Jan 23 2009
Gourmet Coffee Maker Non-Electric
Not all gourmet coffee makers are fancy, expensive or even electric for that matter. There are still various simple ways to make coffee and espresso without having to resort to the latest gadgets.
The most popular non-electric coffee maker would have to be the moka pot. It’s more of an espresso maker, but since it’s not as strong as typical espresso, some people would consider it a coffee-maker instead. To brew in a moka pot, all you need is a heat source like a stove burner. These little pots have been around for a long time, and are very easy to use.
The two little chamber parts screw together in the middle, where a funnel for the coffee grounds fits between them. It looks like a little metal tea kettle, with a narrow waist. Water in the bottom gets heated, and is forced up through the coffee grounds. Your finished espresso coffee is collected in the top half. Moka pots are often used to just make a single cup at a time, but you an buy larger units to brew 6 cups or more. They are fast, quiet and really do make good coffee.
Another way to make coffee without electricity would be with a plunger pot, also known as a French press. These tall pots have a plunger that comes down through the center of the pot, with a fine mesh filter at the end. You mix hot water and coffee grounds in the pot and let it steep until it’s at your desired strength, then press the plunger down. The filter pushes through the water, and forces all the grounds to the bottom. You’re left with filtered coffee in the carafe, ready to pour. Just don’t let it sit for too long. The grounds and coffee are still in contact through the mesh filter, and it will continue to get stronger over time.
Both methods do require that you have a separate way to heat the water, though only the moka pot needs an actual hot surface. You can make coffee with a simple tea kettle, when you have a good French press. French presses can be purchased in unbreakable lexan or plastic, which makes them a nice addition to your camping supplies. For those who hate to be without their morning coffee, even when roughing it.