Sipping a piping cup of joe is a vital morning ritual of many food enthusiasts. For others, it's more than a morning beverage — it's their much-needed daily fuel to stay productive throughout the day. Thanks to home espresso machines, people can craft their own caffeinated dose in their kitchen. However, what if you wake up one day and it stops working? It could ruin your day, but you can still enjoy your daily beverage without it. How? Here are five different ways to brew at home without a coffee pot.
1. Cowboy Coffee Method
The easiest and oldest way to get your caffeine fix is by boiling. This brewing method doesn’t require any pro skills. You’ll need the following things:
- Pot
- Spoon or measuring scoop
- Strainer
- Measuring cup
The first step is to measure the amount of water to use. A tall size at Starbucks is 12 ounces, so you can keep it standard if this is your typical dose.
Next, spoon out some ground beans, depending on how strong you want your cup to be. Combine the water and the beans in a pot and bring it to a boil for six minutes, stirring occasionally. Once done, use the strainer as a filter while pouring the liquid into the cup. Enjoy your freshly brewed bliss.
2. French Press
Having a French press at home is always a good thing. In case your electric coffee pot breaks down or the power gets cut off, you have the means to make a delicious mug as long as you have hot water.
Using the French press is easy. Put a heaping tablespoon of medium to coarse ground beans on a clean cylinder for every 200 milliliters of water. Moving to your stove, boil the water for a few minutes and let it cool until it's about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour it into the cylinder with a gentle stir. Let it steep for three to four minutes. Cover it with a plunger and gently push it down to separate the liquid from the grounds. French press is your best bet if you love your Java jolt black.
3. Pour-over
A little technique is needed to bring out the bean's best flavor through a pour-over, but nothing too complicated for a beginner. You'll need a manual brewer, 30 grams of medium-grind beans, 500 grams of hot water, a timer and a filter — preferably an eco-friendly one if you want to help the planet.
A compostable filter is free from harmful substances that can leach into your coffee and is biodegradable. Since you’ll throw it away after a single use, it's better to choose a green filter to reduce waste in landfills.
To start, heat the water to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a filter on top of the carafe. Wet it with hot water and throw the rinse away. Add the grounds to the filter and level it out with gentle shakes.
Start the timer and pour 60 grams of water. Wait 30 seconds and slowly re-pour 200 grams of water in a circular motion. Wait for a minute. When you see some of it is drained, re-pour 100 grams of water in the direction. Do this every 30 seconds. Your bean brew should be ready in about four minutes.
4. Cold Brew
In 2023, Grubhub delivered more than 10 million orders of coffee after 5 p.m. Do you know what’s the most ordered in the list? — iced coffee. People love the company of a cold beverage in the evening.
If you also love your drink chilled, making a cold brew at home will supply you with enough liquid energy. Brew a cup during summer and you'll have a caffeine dose to relieve your thirst anytime you need.
To start cold pressing, grind one cup of coffee coarsely and put it in a container or pitcher. Add four cups of water and let it steep for six hours at room temperature. You can leave it in the fridge, but the process will be slow, so you'll have to keep it in there for a few more hours. Once done, filter out the beans twice, then use a paper filter for the final sieve. Add ice and enjoy. Store the rest in your fridge to keep it fresh.
5. Turkish Coffee
If you want an authentic twist on your morning sip, brewing coffee the Turkish way could make a positive difference in your day. Turkish coffee is unlike the traditional cup you can get at your local cafe. It has a deep, layered, earthy flavor, which captures the buds of coffee lovers around the world.
You can serve it at home even if you don't have the Ibrik or the Turkish coffee pot. You'll need:
- A small pot
- Sugar
- Premium quality, fine-grind beans
- Milk (optional)
The ratio of water to coffee for this recipe is 1:1, or a cup of water for every tablespoonful of beans.
Add cold water and sugar to the pot and mix them. Toss in a heaping tablespoon of coffee, but don't stir. Boil three times. The first time it simmers and before the liquid spills over from the pot, remove it from the stove and let it settle.
You'll notice a layer of froth or crema develops on the surface. Do this two more times, taking the pot off the heat every time it's about to overflow. It's ready to serve after this — no need to filter out the grounds. Add some milk if you want a milder flavor. Enjoy it with some snacks.
Make Your Morning Elixir the Traditional Way
Sure, it’s convenient to have an electric coffee pot at home, but what happens if it breaks down? Can you skip coffee for a day? Learning to brew coffee the traditional way can save your day. It's a handy skill that doesn't require barista-level expertise. Anyone can make a delicious mug at home with a few tools.