No Coffee Maker? No Problem! Here Are 6 Simple Ways to Brew Your Own.

Astonishingly, coffee consumption predates the invention of the drip coffee maker by nearly 500 years, to the 15th century.

Before there were coffee machines, people drank coffee. Indeed, toddler Likewise, people used to travel before there were automobiles and airplanes, and they used to listen to music before the invention of Spotify, iPods, cassette players, and even phonograph records.

That's right, we get it. There's nothing more convenient than having access to an entire music collection on your phone, a GPS-equipped SUV, and a coffee maker right at home.

Yet, even as they were recording their favorite songs from the radio and taking cross-country train trips, people were living full and satisfying lives. And if you're roughing it in an AirBnB without a coffee machine (gasp! ), you can still have a great time. (Take it easy, please. Once you're back in the modern world, you can still enjoy your morning coffee without dying.

Keep in mind that we are not suggesting that you prepare your coffee by combining hot water and a teaspoon of instant coffee. That's not only too simple, but it's not even coffee that's been brewed recently.

If you don't have a coffee maker, try one of these six methods.

Cowboys did not exist in Yemen or Ethiopia, where it is speculated that people first experienced the benefits and pleasures of drinking coffee. Still, this do-it-yourself coffee technique dates back to the days when all people had were a stove, a pot, coffee beans, and water.

The coffee that results from this preparation method is commonly referred to as "boiled coffee." Once upon a time, cowboys would brew coffee in a pot over the fire at their camp. This technique has been used for centuries by campers (the kind without fancy vans or RVs). And of course, it still functions today, even if you're a city (or suburb) cowboy without access to a coffee maker or a Starbucks.

Since you're reading this, we'll assume that you already have the necessary equipment on hand to complete this procedure using only your stove, oven, and measuring tools. Cowboy coffee, on the other hand, can be made with a simple old pot, a campfire, and a keen eye.

1. Prepare the coffee by filling the pot with cold water; you'll need about 10 ounces of water per cup. You'll notice that there's water left in the pot after you pour your coffee, and that's for a good reason.
2. Preheat the stove to high temperatures. Two tablespoons of ground coffee (best with a medium or fine grind) per cup of coffee should be added to the water as it nears boiling, and the mixture should be stirred.
3. Allow the mixture to boil for two minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Put the lid on it and take it off the stove.
4. After four to five minutes, all the coffee grounds should have fallen to the bottom of the pot. In the event that the coffee grounds are stubborn and refuse to sink to the bottom of the pot, a small amount of cold water can be used to "push" them to the bottom.
5. The coffee is ready. Take a ladle and transfer the coffee from the pot's surface to individual cups. Other than that, carefully pour the coffee from the pot, avoiding the "sludge" that has settled to the bottom. (You can use a strainer if you don't mind giving up some of the cowboy charm. )

You started with too much water, so the leftover coffee grounds and water combined to make that muck. You would have either ended up with coffee grounds in your mug or much less coffee than you had planned to make if you hadn't added more water.

It's not exactly the same as the way they brew coffee in the world-famous Turkish coffeehouses where people gather to discuss politics and smoke hookahs, but it's close enough to make a cup of coffee that tastes just like the stuff they drink there. Although the process is similar to that of traditional cowboy coffee, a higher degree of finesse is required here.

1. Since the grounds are poured in with the coffee when making Turkish coffee, you only need to add about six ounces of cold water per cup.
2. Brew your coffee by heating water with two teaspoons of grounds per cup over low heat. If you like sugar in your coffee, now is the time to add it.
3. Using low heat means the coffee will take longer to boil, but once it's almost ready, you can take the pot off the stove, skim the foam off the top, and pour the coffee into your mug(s). Put the pan back on low heat.
4. To speed up the re-boiling process, remove half of the coffee from the pot and pour it into the cups.
5. Prepare for 30 seconds, and then divide the remaining coffee among cups. The grounds will find their way into the cups; please wait a few minutes before drinking.

Although the grounds can be a bit of a hazard when drinking coffee, the deep, rich flavor of Turkish brew makes it worthwhile.

I can't stand the smell of used coffee grounds Not that we're putting the blame on you or anything. Up next, we'll discuss brewing techniques that you're more likely to enjoy.

It's likely that if you heard the name Amalie Auguste Melitta Bentz, you'd immediately think of the Melitta coffee empire, which is now best known for its coffee makers and systems. It is less well-known that Melitta Bentz, or Melitta Bentz as she is more commonly known, patented the coffee filter in 1908.

Bentz improved upon the original paper filter that she had made from scraps of her son's notebook paper. We'll be doing something similar, using a paper filter if we have one but otherwise improvising with whatever we can find to keep the grounds out of our coffee. A simple analogy would be a manual pour-over coffee maker or a Chemex, as these tools are both useful in understanding the procedure.

