How To Make Coffee Without Coffee Filters

Last updated on November 28th, 2023 at 14:59

Learning how to make coffee without coffee filters can be a literal lifesaver for serious coffee lovers who simply cannot survive without a morning cup of coffee before facing the day.

In this article I’ll talk about 8 great methods that you can make a great cup of coffee that do not require the use of a filter – a couple of them have built-in filters, super convenient, and maybe you have those brewers in your home!

Keep reading and learn how to make a great cup of coffee without a filter.

How To Make Without

Table Of Contents

1 How To Make Coffee Without Coffee Filters
2 Frequently Asked Questions About How To Make Coffee Without Coffee Filters
3 Final Thoughts – How To Make Coffee Without Coffee Filters

There are many ways in which you can brew a both with and without . Some of the brewing techniques you have already heard of, tried, tasted and loved!

These brewing techniques are completely beginner-friendly and will make you a great cup of Joe.

Let’s get to it.

How To Make Coffee Without Coffee Filters — Making Coffee Without Coffee Filters Is Easy

Read: Using a paper towel as a coffee filter

You Can Make Without A Filter

is so easy to make without the need of a filter of any kind. In fact, I seldom use a and prefer to use a .

This will have you making a cold brewed that is, in my opinion, better than what you will get at Starbucks and is truer to the as Starbucks brew their at room temperature.

I put this top of this list as it can be made without a .

You will need a , or to filter out the grounds and a large or similar glass container with an airtight lid for brewing your .

Let’s get on with this and, please stick to the rigidly.

Using freshly roasted , grind them to a size. Measure and weigh your and grinds sticking to the 1:8 to .

Using 500 ml (17 Oz) of ice-, use 62.5 (2.125 Oz) and add them to your , pour in your ice- and put your in your fridge to brew.

If you want to make a lot more , use the same to and use one and 8 . Ensure your is coarsely ground, and you stick to the 1:8 ratio, or multiple of it (2 per 16 , for example).

It is important with this to use and better still if you brew in your fridge to extract the low temperature compounds. This is where Starbucks fails: they leave their cold brew to extract and brew at room temperature.

is anything from 12 to 24 hours. Check after 12 hours and again every 2 to 3 hours after that until it tastes perfect for you.

When it is ready, use a or a , or better still a to strain your and filter out the grounds.

If you leave your in, they will continue to extract, and you will end up with an over-extracted .

Cold Brew Coffee Without A FIlter — Make Cold Brew Coffee Without A Filter

Read: What can you use in place of a coffee filter?

Make And Enjoy

is great, tasty and above all is made without . To make it you will need a Turkish Ibrik, also known as a Cezve.

To make it you need very finely , and optionally sugar. It is a very bold and strong tasting .

Put one heaped teaspoon of very finely into your Ibrik (Cezve), add 1 teaspoon of the sugar of your choice.

Add 2 (60 ml) stir well and heat your on your stove on a low setting. Wait until and spoon in some into your demitasse cup.

When your starts to boil, take your Ibrik off your stove and slowly pour your .

Wait a minute for your to settle and the to sink before you enjoy your .

Don’t stir your ; you will only unsettle your .

This is another filter-free that does not need a or a filter. If you don’t have an Ibrik (Cezve), you can try to adapt using a saucepan.

Read: Coffee filter substitute

Make

This is very similar to and is a great way of making without . No special is needed either.

is something that is normally made outdoors and traditionally over a campfire.

You can brew this in a regular saucepan using a to of 1:17. Use 20 grounds (2/3rd of an ounce) for a 340 ml of (11.33 Oz).

It is essential that you use a coarsely as any smaller will result in a that is very bitter.

Add your to your saucepan and heat it on a low to medium heat. Add your and stir well. Take your and to the simmering point and keep it brewing for 2 to 3 minutes.

Optionally add eggshells or a dash of salt to tame the bitterness. Take your saucepan off the heat and let it cool for a minute or two for the grounds to settle. Pour your slowly and carefully and to get as few in your .

Let your cup sit for a minute to settle. Drink and enjoy your brew. This is another that does not need a .

How To Make Without Filters The

Making coffee without filters is easy when you have a French press as this fabulous coffee maker has a built-in mesh filter.

A French press is easy to use and makes great coffee; it is as a matter of fact one of my favorite brewing methods.

This method requires freshly roasted and fresh coarsely ground coffee and a coffee to water ratio of 1:12 for the best results.

Use 1 ounce (30 grams) of coffee grounds and 12 ounces (360 ml) of hot water.

Heat your water to the ideal coffee temperature range of 92° C to 96° C (195° F – 205° F). Add your freshly ground coffee to your French press and on a flat surface give it a light shake to ensure that there is a nice, flat and even distribution of your coffee grounds.

Add your hot water and pour slowly until your coffee grounds are slightly submerged and stop to let your coffee grounds bloom for 20 to 25 seconds. Continue to pour the rest of your water until your press is full.

Stir your coffee and water gently for a minute and push down on your plunger until it is just below the water line.

Let your coffee brew for approximately 4 minutes. Once your coffee is ready, push down on your plunger slowly and evenly until it reaches the bottom.

Pour and enjoy a great French press coffee. If you have any extra coffee left in your press, decant it as it will continue to brew.

Make A Moka Pot

Similar to a French press, a moka pot has its own built-in filter and makes great . It is a favorite in continental European homes from Portugal to Spain, Italy, Greece and beyond.

Grind your to a fine and fill the chamber and tamp lightly. This is an extra step, and is not essential. Add more if you have space after light tamping.

For the best results as suggested by 2006 world barista champion James Hoffman, heat your to 70C (160F) and add to the chamber and fill to no more than the maximum fill line.

