How to Make Coffee Without a Coffee Maker

March 07, 2022 | Kurt Parker

Coffee without a coffee maker? You may be wondering how is that possible without resulting to instant coffee. Don’t get me wrong instant coffee is also recommended here but what I’m taking about is brewed coffee. Using your usual coffee-making methods can turn out to be very difficult and very scary. How to make coffee without a coffee maker is a question that a lot of people ask.

These methods require no special equipment and let you make coffee at home, in the office, or outdoors. However, the exact process you choose depends on what kind of coffee drinker you are and where your priorities lie. This article will help you with some easy steps on how to make coffee without a coffee maker.

What’s in the Article:

Cowboy Coffee Method

Coffee Bag Method

Stovetop Coffee Method

Cold Brew Coffee Method

Faux French Press Method

Microwave Method

Turkish-Style Coffee Method

Instant Coffee

While I’m a fan of using an actual coffee maker, there are indeed occasions where you don’t have one and need instant coffee. Luckily, making it without a coffee maker is as easy as making it with one.

Cowboy Coffee Method

Some things in life are simple. As many of you probably know, making a cup of coffee doesn’t have to be complicated. And it doesn’t have to involve that fancy machine you bought at Williams-Sonoma last week. Just make good ol’ cowboy coffee.

And that’s it! It may not be very complicated, but the great thing about the cowboy coffee method is that it’s simple and it works. All you need is a little water, ground coffee, a pot to brew the coffee in, and a stirring spoon.

Things that you need:

Ground coffee
Water
Small Pot or Kettle
Stirrer or Spoon
Coffee mug

Procedure:

Add one tablespoon of coffee grounds per serving of coffee to the kettle or coffee pot.
Pour about one cup of water per serving into the kettle. Stir well.
Put the kettle over your gas stove (or any other source of heat) and let it come to a boil.
Once the contents are boiled for two minutes, remove the kettle from heat.
Let the coffee grounds sit for about four minutes; that should be enough time for them to sink to the bottom.
Pour your coffee slowly, taking care not to let the grounds mix in.

For a quick cup of coffee that takes almost no time at all, the cowboy coffee method is one of the best options out there. It’s quick, it’s easy to do, and it doesn’t require you to buy any fancy equipment. Coffee quality may not be the best with this method but I would argue that it is just as good as a drip machine or french press. If you are looking for a quick way to get caffeine into your system then this method will do the trick.

Coffee Bag Method

Making coffee without a coffee maker may seem like a daunting task but it’s easier than you think. The coffee bag method is one of the most popular ways of brewing coffee without a coffee maker. It’s also known as the pour-over, slow brew, or drip coffee method.

You don’t need a coffee maker to brew amazing coffee. In fact, you can use a coffee bag. Not only will the coffee be fresh and tasty, but you can also take it anywhere you want with ease. That’s because you don’t need electricity or any other additional equipment to make it happen.

Things that you need:

Coffee grounds
Hot water
Mug
Coffee filter or paper filter (or a fine mesh for a makeshift filter)
String

Procedure:

Add one tablespoon of coffee grounds per serving of coffee into your paper filter.
Make a little pouch of grounds by closing the filter tightly.
While holding the paper bag open, use a length of string to tie it closed. You’ll want to leave a long end that you can hang outside of your cup.
Put the coffee bag into the empty coffee mug. Pour the hot water slowly over the coffee bag in your cup, making sure not to overflow it.
Let the coffee steep for approximately four minutes. Adjust the amount of time depending on whether you want your coffee to be stronger or weaker.
Remove the paper filter.
Enjoy your great cup of coffee

All in all, the coffee bag method is a pretty easy way to produce a cup of coffee without having to use a coffee maker. And the results are almost always satisfactory. That said, it would probably do you well to practice this technique a few times before using it on an everyday basis. Remember that patience is a virtue, and so you should be extra careful to consider your method and exactly how long you let it sit.

Stovetop Coffee Method

It’s true that there are a lot of ways to make coffee without a coffee maker. In fact, one of the most classic ways to make coffee is the stovetop method. Almost everyone has a stove and a coffee maker, so you don’t even need to buy any new kitchen tools to begin making your own coffee with this method.

Quick, portable, and easy. Stovetop coffee is the easiest way to whip up a cup of joe. You’ll hardly spend any time on it, and can do it even when camping!

Things that you need:

Ground coffee
Water
Small Saucepan
Stirrer or Spoon
Mug
Small ladle

Procedure:

Pour water into the pan. There should be more water than the amount of coffee you want to make because it will boil and seep into the grounds.
Pour the coffee grounds directly into the water. Add the same amount as you would if you were using your coffee maker.
Place a burner on medium-high heat, allow it to come to a boil. Stir occasionally and slowly to prevent the grounds from burning.
Boil your coffee for two minutes, without a lid or cover.
Turn off your stove. After the boiling time is up, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it sit for four minutes. This lets the grounds settle to the bottom.
Scoop brewed coffee into your mug using your small ladle. Alternatively, you can pour the coffee from your saucepan in a slow, even stream. The coffee grounds will mostly stay at the bottom.

As it turns out, making coffee without a coffee maker is actually quite simple. And that’s a great thing for when you’re in a hurry, but don’t want to go without your daily dose of caffeine. So the next time the power goes out, or you’re just looking for another way to enjoy your morning joe, don’t throw in the towel on your regular brew. Simply whip up some stovetop coffee instead!

Cold Brew Coffee Method

Have you ever wanted to try cold brew coffee and didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a coffee maker? It’s hard to find good tips on How To Make Coffee Without a Coffee Maker. But I’ve run through the process often enough and have some easy instructions that you’ll be making a delicious cold brew and saving money.

