You don’t need filters to make coffee.
Before the invention of the disposable coffee filter, people got on just fine. Several filterless brewing techniques are still used today, and most of them produce fantastic cups of coffee.
From the French press to the Vietnamese phin filter, in this article, we’ll be exploring six of the best filterless coffee brewing methods from around the globe…
3 Reasons to Make Coffee Without a Filter
We drink coffee for all sorts of reasons, from its potential benefits and delicious taste to the caffeine-induced energy hit.
There are a few reasons to brew filterless coffee:
- Less Waste Generation — Making coffee without a filter is more environmentally friendly since you’re not discarding paper filters after every brew.
- Improved Taste — Small fibers in paper filters can end up in your coffee, impacting the taste of the final brew.
- More Convenient — There’s nothing more frustrating than running out of filters when you need them. This never happens with filterless brewing methods.
No-Filter Method #1: Vietnamese Coffee
Vietnamese coffee is made using robusta beans (ideally grown in Vietnam) and a device called a phin filter.
This slow-drip, filterless brewing device provides a strong, bold, dark brew that’s often sweetened with condensed milk.
Vietnamese coffee characteristics:
- Strong and bold
- Earthy and nutty
- Chocolatey
- Rich and oily
- Thicker and more caffeinated
How To Brew Vietnamese Coffee
Brewing Vietnamese coffee with a phin filter is simple. However, there are a few pieces of equipment you'll need.
You will need:
- A phin filter
- A coffee grinder
- Robusta coffee beans
- Hot water
Step 1: Grind the Beans
First, grind the robusta beans finely — you’re looking for a consistency similar to sand. Alternatively, use a pre-ground robusta blend such as our HanNoi blend (100% robusta) or the SaiGon OG blend (arabica x robusta).
The amount of coffee you will need depends on the size of the phin filter.
Step 2: Assemble the Phin Filter
Take a mug and place the filter plate on top. Place the brewing chamber on top of the filter plate and prepare the gravity press and lid (do not assemble these parts just yet).
Step 3: Add the Coffee Grounds to the Brewing Chamber
Add the coffee grounds to the brew chamber. The amount of coffee required depends on the size of the phin filter and how many servings you wish to make. One serving is equal to 21 grams (three tablespoons) of coffee grounds.
Agitate the brewing chamber to disperse the grounds evenly, then drop the gravity press on top to lightly compact the coffee.
Vietnamese coffee follows a 1:2 ratio of coffee to water. Here’s a chart for measuring:
|
Servings |
Ground Coffee |
Water |
|
1 |
3 tbsp (21 g) |
6 oz. |
|
2 |
4 tbsp (28 g) |
8 oz. |
|
6–12 |
12 tbsp (84 g) |
24 oz. |
Step 3: Add Hot Water
Pour one ounce of hot water (about ½ inch above your gravity press) into your phin filter and let the coffee bloom for 45 seconds. Once bloomed, fill the rest of the chamber with water.
Don't worry if you don't see drips of coffee leaving the phin straight away. It takes around two minutes for the first drips to appear. The whole brewing process takes five to 10 minutes (depending on the capacity of the phin filter).
Step 4: Serve & Enjoy
Once brewing is complete, remove the phin filter from the top of the mug and enjoy the freshly brewed cup of coffee.
Traditionally, condensed milk is added to take the bitter edge off of the strong, robusta brew.
No-Filter Method #2: French Press Coffee
French press coffee is a simple and popular way to make coffee that uses an immersion-style brewing method.
This brewing technique produces a rich, full-bodied brew and provides control over strength and flavor by adjusting brewing time.
French press coffee characteristics:
- Fuller, heavier body
- Stronger flavor
- Aromatic
- Robust
How to Brew French Press Coffee
Brewing coffee using a French press is incredibly simple. It's one of the easiest filterless brewing techniques around.
Here’s how to make coffee using a French press:
You will need:
- A French press
- Coffee grinder
- Coffee beans
- Hot water
Step 1: Grind the Coffee Beans
Grind your beans to a coarse texture, similar to sea salt. Alternatively, purchase a high-quality pre-ground coarse blend. Both arabica and robusta coffee work well in the French press. Robusta requires less brewing time — over-extraction can result in a bitter coffee.
Step 2: Add the Coffee Grounds
Add the appropriate amount of coffee grounds to the French press.
A good coffee-to-water ratio for the French press coffee is 1:15. Here's a chart with standard ratios to follow:
|
French Press Size |
Coffee |
Water |
|
12 oz. (1 serving) |
2–3 tbsp (17 g) |
8 oz. |
|
17 oz. (2 servings) |
4–5 tbsp (27 g) |
12 oz. |
|
34 oz. (4 servings) |
8–10 tbsp (54 g) |
22 oz. |
Step 3: Add the Hot Water and Cover
Pour the required amount of hot water into the French press. Then lightly place the plunger on top making sure not to push it through the liquid. This will keep in the heat.
