How to make any coffee without an espresso machine

Do you fancy a delicious coffee but don't have a coffee maker nearby? Do you want to try new varieties of coffee but do not want to leave a fortune on the required equipment? Do you still think that it is very difficult to prepare an exotic and different coffee at home but with coffee shop results? What options do we really have when it comes to making coffee without a coffee maker?

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, so it is natural that each variant of it offers not only a different aroma, flavor or texture, but also a totally unique and irresistible experience.

Many people consume coffee every morning for breakfast, while in many other countries it is also usually taken after lunch or for a snack.

No matter the time, a cup of coffee is always good for those who really love this drink.

Preparing coffee is really simple and surely you do it regularly too. Either with an Italian coffee maker, or with a capsule coffee maker, very hot, or with ice ... The options for preparing coffee that we can think of are almost limitless.

However, sometimes we may want to try a different coffee and we are determined to prepare it, but we do not have the necessary equipment for it or we do not know how to proceed. Faced with this situation, a question arises: how can we prepare any coffee with exceptional quality without a specific machine for it? The answer is later.

In this article you will get the keys to preparing your own espresso at home.

In addition, if you want to take your coffee to the next level, you will also discover the recipes of some of the most popular varieties of coffee in the world so that you can prepare and enjoy them at home without having to spend a lot of money on it.

What types of coffee are there?

I know you want to know how to prepare coffee without a specific coffee maker, but first I would like you to know the types of coffee that exist and how each of them is prepared.

In this way, it will be much clearer to you what type of coffee you want to prepare and what is the process that you must carry out.

The thing that most coffees have in common is that they are made with espresso.

Espresso is prepared under the pressure of steam that pushes the water through the ground coffee. Very intense and rich, we can decide the amount of milk we want to add to these drinks.

What drinks can we prepare with espresso coffee?

Among the most popular varieties worldwide that we can prepare with espresso we find some like these:

• Cappuccino: Very similar to latte coffee but with a higher percentage of foam than milk.
• Coffee latte: It is a coffee that is usually prepared with espresso, steamed milk and milk foam.
• Mocha or mochaccino coffee: It differs from latte coffee in that mocha coffee has a chocolatey flavor.
• Macchiato coffee: It does not include milk added to the espresso, but it does include a thin layer of foam.
• Coffee with milk (au lait): It has only hot milk added to the coffee, which is usually espresso, and without foam.

However, the types of coffee that exist are not strictly invariable. In such a way that a very watery cappuccino, with a lot of steamed milk, could move on the spectrum into latte territory, and while a barista might consider as a cappuccino what could really really be a coffee macchiato in another place.

The good thing about all this is that you have all the control to adjust the balance of coffee, hot milk and milk foam exactly to your personal preferences and, in addition, you can give your drink the name that you like best.

How to make espresso without an espresso machine

Espresso coffee is a traditional drink that usually has three main features: roasting, grinding, and pressure. The flavor, texture and, ultimately, the unique quality of an exquisite espresso coffee depends on these three elements.

Espresso coffee gets its name from the machine where it is usually prepared: the espresso machine.

This way of preparing coffee originated in Italy, but its quick and easy preparation, as well as its concentrated flavor and texture, caused its consumption to spread rapidly throughout the globe.

However, getting an espresso machine is not only expensive, but in many cases we also do not have a place to store it.

The good news is that today we can easily prepare any type of coffee, since there are some ways to make espresso without a coffee machine but obtaining very similar results. It will surprise you!

The 3 ways to make espresso without an espresso machine

What does the quality of a good espresso coffee depend on?

Not all coffees are the same, and in the case of espresso this is clearly represented by the following qualities of its beans and preparation:

• The toast: Espresso has always been roasted a lot to give power and strength to its characteristic flavor. The reality is one: the darker the beans, the greater molecular separation there will be compared to the lighter beans, which is an advantage to extract all their coffee flavor.
• The grind: After roasting the coffee beans, they need to be ground into a fine powder. The finer the ground bean, the more pressure the water will have as it pushes through the filter to create the delicious coffee. However, if the grain is too fine, it may block the filter and the expected results may not be obtained.
• The pressure: To make an espresso coffee, hot water must pass through the coffee with great pressure. Doing it is really simple if we have the appropriate equipment, but how to prepare espresso without a specific coffee maker?

How to make espresso with an Italian coffee maker

It is one of the most classic and charming ways to prepare an espresso without a special machine for it.

It is elegant, traditional and offers great results, so it is not surprising that it also works for preparing espresso thanks to the pressure it generates on the water, that is, precisely the key to preparing the best possible espresso.

What you will need

• Italian coffee maker
• Roasted coffee beans
• Coffee grinder
• Coffee meter
• Teapot or kettle

Step by step: make espresso with an Italian coffee maker

1. Grind the coffee. You need to finely grind about 20 grams of coffee per cup.
2. Add water to the bottom of the coffee pot.
3. Place the ground coffee inside the filter basket of the Italian coffee maker.
4. Close the coffee maker placing the top.
5. Heat the coffee maker over medium heat.
6. Check the process. When the water starts to boil, the pressure will push the coffee up through the upper chamber. When you hear a hiss it means the drink is ready. Make sure the top is full of coffee and then turn off the heat. It is normal for a layer of brown foam to appear before the coffee is fully brewed, but you can easily remove it with a teaspoon before pouring in the coffee.
7. Serve and enjoy your coffee!

