Mortar and Pestle Coffee

I love love coffee, and I especially love love the process of making it

I have whole beans, though I cannot currently afford a coffee grinder

I have been using a mortar and pestle for pour over, not only as a substitute for a grinder but also because of how mortar and pestle do their "grinding". 

As you know, as opposed to a traditional grinder or blender which rely on fast and high-torque driven blades to cut and slice, a mortar and pestle relies on pressure to crush. Both will achieve a (relatively) homogenous product after some time. 

And it's in that crushing I believe it shines! The mortar and pestle ruptures cell walls in its crushing, rather than the cracking and separation from slicing, which I believe adds to the aromatics (It's partly the same reason chopping onion with a dull blade feels like fighting God halfway through the process, and also why pesto making is best left to a mortar and pestle).

It definitely smells awesome. And I've always loved the ritual of preparing coffee. And it tastes wonderful black.