French press coffee is an immersion-style brew, you’ll need to wait for four to eight minutes (depending on the blend used) for the coffee to brew.
Step 4: Plunge and Pour
After four to eight minutes, push the plunger down slowly to separate the grounds.
Wait one to two minutes more — this will allow the smaller coffee particles to settle. Gently pour the resulting brew into your cup.
No-Filter Method #3: Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is made from arabica beans and brewed in a filterless copper pot called a “cezve.” This is usually made of copper or brass and has a long handle with a pouring lip.
Turkish coffee is a big part of Turkish culture. It’s even a part of Unesco's Intangible Culture Heritage list.
Turkish coffee characteristics:
- Thick
- Aromatic
- Bitter and strong
- Undertones of sugar and spice
How to Brew Turkish Coffee
Brewing Turkish coffee is a real art form. It's a simple process but like chess, it takes minutes to learn but years to master. Here’s how to make it:
You will need:
- Arabica coffee beans
- A pestle and mortar or a Turkish coffee grinder
- A cezve
- Water
Step 1: Grind the Beans
Turkish coffee requires finely ground coffee. To achieve such a fine ground, a pestle and mortar or a Turkish coffee grinder can be used. Turkish coffee has no physical filter. It’s important to get the grind as fine as possible so the sediment settles quickly.
Here’s a helpful chart for measuring your grinds based on serving size:
|
Serving Size |
Coffee |
Water |
|
1 cup |
1 tbsp (7 g) |
4 oz. |
|
2 cups |
2 tbsp (14 g) |
8 oz. |
|
4 cups |
4 tbsp (28 g) |
16 oz. |
Step 2: Fill Up the Cezve and Add the Grounds
Fill the cezve with cold, filtered water. Then, add the coffee.
If you want to sweeten the brew. you can also add sugar at this point. With Turkish coffee, you never add sugar afterward because stirring can stir up sediment.
Step 3: Heat It Up
Heat the cezve over medium heat until it simmers and foaming starts.
Once foaming begins, take it off the heat, stir the coffee, and place it back on the heat again. Repeat this cycle until the brew is thick and dark.
Once the coffee is ready, take it off the heat and let it cool for a minute.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy (Slowly)
Pour the coffee into small, pre-heated cups. Once served, take a teaspoon and garnish the brew with the remaining foam in the cezve.
No-Filter Method #4: Cowboy Coffee
Cowboy coffee is a minimalist approach to making coffee. It’s brewed in a pot or kettle by heating water with coffee grounds. Eventually, the coffee grounds will sink to the bottom.
This brewing method comes from American cowboy culture — hence the name. It was a way to keep early pioneers in the American West alert and hydrated during long bouts of physical labor.
Cowboy coffee characteristics:
- Bitter
- Full-bodied
- Bold
- Robust
- Gritty with potential leftover grounds
How to Brew Cowboy Coffee
Cowboy coffee is easy to brew. It's the perfect technique to use if you're in the wilderness hiking or camping. Another close alternative to consider is the percolator, which features a built-in filter.
Here’s how to make cowboy coffee:
You will need:
- Coffee beans
- A coffee grinder
- A basic pot or kettle
- Water
- A flame or stovetop
Step 1: Grind and Measure Your Coffee
Despite cowboy coffee’s bare-bones reputation, measuring the coffee grounds accurately is still important.
Fine or coarse grounds can work here, but we recommend choosing a medium to coarse grind as it’s easier to separate.
For cowboy coffee, you can follow these standard ratio guidelines:
|
Serving |
Coffee |
Water |
|
1 |
2 tbsp (14 g) |
8 oz. |
|
2 |
4 tbsp (28 g) |
16 oz. |
|
4 |
8 tbsp (56 g) |
32 oz. |
Step 2: Heat the Water
Some people will tell you to boil your water and grounds together. However, this can burn the coffee and produce an extremely bitter brew. Instead, we recommend bringing the water to a boil before taking it off the heat for about a minute to let it cool down slightly.
Step 3: Add the Coffee Grounds
Add the coffee grounds to the hot water and stir lightly. Let the mixture sit for two minutes and then stir again.
Let the brew steep (without stirring) for an additional four minutes.
Step 4: Separate the Grounds
Separating your grounds is the trickiest part of cowboy coffee. It’s common to have grounds in the bottom of the cup after pouring.
Some people say that sprinkling cold water over the pot will help the grounds settle to the bottom faster. I’ve never had any luck with this personally but give it a try.
