How To Use Coffee Capsules Without Machine? 4 Tested Ways

Every kitchen cleaning day means organizing the cabinets, and every time, you are bound to find something you have forgotten about. If you found some coffee capsules, the chances are that your mouth is already watering to the idea of some fresh, steamy coffee. However, you will be needing a coffee machine for that!

You can make some fantastic coffee using coffee capsules without a coffee machine. You can do this with the Cowboy method, French press method, capsule dunking method, or by using the capsules as coffee bags.

Whatever the method will be, you will find at least one of these methods doable, and we guarantee that you will have a delectable cup of coffee ready in no time. Let’s get to our detailed guide on using coffee capsules without a coffee maker.

The Cowboy Method

The Cowboy method is a traditional American way of making coffee. Before coffee machines blessed our lives, Americans used a pot or a kettle and typically a fire or stove to have their daily dose of coffee. According to Wise Geek, it is called cowboy coffee because cowboys or travelers made their coffee this way by taking a pot and kettle along with some coffee grinds on the road.

I’m pretty sure all of you have a kettle or at least a pot for boiling water in your kitchen. If you love instant coffee, then we know you’ve got a kettle at least! Well, in this section, we will teach you how to make coffee using a heat source, a coffee capsule, a mug, and a pot.

Requirements

• Pot/ Kettle.
• Water.
• Mugs.
• Stove.
• Coffee capsules.

Procedure

1. Take 6 ounces or ¾th of a cup of water for a single cup of coffee. If you want more cups of coffee, add ¾th of a cup of water for every additional cup.
2. Pour the water into the pot or kettle and let it boil.
3. Take one coffee capsule per cup of coffee you want. Extract the capsule’s contents (the coffee grounds) and set them aside. However, if you prefer lighter or darker coffee, you can add less or more coffee grinds, respectively.
4. After the water has boiled, turn off the stove and let the water sit for about a minute. This step ensures that the water is at the right temperature for mixing and brewing. It is never a good idea to put coffee grounds directly into boiling water.
5. After the minute passes, turn the stove on again and pour the coffee grounds into the water.
6. Then stir for 10 seconds. Let it sit for a few minutes and then continue mixing. We take these little pauses for the coffee to brew better and because we want the water to absorb the coffee flavor. Remember that the longer you stir and let the ground coffee simmer in the water, your coffee will be stronger and more flavorful.
7. When you think your coffee is as strong as you like, use a tea strainer and pour the coffee into your mug so the undissolved extracts don’t enter your mouth. 

The Dunk-it-in Method

If you found a compostable coffee capsule and are thinking, ‘can you use coffee capsules without a machine using a compostable coffee capsule?’, then yes, you can! This method is for those of you with a compostable coffee capsule. In just a few steps, you can make some coffee just by dunking in your capsule. Let’s see how.

Requirements

• A compostable coffee capsule.
• Hot Water.
• A spoon.

Procedure

1. Remove the capsule’s packaging and put it into your coffee mug.
2. Pour steaming hot water over the coffee capsule until there is only about half an inch left from the top.
3. Let the pod sit in the cup for a minute. Don’t let the capsule come to the top of the cup and float, though. Use the spoon to make sure the capsule is fully immersed in the water and keep stirring.
4. Now keep the capsule in for as long as you prefer but remember that the longer you keep the capsule in and stir it, the stronger your coffee will be. For a light cup of coffee, we recommend keeping your pod submerged for 2-3 minutes, while for a medium-strength cup, keep it in for 4 minutes. Go even longer for a stronger brew.

The French-Press Method

This method is for those of you that own a French press. They are not that expensive so getting one will not be a problem. The French Press is an excellent tool for coffee-lovers. Even though we don’t normally use the fine coffee grounds of a capsule in a French press, we can make an exception here and still get a good cup of coffee.

Requirements

• A French press.
• A coffee capsule.
• Hot water.
• A mug.

Procedure

1. Extract the contents of your coffee capsule and empty them into your French press. Remember that we use one coffee capsule per cup of coffee as a general rule. Add more capsule extracts if you want more flavor.
2. Now pour about three tablespoons of water into the plunger or even more. Just don’t fill the French-press completely with water and leave enough room for plunging.
3. Now insert the plunger and start plunging slowly. Continue doing this for about 20 seconds until you feel like the coffee and water have mixed adequately. If you want a stronger coffee, continue plunging for about a minute or even more.
4. Then pour this mixture into your coffee mug and add just enough water to fill your cup. Stir the mixture and serve immediately.

The Coffee-Bag Method

We are not finished just yet! If you are contemplating how to use those Tassimo pods without machine usage, we have got you covered. This last method will teach you how you can turn your coffee capsules into coffee bags.

Requirements

• Your coffee pod/capsule.
• A coffee filter or white paper tea filter.
• Hot water.
• A mug.

Procedure

1. For this method, you need to remove the coffee grounds from the capsule completely and leave only the grounds. Remove any other coatings that could melt.
2. Empty the contents into a coffee filter or a white paper tea filter. Fold the sides of the filter and extend them upward just like you would if you were wrapping a one-sided wrapped toffee. Secure the top with a string. You can even staple the top. We are trying to make the coffee and filter turn into a tea bag here.
3. Now place this coffee bag into your mug.
4. Pour the steaming hot water into the cup and dunk the coffee bag into the coffee by holding it using the string. Let the hot water absorb the coffee and seep through for about 3-4 minutes for a more flavorful outcome.
5. When you are satisfied that the brew is strong enough for you, remove the coffee bag and enjoy your coffee.

Should I Use Compostable Coffee Capsules or Ordinary Ones?

Apart from the dunk-it-in method, you can use any ordinary or compostable coffee capsules for following our recipes. However, make sure you use a compostable one only for the dunk-it-in process as you’ll be dunking the whole capsule into the cup, and you would not want substances from the aluminum pod seeping into the coffee.

Is It Safe To Use Coffee Capsules Without a Machine?

We have taught you how to use coffee capsules without a machine, but you’re probably wondering if that’s even a safe choice. It is completely safe to use the extracts from coffee pods and use them directly. There is no need to worry.

Safety Tips to Make Coffee Using Coffee Capsules Without a Machine

Follow these safety tips before following any of our methods.

• Don’t completely fill the French press, or else the liquid will splash out the minute you use the plunger. To avoid hot water burns, only add a few tablespoons of water during plunging.
• The longer the remaining coffee stays in a French press (unused), the more bitter you can expect it to be! It is always better to make a fresh batch if you don’t like bitter coffee. Leaving it to sit for too long may also lead to contamination.
• If you have a little ground coffee remaining from some of the capsules, store it in an airtight container. Also, keep the coffee grinds in a dry place to prevent bacterial infections. According to Healthline, if coffee beans and grinds are not stored properly, they release mycotoxins and may cause poisoning if ingested too much.

Conclusion

Above are the ways through which you can make delectable coffee using coffee capsules without a machine. Who says you need to let them expire? We have taught you how to use those leftover gusto pods without a machine. Now whether it is the cowboy method, the French-press method, or any other one, you can make good coffee manually.