Do This When You Run Out Of Coffee Filters
It's happened to most of us: you wake up tired, cranky, and really, REALLY needing that first cup of coffee. It's then that you realize that there are no more coffee filters. What follows is a mental struggle between two less than ideal options: Run to the store and be forced to interact with the public in your shaky, non-caffeinated state, or look around the house for something to make a passable cup of coffee.
Fortunately, there are a couple of good options for when you run out of coffee filters so you can have your cup of joe without leaving the house. Even if it's just to hold you until you can stop off at a Starbucks on the way to work for the most caffeinated drink they have to offer!
A mesh strainer is your friend here, and will get you to your first cup quickly. Food52 says to begin with a couple of tablespoons of fresh coffee grounds in a heatproof pitcher or liquid measuring cup. Pour a cup of simmering water over the grounds. Give it a stir and let the coffee steep for several minutes. Then, pour the coffee through a mesh strainer (the finer, the better) into your cup. Depending on how fine your strainer is, a few grounds may slip through. However, this is a pretty effective and easy way to get a decent cup of coffee.
This way may be the easiest of all for getting by without a coffee filter
So what if you have no mesh strainer, or anything even remotely resembling a coffee filter on hand? Take a tip from cowboy life.
Coffee Affection shares that this method is possibly the easiest way of all to make a cup of coffee, though the chances of getting some grounds in your brew are higher. Heat water in a pot — if you have no campfire, your stovetop is just fine. As the water warms up, stir in the coffee grounds. Bring the mixture to a boil, then allow the coffee to steep for a few minutes. The grounds will slowly begin to settle to the bottom. You can then pour the coffee into a cup, slowly, so the grounds stay towards the bottom of the pot.
Why is it called cowboy coffee? Coffee Affection says it's tied to the days of bedding down next to a campfire after riding across the prairie. With minimal gear and certainly no coffee filters, this was the best way to whip up coffee quickly in the morning. This technique is also a traditional way to brew coffee in Norway, known as kokekaffe, according to CNN. Though you may get a little more texture in the brew, this method is a favorite there for the deeper, more complex flavor it imparts.
While it's always best to check your coffee supplies before you go to bed, it's good to know there are a couple of workarounds for those occasional, desperate mornings!