---
title: "How to Drink Yerba Mate Without a Gourd (or a Bombilla): 7 Easy Ways"
description: "How to drink yerba mate without a gourd or bombilla: brew it in a mug, AeroPress, French press or cold brew. Seven easy methods and when a gourd is worth it."
---

[Josh Caliguire — Blog on Tea, Friendship & Travel](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog)

# [How to Drink Yerba Mate Without a Gourd (or a Bombilla): 7 Easy Ways](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/how-to-drink-yerba-mate-without-a-gourd)

 Written by [Josh Caliguire](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/author/josh-caliguire) | Oct 23, 2026, 5:12:37 AM

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 buy more yerba for the gourd. Win-win.

**You don't need a gourd to drink yerba mate, and you don't need a bombilla either.** The gourd is just a cup, and the bombilla is just a straw with a filter. Brew the yerba in a mug, a French press or an AeroPress, strain out the leaves, and drink it like tea.

I drink mate both ways. The gourd and bombilla are a beautiful ritual, especially when you're sharing. But most weekday mornings I'm brewing without one, and the cup is cleaner for it. Here are seven easy ways to do it, and when the traditional setup is worth buying anyway.

## What the Gourd and Bombilla Actually Do

Yerba mate is a mix of leaves, stems and **a lot of fine powder**. In the traditional method, you pack the leaves into a gourd, pour water over them, and sip through the bombilla. The filter at the bottom (a perforated spoon, a spring coil, or slots cut into the tube) lets liquid through and keeps most of the leaf behind.

That's it. **The gourd holds the leaves, and the bombilla filters them.** Once you see it that way, it's easy to swap in any cup and any filter.

## 7 Ways to Drink Yerba Mate Without a Gourd

### 1. In a Mug, Like Tea (Easiest)

This is how a lot of people in Argentina and Paraguay drink it at home when they're not sharing a gourd. It's called *mate cocido*, basically mate brewed like tea.

The basic recipe:

- Use **1 to 2 tablespoons of yerba** per mug.
- Wet the leaves with a splash of cool water first. It protects them from scorching.
- Fill with water around **160 to 180°F**, never boiling.
- Steep 3 to 5 minutes, then take the leaves out.

The only question is how you keep the leaves out of your mouth. Two easy ways:

**Fill your own tea bag.** Empty paper filter bags turn loose yerba into a tea bag in ten seconds, so there's nothing to strain and nothing to clean. I like [these unbleached drawstring filter bags](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QHXXLNV?tag=joshcaliguire-20). They're wood pulp paper with no glue, they hold the fine yerba dust well, and they're compostable. Fill a few at home and they're ready for the office or a trip.

<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QHXXLNV?tag=joshcaliguire-20>

**Use a basket strainer that sits in the mug.** If you'd rather not buy bags forever, the [FORLIFE Brew-in-Mug Extra-Fine Infuser](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TYF8SI?tag=joshcaliguire-20) is the one I'd get. The stainless mesh is fine enough for yerba's dust, the basket is deep so the leaves have room to open, and the lid doubles as a drip tray when you lift it out. It fits most mugs and lasts for years.

<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TYF8SI?tag=joshcaliguire-20>

No bag or infuser on hand? Put the yerba straight in the mug, steep it, and pour it through a fine mesh strainer into a second mug.

A kettle with temperature settings makes this foolproof. My pick is in [Blog: The Fellow Corvo EKG Pro Is the Best Kettle for Yerba Mate](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/best-kettle-for-yerba-mate?hsLang=en).

### 2. AeroPress (My Favorite)

This is the cleanest cup of mate I've found. The AeroPress pushes the water through a paper filter with pressure, so even the fine dust stays behind. No grit, no clogging, and you control the steep time down to the second. You can get three or four good presses from one scoop.

The full method is here: [Blog: 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). If you want one that travels, the [AeroPress Go](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YVL8SF3?tag=joshcaliguire-20) packs into its own mug.

### 3. French Press

Easy, and you probably already own one. Steep for a few minutes and press. The mesh lets some fine powder through, so **the cup will be a little cloudy**, but it's a great way to make mate for two or three people at once. Details: [Blog: Yerba Mate French Press: Recipe and Pros/Cons](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/yerba-mate-french-press?hsLang=en).

### 4. Tea Infuser or Gravity Brewer

<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016MZ2OIW?tag=joshcaliguire-20>

A fine mesh infuser basket works the same way it does for loose leaf tea. Even better is a gravity brewer: you steep the leaves inside, set it on top of your mug, and it drains through a fine filter. [This is the gravity infuser I use](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016MZ2OIW?tag=joshcaliguire-20) for loose leaf tea. Its fine filter handles mate well too, though a little dust may slip through.

