Camp Coffee: what it takes to get a cup in the field
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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