With Steeped, all you need is hot water to make delicious coffee.
I first got into specialty coffee when I was an undergrad at SFSU, studying photojournalism and working at different cafes around the city. My freshman year, I lived in the Mary Ward dorms, with just a mini-fridge and a microwave to sustain myself between trips to the dining hall. My coffee experience at this time consisted of the cheapest cup of coffee I could get from the on-campus cafe, doctored with as much cream and sugar as I needed to make it palatable.
That was until my second semester, when I discovered the French press and my dorm room coffee game suddenly went from terrible to amazing. Since then, I’ve had many different coffee set ups at home, each one improving on the last.
Kids these days have so many more options than I had back in the day. (Cue my elder millennial crotchety observations.) Between advances in consumer coffee brewing technology and the prevalence of local micro-roasters popping up all over the country, there’s no shortage of ways to make a delicious cup of coffee on a budget. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite ways to make coffee with limited space.
Just Add Water: Steeped Packs
You can brew Andytown coffee without a machine: Steeped single-serve packs. All you need is a kettle (the same one you use for your cup of noodles!) Featuring the Wind & Sea blend, nitro-sealed into a full-immersion filter (it looks similar to a tea bag) and a fully compostable pouch, you can enjoy a consistent cup of Andytown coffee whenever or wherever you need to—all you have to do is add hot water.
ExPRESS Yourself With French Press or Aeropress
With Aeropress and French Press, all you need is ground coffee, hot water, and a little bit of muscle. If you’re only going to buy one coffee brewer to last you a semester, the “press” options are easy to say “yes” to.
Aeropress: Your Fun-Sized Travel Buddy
Invented by Aerobie designer Adam Adler, this brewing device came into the coffee scene in 2005. First met with skepticism, it is now a favorite among coffee pros for its incredible versatility. It’s an immersion brewer that can cut brewing time in half, and with a little elbow grease and some pressure, you can brew rich, espresso-like coffee or delicate coffee similar to a pour over. The original brewing recipe suggested by Adler is simple, but coffee professionals have had fun creating dozens of brewing recipes. In fact, there’s national and international aeropress brewing competitions that happen every year. Perhaps the best part of the aeropress is that it’s made of high grade plastic, making it lightweight, easy to travel with, and practically indestructible. The largest serving of coffee you can make is about 7oz, and is perfect for the someone who likes making smaller cups.
French Press: A Classic
Looking for a no-fuss brewer that can provide a lot of bass? The French Press may be your match. The first design was by Frenchmen Mayer and Delforge, but the french press as we know it today was patented in 1928 by Italians Attilio and Calimani. While there’s debate about the origins of this brewer, there’s no contest on its ability to brew a strong cup of coffee. It’s an immersion brew method that creates some silt, but it contributes to the viscous body and mouthfeel. The french press can also double as a make-shift tea pot—just make sure you clean out residual coffee oil from the mesh filter!
No Hot Water Needed: Cold Brew
Nothing beats the quick convenience of a cup of grabbing pre-made cold brew from the fridge. The Toddy Artisan makes it simple to brew delicious coffee and artisanal tea, pairing pure cold brew function with a modern, minimalist design. Brew up to 17 oz. (500 mL) of refreshing cold brew in a convenient brew-and-store container that tucks neatly into most refrigerator doors.
The Toddy Artisan brewing system only needs coarse-ground coffee, room-temperature water, and time. After a day of brewing, you’ll have cold brew ready to go.
Our Favorite Budget Grinder: Hario Mini Slim Grinder
We know that a grinder is not in everyone’s coffee budget. That’s why we sell our coffee ground to many different brewing specifications. But if you can, nothing beats fresh-ground coffee. For $40, you can grind your own coffee wherever you are with the Hario Mini Slim Grinder. Put the coffee beans of your choice into the top chamber, adjust the burr setting to your desired coarseness, and use some elbow grease to turn the handle. It take a little bit of time, but you won’t get a better grind consistency for the price.
