Coffee 101: How to Make Coffee Without a Coffee Pot

If you love your morning cup of coffee, it’s a good idea to learn how to make coffee without a coffee pot. Whether your machine stops working or you’re on the road without access to a proper coffee pot, learning how to make a cup of joe without much equipment is an essential skill.

Luckily, you can brew coffee with items you probably already have around your kitchen. In this post, you’ll find out how to make coffee without a coffee pot so you can enjoy a piping hot cup of java in a few simple steps.

Use the saucepan method

Measure out the amount of water and coffee grounds that you would normally use in your coffee pot. Combine them together in a saucepan and turn it to the medium-high setting, gradually bringing it to a boil.

After stirring and letting it boil for a couple of minutes, remove your saucepan from the burner. Carefully pour your coffee into a mug, making sure not to get the grounds into your cup. If you’d like, you can use a strainer to separate the liquid and grounds.

Create a coffee pouch

Assuming you have coffee filters or even a tea bag, you can make your own coffee pouch and steep your coffee grounds in hot water. The process is quite simple: fill a coffee filter or empty tea bag with your coffee grounds and tie it securely. You should have enough string to pull the bag from your cup after it’s finished steeping.

Place your coffee pouch at the bottom of your mug and pour hot water directly on top of it. Allow the coffee and water to combine for a few minutes before removing and discarding your coffee pouch. Repeat with a new pouch for each cup of coffee.

Make your own pour-over coffee

With a few simple household items (and a little bit of patience), you can even make your own pour-over coffee. To do so, you will need a thin piece of cloth (like a cheesecloth or a handkerchief), clothespins or rubber bands, and a jar with a wide lid. Alternatively, you can use a coffee filter in place of cloth.

Once you’ve gathered your items, attach the cloth or filter over the mouth of your jar so that it dips several inches into the receptacle. Make sure it’s fastened tight enough to support liquid being poured through it. From there, measure out your coffee grounds and place them inside the makeshift pouch. Finally, boil two cups of water and pour just enough over the grounds to get them wet. Allow them to sit and “bloom” for a few minutes before slowly adding the rest of your water.

Although these techniques might not be the ideal way to make your morning cup of joe, they can get you through until you replace your coffee pot or visit your nearest café. And as with any method for making coffee, you’ll get the best results if you use higher-quality coffee.

For more kitchen tips and ideas, check out the Tastessence blog.