What could be worse than starting a fresh cup of coffee while at work on a Saturday morning only to realize, long into the brewing process, that you didn’t replace the carafe properly. This begins a series of unfortunate events as brewing coffee spills all over the counter. Worse yet, the coffee grounds have all flooded over the top of the filter and are now resting in the pot.

Normally this is not a tragic event outside of the time spent in the clean-up process. My case is different. You see, I bring a carefully measured amount of ground coffee with me each morning – enough for only one pot. Add to this that I am working alone today and have no way to run and get coffee; you now have the making of a Shakespearean tragedy!

What to do? Ah, time for a little innovation! I created this step-by-step tutorial to help you work through the process in case you happen to find yourselves in the same unfortunate circumstances.

Step One: The Cup

The Cup

Place your cup on an appropriate work space. Be very careful to double check that there are no important papers or homework nearby.

Step Two: The Filter

The Filter

This step assumes the availability of basic brewing materials, i.e. coffee filters. Carefully place an unused filter in the cup and then wrap the edges around the outside of the coffee cup creating a bowl-shaped colander on the inside of the cup.

Step Three: The Paperclip

The Paperclip

Given that this incident is happening at work, it should not be too difficult to locate a properly sized paper clip.

Step Four:  The Puncture

The Puncture

Using the paperclip, begin to puncture through the bottom of the coffee filter, making a series of small holes to allow the coffee through while retaining the grounds. 6-8 holes should be all that is needed to complete the procedure.

Finally, begin slowly pouring the tainted coffee through your filter. It is a good idea to begin with just a drizzle. Then increase the amount you pour once you have a good feel for the rate of flow that the coffee passes through the filter.

It is also recommended that you leave more room towards the top of your cup. The coffee may be much stronger due to the coffee grounds present. You may wish to mix in a small amount of water to tame your morning brew.

Let us hope you don’t find yourselves in such a precarious situation. But if you do, now you will be prepared and can prevent caffeine deprivation syndrome.