Coffee. Though I have already stated my love for tea (which is undying), there is something to be said for coffee. I understand that many people just cannot make the switch from coffee to tea, and I understand that. Though I do drink mostly tea, there are some days when I am just so tired that I cannot survive without coffee.

But here’s the thing: When I do get coffee, I want it to be good. I am not going to settle for the grimy water that the dining hall tries to pass off as “coffee.” And we do have Brown and Brew (which has great coffee) on campus, but that costs money, and I’m pretty sure that I would be broke if I relied solely upon them for my caffeine fix.

So what is a girl to do? No dining hall, no bought coffee, yet there are just times when it seems absolutely impossible to stay awake and do all of the work you have to do without coffee. And I am not a soda lover. So, here’s the alternative: The French press.

The French press, which is basically a coffee press, is incredibly handy for college students, and anyone else looking for a cheap alternative to buying coffee or for an energy efficient way to make coffee. And, it makes spectacular coffee.

It’s easy: Just boil water (I use a stainless steel electric water heater), put coffee grounds in the French press, pour in the water, and let seep. After a couple of minutes, press down the coffee grounds and enjoy a rich cup of wonderful coffee.

The great part is that the electric water heater is incredibly energy efficient and also very useful. In addition to coffee, it’s great for making tea and soup. Now, it is important that you use a stainless steel water heater, because you don’t want polycarbonate from a plastic one seeping into the water. It has been suggested that polycarbonate adds to the risk for breast and prostate cancer, obesity, brain damage, infertility, and diabetes. The French press is made of glass, so you don’t have to worry about polycarbonates once you transfer the water to your press.

Note to self: The best coffee can be made right in your dorm room.

Lily Berthold-Bond grew up in a chemical-free zone and has struggled her whole life to understand and accept this non-commercial lifestyle. Now a freshman at Tufts University, she has embraced her green life and hopes to share its possibilities with the rest of her generation.