There are disagreements on whether using an Italian coffee maker requires art or science. Be that as it may, what is clear is that with a little practice, anyone can prepare a cup of delicious espresso without a specific coffee machine.

How to make espresso with an AeroPress coffee maker

A AeroPress coffee maker it can be very useful to prepare a wonderful espresso coffee anywhere and anytime. Its operation is very similar to that of the French press. You just have to add hot water to the previously ground coffee and press a plunger that will filter the drink in a few minutes.

It is an easy and comfortable way to enjoy a nice cup of espresso coffee even if we do not have a coffee maker.

What you will need

• AeroPress coffee maker
• Roasted coffee beans
• Coffee grinder
• Coffee meter
• Teapot or kettle

Step by step: make espresso with an AeroPress coffee maker

1. Heat the water. Start by heating some water. Try to get it to around 90ºC and stir every 30 seconds to homogenize the temperature. The perfect temperature to prepare coffee is around 96ºC, that is, just before boiling. However, using an AeroPress coffee machine we can make coffee with any temperature between 85 and 96ºC.
2. Grind the coffee beans. In case you have coffee beans, you will need to grind them until you get 2 large tablespoons, which is about 30 grams. Generally, a good coffee grind is achieved with an electric grinder, but it is always possible to buy coffee already ground in a store or supermarket.
3. Prepare your AeroPress. Once the filter is placed in the drain plug it is necessary to rinse it with some hot water. Then we install the AeroPress on the cup or container where we want to prepare the coffee. You must make sure that the container is strong enough, since to prepare the espresso coffee you need to apply some pressure.
4. Fill the AeroPress coffee maker with coffee. Keep in mind that the more compact the coffee is, the better results you will get.
5. Start preparing your coffee. Add a half cup (120 ml) of hot water to the inside of the AeroPress and make sure everything is mixed well.
6. Press your coffee. After waiting half a minute, it will be time to extract your prepared coffee. You just have to press with the weight of your hand to lower it. If it doesn't, tighten a little more! When you have reached the bottom, it will be time to remove the press.
7. Enjoy your freshly brewed espresso! Serve the coffee in your favorite cup and you will have everything ready. Of course, you will have to clean everything, removing the coffee remains from the AeroPress and rinsing everything with hot water.

How to make espresso with a French press

The French press is truly popular with die-hard coffee lovers. If you have one of these machines then why not use it to make your favorite espresso? To do so, just follow the steps below.

What you will need

• A french press
• Roasted coffee beans
• Coffee grinder
• Coffee meter
• Teapot or kettle

Step by step: make espresso with a French press

1. Grind the coffee. It is important to get a ground bean as finely as possible and that the coffee beans we choose are dark or special for espresso. You can use two tablespoons of coffee beans for every cup of water.
2. Heat the water. The water should reach 90ºC, so the best thing to do is to use a kettle or kettle. If you don't have any of these, just bring the water to a boil for about 30 seconds.
3. Add the coffee grounds to your French press. On that occasion, it is advisable to use twice the amount of coffee that you would normally use in the French press in order to achieve all the quality of a true espresso coffee.
4. Add some hot water to the French press. In this way we manage to extract all the aroma and release the essence of the coffee.
5. Add the rest of the water.
6. Stir your coffee well.
7. Close the lid without locking and let it rest for about 5 minutes. If you want a stronger espresso, then you can choose to let it steep for longer.
8. Press down on the French press plunger slowly but steadily. Press halfway, then raise the plunger before starting to press again, this time all the way.

The French press is the least effective method of all, so it is best that you consider it as the last option when it comes to making espresso without a machine. However, if that is the only thing you have, it is very easy to prepare a good shot of very strong coffee in a few minutes.

How to make cappuccino coffee

Cappuccino coffee is an Italian specialty that mixes a smooth crema with the strong flavor of coffee.

How to make cappuccino with espresso coffee

If something characterizes a cappuccino, it is the balance between espresso, milk and foam that give it both a truly unique flavor and texture.

Sometimes it may seem difficult to prepare this coffee, but with this method you can make your own coffee with foam par excellence without complications or headaches. Now is the time to learn how to make cappuccino with espresso.

