How to Build a Coffee Maker

Brew your coffee with a water bottle coffee maker.

Some pour themselves a mugful of coffee before they even think about breakfast or start getting ready for the day. Going without coffee is usually out of the question for these people, making a broken coffee maker or a forgotten camping brewer a near-disaster. However, you can easily make a cheap coffee maker that will brew a cup of joe just as well as your electric drip brewer.

Things You'll Need

• 1 liter plastic soda bottle
• Utility knife
• Awl
• Coffee filter
• Coffee
• Hot water
• Coffee mug

Instructions

1. Remove all of the labels and adhesive from your plastic bottle. Rinse it thoroughly and let it air dry. Cut the bottle in half around the middle and discard the cap.

2. Poke holes down through the bottom half of the bottle, making a small ring of holes around the center and poking one hole through each of the bottle's "feet." Push the bottom of the bottle into the cut end of the top of the bottle, making sure the holes point toward the mouth of the bottle.

3. Sit the bottle opening-side down into your coffee mug. Place a small coffee filter into the top of the maker (the part with the holes in it) and scoop in about 2 tbsp. of coffee. You may measure out more or less, depending on how much your cup holds and how strong you like your coffee.

4. Slowly pour hot water over the coffee grounds. The water should filter down through the grounds and the filter and drip through the holes in the bottom half of the bottle. The drips will fall through the mouth of the bottle and into your coffee cup. If the drips stop or slow, stir the grounds. When all the water filters through the grounds, enjoy your fresh coffee.

References

• The Kitchn: How to Make Coffee Without a Coffee Maker
• I Need Coffee: Cold Brewed Coffee On the Cheap
• Fantes: Hourglass Coffee User Guide