Knowing how to make black coffee takes about a minute if you use instant coffee, and a few minutes more if you brew it. It's just coffee and hot water.
Here's how to prepare black coffee at home in five ways, each with the amounts to use. For what black coffee is and how it fits into your day, see our guide to black coffee.
Black coffee recipe: the quick version
Put 1–2 tsp of instant coffee in a cup and stir in a splash of hot water to make a smooth paste. Top it up to about 150 ml with water just off the boil, then taste and adjust. For brewed coffee, use about 10 g of ground coffee for every 150 ml of water.
What you need
Black coffee preparation needs very little:
- Coffee: instant coffee, or ground coffee if you're brewing. Our guide to choosing coffee for black coffee helps you pick one.
- Water just off the boil: let boiled water rest for 30–60 seconds, so it's about 92–95°C. Water at a full boil can make coffee taste burnt and bitter.
- A rough ratio for brewed coffee: about 1 g of coffee for every 15–18 ml of water.
- A kettle or a pan to heat the water.
How to make black coffee at home: 5 ways
Pick the method that matches what's in your kitchen.
With instant coffee
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Put 1–2 tsp of instant coffee in a cup.
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Add a splash of hot water and stir to a smooth paste.
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Top up with about 150 ml of water just off the boil.
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Taste, and add a little more coffee or water until it's right.
With a French press
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Add 15 g of coarsely ground coffee for 225 ml of water.
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Pour in the hot water and stir.
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Put the lid on and steep for 4 minutes.
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Press the plunger down slowly and pour it all out straight away, so it doesn't keep brewing.
With a pour-over dripper
- Put a paper filter in the dripper and rinse it with hot water.
- Add 15 g of medium-fine ground coffee.
- Pour in a little water to wet all the grounds, and wait about 30 seconds.
- Pour the rest slowly in circles, up to 250 ml. It should take about 3–4 minutes in all.
With a moka pot
A moka pot is a stovetop brewer that makes strong, concentrated coffee.
- Fill the bottom with hot water up to the safety valve, never above it.
- Fill the basket with fine ground coffee and level it without pressing it down.
- Screw the pot together and heat it on medium.
- Take it off the heat when it starts to gurgle.
- Pour about 60 ml into a cup and top up with hot water to taste.
Black filter coffee
Make decoction in your South Indian steel filter as usual. Then, instead of milk, mix 2–3 tbsp of decoction with hot water, to taste. Chicory blends can taste harsher without milk, so a pure coffee powder works better for this.
How to make black coffee taste better
Knowing how to make good black coffee mostly comes down to a few habits:
- Don't pour water at a full boil. Let it rest for 30–60 seconds.
- Match the grind to the method. Coarse for a French press, medium-fine for pour-over, fine for a moka pot.
- Use fresh coffee, and close the pack tightly after opening.
- Try a light or medium roast. Darker roasts taste more bitter on their own.
- Fix strength the right way. If it's too strong, add hot water. If it's too weak, use more coffee next time instead of brewing it longer.
Iced black coffee
Brew any of the methods above a little stronger and pour it over a glass of ice. With instant coffee, dissolve it in a little hot water, then add cold water and ice. The café version is an americano over ice.
Black coffee FAQs
Is black coffee just coffee and water?
Yes. There's no milk and, traditionally, no sugar. If you add sugar, it's still black coffee.
How do I make black coffee with instant coffee powder?
Stir about 1–2 tsp into a splash of hot water to make a paste, then top up to about 150 ml with water just off the boil.
Is black coffee good for health?
A cup of plain black coffee (about 200 ml) has only about 2 calories. What research says about its effects is covered in the benefits of black coffee. India's ICMR-NIN guidelines advise keeping caffeine under 300 mg a day from all sources.
Start with instant, then try brewing
Start with instant coffee if that's what you have. When you want more flavour, a French press or your filter is the easiest next step.