1. If you happen to have one, begin by using a paper filter. If you don't have anything like that, just use something that has a fine mesh and can hold up under the pressure and heat of boiling water. Cheesecloth, a kitchen towel or thick paper towel, even a cloth hanky are all viable options.
2. Create a square with your filter that will fit over your coffee cup or mug, with a few inches extending past the sides. (Unlike Melitta Bentz, you have prior knowledge of the proper appearance of a coffee filter, giving you a distinct advantage. )
3. Clip the filter to the top of the cup using paperclips, binder clips, or an elastic band.
4. About five teaspoons of medium-fine coffee, ground in a coffee grinder. The best option for ground coffee to buy is medium-fine. Put the coffee grounds into the filter and spread them out.
5. Put two or three cups of water on to boil, and then let it sit for about 20 seconds.
6. After adding just enough water to wet the grounds, you must wait another 30 to 45 seconds for the coffee to begin blooming, or releasing carbon dioxide.
7. Now, using three or four separate pours, introduce the water into the filter. Okay, that's all there is to it It's time to enjoy your coffee, which is now ready to be poured without any grounds.

Nice job Unfortunately, we have to break the news that the coffee filter is already patented.

In a coffee bag, the coffee grounds are enclosed in a porous container that allows them to steep in hot water, much like a tea bag. If you're thinking that's bizarre, just compare it to a coffee pod or a Keurig K-Cup. Same underlying idea is used in both

We're sorry to break it to you again, but the coffee bag is another invention that has already been patented. Amazon and many kitchen and department stores sell them both empty and filled.

You can also create your own if you prefer.

1. Several tablespoons of coffee should be placed in the center of a coffee filter and the filter should be opened. (For this method, it doesn't really matter how much coffee you use. Filter it like you would a bag, but don't pack it too tightly, as the grounds will grow larger and give off more carbon dioxide as they bloom. Secure the bag's contents with a string.
2. Fill your mug or coffee cup almost to the top with boiling water, making sure the bag is completely submerged and the string is hanging over the edge.
3. Brew time for coffee is 3-5 minutes. Your coffee will be more potent if you let it steep for a longer period of time.
4. With a sense of accomplishment, pull the bag apart by the string, and enjoy your beverage.

Alternately, you can use a regular teabag and switch out the tea for coffee, though this can lead to some messes.

Coffee prepared in a French press is delicious and rich, and it's almost as potent as espresso. A French press is ideal for brewing coffee, but if you don't have one (or can't find it), a spoon will do the trick.

1. Pour one or two servings' worth of coarsely ground coffee into a mug. Coffee with a higher strength profile is typically made with more grounds.
2. Prepare a pot of water to boil.
3. Coffee needs about 30 seconds to "bloom," or absorb flavor from the water poured onto the grounds.
4. The coffee should be brewed by adding 6-8 ounces of water and letting it sit for a few minutes.
5. In order to remove most of the water from the coffee grounds, press down on them with the back of a spoon. As you pour the coffee into a mug or cup, keep pressing down. (You can, in fact, use a strainer to remove any grit from your coffee.) )

Making coffee in a French press or an AeroPress may be so satisfying that you decide to invest in one. That's okay, no one here would blame you

One word of warning: don't expect your coffee to be ready in five or ten. Make it 12 to 24 hours before you want to drink it so you can let the flavors blend.

As a second word of caution, cold brew coffee and iced coffee are not the same thing. For the latter, all you need is brewed coffee and ice. Making a cold brew is what gives it its name, not drinking it cold.

Thirdly, when prepared properly, the coffee concentrate made using this method has a pleasantly subtle flavor. For optimal consumption, it must be diluted with cold water at a one-to-one ratio.

WARNING #4: Cold brew coffee has the potential to become your go-to beverage of choice at upscale coffee joints like Starbucks. One possible outcome of mastering this beverage is a job offer as a barista.

1. For a pot of coffee to last all night, combine two ounces of coarse-ground coffee with two ounces of cold or room-temperature water and steep in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. The results of a 20- to 24-hour infusion are even more refined.
2. Pour the coffee slowly through a strainer lined with cheesecloth. Coffee will taste worse if you try to speed up the drip process by squeezing the beans. Relax, a little longer won't hurt anything. You are aware that you have waited nearly 24 hours to consume it, correct?
3. Cold-brewed concentrate can be diluted and served over ice, or it can be refrigerated for later use. Keeps well for up to two weeks without losing flavor

Obviously, when you're in a dire situation, any cup of coffee will do. That being the case, if you're "forced" to brew your own coffee without a coffee maker or even a coffee pot, you probably won't give much thought to making the best possible cup. Coffee is all you need.

You may be more interested in the ways to make a great cup of coffee without a coffee machine if you plan to go without modern conveniences for an extended period of time, or if you simply enjoy one of the brewing methods we've described. Take a look at these recommendations.

• The best coffee, whether brewed in an expensive Breville or a makeshift cowboy pot on the stove, starts with freshly ground beans. Not using a drip coffee maker, but investing in a cheap grinder and brewing the coffee within 30 minutes of grinding can make a huge difference. You won't want to drink pre-ground coffee again after trying coffee prepared in this way.
• Coffee beans aren't created equal. Not the roast, which is more about personal taste than anything else. We are discussing the ideal time to enjoy these roasted beans. Use beans that were roasted no more than two weeks prior to grinding for optimal freshness and flavor. If you're buying coffee beans, make sure to look at the "roast date" on the package and only buy freshly roasted beans.
• Not-quite-boiling heat The coffee-making process is greatly affected by the temperature of the water used. The coffee can be scalded if the water is too hot. If it's too cold, you won't get the full benefit of it. The optimal temperature for water is just below boiling, around 200 degrees. (How am I supposed to know when it reaches 200 degrees?) We've heard your cries Simple to do For a rough estimate, give it a 30-second cool down after boiling. )