Coffee Hacks 101: Coffee without a Coffee Maker and Other Tips to Make Your Early Mornings Much Better
Like most people around the world, you probably depend on your trusty cup of coffee to get you up and running in the morning. We simply run on zombie mode while our coffee makers churn out our favorite brew, only really waking up once we've had a nice, long sip that always burns our tongues (but in a good way!).
But, what happens when you stumble down to the kitchen one day, only to find your coffee maker malfunctioning? Or maybe there is a power outage in the neighborhood! Can you imagine the horror of having to head to work without a mug (or two) of coffee in your tummy?
Don't worry though, we are here to make sure you don't have to face the day without some coffee in you. After numerous weeks of experimentation and trying out different techniques, we now have quite a few tricks up our sleeves to make sure nobody ever has to see a day without coffee! So, without further ado, let's get right into it. Here are some top-notch coffee hacks to whip out so you can learn how to make coffee without a coffee maker!
How to Make Ground Coffee
Before you can get started on learning how to make coffee without a coffee maker, you will need to make sure you have all of the ingredients and tools needed. In this section, we will discuss the most important ingredient of them all - ground coffee beans.
Coffee beans can be grounded onto different levels, depending on your preference. Since different coffee grounding techniques will give you varying levels of coffee grounds, let's have a look at them first.
- Coarse grind
- Medium grind (most commonly used)
- Fine grind
- Superfine grind (using the pulverize option)
Most people think that coffee beans can't be turned into their ground form without a grinder. We are here to prove that isn't true! Here is how to make ground coffee without a grinder. P.S. Our coffee connoisseur recommends getting premium-quality roasted coffee beans from Lifeboost to ensure your brew has that perfect depth of flavor no matter how you prepare your coffee.
Use a Blender
Coarse, Medium grind
Using a blender is one of the easiest ways to grind your coffee beans. Some blenders even come with the 'grind' setting to make your job easier, but if yours doesn't that's alright. You can just use the pulse option to get it done. However, there are two things to keep in mind. Firstly, you won't get coffee grounds of the same size. And secondly, using the blender produces heat which can 'cook' your beans as you blend them. Too much heat can burn the beans so make sure you don't go past the 20 seconds mark as you grind them.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Set the blender on medium-high or grinder setting.
- Pour 1/4th or 1/2 cup of coffee beans into the blender and attach the lid firmly in place.
- Using the pulse or grind setting, run the blender for 3-5 seconds in one go.
- Repeat this process 5 to 6 times, for a maximum of 30 seconds.
- If required, tilt the blender to one side while pulsing to ensure the grind is mostly consistent.
Bring Out the Food Processor
Coarse, Medium Grind
Working similar to the blender, your food processor is another useful piece of equipment when trying to grind coffee beans. Of course, the result you get won't be as good as a proper coffee grinder, but it does get the job done well enough to satisfy. The food processor is just like the blender but requires a larger volume of coffee beans since it has a wider circumference. So, you will need to double the amount of coffee you put into the food processor. The extra grinds can be stored in an airtight plastic bag to be used tomorrow.
Here is how to use the food processor:
- Pour 1/2 to one cup of coffee beans into the food processor and shut the lid firmly.
- Using the pulse setting, grind your beans in 5-second intervals.
- Repeat the process until the 20 seconds mark or when the desired consistency is reached.
Grind by Hand Using a Rolling Pin
Coarse, Medium, Fine Grind
If you don't have a blender or food processor, that's alright! There are many ways of grinding coffee beans manually too. Not only does this technique work great if you don't have any machines around but they also offer you a finer grind that makes for a better brew.
But, do keep in mind that these processes take more time and require some work. Therefore, it is best to avoid them if you're running late to work or need a quick coffee fix before delivering your presentation. Rolling pins work quite well for French press coffee since you can make do with coarser grounds than those used in typical drip coffee. Also, remember to use a sturdy plastic bag to hold your beans before you go at them with the rolling pin to prevent stray pieces from flying around the kitchen.
Here is how to get coffee grounds using a rolling pin:
- Place the required amount of coffee beans in a Ziploc bag and squish out any air. This will ensure the bag doesn't pop as you hit it with the rolling pin.
- Start crushing the beans with the rolling pin like you would hit a nail with a hammer.
- Once the beans have been crushed, drive the pin over the Ziploc bag gently but firmly enough to apply pressure to the beans.