Things that you need:

Coffee Grounds (Coarsed)
Mason jar
Makeshift filter or any other coffee filters
Water
Fridge

Procedure:

Make a good brew by using a 1:5 ratio of ground coffee to water, wetting the grounds, waiting 30 seconds, and then adding the rest of the water.
Stir all the ingredients together in a jar, screw the top of the mason jar on tightly.
Put the mixture in your fridge for about 24 hours. The longer the stronger the coffee.
When the brew has been steeping long enough, place the strainer on top of the other mason jar to hold in the grounds. Pour the coffee into the other container.
When you want to keep it, you may store the filtered concentrate in your refrigerator for up to 10 days. Dilute with water and pour out a small amount to serve.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make cold brew coffee, in a strong, simple and flavorful way. This is a great method to discover if you have never tried cold brew before. With the method outlined above, you’ll be able to make pretty good cold brew coffee without a coffee maker. Of course, the more often you brew the coffee using this method, the better your coffee should taste. The more you practice, the better you will get!

Faux French Press Method

Making coffee without a coffee maker isn’t just for fancy folk who have certain gadgets. It can be done in plenty of ways, one of them being the faux French press method. You might be wondering if there is even any difference between making coffee the way we’re going to describe in this article and using something like a coffee machine or French press itself. And yes, there is something distinct about it.

Things that you need:

Ground Coffee
Tablespoon
Hot water
Bowl
Mug

Procedure:

Put one tablespoon of coffee grounds in each cup.
Pour hot water slowly over the coffee grounds. Making sure it completely saturates them.
Add hot water to the bowl in order to have enough coffee grounds for however many servings you need. Let the mixture stand for four minutes.
Now use a tablespoon to flatten the grounds into the bottom of the bowl after the grounds have settled.
Slowly pour the coffee into your mug with a spoon to keep the pressed grounds in the bottom of the bowl and out of your coffee.

All in all, it is still possible to make a great cup of coffee without a traditional coffee maker. But, if you want to stick with your drip coffee maker or pour-over machine and you’re looking for ways to work around the limitations of that setup. The Faux French press method can help you brew tasty cups even on your own time.

Microwave Method

Let’s face it , not every person has a coffee maker, and if you have to make coffee in the office, chances are you don’t have one either. Whether you’re at home or working away from home, this is a simple guide I wrote on how to make coffee the microwave method. It works great and is quick, unlike other ways of making coffee utensils.

Things that you need:

Ground coffee
Water
Mug
Microwave

Procedure:

Put some water in your mug and put it in the microwave for about two minutes. The water should be heated, but not boiling.
Stir in a tablespoon of ground coffee. They might sizzle as soon as you add them.
Let your mug sit for about four minutes so the grounds can settle to the bottom.
Enjoy your morning cup, but be sure to avoid coffee grounds when you slurp the final dregs.

So, with that in mind, there’s no reason not to make coffee at work when you don’t have access to a traditional coffeemaker. And whether you follow the microwave method or go with instant, this is one of the easiest ways to make quality coffee without a whole lot of effort. Give one of them a try sometime and see if it can become a part of your morning routine.

Turkish-Style Coffee Method

The Turkish coffee method of brewing is a popular way to make coffee throughout Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans. The process is simple, involving only three ingredients: water, coffee grounds, and a coffee pot. Given the simplicity of this method, it is no wonder that many people are converting from instant coffee to the real thing.

Things that you need:

Coffee Grounds
Cold Water
Coffee Pot
Heat Source

Procedure:

Make your coffee using six ounces of cold water for each cup. If you love Turkish coffee, you know that it’s so thick you don’t have to add a lot of water.
Start by heating two cups of water in a pot on low heat. Then add two teaspoons of coffee grounds to each cup. If you want, you can add sugar at this point.
When the coffee is almost boiling, take the pot off the stove and skim the foam from the top with a spoon. Be sure to put the foam into a separate cup if you want it in your coffee. Return the pot to low heat.
When the coffee is nearly boiling again, pour about half of it into the cups and return the pot to the stove.
Pour the rest of the coffee into the cups when you’ve cooked it for 30 seconds. Let the grounds settle for a few minutes in the cups before drinking.

Instant Coffee

Everybody loves a great cup of coffee. Unless they haven’t had one in a while. If you’re left with no other option than to make coffee without a coffee maker, instant coffee will get you through. If you’re looking for a quick and easy cup of coffee, You can make it an easy coffee jelly dessert or just a cup of easy instant coffee on the go. It’s convenient, affordable, and portable.

While it may not be optimal, instant coffee can suffice in a pinch when you are without a coffee maker. All you need is filtered water and granules to use in your coffee maker’s filter. Depending on the size of your brewer will determine how much you’ll need to make at one time, but four to six tablespoons should do the trick.

Conclusion

Just because you don’t have a coffee maker doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy the perks of freshly brewed coffee. And if you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, you may find that these alternative methods can actually help you refine your own personal brewing technique.

Ultimately, you should make your own decision regarding the coffee maker/espresso machine debate. But if you’re still undecided, we think that taking another look at manual coffee making is a worthwhile idea. By trying out different methods and techniques, you can start to figure out what works best for you. And perhaps discover some hidden benefits along the way.

There are numerous ways to make coffee without a coffee maker, and most of them involve taking it a step back in order to make your life easier later on. And even if you’re a coffee purist, there’s still some useful information in here that will allow you to make your java without an expensive coffee machine or time consuming brewing process. Whatever your preference, these methods should keep you caffeinated until you get home.