Do you like coffee? How about tea? What if I told you that you could make coffee in a teapot? It’s true! With this fun and creative guide, you can learn how to make your favorite caffeinated drinks in a teapot.

As a general rule, you should never make coffee in a teapot. The materials that teapots are made of will absorb some of the coffee’s oils, which can lead to an off-flavor in your brew. The shape of most teapots allows for plenty of air circulation, which will also affect the taste of your coffee.

Whether you’re looking for a fun new way to make coffee or just want to try something different, this guide has you covered. So grab your teapot and let’s get started!

Can You Make Coffee in A Teapot?

Of course, you can make coffee in any kind of vessel from an old baked bean can to a sterling silver teapot. You have, of course, to conform to one or two absolutes and you must also be willing to make, at least, the same number of compromises.

Coffee made in a teapot will not be quite the same as coffee made in for example a French press.

Coffee aficionados might argue that you should never make coffee in a teapot because the materials that teapots are usually made of (clay, porcelain, or glass) will absorb some of the coffee’s oils, which can lead to an off-flavor in the brew.

The real question should not be “Can you make Coffee in a Teapot?” Better to ask, “Why Would You?”

Why Would You Make Coffee in A Teapot?

Any one of a number of emergencies could lead you to attempt this feat. We will accept that the need for coffee at certain times of the day is absolute, I’m willing to die on that hill.

So once this need presents itself and when you are searching for your coffee maker, whichever kind you commonly use, if it is either missing or broken, you may be driven to the heresy of finding an alternative way to get your caffeine fix.

I am certain that even the fussiest coffee purist, experiencing the need for coffee and frustrated at not having a coffee maker available, will search for an alternate vessel.

So, in this instance, a teapot is the closest thing to hand and desperation has set in. If you have no other option, then making coffee in a teapot it is.

How Do You Make Coffee in A Teapot?

Assuming that you have no other option but to make coffee in a teapot, two methods come readily to mind and which one you use will be a matter of personal choice and will also depend on the availability of certain items.

For example, you can put the roasted and ground coffee in a makeshift filter and slowly pour hot water over the top thus emulating a drip coffee maker.

Alternatively, you could put the coffee grounds into the teapot and pour the hot water in, stir briskly and leave to steep for a while as you would using a French Press, before pouring it into your waiting mug.

When you steep coffee it is like using a tea bag, the water extracts all of the soluble flavors, oils, and caffeine from the coffee grounds.

Both methods require the use of a filter, either on the way in or on the way out. A coffee filter or some cheesecloth can be used to line the spout of your teapot. This will help to keep the grounds out of your cup.

If you are using the first method, then you will need to use a little more coffee than usual, as some of it will be absorbed by the filter.

If you are using the second method, then you should steep for a little longer than usual to make up for the fact that the coffee grounds and water will not be in contact for as long as they would be in a French Press.

This will result in a more natural coffee taste when brewing coffee using a tea kettle like this.

Prepare Coffee Using Tea Infusers

Remember you can also use a tea infuser to make coffee in a teapot! This is a great way to make iced coffee or cold brew coffee.

All you need to do is put your grounds in the infuser, add it to your teapot full of cold water, and let it steep overnight. In the morning, just remove the infuser and enjoy!

Different tea infusers will have different capacities, so make sure to check how much coffee your particular infuser can hold. You don’t want to overfill it and end up with a huge mess!

What Do I Need to Make Coffee in A Teapot?

Well, the most basic requirement is, of course, coffee. Either use fresh coffee beans or instant coffee granules.

When using ground coffee beans It should be coarsely ground because whichever method you use to actually make your coffee in the teapot you need to ensure that the wet grounds either stay out of the pot or, if steeped, stay in the pot and out of the cup.

Coarsely ground coffee which won’t pass through the fine mesh of a, possibly improvised, strainer and should also be resistant to passing through whatever filter you rig to pour over.

A course grind and a slow brew will also make a stronger tasting cup which could come in handy, we’ll chat about that later.

On that note, you will also need a filter. If you are going for the pour over method you could always use one of the paper coffee filters that you would use with your regular drip maker.

You can even use any other kind of paper that will allow the passage of water without collapsing under the weight of the wet grounds.

However, you will need to tape it in position with some masking or duct tape (as long as the tape won’t damage the teapot). You could also use a kitchen strainer as long as it is big enough to rest in the teapot’s lidless opening and not allow the grounds to fall through into the pot.

You have many more options if you are going to steep the grounds inside the pot and then attempt to pour the brew out of the spout. Coffee steeped in this way is more like a French Press coffee.

If you actually own a teapot, it is likely that you own a tea strainer, you can slowly pour your brewed coffee through that or through any kitchen strainer with mesh fine enough to catch the wet grounds.

Now there are just two other important questions to ask:

Will Coffee Taste Different if I Make It in A Teapot?

This will depend on three things:

  1. The material the teapot is made from.
  2. How well it has been cleaned. 
  3. How heavily it has been used previously.

Teapots can be made from a wide variety of materials. Older ones, intended for heavy use, tend to be China Clay, Porcelain, Glazed Ceramics, or even Glass and many of these will absorb the tea.

This can often stain the interior and are notoriously hard to clean. Many tea aficionados will tell you that the embedded stains and flavors will accumulate and add to the flavor and intensity of each pot of tea.

So it stands to reason that such a teapot will also try and infuse your sacred cup of coffee with a tea inspired tang, This is where the use of a course grind and a slow brew will help you out by giving you a stronger and more flavorful brew that will mask any tea taint.

A teapot made of a precious metal such as silver is less likely to absorb tea detritus and thus less likely to impact the taste and enjoyment of the coffee that you have worked so hard to get and under such difficult conditions.

Will the Tea Taste Different if I Make Coffee in The Teapot?

If you are using the pour over method then there is very little chance that your coffee will have any impact on the taste of future pots of tea.

If you choose to steep the grounds inside the pot, however, it is likely that some coffee residue will be left behind and this could impart a subtle flavor to future cups of tea. This is why it is important to use a coarse grind and to ensure that you clean the pot thoroughly after each use.

Final Thoughts

So, now that you know how to brew coffee in a teapot, it’s time to get brewing! Whether you choose to steep the instant coffee grounds inside the pot just like using tea bags or go for the pour over method, you’re sure to enjoy your cup of amazing coffee.

Just be sure to use a coarse grind and clean your teapot thoroughly after each use for best results.

If you are feeling adventurous and want to roast your own beans in a crazy DIY way, then check out our guide on how to roast coffee beans in a popcorn popper! Yes, it can work!