By Richard Scott

Despite the
fact that having a coffee machine is no longer a luxury, some people
still make coffee manually.

Moreover,
alternative methods of brewing are enjoying a renaissance nowadays.

And I really
like how it's going.

In this
article, I have selected for you the two
most popular methods of brewing coffee without a coffee maker,
both of which will allow you to enjoy a full-bodied and rich
beverage.

So, let's do
it!

Get
the Right Beans

First,
remember that good coffee starts with good beans.

I know at
least three ways how you can find them:

• Grocery
  store
  

The easiest
and most obvious way is to go to the nearest supermarket and grab the
first package of coffee beans that will catch your eye. Just make
sure that they haven’t been lying on the shelf for more
than 6 months.

These coffee
beans, of course, will not have many facets of taste and aroma.
However, if you don’t have a sophisticated palate, this will work
quite well.

Proper
storage
of coffee beans can
also do you a favor. Use an airtight container (seriously, do not
store them in the package in which you bought them) and put it in a
dark, cool place.

• Local
  coffee shop
  

This is a
more advanced option.

Some coffee
shops may prepare their own roasts and blends for sale right on the
spot. This is perfect if you want to get the freshest
coffee beans.

“The
peak of the coffee flavor is reached in the first 15-30 days after
roasting. After that, the beans start becoming ‘stale’ — they
can still be used, but the taste and aroma will be less pronounced.”

• Coffee
  subscription services
  

This is my
personal favorite. If you are tired of drinking bland coffee from the
supermarket but do not have a couple of coffee shops around the
corner, then subscriptions might be your choice.

People who
work there usually have extensive experience in making coffee. They
select blends and species on their own and then deliver them to you
on a monthly basis (or even weekly, if you wish).

A
significant advantage of coffee subscriptions is that you can try
a lot of coffee species —
including exclusive ones — at an affordable price. It's like
traveling around the world but not leaving your kitchen, you know.

Fresh
Grind Means a Lot

Now,
grinding is another important point in coffee making.

Ideally, no
matter which brewing method you choose, you should grind
a small portion of coffee —
as much as you need right now — straight before brewing.

The thing
is:

Ground
coffee very quickly begins to lose its precious oils, because it
contacts with air.

Therefore,
if you do not want to drink a dull, watery beverage, it is better to
do the grinding yourself.

Burr
grinders are the best if you ask me.

They allow
you to control the grind but most importantly, they make it uniform.
And uniform coffee bits mean a balanced drink.

2
Ways to Improvise If You Don’t Have a Coffee Maker

So, we’ve
figured out where to get good coffee beans and how to grind them the
best way.

Let's start
our improvisation lessons.

#1
Faux French Press

I actually
found this recipe at Coffeegeeklab
and still use it occasionally.

So, we love
French
press coffee for
the fact that it has an incredibly rich and flavorful taste. This is
because the plunger of the press squeezes all the cool coffee oils
directly into our cup.

But what if
you do not have this device?

Keep calm.

You can
easily make a “faux French press” coffee if you have this stuff:

• 2
  jars (you can use mason jars or just large mugs);
  
• fine
  metal sieve;
  
• timer;
  
• heated
  water;
  
• coffee.
  

“A
coarse grind is preferable, as it will be easier to filter it through
a sieve.”

How to brew
a coffee this way:

• Put
  ground coffee into a jar. I recommend keeping the proportion of 60
  grams of coffee per one liter of water
  (that is, if you have a 500ml travel mug, take 30 grams).
  
• Pour
  the hot water on your coffee. It should not be boiling, about
  200-205°F. Just set the kettle aside for a couple of minutes after
  it boils, and you’re good to go.
  
• Set
  the timer for 4-5 minutes to let the water extract the oils.
  
• After
  the time is up, give your coffee a good stir and strain it through
  the sieve.
  

And that’s
it!

Remember
that regular kitchen sieves can often skip some coffee bits.
Therefore, if you want an Instagram-worthy result, let
the coffee rest for a while until
all the particles settle to the bottom. After that, carefully pour it
into another mug.

#2
Makeshift Filter Coffee

This method
is very much — but not completely — similar to the previous one.

It allows
you to get a drink with a more delicate
and subtle taste. I personally
prefer to drink this type of coffee on summer mornings.

Very
refreshing!

So, for this
method, you will need:

• 2
  jars or cups;
  
• stirring
  utensil;
  
• cloth
  napkin or towel;
  
• clips
  for paper or clothespins;
  
• coffee;
  
• timer;
  
• water.
  

Here you can
use both coarse and medium
grinds, as long as the
particles are homogeneous.

So, let's
brew!

• As
  in the faux French press method, put the coffee into a jar and fill
  the jar with water. Let it brew for 3-5 minutes.
  
• While
  the coffee is infusing, turn the second jar into a filter. To do
  this, take a towel or a napkin and cover the jar with it, making a
  small dimple in the center. Then, attach the napkin to the rim with
  clothespins or paper clips.
  
• After
  the coffee is brewed, stir it well.
  
• Now,
  pour the brew into the second jar. Remove the filter
  

Enjoy!

The
advantage of a fabric filter is that it can trap more particles than
a metal strainer — as a result, you will get a more transparent
brew. However, along with coffee bits, some
of the coffee oils will get trapped into the napkin too,
so the taste of the finished drink may be less sharp.

Phew, now I
can be sure that if your coffee maker breaks down, or if you come
over to a friend who does not have any coffee making device, you will
not suffer without your energy potion in the morning.