- Repeat this process until your desired consistency has been achieved. Take note that this will take quite some time and hard work as the process is labor-intensive.
Try a Mortar and Pestle
Coarse, Medium, Fine, Super Fine grind
Grinding with a mortar and pestle can be quite labor-intensive too, but it allows you to grind smaller amounts of coffee beans instead of having to fill up a Ziploc bag. Make sure you only use about 1/4th to 1/3rdof the total capacity of your mortar to prevent overflow and stop the beans from jumping out.
The mortar and pestle trick makes finer grounds that can easily be used for drip coffee or even a Chemex. Here is how you can get a consistent blend:
- Fill your mortar with coffee beans about 1/4th of its total volume.
- Hold the pestle with your dominant hand and the mortar with the other for stability.
- Force the pestle inside the mortal, crushing your beans and then rotating them in a swirling motion.
- Once the beans have been properly crushed, move the pestle in a circle to create a finer coffee grain.
Grinding by a Hand Mincer or Garlic Press
Coarse, Medium Grind
Taking on a different approach to coffee grinders, you can use hand mincers or your garlic press to create coffee grounds too. You just place the beans into the area where the meat of the garlic is held and push it out firmly for the beans to be broken down.
A major issue that can arise with this technique is that the holes are usually quite big and thus, will result in coarser grounds. Therefore, you might need to repeat the process two or three times to get fine enough grounds. You can even consider following it up with the rolling pin or mortar and pestle method for a fine grind.
Here is how you can get it done:
- Place a tablespoon or two of coffee beans into the mincer or press.
- Firmly squeeze the instrument until all of the coffee beans have passed through.
- Keep repeating these steps until the grounds are fine enough for your particular use.
- If the grounds are still too coarse, repeat using the rolling pin method for finer grounds.
How to Make Coffee without a Coffee Maker
Now that your coffee beans are well-grounded, let's get to the main task at hand - learning how to make coffee without a coffee maker. Here are a few things you will need to keep in mind as you experiment with our tried-and-tested techniques to get a delicious cup of coffee.
- Always use freshly ground coffee beans (you can use the tips we've offered above!) The fresher your ground beans, the better your coffee will taste and smell. A good practice to follow is to only ground coffee for about 15 to 20 minutes before preparing your mug.
- Use freshly roasted coffee to get the best flavor profile. Lifeboost offers roasted-on-order coffee beans to deliver the fresh beans possible for the best early morning brew. Your beans shouldn't have been roasted for longer than 2 weeks.
- The right type of water at an optimal temperature matters a lot. If your water is boiling, you will scald the beans and burn them, but if the water temperature is too mild, the beans will be under-extracted. Therefore, you need to keep your water from 195*F to 205*F for the perfect cup of coffee. If you don't have a kitchen thermometer, you can boil your water and let it sit for 30 seconds before use.
Coffee Hacks to Make a Cup without a Coffee Maker
Do it on Your Stovetop
Have you ever wondered how to make coffee on the stovetop? We're going to teach you the perfect way today! This trick works great for people with limited resources and a sudden craving for the best coffee brew ever. You will just need a few kitchen basics to prepare an entire pot of coffee, right on your stovetop. Also called the Cowboy Method, this technique gets its name from its use at camping sites. So, you won't need to bring out your cowboy hat to prepare it. Here is a list of things that you will need:
- Ground coffee beans (medium or fine grind)
- A stovetop (or any other heat source)
- A small saucepan or pot
- Your favorite coffee mug
Here are the steps to create a Cowboy style mug of coffee:
- Fill your saucepan with 1/2 a cup more water than you would usually use for your coffee. Remember, with this technique, some of the water will be left behind in the pan along with the coffee sludge and grounds.
- Plan the saucepan on your stovetop and turn on the heat. Once the water starts boiling, add your coffee grounds to it. Using two tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces of waterworks is a good rough estimate for this type of coffee preparation. However, you can add more or lesser depending on how strong you want your cup to be.
- Remove the pan from the stovetop and cover it with a lid. Wait for five to seven minutes before taking the lid off. Observe whether the coffee grounds have settled on the pan's bottom. If they have, your coffee is ready!
- If the grounds haven't settled, sprinkle a little bit of cold water on them. This will help them sink and get their coffee ready for drinking.
- Simply pour the coffee out in our favorite mug and you're good to go. You can also use a ladle to get a more filtered form of coffee.
