Safe ways to make coffee, tea and hot drinks in a power outage: camp stove outdoors, French press, thermos and carbon monoxide rules.
- Anything that burns fuel stays outdoors, with no exceptions.
- A French press, pour-over cone or instant coffee works with nothing but hot water.
- Fill a thermos while the stove is on to save fuel and avoid relighting later.
When the power is out, a hot drink does more than wake you up. It warms you, gives you a break and helps morale in a cold house. Making one is easy once you have a safe heat source and a simple brewing method.
The one rule that overrides everything else: any device that burns fuel stays outdoors. That includes camp stoves, propane burners, charcoal and barbecues. They produce carbon monoxide, which is invisible and can be deadly. Read carbon monoxide safety in a power outage before you light anything.
Safe ways to heat water
- Camp stove or propane burner outdoors. Set it on a stable, level surface away from the house, walls, overhangs, trees and anything that can burn, and stay with it. Do not cook in a garage, even with the door open. See how to use a camp stove safely.
- Outdoor barbecue. A gas or charcoal barbecue can boil a kettle outdoors, again well away from the house. Never bring a hot or smouldering grill inside.
- A power station and a small electric kettle. A kettle draws a lot of power for a short time, so check the kettle's wattage against your station's output rating first. See what size power station you need.
- Your gas range, if it lights manually. Some gas stoves can be lit with a match during an outage, but only if the manufacturer says so and the room is well ventilated. Never use a stove or oven to heat the home, and never leave it unattended. If you smell gas, leave and call the gas company or emergency number.
- A wood stove top. If you already have a properly installed wood stove, a pot or kettle can sit on top. See wood stove and fireplace safety.
Our broader guide to cooking without power covers the stove options in more detail.
Coffee methods that need no electricity
An electric drip machine is useless in an outage, but several simple methods work with just hot water.
- French press. Add coffee grounds, pour in hot water, let it steep for a few minutes, then press. It is the easiest backup because it has no paper filter and no power need.
- Pour-over cone. A plastic or ceramic cone with paper filters sits on a mug. Pour hot water slowly over the grounds.
- Cowboy coffee. Stir grounds into a pot of hot water, let them settle, then pour carefully. Not elegant, but it works with any pot.
- Percolator or stovetop pot. Many can be used on a camp stove outdoors, if the manufacturer allows it.
- Instant coffee. Lightweight, long-lasting and the simplest option of all. Keep a jar in your pantry.
- Coffee bags. These work like tea bags and need only a mug and hot water.
If you grind your own beans, a manual hand grinder is a cheap and reliable backup. Otherwise, buy ground coffee and store it in an airtight container.
Tea, cocoa and other hot drinks
Tea bags, hot chocolate mix, powdered milk and instant soup all work with just hot water and store well. They are also good choices for kids. Hot broth or bouillon counts as a drink and as a way to get salt and calories when you are cold and tired.
Shelf-stable or powdered milk is handy if you take milk in drinks and the fridge is not reliable. For ideas about food that keeps, see best no-cook foods for a power outage.
Use a thermos to stretch your fuel
Heating water takes fuel. If you boil more than you need once, you can fill an insulated flask or thermos and use it for the next several hours. This saves fuel and means you can make a hot drink in the middle of the night without lighting a stove in the dark.
- Boil a larger pot of water outdoors in daylight if possible.
- Fill the thermos right away, leaving no gap, and close it tightly.
- Use the water within the day for coffee, tea, instant meals or a hot water bottle.
Water and safety checks
- If your tap water may be unsafe, treat it first. Boiling or treating with approved methods is covered in how to purify water in an emergency.
- Let hot water cool a little before pouring. Burns from boiling water are common in dark kitchens.
- Use a headlamp or lantern rather than a candle near the stove. See headlamps and lanterns.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby when cooking with any flame outdoors.
- Keep children and pets away from the stove area.
Quick answers
Can I use my gas stove to make coffee during an outage?
Some gas ranges can be lit manually, but check your manual and ventilate the room. Never leave it unattended and never use it to heat the home.
What is the best coffee backup for an outage?
A French press or instant coffee are the simplest, since both need only hot water. Which is best for you depends on taste and how much gear you want to store.