I make my own kefir and do not have a yogurt machine either. I use an all glass hinged jar (bought it especially for kefir and culture veggies from the container store - pretty cheap). I buy my kefir grains from the body ecology website and they have full instructions on how to do it. For milk kefir, you leave it on the counter for about 3-4 days. I prefer young coconut kefir and I leave it on the counter for abou a 1- 1 1/2 days which is all it takes. I even like the taste of the coconut kefir, very refreshing and gives me a jolt of energy, so have just recently stopped taking it before bedtime.