The easier option is to simply wait for around five minutes for the grounds to settle. Just be aware that the longer you wait to pour, the stronger the brew will be.
5. Pour and Enjoy
Pour the coffee out slowly into a cup so you don’t stir up the grounds in the bottom of the pot. Sip the coffee gently and avoid drinking the last sip at the bottom — it will be gritty.
No-Filter Method #5: Cold Brew
Cold brew coffee is an immersion-style brewing method where you steep coffee grounds in cold water, usually overnight.
While it does take the longest out of all the methods in this list, it’s also one of the simplest processes.
There’s nothing better than a refreshing cold brew on a hot summer’s day.
Cold brew coffee characteristics:
- Low-acidity
- Smooth
- Mild
- Heavier
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew coffee is simple to make. However, it takes some planning as it takes 12 to 24 hours to brew.
You will need:
- A glass container or jar
- Coffee grinder
- Coffee
- Water
Step 1: Grind and Measure the Coffee
A coarse grind works best for cold brews. This can be achieved using a coffee grinder and a whole bean such as our DaNang blend (arabica x robusta). Alternatively, a pre-ground coarse blend can be purchased.
Since cold brew coffee is prepared beforehand, you can make extra and store it in the fridge for up to three days.
You can follow this chart to measure the grounds:
|
Jar Size |
Coffee |
Water |
|
3-Cup (2 servings) |
3–4 tbsp (27 g) |
220 ml |
|
4-Cup (4 servings) |
6–7 tbsp (45 g) |
350 ml |
|
8-Cup (8 servings) |
11–12 tbsp (80 g) |
650 ml |
Step 2: Mix the Coffee With Water
In a jar, add the coffee grounds and cold water at the desired ratio before stirring.
Seal the jar and place it in the refrigerator.
Step 3: Let the Cold Brew Steep
Since you’re brewing coffee with cold water, it takes longer to extract. For the best taste, let the cold brew steep in the fridge for 18 to 24 hours.
You don’t need to worry about stirring the brew.
Step 4: Strain and Enjoy
Once 18 to 24 hours have passed, remove the cold brew from the fridge.
If you’re using a French press, you can use the plunger to strain it. Otherwise, a cheesecloth or fine metal strainer can be used.
If you don’t have any of the above, the brew can be carefully poured into a glass making sure not to stir up the grounds that have settled at the bottom of the jar.
Cold brew is best served black or with milk, on ice.
No-Filter Method #6: Moka Pot
Moka pot coffee is an Italian technique that uses pressurized heat to brew coffee over a stovetop. It’s a simple method with minimal steps and tools needed. You’ll get a delicious coffee that’s similar to an espresso.
Moka pot coffee characteristics:
- Strong
- Aromatic
- Slightly acidic
- Similar to an espresso
How to Make Moka Pot Coffee
Making moka coffee is relatively simple but you’ll need a moka pot and some high-quality arabica coffee such as our DaLat 100% arabica blend if you’re to reap the rewards of this unique brewing technique.
You will need:
- Moka pot
- Coffee beans
- A coffee grinder
- Water
- Stovetop
Step 1: Measure the Coffee
The size of the moka pot will determine how much coffee you need.
A one-cup moka pot produces a cup of coffee similar in size to a typical espresso shot. Here’s a chart to help gauge your ratios:
|
Moka Pot Size |
Coffee |
Water |
|
1-Cup Pot |
6 grams |
60 ml |
|
3-Cup Pot |
20 grams |
200 ml |
|
6-Cup Pot |
30 grams |
300 ml |
Step 2: Grind the Coffee Beans
After you’ve measured the desired amount of beans (based on your moka pot size), it’s time to grind them.
Aim for a medium-fine grind for this filterless brewing method. You’re aiming for a consistency similar to sand.
Don’t have a coffee grinder?
Skip this step and use a pre-ground arabica blend instead.
Step 3: Add the Coffee Grounds and Water to the Pot
Fill the bottom of the moka pot with water up to the fill line. Then put the filter basket (the middle piece of the moka pot) into the water and add the coffee grounds. The filter basket should be full to the top without compression.
Next, screw on the top half of the moka pot.
Step 4: Brew the Coffee
Place the moka pot on a stove and heat at medium-high. If you’re using a gas stove, make sure the flames don’t go up the sides of the pot — this will scold the dry coffee.
Listen for a gurgling sound — this can take two to ten minutes. This sound indicates that the coffee is filtering into the top chamber. Turn down the heat when you this noise and wait for a minute or two.
When the moka pot starts to make loud sputtering sounds, the top chamber is full.
Step 5: Pour and Enjoy
Pour the contents of the top chamber into an espresso cup. Alternatively, pour the shot into a larger cup and use it to make americano, latte, cappuccino, or other typical Italian-style coffees.
