How to make coffee without a coffee maker
There are plenty of different brewing systems and machines to choose from, but sometimes we don't have any of them and we still want a nice cup of coffee.
A real coffee lover would never give up on brewing a cup of coffee although he does not have any machine to use, so in this article we will teach you 4 ways to make coffee without a coffee maker and just some tools that you will have in your kitchen.
I personally tried all of these 4 methods and they work, but of course I have my favorite one, which sometimes I use even if I have some other machines at my fingertips.
Continue reading this article if you want to know more about these 4 brewing methods without a coffee maker: Turkish & Cowboy coffee, bag system, strainer & filter and cold brew.
Article index:
4 ways to make coffee without a coffee maker
Turkish or cowboy coffee
Create a bag
Strainer or filter
Cold brew
Notes
Final thoughts
4 ways to make coffee without a coffee maker
- Turkish or cowboy coffee
Turkish and cowboy coffee is a perfect way to brew a delicious coffee without any coffee maker. In our series of articles “5 brewing methods. which one is for you?” we talked about both of them (check part 2 and part 3), so if you want a deep understanding of it go ahead and read it.
Both methods have something in common: you don't need any machine for brewing coffee. The process is really simple: just get a big pot, fill it with your coffee ground beans and water. Boil it for a few minutes, strain it and the coffee is ready.
Although these two brewing methods are very similar, they have very different results. This is because of the difference in the coffee bean grind and in the time of extraction. Turkish coffee is one of the strongest and more caffeinated coffees, while cowboy coffee is more acidic and with not that much caffeine.
2. Create a bag
Coffee bags are very popular. They work just like a tea bag and are extremely simple to use. Of course you can use a traditional store coffee bag and you will not need a machine either, but if you don't have one of those you can just create one with some imagination.
For example you can create one with aluminum foil, or use some cheese cloth but with a coarse grind, or even with a kitchen towel.
This method is very useful in those occasions where you have nothing to brew but some coffee beans and hot water. It will save you if you are in a camp or in a brand new house where you don't have any kitchen gadgets.
3. Strainer or filter
Old fashioned but effective way to brew your coffee. For this method you are going to need only a container and a strainer. Just put your coffee beans in the container with the hot water and let it brew for 4 minutes. Then, strain the mixture and your coffee will be ready to drink. The only aspect that you have to be careful of is that your grind is bigger than the strainer gaps, if not you will not be able to brew it correctly.
There is a more sophisticated but similar way to brew your coffee. Instead of a strainer, you can use a paper or cloth filter. You can find both of them in any supermarket and they are cheap. Cloth filters are reusable and you will have a thicker coffee because this kind of filter allows the bean oils to go through. Paper filters are not reusable and they don't allow oils to reach the cup of coffee, so it's way lighter.
4. Cold brew
One of my favorite brewing methods, not just in this article but at all. For cold brew you don't need a machine, and not even to heat your water. Grab a bottle, add your coffee beans and fill it with room temperature water. Let it sit for anytime between 8 and 24 hours, strain it and that's it, you have an amazing cold brew coffee.
In Coffee Devotion we have an article where we explain the differences between cold brew and iced coffee, how to make it properly and the characteristics of this coffee.
As I said before, I love this brewing method because you can get a high caffeinated coffee with low acidity and an intense flavor. I prepare cold brew coffee often, even if I have other machines that I can use, but its unique flavor is unresistable.
Notes
All of these 4 methods work and will give you a good cup of coffee and by far my favorite one is cold brew coffee.
In my opinion, these methods have to be used only in some cases. The reason is because there are special machines that are made for making excellent coffee, and using high quality coffee beans with one of these brewing methods will not let you enjoy it properly.
Last but not least, remember to always have a coarse enough grind so at the moment of straining it, coffee particles don't end up in your cup of coffee.
Final thoughts
Are these 4 methods to make coffee without a coffee maker useful? Without a doubt. Will you get a great coffee with them? In my opinion you can gave excellent results with Turkish, filters and cold brew, and with the bags a pretty decent one,
Knowing these methods to make coffee without a coffee maker will be very useful in your life, so the next time you want a delicious cup of coffee but you don't have any special machine to do it you can manage to prepare it anyway.
Have you ever tried any of these brewing methods before? Which one will you try next? Now you have the knowledge to prepare a good cup of coffee even if you don't have any special machine to use.