Ahhh, that first sip, watching the sun crest the ridgeline, warming your face with photons and the curling steam from your mug.Unfortunately, chances are high you'll just get a mouthful of inedible grounds.
Brewing joe in the field requires patience. Or dedication to coffee; I'm not sure which. It's not like plugging in an automatic drip maker and zoning into space while a machine does the work.
Sometimes I think tea would be easier, as I ready my gear before a trip. I even take lots of tea bags, a variety to tempt me: Earl Grey, Bengal Spice, mint tea, raspberry...
Yet I know deep in my black coffee-addict soul, that what I will WANT in the morning is java. My next quandary is planning how to brew it.
I've tried everything. I now know what works quickly and what makes a big mess. Here's a review of the options...keep in mind that no one method is perfect.
COWBOY COFFEE
Method: Remove boiling water from heat and add ground coffee. Let sit until grounds sink to the bottom, then carefully scoop out coffee with a dipper and pour in your cup. A steady hand can keep from stirring up the grounds, which I can assure you - you do NOT want in your cup. Variations: adding a spot of cold fresh water to the sitting pot helps the grinds sink faster, as does tapping the side of the pot with a spoon.
Taste: Pretty good, considering the low-tech brewing method.
Pros: A good method for serving multiple people at once, if you have a large enough saucepan or kettle.
Cons: Long wait time for the grounds to sink. Messy to clean up. Very easy to get a mouthful of grounds. There's also a lot of wasted coffee in the bottom of the pot.
CAMP-STYLE PERCOLATOR
Method: Add grounds to top chamber and fill pot with water. Place directly on stove or campfire.
Taste: Like boiled coffee grounds.
Pros: Has that cool, boy scout camp thing going for it. Also you can let it do its thing without needing to pay much attention.
Cons: Messy to clean. Often gets clogged and refuses to brew at all.
COFFEE BREWING BAGS
Method: Place bag in mug and add hot water. Some larger bags can sit in a community pot for multiple cups' worth. Folgers makes a popular line of coffee bags.
Taste: Generally bland as cardboard, but it's so easy to brew that you won't care. There are flavored versions with stronger tastes if you look for them.
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