### 5. Cold Brew or Tereré

Put yerba in a jar or pitcher with cold water, leave it in the fridge, and strain it in the morning. It's smoother and less bitter than hot mate. In Paraguay, ice-cold mate is called *tereré*, often with mint or citrus. My ratio and steep time: [Blog: Cold Brew Yerba Mate](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/how-to-cold-brew-yerba-mate-ratio-time-and-the-gear-that-works?hsLang=en).

### 6. Mate Tea Bags

<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y5KZNVV?tag=joshcaliguire-20>

The lowest-effort option. Several brands sell yerba mate in tea bags. You give up some flavor and you can't refill the way you would a gourd, but it's perfect for the office. The [ECOTEAS organic tea bags](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y5KZNVV?tag=joshcaliguire-20) are an easy unsmoked pick. For loose-leaf options, see [Blog: Best Yerba Mate Bags: Top 10 to Try](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/top-10-yerba-mate-bags-on-amazon?hsLang=en).

### 7. Coffee Gear You Already Own

A drip machine, moka pot or pour-over can all make mate, with some caveats. Paper filters tend to clog on the fine powder, so a mesh filter helps. I ranked every method I tried here: [Blog: 4 Ways to Brew Yerba Mate with Coffee Gear You Already Own (Ranked)](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/4-ways-to-brew-yerba-mate-with-the-coffee-gear-you-already-own-ranked?hsLang=en). Wondering about pods? [Blog: Can You Put Yerba Mate in a Keurig?](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/can-you-put-yerba-mate-in-a-keurig?hsLang=en)

## When a Gourd and Bombilla Are Worth Buying

If you want the real thing, a gourd and bombilla are worth having. **They're made for refilling**: you can keep topping up the same leaves for an hour or more, which no other method matches. And they're made for sharing. Passing the gourd around a circle of friends is one of my favorite parts of mate culture.

A few things to look for:

- **Stainless steel.** Easy to clean, won't rust, and lasts forever.
- **A removable or spring filter.** These come apart for cleaning and clog less than a sealed spoon.
- **A gourd you can actually keep clean.** Natural gourds are beautiful but grow mold if you're not careful. Stainless or ceramic cups skip that problem.

If you're starting from zero, [this gourd and bombilla starter set](https://amzn.to/4wlrYZo) is an easy, affordable way in. Already have a cup? [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083HWLTYH?tag=joshcaliguire-20) for a simple stainless bombilla on its own. For a full breakdown of materials, see [Blog: The Best Yerba Mate Gourd and Bombilla](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/the-best-yerba-mate-gourd-and-bombilla?hsLang=en).

## Tips If You Do Use a Bombilla

- **Don't stir it.** Moving the bombilla kicks dust into every sip and clogs the filter. Set it once and leave it.
- **Cover the filter end with your thumb** as you push it into the leaves, so it doesn't fill with powder on the way in.
- **Use water around 160 to 180°F.** Boiling water makes mate harsh. More on that in [Blog: How to Make Yerba Maté Less Bitter](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/how-to-make-yerba-mat%C3%A9-less-bitter?hsLang=en).
- **Clean it after every session.** Rinse it, and run a thin brush through it once a week. If your gourd starts to smell musty, read [Blog: Mold in Your Mate Gourd](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/mold-in-your-mate-gourd?hsLang=en).

## Quick Questions

**Do you have to drink yerba mate in a gourd?**  
No. The gourd is tradition, not a requirement. Any mug works once the leaves are strained out.

**Can you drink yerba mate with a regular straw?**  
Not with loose leaf in the cup. You'll pull leaves and dust straight into your mouth. Brew and strain it first, then a regular straw is fine.

**What's the best way to drink yerba mate?**  
For flavor and refills, the gourd and bombilla. For a clean, quick cup, the AeroPress. For the least effort, a tea bag or the mug method.

**Why do I feel weird after drinking yerba mate?**  
Usually it's the caffeine, especially on an empty stomach or with a strong first steep. Eat something first, use cooler water and start with less leaf. Here's how it compares to coffee: [Blog: How Much Caffeine Is in Yerba Mate Compared to Coffee?](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/how-much-caffeine-is-in-yerba-mate-vs-coffee?hsLang=en)

**Is drinking mate without a gourd disrespectful?**  
No. Plenty of people in South America drink mate cocido and iced tereré. The gourd is tradition, and there's room for both.

[View full post](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/how-to-drink-yerba-mate-without-a-gourd)

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