About two weeks ago my french press broke. Well, let me rephrase that. About two weeks ago I broke my french press. Apparently when compounds of glass collide they break…who knew! (Please sense my sarcasm.) 4AM is a rough time for making coffee.
Yes, this is as detrimental as it sounds. To make matters worse, I broke it WHILE I WAS PREPARING my morning coffee!! ¡Ay, qué horror!
So long old friend.
I had to think of something fast, because there was no way I was going to waste all that hot water I worked so hard to prepare. I couldn’t fathom the idea of giving up that cup of coffee. My heart was set on it, and there was no way I was going to quit.
So here’s what I did. I poured my coffee grounds in this Mason jar, and covered the top with a lid to minimize heat loss. I waited the allotted 3-4 minutes for my grounds to steep.
Fun Fact: The amount of time for a standard french press to sit before “plunging and serving” is 4 minutes. The longer it sits, the sludgier it gets.
I then grabbed this second glass cup, and used a basic small colander to “strain” out my grounds. Improvisation at its best my friends. This held back most of the ground coffee, but I strained it a second time right into my mug just to ensure minimal grit.
I’ve never worked so hard for a cup of black crack. The overall time was at least double what it would have been with my french press, and TRIPLE the time it would have been using a standard drip coffee machine. You know what though, this has been the best coffee I’ve had in a long time. I find that when you work for what you have, it’s so much sweeter.
I’ve been making my coffee this way for a couple weeks now. While I do find this coffee process to be enjoyable, there is a method behind my madness. Starbucks has so conveniently released a gorgeous new french press that I simply must have. Instead of spending $20 to replace the glass jar that I broke for my current french press, I’m going to splurge and spend $26 on a brand new, rustic, sleek, GORGEOUS french press.
From the Starbucks website: A double-walled stainless steel coffee press with elegant details and an included timer.
Ohh be still my heart. I am so excited this press comes with a timer, what wonderful marketing!
I am waiting until the end of the month because I get an additional 10% off, making this beauty $26 instead of $43. It will be worth the wait. This photo doesn’t even show the small black timer, or the embossed Siren logo on the knob. Take my word, it’s beautiful. I did buy myself a new glass though, because I knew they would be gone quick.
IT’S GLASS!! Recycled glass to be exact, I don’t do plastic. OHhhHHH SWOON. I love it.
Call me desperate, or call me crazy…I’ll call me innovative.
Q: What would you have done? Honestly, if I hadn’t had to work that morning I might have just gone out to buy coffee, but I am so glad I discovered this desperation.
Oh, and I know what you’re thinking, “you work at a coffee shop, couldn’t you have waited until you got to work!?” No..I adore my mornings of peace and quiet with my coffee. It’s not the same sitting in a small back room at Starbucks. This was necessary.
Blissfulbritt 
50 thoughts on “How to Make Coffee…Without a Coffee Maker”
The vegan 8
Omg what a great idea using the strainer!! I can imagine your sheer panic when that happened…hahaha. Seriously, I want that Starbucks French press now …. Super gorgeous!! I don’t make daily coffee anymore, funny that I make mine with a French press like you do, but I totally want that new one for when I do!!
kathy @ vodka and soda
that happened to a friend of mine. she used old stockings to strain out all the grinds!
Brittany
HAHA, now THAT is desperation..and brilliance!
sincerelylily
So funny you posted this b/c my pretty french press went missing and I just found a it a few days ago, shoved in the back of a kitchen cabinet, and last washed by Mr. Speedy who kind of left it wet inside and sealed it…. and it was filled with mold 😦 I had to pitch it. So I’m in the market for a new one!
I feel like we need to go camping. You’ll keep us all caffeniated and ready to go with your tricks!
Brittany
AHH MOLD! NOOO! Mayyybbbeee you should wait to buy one, and you will magically get one for your wedding!?! Maybe..but that magic needs to be discussed so that you don’t magically get one and then already have one..so…let’s discuss!
sincerelylily
Discuss— I am NOT buying a french press before the wedding bc I cannot shop anymore…… There. That is how I feel about this……!
Nicole Marie Story
Oh you are adorably bananas! I would have pranced down the street to Starbucks. 😉
Ashley @ Married to the Game
Haha this is awesome! I totally just would have gone out to buy coffee.
Food, Booze, & Baggage
Very innovative of you…especially at 4 am! That stainless steel one is nice. We are on our second french press and 3rd pot on the drip machine…though my husband has moved onto the pour over currently. I’m just waiting to see how long it takes before I have to buy a replacement one of those 🙂
Alisha's Appetite
ha! I call it super innovative! And I’m oh so jealous your sweet discounts- that new rustic french press looks to die for!
Alex
GENIUS!! I literally just emailed my mom about this post. She’s a black coffee fiend so I’m sure she’ll flip when she reads this!! 🙂
Brittany
I love it, she sounds like a smart woman! 😉
Becky
Such a great idea! I sent this to my husband. He loves a coffee adventure!
Missy
REALLY impressed that you can think well enough to be that innovative BEFORE you have coffee. I mean!
Maybe it was the endorphins — like how people can lift cars off people to save lives. (0:
Because that was an emergency situation.
Brittany
Your comment made me laugh out loud. It must have been the endorphins..total emergency!! HA!
storiesbywilliams
Exactly right. In today’s world, people seem to think you need a magic maker or a fine mesh press to make the miracle of coffee happen. Hell, it don’t even need to be filtered to be drunk; you’ve seen Turkish and Greek coffee I imagine?
