Want to make a perfect cup of coffee with no electricity? You’re in luck! With the right ingredients and some simple steps, you can brew a delicious cup of java without having to rely on the power of electricity. Learn more about the method here.
Let’s face it, our relationship with coffee is a real thing. No coffee drinker wants to be deprived of their morning cup of Joe.
How Do I Make Coffee With No Electricity?
It never dawned on me that people lacked the knowledge to make coffee without electricity.
That was until a hurricane knocked our power out for a week when we lived in South Carolina.
After several days of being trapped at home, we ventured out to the only business open in our town. They had a backup, or alternative, source of power (where have I heard that before?).
While standing in line to get some lunch from the deli, I listened to almost sheer panic, and some even darn right angry that they needed coffee. They had been without their favorite addiction for several days.
I didn’t have the gumption at the time to turn around and simply say ‘why don’t you just make your own?’. I thought that would be all too obvious.
The longer I stood in line hearing the cries and pleads for coffee, it dawned on me. I wasn’t in the majority in my thinking and knowledge, I was in the minority.
People really don’t know how to make coffee without electricity or the power grid.
How To Make Cowboy Coffee
Growing up in Southern California with my grandparents, my grandpa was old school.
He was born in Texas and raised on a reservation. He didn’t like modern technology and was quite stubborn about it.
Morning coffee has been integrated into my life for as long as I can remember.
How Did People Make Coffee Before Electricity?
Every morning my grandparents started with a stainless pot on the stove or fire with water and coffee grounds.
It was brought to a boil then a slow simmer for several minutes until the water resembled tar.
The pot was removed from the heat and then let cool for a little bit while the coffee grounds settled to the bottom.
My grandfather would pour himself a cup of black gold, look at me as he took a sip and say ‘real men chew their coffee’, and walk away.
He referred to it as cowboy coffee.
There was one rule, you never wash grandpa’s coffee pan.
He called it ‘seasoned’. I guess much like you would season a cast iron skillet.
How To Make Coffee Without Electricity or During A Power Outage
In addition to making coffee in a pan, such as the cowboy coffee my grandfather used to make, there are other ways you can have your favorite brew.
Ideally, you should have a Coffee Percolator.
Because we live off-grid, we make our coffee exclusively in a percolator every day. Some may see that as a disadvantage to having solar, but we thoroughly enjoy percolated coffee.
In fact, our family owned a small coffee shop. Every pot of coffee we served was made in a percolator. See the picture below.
There is something to be said about the flavor of fresh roasted coffee beans and slow brewed coffee.
It just doesn’t compare to anything you can get out of a machine.
What Is A Percolator?
A percolator looks just like a coffee pot but typically doesn’t use electricity.
With a percolator, you have a coffee pot, the strainer basket, the rod that basket the strainer slides on to, and the strainer basket lid.
Directions To Make Coffee Without Electricity
To make either cowboy coffee or coffee in a percolator, you will need a heat source.
Obviously, if you’ve lost power your electric stove won’t suffice. Alternative options could be a camp stove, grill, or a campfire.
Now that you have a heat source, let’s press on.
Percolated Coffee Ingredients
- 12 Cups of Water
- 3/4 Cup Ground Coffee
Enjoy Coffee With Or Without Electricity
Whether you want to Percolate your coffee every day like we do, or are planning a rustic camping trip soon. If you enjoy drinking coffee, it is wise to learn how to make it without electricity and/or a fire.
You never know when you are going to need this knowledge to help get through your day!
Directions
- Remove basket from percolator.
- Fill the percolator with water up to just below the spout.
- Replace basket in percolator.
- Add coffee to the basket.
- Place the lid on the basket.
- Close top of percolator.
- Place percolator over med-high heat.
- When coffee starts to percolate (boil), reduce heat to simmer for 7 minutes.
- After 7 minutes, remove from heat and let it stand for one minute.
- Enjoy!
How Do You Make Coffee Without Electricity or Fire?
We covered how to make coffee without electricity, but what if you don’t have a heat source?
Does that mean you won’t get to enjoy your morning brew?
Not at all. In fact, this may open a whole new world of coffee enjoyment for you.
Let me introduce Cold Brew Coffee to you.
How To Make Cold Brew Coffee
I discovered a fondness for cold brew coffee during a hot summer day when I wanted coffee but not the heat, I’ve been a fan ever since.
Cold Brew Coffee doesn’t have the bitterness that is often associated with regular coffee.
You really don’t need any special equipment to make cold brew, not even a coffee pot.
Cold Brew Coffee Ingredients
- 1 Cup Coarse Ground Coffee
- 12 Cups Water
- Filter
Directions
- Add coffee grounds to a container, mason jar, jug, or saucepan.
- Pour water over coffee grounds.
- Put a lid on the container and place it on the counter or in the fridge for 12 hours.
- After 12 hours, strain coffee and enjoy!
3 Ways To Make Coffee Without Electricity
Whether out of necessity or just honing your skills, you should try your hand at making coffee without electricity and without a heat source.
That way you can be the hero when there’s a power outage and everyone is freaking out without their coffee.
Three Ways To Make Coffee without electricity
- Percolate Your Coffee
- Make Cowboy Coffee
- Enjoy Cold Brew Coffee
Well there ya go folks. If the power grid goes down, you live off-grid like we do, or you are in an area without electricity, you can still enjoy your coffee.
