How to make coffee without a coffee maker: 5 easy ways to prepare it

How to make coffee without a coffee maker: Today there are many types of coffee machines, each with its pros and cons, but all with the same purpose; to make coffee quickly and easily.

Now, surely you have ever asked yourself – out of curiosity or necessity – the following questions…

Can a good coffee be made without a coffee maker? How to make coffee without a coffee pot?

The answer is yes you can and it is much easier than it may seem.

Whatever the reasons that bring you here, below I will explain 5 ways to prepare coffee without having any specific device for it. are you coming with me? Don’t lose detail…

Stew or pota coffee

This is one of the oldest and most traditional methods. The coffee infusion that is obtained has an intense flavor, is aromatic (if spices are used), and with a low concentration of caffeine.

Did you know…? It is well known in places like Galicia (Spain), Brazil and Portugal. In Mexico it is also a typical way of preparing coffee and, with its peculiarities, it is known as pot coffee.

This type of coffee was born from the ingenuity of those people who could not afford a coffee maker and, failing that, used the most basic kitchen utensils.

Ingredients

• 70g freshly ground coffee
• 1 liter of water
• 60 grams of brown sugar and spices to taste
• (optional) cinnamon stick, cardamom, vanilla…

Preparation

Grind the coffee beans with a grinding texture similar to coarse salt and reserve it.

Prepare water in a saucepan, add the sugar, and spices, and stir. Heat the mixture until it reaches the boiling point and removes the saucepan from the heat.

Next, pour in the ground coffee and stir. Let it rest for 2 / 3 minutes (if you want a more intense flavor, you should leave it longer).

Finally, filter or strain the coffee through a sleeve or a cloth strainer. You can also use a paper filter that is used for drip coffee makers.

Serve it in a cup and it’s ready to drink!

filter coffee

Using a coffee filter is another of the most traditional and used alternative methods. It is a homemade infusion, where the aroma and flavor depend on the time the filter is left in the water, therefore, the longer the time, the higher the concentration.

Filtered coffee tends to be less acidic, and brings out more of the complex flavors in the coffee.

Ingredients

• ground coffee
• Water

To give you an idea, the measures to use would be the following; at least two coffee spoons (14 grams) for every two cups of water, each 100-150 ml. The dose of coffee can be regulated to your liking.

Preparation

Grind the right amount of coffee instantly with a medium grind, that is, coarser than if it were for Italian, and less coarse than what you would use for a French press coffee. Reserve it.

On one side, heat the water until it boils. Meanwhile, place the ground coffee inside a filter and tie it well with a string (as if it were a tea bag, but with coffee).

Note: if you want to prepare several coffees, you must create as many coffee bags as the cups you want to prepare.

Then put the coffee bag inside the cup and pour the hot water over it until it is full. Let the coffee steep for 3-4 minutes (no stirring necessary).

TIP: if you like a stronger flavor, wait 4 or 5 minutes. On the other hand, for a softer coffee, you will only have to let it rest between 2 – 3 minutes.

Finally, remove the filter and you can take it.

coffee with strainer

This is another of the easiest ways to make coffee. To carry it out, it is important that the strainer is fine because that way you make sure that the coffee remains are trapped in it. The most suitable is the one used for tea.

Ingredients

• Water
• ground coffee

The appropriate proportion would be the following: 7 grams of coffee for every 100 ml of water.

Preparation

It grinds the coffee with a fine coarseness since the extraction process is fast and no pressure is exerted on it.

Tip: to achieve a perfect result, it is interesting to have a good coffee grinder that ensures a  homogeneous and fine grind, suitable for this type of preparation.

While you heat the water add 1 or 2 tablespoons of coffee to the cup (7 or 14 grams). When the water is already hot, pour the hot water directly over the coffee. No filter is needed.

Let it rest for about 3 minutes, stir and let it rest for another 3 minutes.

Take note: the longer the coffee is steeped, the higher the concentration of flavor and aroma.

Finally, place the strainer over the cup and pour in the coffee. The coffee grounds should stay in the strainer and should not get into your cup.

Ready! you can drink your coffee now.

French press coffee

This is one of the most classic methods of making coffee with water that is still used today. It is an alternative method, which originated in France, to make infusions inside a transparent jar where the entire procedure could be seen.

The result is a coffee that is smoother, fuller-bodied, and generally more flavorful.

Ingredients

• ground coffee
• Water

As a general rule, a tablespoon of ground grains (7 grams) is used for every 100 ml of water. This ratio can vary depending on whether you like your coffee more or less intense.

Preparation

Grind the grain at the moment with a coarse grind. To know if it is the right one or not, pinch the coffee. If it comes off easily, it’s the right one. On the other hand, if there is any stain on your fingers, it is too fine.

Preheat the pitcher so it doesn’t lose temperature by filling it with hot water and emptying it afterward. Reserve the water.

Add the ground coffee to the jug and pour the hot water little by little over it. Stir the mixture well and put the lid on -without pressing the plunger-.

Let the coffee brew for 3-5 minutes, then lower the plunger all the way down – gently but firmly – to separate the ground coffee from the brew.

Ready! Serve immediately, because if you leave it longer in the container it will become too bitter.

microwave coffee

You may not have a coffee maker, but you do have a microwave. First of all, you should know that making coffee from scratch in the microwave is not the same as heating it, because the taste is different and so is the process.

Ingredients

• Instant coffee (1 or 2 teaspoons per cup)
• Water.

Using instant coffee is the most practical way to save time and effort. Of course, in terms of flavor and quality, it has nothing to do with ground coffee.

Take note: for the elaboration of soluble coffee, robusta grain is usually used, a variety of lower quality, more bitter, and intense than the rest.

Preparation

Add the instant coffee to a microwave-safe glass and stir well.

Add water but in a small amount. The idea is that the mixture has a pasty consistency and not a liquid one, this is very important!

Put the glass in the microwave and heat it until the mixture begins to rise. Be careful, the cup should not overflow!

Take it out of the microwave, stir everything very well and add the remaining water to complete the drink.

Then put it back in the microwave and heat it up. 

Ready! As simple as that. The result obtained is a sparkling coffee.