What you will need

• Coffee beans for grinding or ground coffee
• Grinder for grinding coffee
• Skimmed or semi-skimmed milk
• Ground cinnamon or nutmeg

Step by step: cappuccino without espresso machine

1. Make the coffee. You can use Arabica coffee beans, which are less bitter than other varieties of coffee beans. Ideally, grind them just before brewing to ensure that it maintains all its flavor and freshness. Coffee beans are usually sold very cheaply in many supermarkets and grinding them will only take a few seconds, so it is very worth doing it this way.
2. Since we are going to make cappuccino as if it were espresso, It is advisable to have a little more coffee than you would use for a normal cup and prepare it as you normally would.
3. While your coffee is being prepared, heat the milk but remove it from the heat just before it comes to a boil. Skimmed milk provides a greater amount of foam, but semi-skimmed milk will flavor your cappuccino better.
4. Now is the time to make the foam, so we will shake the milk with a mixer for a couple of minutes until the desired result is achieved. You can also use an electric mixer with the appropriate rods. Another option is to put the milk in a closed jar that we will shake until the foam is obtained, although for this the bottle will need to have space for it.
5. Fill a cup with less than half the coffee freshly made that you just made.
6. Carefully add the hot milk little by little. A good cappuccino should have the same amount of coffee and foam, with half the amount of milk. You can use a spoon to make sure the foam fills the entire cup.
7. Decorate with a few specks of cinnamon or nutmeg on top of the coffee.

This is a great way to make cappuccino anywhere without the need for special materials!

How to make latte coffee

The latte coffee stands out for combining espresso, steamed milk and delicious milk foam. You can start enjoying this incredible coffee now in your own home and made by yourself.

What you will need

• Roasted coffee beans
• Coffee grinder
• Semi-skimmed milk
• Cocoa powder

Step by step: latte without espresso machine

1. Make espresso coffee. Grind the roasted beans and prepare the amount of coffee in the way you want.
2. Make milk foam. Add the milk to a jug that you can close and microwave, but don't fill more than half full. Close tightly and shake as hard as you can for 45 seconds or until the milk has frothed.
3. Heat the milk. Put the jar uncovered in the microwave and heat it for 30 seconds. The foam will rise to the surface of the milk and this will help it stabilize.
4. Pour the milk into the espresso. It is best to pour the coffee into a wide, shallow coffee cup. Then, with the help of a spoon to prevent the foam from falling, gradually add as much milk as we want to our espresso.
5. Add foam. Drop the foam onto your coffee from the spoon and complement it with a little cocoa powder or nutmeg on top of the foam. Ready to drink!

If you are looking for a sweeter flavor you can add a little syrup with the hot milk, before adding the foam. On the other hand, you can also choose to incorporate a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract to give it a more special touch.

How to make mocha or mochaccino coffee

Mocha coffee is also known as mochaccino or mochachino in some places. It does not matter what you call it, since with this recipe we can prepare mocha coffee without much effort at home.

If you can't or don't want to go to Starbucks to buy your own mocha, this delicious recipe is just what you've been looking for. With this step-by-step method you can prepare mocha coffee without a coffee maker and at a really low price.

What you will need

• Espresso beans or ground coffee.
• Skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.
• Hot chocolate.

Step by step: preparing a mocha coffee without an espresso machine

1. Make some espresso. Use the traditional method of preparing espresso, or use one of the alternatives mentioned in this article.
2. Add some milk to a sealable jug that can be put into the microwave. You can heat some milk in the microwave. Microwave a small non-metallic pitcher for about 25 seconds and shake vigorously afterward.
3. Pour in the hot chocolate. Add as much chocolate as you want to your drink. It is ready for you!

How to make coffee macchiato

Preparing a macchiato coffee is really easy and fast with this simple and cheap recipe. You don't need to spend a lot of money to be able to savor this delicious coffee.

What you will need

• Roasted coffee beans
• Coffee grinder
• Semi-skimmed milk

Step by step: macchiato coffee without espresso machine

1. Make espresso coffee and try to keep it warm.
2. Add milk to a mug and microwave until very hot. Then you will have to reserve half of the milk and with the rest prepare the foam. You can do it with a transparent airtight jar where the milk is in half and shake with all your might. You can use an electric mixer for convenience.
3. Add the milk to a cup and with the help of a spoon prevent too much foam from falling. Then pour the coffee and put some foam on top to decorate. This is how you prepare a macchiato coffee without a specific machine!

How to make coffee with milk

Coffee with milk is as irresistible as it is easy to make. This type of coffee is widely consumed in some countries such as Spain, where it is usually drunk with hot milk and a little sugar.

What you will need

• Roasted coffee beans
• Coffee grinder
• Semi-skimmed milk
• White or brown sugar (optional)

Step by step: latte without an espresso machine

1. Grind the beans and make an espresso. Maybe you have the beans already ground and you just have to prepare the coffee. Remember that if you don't have an espresso machine, you can also use an Italian coffee maker, an AeroPress coffee maker, or a French press.
2. Heat the milk. This depends solely and exclusively on your preferences. You can heat it up a lot, leave it at room temperature or add it cold.
3. Add the coffee to a mug until it is about half full. Then add the milk to the top.
4. Finally you just have to add the sugar to taste and you will have your coffee with milk ready. Two small teaspoons is usually sufficient.

In addition, you can use another glass with ice cubes and pour all the preparation there. In this way you can enjoy a refreshing coffee with milk at any time.

As you can see, we can prepare a wide variety of coffees in the comfort of our home, without needing many resources and at a truly affordable price.

You set the limits in the coffee universe, so now is the time to start the creativity machine and surprise yourself and others with the delicious taste of your own coffees.