Freshly Ground Coffee on a Shoestring

If you love the taste of freshly ground coffee but can't justify spending money on a coffee machine I have the perfect solution for you.

A good quality automatic coffee machine with a built in grinder is going to set you back at least $800; you might be able to find something cheaper but it probably wouldn't last long. There's a low cost alternative to making freshly ground coffee however, in the form of a Plunger and a Grinder.

If you live on your own like I do, or you only drink a few cups of coffee a day, then you may not be able to justify the expense of a coffee machine. Using a coffee bean grinder and plunger (also known as a French Press, Coffee Press or Cafetiere) is a simple and cheap solution for making fresh coffee.

You can buy small coffee plungers but I suggest you go for an 8 cup (1ltr) or 12 cup (1.5ltr) plunger; that way you've always got extra room if you need it for guests and dinner parties. Also bear in mind that a cup is actually quite small and most people's idea of a cup is actually a mug.

You can pick up a good grinder and 8 cup plunger for under $70 in total; that's what I call a great money saving alternative to a coffee machine ;)

Here are some tips to help you make the perfect cup of coffee with a grinder and plunger (plus links to stores that sell plungers and grinders below):

• Always grind your coffee on demand (oxygen is the biggest enemy of fresh coffee)
  
  
• The amount of coffee beans required for each cup depends on your personal preferences and size of your cup really; you may need to experiment a bit before you get the perfect strength. I use 2 tablespoons (30ml) of beans for one cup; my cup size is about 200ml plus milk; although I usually use enough water to give me about a cup and a half of coffee.
  
  
• Don't grind your coffee too fine or you'll end up with sediment in the cup; medium grind is about right.
  
  
• Always use freshly boiled water but wait 60 seconds before filling the plunger (tea likes water right off the boil but coffee doesn't).
  
  
• Pre-heat your plunger and cups with some boiled water.
  
  
• Add your coffee to the plunger, pour the hot water in and give it a stir (don't use something metal as you risk breaking the glass)
  
  
• You only need to let the coffee to brew for 2-3 minutes; then push the plunger down slowly and serve immediately into your pre-warmed cups.
  

Tip: You can wrap a tea towel around your coffee plunger to keep it warmer for longer; especially useful if you've made enough for a couple of cups.

Alfresco Emporium have a good range of Coffee Makers & Pots from 8 to 12 cup, including Bodum and KitchenAid.

Bodum French Press $39.95

Shop Online for All Coffee Makers & Pots at Alfresco Emporium

Wishlist have Coffee Grinders from $49.95 including Breville, Kenwood and Krups. 

Breville Coffee n' Spice Grinder - CG2B $49.95

Shop Online for All Coffee Grinders at Wishlist

Related Online Shopping Update: The Biggest Choice of Coffee Machines to Buy Online