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Here’s how to make coffee without a coffee maker! You can use this method for a perfect cup even when you don’t have access to coffee-making tools.
Don’t have a coffee maker? No problem! I have a method that works when you don’t have your trusty coffee-making tools. Here’s how to make the perfect cup without a coffee maker! Also called Cowboy Coffee, it’s an easy way to make a cup of joe without any fancy equipment.
You can also make different types of coffee without a maker. Check out How to Make Espresso without a Machine, French Press Coffee, or Cold Brew Coffee instead!
Ingredients & tools you’ll need
Whether you’re traveling, camping, or just don’t have a coffee maker at home, you can still make a delicious brew without the fancy tools. All you need is some way to boil water — over an open fire, a stovetop, or an electric tea kettle. Here are the ingredients and tools you’ll need:
- 3 tablespoons ground coffee, medium coarse ground
- 1 pinch salt
- Method for boiling water: tea kettle, pot, etc.
- Canning jar or small pot
- Strainer or other straining method (see below)
What do you need the salt for?
Using salt in coffee may sound a little strange, but even using just a pinch helps to reduce the bitterness! This also works with traditional coffee methods, but it’s especially nice with this method.
Step-by-step: How to make coffee without a maker
Making your morning brew with a coffee maker will always be the more ideal option, but this is a great alternative in a pinch! Here are the basic steps, or jump to the recipe below:
- Boil the water using whatever method you have access to — stovetop, electric tea kettle, or even open fire.
- Allow the coffee grounds to bloom: Add the coffee and salt to a small pot, jar, or coffee mug. Add enough boiling water to just wet the grounds and sit for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, fill the mug with boiling water and stir.
- Brew the coffee: Wait 4 minutes.
- Strain out the grounds: I recommend using a strainer to strain the coffee into a mug. If you don’t have a strainer, dribble a bit of cold water across the top of the hot coffee, which makes the grounds sink to the bottom.
Coffee straining methods
You might not have access to a strainer if you don’t have a coffee maker. A standard trick for straining out the coffee grounds is to pour a little cold water on top to make the grounds sink to the bottom. But this trick didn’t have quite the magic it promised for me.
- Pouring cold water on top works, but makes a crunchy sip. Pouring a bit of cold water on the hot coffee is supposed to make the coffee grounds sink to the bottom. It does, but the resulting sip was still pretty crunchy. You can try this if you don’t have a strainer, but I didn’t find it effective. You can also wait a few minutes for the grounds to sink to the bottom.
- Straining the coffee is the best method. Strain it right into a mug! There still may be a few floating coffee grounds, but this method gets the bulk of the grounds.
And that’s it! How to make coffee without a coffee maker. Let me know what you think of this process in the comments below!
Alternate method: cold brew coffee
Looking for another way to make coffee without a maker? Cold brew coffee! Cold brew coffee requires no coffee maker at all. Simply combine the grounds with cold water and refrigerate for 24 hours. It has excellent flavor and is perfect if you’re craving iced coffee. Check out my tips for making cold brew.
Make espresso without a maker
Looking for espresso instead? There are plenty of ways to make espresso without a machine! You can use a French press, Moka Pot, or Aeropress to make decent espresso. There are also great brands of manual espresso makers that work great for traveling. Check out How to Make Espresso Without a Machine.
Better ways to make coffee
Making coffee without a coffee maker is not ideal! I use the Chemex for my everyday coffee, but here are some other go-to methods depending on the type of coffee you’re after:
- Try my best Pour Over Coffee made with a Chemex, or opt for French Press Coffee.
- The Moka Pot makes espresso-like coffee with a dark flavor.
- Here’s How to Make Espresso using multiple methods!
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can brew coffee using any of these methods and then let it cool before pouring it over ice. You can also make cold brew coffee by steeping coffee grounds in cold water overnight
When using the stovetop method, be cautious of hot water and handle the saucepan with care. Also, ensure the coffee grounds are adequately strained to avoid any unpleasant gritty texture.
The brewing time varies depending on the method. Cowboy coffee typically takes 5-10 minutes, while French press can take around 4 minutes.
How to Make Coffee without a Coffee Maker
Here’s how to make coffee without a coffee maker! You can use this method when you don’t have access to coffee-making tools.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Boiled
- Cuisine: Coffee
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons ground coffee (medium coarse ground)
- 1 pinch salt (optional but recommended to reduce bitterness)
- ¾ cup (6 ounces) boiling water
Instructions
*Alternative method: You can also make Cold Brew Coffee without a coffee maker. Head to that post for instructions.
- Boil the water.
- Add the coffee and salt to a small pot, jar, or coffee mug (if not straining; see step 2). Add enough boiling water to just wet the grounds and let sit for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, fill the mug with boiling water and stir.
- Wait 4 minutes.
- Strain out the grounds: If you don’t have a strainer, dribble a bit of cold water across the top of the hot coffee, which makes the grounds sink to the bottom*. But this works best with a strainer (or a clean sock!): use it to strain the coffee into a mug. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
*In my experience, the cold water trick doesn’t work effectively: you end up with a crunchy sip!
Awe Wow, you guys are incredible, I mean if it’s not the two of you then it’s definitely Don Frans. Anyhow look I’ve hearing about Chemex is it really any good. Pls tell if you can, was skeptical about it but I guess I’ll give a shot. Two birds one stone does that say enough.
Very helpful for coffee lovers.
It was the best coffee ever❤️
Yay!
That’s a great way to brew simple drip coffee. I have tried the recipe.
Loved it.
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