Sometimes we find ourselves in a tricky situation: urgently need coffee but have no brewing tools in hand. No worries, there are some simple ways to brew coffee! Here are some tips for how to make simple coffee without a brewer at home or for your next camping trip.

Best simple coffee hacks
This is always needed in addition to the list of tools per a method:

• Ground coffee (ratio: 60 grams per litre of cold water)
• Measure or scale
• Freshwater
• Heat source: cooktop, stove, open fire, or camping heater (not for ice coffee nor cold brew though)

COWBOY COFFEE
A somewhat popular way of brewing – also called pot coffee, stovetop coffee, or hiking coffee.

Tools:

• Coffee pot or a kettle

How to brew:

1. Heat the water in the vessel.
2. As soon as the water reaches the boiling temperature, remove the vessel from the heat source.
3. Measure the coffee grounds and put them into the vessel and stir to mix them.
4. Place the vessel back on the heat source. As soon as you see the coffee starting to create bubbles, remove the vessel again from the heat source.
5. Let the coffee steep for approx. 4 minutes.

At this point there are some optional tricks you can do:

• “Spook” the coffee. This is done by adding a dash of ice-cold water to the coffee. It makes the grounds drown faster. Alternatively, you can tap the vessel against a table or similar. The rumour tells that spooking is sometimes done simply by roaring at the coffee…
• Stick a small branch (preferably pine but anything with strong busy leaves will do) into the spout of the pot. It will keep the grounds inside the pot when pouring!

DIY COFFEE FILTER BAG
An easy coffee hack using items you would usually have at home.

Tools:

• Cup, pitcher, kettle, or bowl – basically any kind of a vessel, also a coffee cup if using a separate vessel for brewing
• Paper towel or nappy cloth – any kind of filter material made of paper, cloth, or plastic
• String, ribbon, or clothespin

How to brew:

1. Heat the water.
2. Fit the filter on the top of the vessel chosen.
3. Make a pit in the middle of the filter to put the coffee grounds in.
4. Attach the filter in its place by a string, ribbon, or clothespin.
5. Wet the filter.
6. Measure the coffee grounds and put them into the filter.
7. Add hot water: bloom and pulse.
8. Remove the filter with grounds after you have finished the brew.

DIY COFFEE FILTER POUCH
Tools:

• Cup, pitcher, kettle, or bowl – basically any kind of a vessel, also a coffee cup if using a separate vessel for brewing
• Paper towel, paper filter, or nappy cloth – any kind of filter material made of paper, cloth, or plastic
• String, ribbon, or clothespin

How to brew:

1. Heat the water.
2. Make a pouch using the filter material chosen.
3. Wet the filter.
4. Measure the coffee grounds and put them into the pouch.
5. Close the pouch by making a knot or using a ribbon or string.
6. Place the pouch into the brewing vessel.
7. Add hot water: start with a small amount and try to wet the coffee grounds inside the pouch thoroughly.
8. Let steep for approx 4 minutes.
9. Remove the filter.

COFFEE STRAINER
An extremely simple method with what you pretty much will have at home.
Tools:

• Cup, pitcher, kettle, or bowl – basically any kind of a vessel, also a coffee cup if using a separate vessel for brewing
• Strainer or a sieve

How to brew:

1. Heat the water.
2. Put the strainer on top of the vessel.
3. Measure the coffee grounds and put them into the strainer.
4. Put the strainer on top of the vessel. If the vessel is wide, you can also place the strainer on the bottom, just make sure the rim of the strainer will not get merged into the liquid.
5. Add hot water: bloom and pulse.
6. Remove the filter with grounds after you have finished the brew.

FAUX FRENCH PRESS
No need for an actual French press when you can easily replicate one!
Tools:

• Cup, pitcher, kettle, or bowl – any kind of a vessel
• Coffee cup
• For the ones who are strict with having no grounds in their coffee: a strainer/sieve or a paper towel or a nappy cloth

How to brew:

1. Heat the water.
2. Measure the coffee grounds and put them into the vessel.
3. Add hot water and stir to mix.
4. Let steep for approx. 4 minutes.
5. If not using a filter, slowly pour the coffee into the cup trying to keep the grounds in the vessel. If filtering, place the filtering item chosen on top of the cup or just below the vessel.
6. Pour the coffee through the filter into the cup.

Coffee is a source of daily happiness for many of us! Hopefully, you can use some of these tips to ensure your get your daily fix no matter where you are or what you don’t have!