We’re big tea-drinkers 🫖 around here. While I don’t drink coffee, my husband does enjoy a cup every so often. Being pretty minimalist on kitchen appliances, we decided not to have a coffee machine. Respecting our efforts to streamline, my brother graciously gifted us a simple French press – the perfect space-saving tool, for our occasional coffee needs.
As far as brewing without a designated coffee maker, it really couldn’t be simpler. We originally dabbled with a metal press but find that the glass imparts a better, more pure taste to the coffee. Metal is a better option for portability and durability, however, and better suited for outdoor brewing, camping, etc. With this method, you do get a bit of grit at the bottom of your cup, but that can easily be metered with fine-tuning the grind you give the beans. You get a more full-bodied taste from the natural delicious oils that would otherwise be filtered out if brewing in a machine or even a pour-over.
Always start with freshly ground beans, adjusting your grinder to a medium level coarseness, so not too much grit gets through the brew. We love the smooth, mechanical feel of the Hario coffee grinder; it’s somehow therapeutic (and quite a calorie burn 💪). An electric grinder also works well enough, though the grind consistency can vary. Boil filtered water (🔑 for taste) and wait a few minutes before pouring so the kettle doesn’t spurt out violently over your grounds. Pour the boiled water into the beaker, give a quick stir with a small wooden spoon (avoid using metal utensils in a glass press), then fit the top over the beaker and gently push down the plunger until just a little water seeps through. Allow to brew for 5 minutes, before pushing down the plunger slowly, pressing the grounds down all the way. Pour into mugs and enjoy!
Cleanup is easy, though it does involve some disassembly, with a quick rinse and swish to discard (and compost) the spent grounds. Just make sure to be careful when handling the press: we’ve broken quite a few over the years, just out of pure haste and/or clumsiness.
Another effective, minimalist way to brew a perfect cup of coffee without a coffee maker is the pour-over method with the Chemex.
