOW TO BREW IT
- Place your hanky across the top of your mug, then press gently in the center to make a pouch big enough to hold a serving of coffee grounds.
- Secure the cloth in place using binder clips or clothespins. Be sure to use at least three clips so the hanky won’t fall into your coffee.
- Scoop a single-cup portion of coffee grounds into the pouch.
- Pour a small amount of hot water over the grounds. Allow at least 30 seconds to soak the grounds completely.
- Slowly and carefully pour in the rest of the hot water. Keep an eye on your clips while you pour and adjust them if they start to slip.
- Remove the hanky and grounds, and enjoy your coffee.
One of the most popular brewing methods among coffee lovers can be duplicated with minimal tools. It’s easy enough to do in your kitchen or even over a campfire. If your French press is out of commission, give this method a shot.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Coffee grounds, preferably coarse-ground
- Hot Water
- Tablespoon
- Deep bowl
- Mug
HOW TO BREW IT
- Put one tablespoon of coffee grounds per cup into your bowl.
- Pour in a small amount of boiling water, letting it fully saturate the grounds.
- Add the appropriate amount of hot water for the servings of grounds in your bowl. Let it stand for four minutes.
- When the grounds have settled, use your tablespoon to gently press them to the bottom of the bowl. Be careful not to splash yourself.
- Pour the coffee into your mug slowly, using the spoon to keep the pressed grounds in the bottom of the bowl and keep them from falling into your mug.
The Cowboy Method
Take it back a few decades, before the coffee machine was a common household appliance (or even invented), and make a cup of coffee the old-fashioned way…the cowboy way.
Don’t worry. You don’t need a horse or a ten-gallon hat to make cowboy coffee. You can make it almost anywhere, though, as long as you don’t mind just a little bit of grit in your cup of Joe.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Coffee grounds
- Water
- Kettle or pot
- Spoon or another utensil to stir with
- Mug
HOW TO BREW IT
- Put one tablespoon of coffee grounds per serving of coffee into your kettle.
- Add about eight ounces of water per serving to the kettle. Stir it well.
- Place the kettle over your fire (or on your stove) and bring its contents to a boil.
- After boiling for about two minutes, remove the kettle from heat.
- Allow about four minutes for the grounds to sink to the bottom.
- Gently pour the coffee into your mug, while doing your best to keep the ground coffee in. Then again, this is cowboy coffee. It needs a few grounds in it, right, partner?
THE MICROWAVE METHOD
No drip machine, no string, and no time to waste? As long as you have power and a microwave, you can have your coffee too. This is about as simple a brewing method as you can get.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Coffee grounds
- Water
- Microwave
- Mug
HOW TO BREW IT
- Fill your mug with water and pop it in the microwave for about two minutes. The water should be very hot, but not boiling.
- Stir in a tablespoon of coffee grounds. They’ll make a sizzling sound when you first add them.
- Allow your mug to sit for about four minutes so the grounds can settle to the bottom of the mug
- Enjoy your coffee, just be sure to avoid that one last sip full of coffee grounds, unless you like your coffee chewy.
SWEDISH EGG METHOD
If you thought America’s coffee game was strong, the Swedes put us to shame. One of their more unique, popular methods for brewing coffee doesn’t require a traditional coffee maker… but it does involve something much more interesting: an egg.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Fresh egg(s)
- Coarsely ground coffee (1 to 1 ½ tbsp for 1 serving)
- Room-temp water
- Ice cold water
- Saucepan
- A cup or small bowl
- Filter (cheesecloth or hanky will do fine)
HOW TO BREW IT
- Boil the room-temperature water (about 1 cup per serving) in your saucepan or a small pot.
- While the water is coming to a boil, go ahead and crack the egg into a cup. If you’re making several servings, you may need a small bowl. Put the whole egg in there, shell and all!
- Once the egg is crushed and stirred, add in your coffee grounds and stir them together.
- Now your water should be boiling, so add in the slurry. Boil the mix for about 3-5 minutes and make sure to keep your eye on it to prevent overflow.