Brittany
I need to make Turkish coffee, sitting around a fire, with a group of fellow coffee lovers. That would be magical.
storiesbywilliams
So you have had it before and understand the concept, I take it?
Brittany
I’ve never had it, no! I’ve read about it..and have had discussions about it with customers..but never have made it myself!
Kristina at damntenpounds
Genius! I would have done the same exact thing. My morning coffee is my OCD ritual/quiet time that I will not give up. Even if I’m meeting someone for coffee or brunch, I still have to have a cup at home. Desperate times, girl. Nice quick thinkin’!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
I love it! So innovative. And I like that you have stuck with it for a couple of weeks. Your brand spankin’ new coffee press is going to be sweet sweet sweet. I am tempted to buy one of those for K.! He’d love it.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
I could read posts about coffee all day. I used to be a barista in college so I know That making coffee is an art. Also, it’s a beautiful, meditative morning tradition that I can never skip, so I totally understand why you just couldn’t wait. Have a great weekend Brittany!
Brittany
Amen!! I am so with you, coffee posts, coffee talk, coffee drinking…I love it all!
Change of Pace
Ha- very innovative! I love how much you love coffee 🙂
Brittany
I honestly think of you EVERY time I post something about coffee, which is all the time. You are my one loyal reader that doesn’t drink coffee, and I appreciate you taking the time to always leave a lovely comment regardless!!! 🙂
Change of Pace
That’s funny! I love reading your blog and will always comment!
P
Super smart! Way to use your resources ;)!
Davida @The Healthy Maven
I would have started to cry and begged my engineer boyfriend to come up with something quick!!! Though giving it some thought I might have done something similar but used a nut milk bag!
jessielovestorun
Some coffee company needs to hire you for advertisment. They’d make millions 🙂
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
I saw this on instagram and I was like … is that tar? haha it’s SO DARK! If I was a coffee lover like you I would totally learn to do this … but I’m not. 😛
Brittany
HAHA, this made me laugh!! THE BLACKER THE BETTER! That sounds scandalous..you know what I mean.
Amy
You’re super quick on your feet to think of that solution at 4 am!! When I first tried to make coffee, well before I looked into buying a coffee maker, I actually did something similar. I needed to see if I actually liked the taste before splurging! I heated up water, poured it over the grounds, and then quadruple-lined a colander with paper towels (I didn’t have any filters then either) to strain it. And then strained again because those pesky perforations in the paper towels let too many grounds through. You’re 100% right — everything tastes a lot better when you work for it!
So excited to see how you like your new press at the end of the month! Too bad February — the shortest month of the year — just passed… 😉
Choc Chip Uru
Oh wow, it looks so rich, you are so smart 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
An Unrefined Vegan
Way to think on your feet! That is one fancy, gorgeous French press! I’ll bet the coffee it yields will be extra especially good.
Britta
I would have probably cried a little if that happened to me! But I would have tried to improvise as well! I need coffee in the morning while I’m still in my jammies – I tell ya, it TASTES BETTER! That new french press from starbucks is absolutely gorgeous.. and I want it… but I won’t be buy it for $50 (its Canada, it’ll be more expensive + taxes, ew). I would call you innovative! Girls gotta do what a girls has got to do when it comes to COFFEE!
Hannah
Ugh I hate when things keep me from my morning coffee. Honestly, I would also try to find an at home fix before leaving to get coffee. I need that cup before I can even get presentable enough to even leave the house!
Nicole
Be…Still…My…Heart… I really, REALLY want that glass. Ha, ha!! I use my plastic one all the time, but the glass one would be perfect for summer! I think I shall have to hint around a bit to the hubby, as my birthday is coming up in June. 😉
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
I agree that drinking coffee at home in the AM is SO much better than at work or on the road. I love your improvination. So clever you are! And that SB press is ahhhh beautiful.
Luv What You Do
I don’t drink coffee but while we were camping, my friend made coffee using a nylon and a hanger : )
Brittany
Your friend sounds like my kind of people. HA!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
I use a Keurig for my morning coffee but I do have an old school coffee maker I could have busted out! No regular coffee though…
PNWRunner
Wow way to go girl! I’ve never made coffee from “scratch” like that before but I’ve also never used a French press. I need to do this now! I love that glass bottle!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
The best things in life are not always free; sometimes they’re the things you have to work the hardest for. You are now officially Coffee McGyver. I’m super impressed, and I also completely understand needing that morning cup before getting to work. It’s our moment of peace, quiet and coffee.
Nicole @ FruitnFitness
I would never have had the patience to do this, nor would I have thought of it. So creative! I’m sure it will be worth the wait for the beautiful new French press.
apartmentwife
it’s funny how simple stories are filled with so many telltale signs of personality – in this case, determination, ingenuity and a love for coffee 🙂 i probably would have run next door to my neighbor’s and asked her to make extra 🙂
Brittany
What a beautiful comment, thank you! 🙂
Life After Swimming
That is VERY impressive. You are amazing. The things we do for coffee 🙂
karla @ finding my fit
life came to an abrupt halt for me the other morning when my beloved keurig did not work prior to crossfit. i MUST drink at least 8oz of coffee before/during the workout and i was dragging boootay during the entire workout. luckily i think i descaled it and can get a couple more months of life out of that baby. then i’m busting out my french press again-it’s been far too long.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Oh wow, you DID work hard for that cup of coffee!! I’m glad it worked out so well for you. And hooray for getting a new French press!
Rach @ This Italian Family
well… that you will be getting one anyway. 🙂