---
title: 4 Ways to Brew Yerba Mate with Coffee Gear You Already Own (Ranked)
description: "Coffee pot, French press, AeroPress, or moka pot? I ranked every \"normal kitchen\" way to brew yerba mate so you don't have to guess which one's worth it."
image: https://res.cloudinary.com/cekiuehr/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,w_1200/v1790372390/blog/yerba-mate-coffee-equipment-hero.jpg
---
[Josh Caliguire](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/?hsLang=en)
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Yerba Mate Guides
# 4 Ways to Brew Yerba Mate with Coffee Gear You Already Own (Ranked)
Josh Caliguire · Sep 25, 2026
I research and test everything I recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission on purchases through my links. Your price stays the same, and I get to keep buying good yerba mate. Win-win.
*Your coffee maker doesn't care whether it's coffee or yerba mate going through it.*
I get some version of this question almost every week: can I brew yerba mate with what's already in my kitchen? Coffee pot, French press, whatever's sitting on the counter?
The honest answer is it depends entirely on which piece of equipment you're talking about, and I've now tried all of them.
The traditional gourd is great, but it comes with its own headaches (I wrote about that in [More Mold in Your Mate Gourd?](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/mold-in-your-mate-gourd?hsLang=en)). The fad of Yerba Mate is here to stay, and there are many other ways to brew it than just in a gourd. Try some more options.
So reaching for coffee equipment instead isn't a downgrade. **It's just a matter of picking the right one.**
So here's the full lineup, ranked from what I actually reach for every morning to what I'd skip entirely.
## The Ranking
**1. AeroPress, the one I actually use daily.**
****
This is the method that won me over completely. **Clean cup, no silt, no mess**, and it takes about two minutes start to finish. Here is the [clear version](https://link.amazon/B00RJLnYF)which I love using every day now.
I've got the full explanation in [Yerba Mate AeroPress: The Cleanest Brew You're Not Making Yet](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/yerba-mate-aeropress-the-cleanest-brew-youre-not-making-yet?hsLang=en).
**2. French press, the reliable backup.**
****
Not quite as clean as the AeroPress since a little fine sediment gets through the mesh filter, but **it's the right call when you're making more than one cup** or the AeroPress is already dirty in the sink.
Full method and the tradeoffs are in [Yerba Mate French Press: Recipe & Pros/Cons](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/yerba-mate-french-press?hsLang=en).
If you don't have one yet, [this does the job perfectly.](https://link.amazon/B0fI0fDBL)
**3. Drip coffee maker, works, with caveats.**
This is the one most people reach for first because it's already sitting on the counter, and it does work if you're using a paper filter.
**It's also where most of the bitterness complaints come from**, since the extended contact time pulls more tannins out of the leaf. Why? Too much time, too hot. And sometimes, the paper will clog, and make a big old mess.
I cover the full method and how to manage that in [Can You Brew Yerba Mate in a Drip Coffee Maker with a Paper Filter?](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/can-you-brew-yerba-mate-in-a-drip-coffee-maker-with-a-paper-filter?hsLang=en), and if bitterness is already an issue for you, [How to Make Yerba Maté Less Bitter](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/how-to-make-yerba-mat%C3%A9-less-bitter?hsLang=en) is worth a read too.
**4. Moka pot, skip it.**
****
I wanted this one to work. It doesn't.
**The pressure and heat that make a moka pot great for espresso work against yerba mate.** You get a concentrated, harsh, almost scorched cup instead of the smooth, grassy flavor the leaf is capable of.
If you own one, use it for coffee and leave your mate to one of the other three methods above. [Aeropress](https://link.amazon/B00RJLnYF) is the perfect match. Coffee and tea worlds collide.
## The Leaf Matters Just as Much
Whichever method you land on, the equipment only gets you so far.
**The leaf itself matters just as much**, and it's worth reading [Organic Yerba Mate: Why It Matters More Than You Think](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/organic-yerba-mate-why-it-matters-more-than-you-think?hsLang=en) before you buy your next bag.
**Homework:** if you're still drinking coffee out of habit more than love, grab an [AeroPress](https://link.amazon/B00RJLnYF) and try the mate method this week.
I made that switch myself and wrote about what happened in [I Switched My Morning Coffee with Yerba Mate. Here's What Happened.](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/i-switched-my-morning-coffee-with-yerba-mate-heres-what-happened?hsLang=en)
Much love,
Josh
About Josh Caliguire
Writer, friend, and community builder splitting time between Mazatlán, Boulder, and Alberta. I write about tea, friendship, and the deliberate small choices that make life richer.
[Subscribe to the newsletter →](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/contact#newsletter)
Keep Reading
## More from the blog
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Hello friends,
[](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/aeropress-premium-glass-vs.-clear-plastic?hsLang=en)
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### [AeroPress Premium (Glass) vs. Clear Plastic: Why I Didn't Upgrade](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/aeropress-premium-glass-vs.-clear-plastic?hsLang=en)
I almost bought the glass one.
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### [Ideal Electric Kettles for Tea: 2026 Edition](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/ideal-electric-kettles-for-tea-2026-edition?hsLang=en)
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Josh Caliguire
Writer, tea lover, and community builder. Exploring friendship, intentional living, and the best cup of the day.
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