- When the slurry clumps up into a big chunk and floats at the top, you’ll splash in your ice-cold water (1 cup). Let it sit for a minute as the chunks and stay grounds sink to the bottom.
- Slowly pour the coffee through whatever makeshift filter you have on hand and into your mug. The velvety smoothness and lack of acidity are surprisingly pleasant, especially considering the somewhat bizarre method.
Cold Brew Method
If you have some time to spare before you need your next caffeine fix or you’re the type of person who likes meal prepping and iced coffees, then cold brew coffee might be perfect for you.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Coarse coffee grounds
- 2 wide-mouth mason jars
- Cheesecloth or another filtration method (eg. fine mesh strainer, hanky, etc)
- Water
- Refrigerator
- 14-24 hours worth of patience
HOW TO BREW IT
- Using a 1:5 ratio of grounds to water, put the ground in a mason jar, wet them, wait 30 seconds, then add the rest of the water.
- Stir everything together and screw on the top of the mason jar.
- Put it in your fridge and wait 14-24 hours (depending on desired strength*).
- After an appropriate amount of time, put the strainer over the other mason jar (or a bowl) with a little slack in the middle to catch the grounds. Use clips if necessary to hold it in place and pour the coffee into the other container.
- You can keep the filtered concentrate in your fridge for 7-10 days. To serve, simply pour out a small portion and dilute** with water until you’ve reached your desired intensity.
*If you want extra strong concentrate, use a higher grounds-to-water ratio (~1:3) rather than going over 20 hours. The same goes for the low end. Use a 1:8 ratio rather than going under 14 hours.
** DO NOT dilute all of the concentrate at once unless you plan on drinking the entire batch in less than 3 days. (If that’s the case, you do you– there’s no judgment here.)
Break Coffee Mug In Case Of Emergency
Just kidding. But if the mere thought of going without your morning cup of zing makes you want to hurl your favorite coffee mug, consider keeping a couple of things on hand for emergencies.
Instant Coffee
First, despite its bitter taste and poor reputation among coffee connoisseurs, instant coffee has managed to hang around for about a century, and for good reason — it’s convenient.
Keeping a supply of instant coffee in your pantry can practically save your life in a coffee emergency. It may not be the most delicious coffee you’ve ever tasted, but it’ll stave off that migraine you’ll get if you skip your coffee altogether.
Percolator
They’re easy to find and relatively inexpensive, and you can use them on anything from an electric stove to a camp stove to a campfire. A trusty percolator can save the day whether your drip coffee maker dies on a Tuesday morning or your power goes out for days after a nasty storm.
Pour-over, French press, and Aeropress coffee makers are also affordable and make excellent backups (or replacements) for your drip coffee maker.
FAQ
Can You Make Coffee Without a Filter?
We know, we know…the idea of unfiltered coffee probably sends a shiver up your spine. Crunching on all those grounds while you’re just trying to enjoy your morning cup of coffee? No, thank you.
But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. You can make coffee without a filter; you’ll just have to fully immerse your coffee grounds in water, the same way a French press does. After letting the hot water and coffee mixture stand for about five minutes, pour it into a coffee cup slowly enough that none of the grounds settled at the bottom can escape.
Can You Make Keurig Coffee Without a Machine?
What do you do when your beloved K-Elite bites the dust and you’re left with a dozen K-cups and no coffee machine to use them in? Just peel the foil lid off the cup, pour your coffee into a filter or strainer and slowly pour hot or boiling water over it.
When you’re doing this, you have to consider how strong you want your coffee to be, and depending on how much Java you’re making, you might need to use multiple K-cups.
Can You Make Coffee Without Electricity?
The answer to the above question is simple: yes — as long as you have a way to boil water that doesn’t require electricity, like a gas stove or a campfire. Then, you can use a method like a pour-over to saturate your coffee grounds and create a manual drip brewing process.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to make a cup of Java when you’re in a bind. Whichever method you choose for making coffee without a coffee maker, we hope you end up with a tasty cup of coffee.
Happy Caffeinating!