Put your moka pot on your stovetop and heat your . Your moka pot will be ready when you hear the whistling sound.

Pour your and enjoy.

Brew And Enjoy A Cup Of Mud

If anyone ever asked you how to make without the first picture in your mind is probably something that is what is commonly known as mud .

It is one of the easiest and simplest coffees to make without using a and is very old school.

Using a slightly finer than a medium grind size and a to of 1:16 and making a good-sized 16 Oz (480 ml) , use 1 ounce (30 grams) and 16 oz (480 ml) of .

Simply add your grounds to your mug, add your and stir gently for a minute. Let your sit for 3 to 4 min to brew and settle.

Add milk and sugar as required.

How To Make Drip Without A Filter

This might just be the easiest of methods and is a very that you can adapt in a number of ways, from using when you have run out of paper to, well, going “bare naked” and using your basket with no at all.

Making drip without a filter is the easiest of methods. Simply fill the filter basket with and brew your as you normally would and enjoy your .

Some may make their way into your which is why I suggest you let your settle for a minute to let any settle to the bottom of your .

You can also use any one of the many improvised solutions to make a makeshift emergency for your .

, , paper or cloth napkin, handkerchief, , all fit into this category and are very easy to make.

Simply fold them into a pouch and place inside the filter basket and fill the pouch with coffee.

Make Percolator Coffee Using Your Coffee Percolator

A coffee percolator is very similar to a moka pot and brews a good strong coffee that is highly caffeinated.

A 1:18 coffee to water ratio is used and coarse grind size. It is very common not to use a coffee filter when using a coffee percolator.

Simply place your coffee grounds on the coffee basket using 2 ounces (60 grams), fill the water chamber with 360 ml of water (12 Oz) and switch on your coffee percolator if you have an electric version or put it on your stovetop if you have a manual percolator.

This is a manual hands-on method as you need to keep an eye on your percolator. If you forget about it for too long (4 to 5 minutes depending on your machine), it will continue to cycle through the brewing process, and you will have an over extracted, overtly bitter cup of coffee.

Percolator coffee is strong and highly caffeinated as it double brews your coffee.

If you want to use a makeshift cloth coffee filter, you can do so by cutting a cheesecloth or cloth napkin into shape to suit your percolator.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Make Without

Yes, there are a number of authentic coffee brewing methods that do not use a filter and result in a great tasting cup of coffee. Here are some:

Mud coffee.
Cowboy coffee.
Turkish coffee.

There are a few brewing methods that have built in permanent metal filters, namely French press, moka pot, siphon coffee and even Aeropress has a metal filter available.

You have a number of options available when you need to use an emergency . Try to use a tier 1 alternative first as they produce the best tasting .

Tier 1: Metallic reusable teabag, , .
Tier 2: A clean cloth napkin, handkerchief, , , reusable cloth teabag.
Tier 3: , paper napkin, .

Only use in an emergency and search first for tier one options first and then tier 2 and after that tier 3.

Yes, it is perfectly okay to use paper towels as coffee filters with one caveat – use them only as a temporary solution as paper towels may be bleached and treated with other chemicals that are good for your consumption on a regular basis.

They are permitted by the authorities as it is not expected that you will consume any food that is in contact with paper towels.

Yes, and unquestionably so. Make a with three different types of filter, and you will find out just how different your tastes by using different filters.

Metal Filter: Full-bodied, fully flavored .
: Clean, crisp tasting .
Cotton Filter: A middle ground between a metal and .

The effect of these three types of filters is due to the amount of that get filtered out.

The color of your does not make a great difference to how your tastes. What is more important is to focus on how they were processed, beached or oxygen processed. Oxygen processed is less toxic.

Both produce similar results and there is not a great difference between the two, but a brown one does produce a more papery taste. You can overcome the papery by rinsing your filter with before you use it.

Can I Use Cupcake Liners As ?

No, cupcake liners are not porous and are a lot thicker than coffee filters. You won’t filter your coffee at all that well and will end up with a huge mess.

They just don’t work as a substitute for coffee filters at all.

What Else Can You Use Instead Of A ?

Luckily you still have several options when you have run out of traditional coffee filters and have that desire for a great cup of coffee. Here is what you can use:

Paper towels.
Paper Napkin.
Paper tissue.
Cloth napkin.
Old dish cloth.
Cheesecloth.
An old T-shirt.
Fine mesh sieve.
Reusable tea bag.

How Do You Make Without A And No Filter?

There are two main that you can use to make without a and no filter: and .

Add your water to a saucepan. Use the same 1:16 coffee to water ratio as your drip coffee machine, if you have one.

Let your water heat up at a medium-high heat and let your coffee extract. Then strain your coffee through a fine mesh sieve.

Cold Brew Coffee

Add your coarsely ground coffee to cold water using a 1:8 coffee to water ratio to a glass container with an airtight lid. Shake and put your cold brew in your fridge for up to 24 hours.

When it is ready, use a sieve to separate the cold brew coffee from the coffee grounds. Serve and enjoy.

Final Thoughts – How To Make Without

Congratulations on reading this far: you now know how to make coffee without coffee filters in at least 8 different ways and can have a variety of options in front of you ranging from cold brew coffee, moka pot, French press, Percolator, Drip coffee, Turkish coffee, Cowboy coffee and mud coffee!

All of which taste great!

Which method did you prefer and which coffee do you think tasted the best?

Do you have your own filter-free coffee brewing method?

Join our online coffee community on Facebook/Meta, take part and let us all know your own thoughts and “secret” methods and coffee creations.

Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location

How To Make Coffee Without Coffee Filters – [8 Methods]