Tips for Brewing Filterless Coffee
For many daily coffee drinkers, filterless brewing will be slightly different from the "norm."
Follow these simple tips to get the best possible cup:
1. Choose the Right Grind Size
Different brewing techniques require different grind sizes. Some methods work best with a coarse grind (like cowboy coffee), while others require a fine grind (like Turkish coffee).
Here’s a grind guide for the filterless brewing techniques mentioned above:
|
Brewing Method |
Grind Size |
|
Vietnamese Coffee (Phin Filter) |
Medium to medium-fine |
|
French Press Coffee |
Coarse |
|
Turkish Coffee (Cezve) |
Fine |
|
Cowboy Coffee |
Coarse |
|
Cold Brew Coffee |
Coarse |
|
Moka Pot Coffee |
Fine to medium-fine |
2. Avoid Over-Extraction
When brewing filterless coffee, the brew time is an important factor to account for. This is especially important in immersion brewing techniques such as the French press.
The longer the coffee is immersed or heated, the more bitter it will become.
Here are some helpful tips to avoid over-extraction:
- Brew your coffee for a shorter amount of time
- Adjust to a larger, more coarse grind to slow the extraction rate
- Avoid water that’s too hot to prevent burning
- Adjust the coffee-to-water ratio
4. Choose High-quality Coffee
The type and quality of the coffee you use will affect the taste of the resulting brew.
Different coffee species exhibit different flavor characteristics:
|
Bean Type |
Characteristics |
|
Robusta |
Intense, bitter, earthy, nutty |
|
Arabica |
Sweet, smooth, fruity, chocolatey |
|
Peaberry |
Sweet, slightly bitter, floral |
Choosing the right blend for the brewing technique used will result in a much better-tasting coffee.
Here are some recommendations for the brewing techniques mentioned above:
- Vietnamese Coffee (Phin Filter) — SaiGon OG, DaLat, BanMe
- French Press Coffee — SaiGon OG, DaNang
- Turkish Coffee (Cezve) — DaLat
- Cowboy Coffee — SaiGon OG
- Cold Brew Coffee — DaNang
- Moka Pot Coffee — SaiGon OG, DaLat, BanMe
Maintain & Clean Your Filterless Coffee Equipment Regularly
Proper care for your filterless brewing equipment prevents clogging, reduces the risk of flavor contamination, and ensures your equipment lasts a lifetime.
Make sure to clean your brewing devices after each use and perform a deep clean every couple of weeks.
Your coffee-cleaning habits are just as important as your coffee-drinking routine. Filterless brew kits have more elements that require routine cleaning. Make sure to disassemble your equipment before cleaning to ensure all the old grounds are removed.
The plunger system on a French press is prone to collecting grime. Make sure to unscrew the mesh and clean thoroughly after use. Make sure to take apart moka pots and phin filter systems to clean each element separately after use.
FAQs: Brewing Coffee Without a Filter
Want to learn more about brewing filterless coffee?
Head over to the Cafely blog or read through the FAQs below:
1. What Can I Use in Place of a Coffee Filter?
If you don’t have a filterless brewing system, you can make your own coffee filter. Some common replacements include:
- A sock
- Paper towel
- Napkins
- Cheesecloth
- Mesh sieves
- Reusable tea bags
2. What’s the Best Way to Make Coffee Without a Filter?
The most popular filterless method to make coffee is the French press. However, the phin filter, moka pot, and Turkish cezve are also excellent filterless brewing methods.
3. What’s the Best Grind Size for Filterless Brewing?
The best grind size depends on the filterless brewing technique used.
Here’s a simple grind guide:
- Vietnamese Coffee (Phin Filter) — Medium to medium-fine
- French Press Coffee — Coarse
- Turkish Coffee (Cezve) — Fine
- Cowboy Coffee — Coarse
- Cold Brew Coffee — Coarse
- Moka Pot Coffee — Fine to medium-fine
4. Will I Get Coffee Grounds in My Cup if I Don’t Use a Filter?
Not necessarily. Many filterless brewing methods employ a different type of built-in filter.
Phin filters and French presses will strain your coffee with a metal filtering device. Moka pots filter through percolation. If you’re brewing a cowboy coffee, pouring slowly and allowing time before drinking allows the grounds to settle.
5. Is Filterless Brewing Better for the Environment?
Yes, it can be. By not using disposable paper filters, you're helping to reduce waste, which is beneficial to the environment.
6. Does Filterless Coffee Taste Different?
Filterless coffee can be richer and bolder in flavor, especially through immersion methods like a French press.
It's important to pay attention to brew time, coffee-to-water ratio, and your bean type to control for taste and strength.
