I have a confession. My day doesn’t begin until I’ve had my first cup of coffee. Till that happens, I’m a zombie looking to down that first cup. The caffeine gets me going with my day. It’s not just the caffeine, though. It’s a habit, a ritual I go through every morning that gives my day direction.
Occasionally, however, I find myself waking up in a place without a coffee maker. It could be at a friend or family member’s place who doesn’t drink coffee, or while camping. It even happened in my own home recently, when a glass Chemex was knocked over and shattered. It’s the worst feeling.
Thankfully, coffee can still be brewed without a coffee maker. After all, people drank coffee before electricity. It’s actually surprisingly easy to make great coffee without a coffee maker. All you need is freshly roasted coffee, a grinder, hot water and a mug. If you have a filter, toss that in the mix too.
Coffee lovers around the world can all agree that a hot cup of joe is one of life’s simple pleasures. But between selecting beans grinding brewing, and more, there is a lot that goes into that perfect cup. One common question many have is “can I brew coffee with whole beans?” The short answer is yes! Read on for a complete guide to brewing coffee using whole beans.
Why Would I Want to Brew With Whole Beans?
Most coffee recipes call for ground coffee beans. So why would you want to use whole beans? There are a few key reasons:
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No grinder required – If you don’t have a coffee grinder, you can still brew coffee with whole beans This makes it easy for traveling or other scenarios when you don’t have grinding equipment.
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Enhanced flavor – Grinding releases oils and aromatics from the beans. By keeping them whole, you preserve more complex flavors that can be lost in grinding.
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Better control – With whole beans, you skip the grinding step so there are fewer variables to manage. This gives you better control over the final brew.
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Fun experience – It’s just kind of cool to brew with whole beans. The process is unusual so it makes for a novel coffee experience.
So while less common, using whole beans can actually enhance the coffee drinking experience in many ways. Keep reading to learn how to do it.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Brewing with Whole Beans
Brewing coffee with whole beans is uncomplicated, it just takes more time. Follow these simple steps for best results:
What You’ll Need
- Whole coffee beans (about 1/3 cup per serving)
- A mason jar or other heatproof container
- Freshly boiled water
- Spoon for stirring
- Fine mesh strainer
Step 1 – Add Beans to Mason Jar
Measure out the desired quantity of whole coffee beans and add them to a mason jar or other small container. A standard ratio is about 1/3 cup of beans per 8-12 oz serving of coffee.
Step 2 – Pour Hot Water Over Beans
Bring fresh water to a rolling boil. As soon as it’s boiling, pour the water over the beans in the mason jar until it’s about 3/4 full.
Step 3 – Stir and Steep
Use a spoon to stir the beans and water together. Place the lid loosely on the mason jar. Allow the beans to steep for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer you steep, the stronger the coffee.
Step 4 – Strain and Enjoy
After steeping, strain the coffee through a fine mesh sieve or strainer into your favorite mug. Compost the used beans. Add any milk, sweetener or other additions and enjoy your freshly brewed cup of whole bean coffee!
Tips for Brewing Great Whole Bean Coffee
Follow these tips and tricks to get the best possible flavor when brewing with whole beans:
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Use freshly roasted beans for maximum flavor and aroma. Whole beans keep longer than ground, but fresher is still better.
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Filtered or bottled water is best. Avoid tap water that may have off tastes that get infused into the coffee.
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Keep a consistent water temperature around 205°F by using a double boiler method. This prevents the beans from being over or under extracted.
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Gently stir the beans over the steeping time. This helps increase extraction and develop the coffee’s oils and solubles.
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Grinding right before brewing is ideal. If you need to brew with pre-ground beans, use them within 2 weeks for optimal freshness.
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Store whole beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Light and air degrade the beans over time.
FAQs About Brewing Coffee with Whole Beans
Can you make coffee with just whole beans and water?
Yes! All you need is whole coffee beans and hot water. Simply add the beans to heated water and allow to steep for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The key is using freshly boiled water and keeping the beans moving for even extraction.
Is cold brew made with whole beans?
Cold brew can be made with whole beans. However, the beans need to steep for a much longer time – about 12-24 hours – in order to properly extract flavors from the whole beans. Grinding helps speed up extraction for cold brew.
Is there a difference between whole bean and ground coffee?
There is a significant difference. Ground coffee has more exposed surface area so the flavors and oils extract much more quickly. Whole beans have a lower extraction rate so need more time and water contact. Many people feel whole beans produce a smoother, cleaner coffee flavor.
Can you use a French press with whole beans?
Technically yes, but it won’t produce the best results. A French press relies on the grounds filtering through the metal plunger. Whole beans can easily slip past the plunger meaning the coffee would be over-extracted and have lots of loose beans. Using a mason jar and fine strainer is better.
Why does coffee made from whole beans taste different?
The slower extraction and lower surface area contact of whole beans results in a mellower, less bitter taste. Much of coffee’s acidic oils and aromatic compounds are left intact in the whole bean resulting in a brighter, fruitier flavor. The difference is subtle but noticeable.
Enjoy Your Whole Bean Brew!
While less common, using whole coffee beans to make a tasty cup of coffee is totally doable. Just take your time and allow for longer steeping. The resulting flavor can be incredibly smooth, sweet, and nuanced. Keep these tips in mind and brew up a fresh pot of whole bean coffee. Your taste buds will thank you! Let us know how it goes.