Make Some Coffee Bags
Did you know, there is a way to make your coffee prep process as quick and easy as making tea? Yes, you read that right. We have found a way that you can make coffee bags, much like teabags, to help you through those mornings when you wake up super late and need to rush to work. Here are the things you will need to create your own coffee bags:
- Ground coffee
- Hot water
- Coffee filter
- String (shouldn't be coated with wax)
- A Mug
Follow these steps to DIY some super handy coffee bags:
- Measure out a single serving of coffee grounds and pour them into your filter.
- Close the filter properly to make a little pouch holding the coffee grounds.
- Tie it with the string. Make sure to leave one end long enough to hang outside of your mug just as a teabag does.
- Heat water in your kettle or pan.
- Please put the coffee bag you just made with the filter into your mug and slowly pour the hot water over it. Be careful not to overfill the mug as it will make diluted coffee that tastes quite bad.
- Let the coffee bag steep in the hot water for five minutes. You can increase or decrease this time as per your liking to get a weaker or stronger brew of coffee.
- Remove the coffee bag from your mug, discard it safely in the bin and enjoy your quick drink!
Make your cup of Turkish coffee using these steps:
- Take 6 ounces of cold water and pour it into a small saucepan at low heat.
- Add 1 heaping tablespoon of Turkish coffee into the pan and add some sugar (if desired).
- When the water is just starting to bubble up, remove the saucepan from the heat and remove the foam. Place this foam into your coffee cup for the perfect frothy coffee.
- Return the pan to the stovetop and let it boil once again. Just before boiling, remove it from the heat and pour half of your coffee into your mug.
- Return the saucepan onto the stovetop and boil for another 15 seconds. Then, remove it from the heat and pour the entire mixture into your mug.
- Allow the coffee to sit for 3 minutes so the grounds can sink to the bottom before you take the first sip.
Enhance Your Mornings with an Aromatic Coffee Experience like No Other - Lifeboost Coffee
Whether you're using your trusty old coffee maker or trying out one of our many tips on making coffee without a machine, you will need the best quality of beans to get a delicious, aromatic cup to start your day with. Lifeboost steps up to offer premium quality beans that are roasted on order.
As you probably know, freshness and an impeccable roast can completely transform the depth of flavors you get from your coffee. To deliver on both, Lifeboost has set up an advanced system that ensures every single batch of coffee reaches you absolutely fresh and crisp. So much so, that our coffee experts actually recommend waiting about a week for the coffee beans to degas before brewing them for an even better flavor profile! Luckily, this waiting period aligns perfectly with our shipping times, so you receive your beams in the freshest state and are ready to make you the perfect mug of liquid gold.
People often point out how our packaging lacks a vacuum seal that is meant to keep edibles fresh. Well, this further lays proof of our roasted-to-order system. Since the coffee you receive won't be sitting on the shelf for months and slowly losing all of its charms, it doesn't need to be vacuumed sealed. Instead, we use a smart one-way valve to allow de-gazing without any oxidative degeneration.
You will also notice that our beans are denser and harder than most others. This is a result of carefully selecting the perfect altitudes to allow for optimal growth of beans that are rich in antioxidants and deliver a truly enhanced range of flavors to brighten up all of your mornings! Want to know about the final cherry on top? Lifeboost's beans are gluten and Mycotoxin-free, making it exceptionally healthy and safe to drink every day!
Final Words
There you have it, everything you need to know about preparing a piping hot mug of delicious coffee without a coffee maker! Remember; when there's a coffee craving, there is a way to make it. You just have to get creative with all of the tools and equipment already present in your kitchen and come up with fun, unique ways of substituting them for filters and coffee makers.
It also helps to have fresh, high-quality beans, like the ones from
Lifeboost, in your pantry. That way, it doesn't matter if you're using a rolling pin instead of a grinder, or the stovetop instead of some fancy coffee machine, you will still get a rich, flavorsome brew in the end!
Monthly Cleaning Tips
Since you have been keeping your coffee maker in good shape by maintaining it on a regular basis, you won’t have to worry about brewing a bland-tasting “battery acid,” or “belly wash.” However, there is one more step that is recommended by the experts when it comes to cleaning a coffee maker. You can use the aforementioned tips to give your coffee maker a good cleaning at least once a month.
10% OFF our entire store with coupon code "10POUR" at checkout
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content.
All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.