No Electricity? No Problem. Here's How To Make Your Morning Coffee Without It

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There's nothing like that morning cup of coffee. The aroma fills your kitchen as the sun is rising, beckoning you to start your day. You relish the ritual of getting the coffee-to-water ratio just right. The rest of your morning routine is perfectly timed so you can walk back into the kitchen as the coffee's finished brewing. All you have to do is grab your mug, serve, and sit back with a smile. But what happens if you wake up to find you have no electricity? Not to worry, there's a simple method that will save your day.

It's basically a quick hack of the traditional pour-over method without the need for a fancy pour-over coffee maker. As long as you have hot water, coffee, and a paper filter, the only other thing you'll need is a rubber band or elastic hair tie. Start by heating up your water in a stove-top kettle or small pot to your ideal temperature. Of course, if you have an electric range at home, you'll want a portable stove, like the Grill Boss Dual Fuel Camp Stove, in advance.

While the water is heating, place a paper filter over your cup, and secure it with a filter over the rim and add your coffee grounds. Once the water is ready, pour it into the filter slowly to prevent any messes as it seeps through. When the coffee has finished brewing, you can toss the filter and grounds, and enjoy. Crisis averted.

While the emergency pour-over hack will save you with a little preparation, there are a few alternatives to consider based on your preferences. If you truly care about your coffee, there may be no better option than the French press method. Instead of using a filter, you drop the grounds right into the empty press and pour in hot water, fully saturating the coffee. Pop off the lid with the plunger up and let the grounds and water mingle for four minutes before placing the lid back on and slowly pressing down. This should yield one of the most robust and flavorful cups of joe you'll ever have. And here's a pro tip: try adding a pinch of salt to mellow coffee's bitterness.

If your top priority is convenience during a power outage, this last option is for you. Next time you're at the supermarket, pick up a quality instant coffee along with your usual beans. All you do is drop in some coffee crystals, pour in your hot water, and stir. It's not only easy but usually less expensive than pre-ground whole-bean coffee. Just know that what you gain in convenience, you usually lose in taste. This is because instant coffee is often made with lower-grade beans and processing methods that render more coffee with less flavor and strength. The choice is ultimately yours, but with these suggestions, no electricity should ever again equate to no morning coffee.