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


what's a trip without bad coffee?
Pros: Easy, no mess.

Cons: Uninspired taste.

MELITA ON A MUG

Method: Uses a small plastic filter cup and triangular coffee filters. Pour a scoop of grounds into the filter, place over your camp mug and pass hot water from the top so it travels through the coffee and into your mug. Just like drip coffee without the electricity.

Taste: Tastes like a decent cup of coffee!

Pros: My personal favorite method. A lightweight plastic filter cup and reusable cloth filter takes up minimal room, and the taste you get is of real coffee (unlike the tea bag coffee method). Since you are not filling a saucepan with grounds (only with water), you can also keep cooking. Remove the water you need for the coffee, and use the remaining hot water for boiling pasta or cooking chicken noodle soup.

Cons: Since it only works a cup a time, it's slow for more than one person, plus you need to change the grounds for each cup. Disposable Melita filters are east to clean up, but going for the reusable cloth or gold filter makes for messy cleanup.

FRENCH PRESS

I have friends that so desire decent coffee in the field that they consider this a realistic option. Now that camping supply stores have responded by producing plastic-walled presses, I agree that it may be viable.

Method:Boil water. Add grounds to your clean press, add hot water and let sit for 3-5 minutes. Use the plunger to sweep grounds to bottom of press and pour coffee into mugs.

Taste: A great cup of joe.

Pros: Tastes great, looks classy.

Cons: Very messy cleanup. Coffee in resevoir doesn't stay warm for subsequent cups. Bulky item for a pack, not bad for car camping. Try to find a plastic model, or do like my friend Scott, who wraps his glass press in a towel.

COFFEE SOCK

Method:While I believe actual socks were once used, now you can buy little sacks with drawstring closures for this purpose. Add coffee to "sock", place in a mug of hot water and steep.

Taste: Insipid.

Pros: Lightweight. Easy. Low-tech.

Cons: Messy to get the grounds out of the sock. (Better to just use the Folgers Coffee Bags.)

MISC COFFEE IDEAS

If you're not doggedly determined to brew actual coffee, there are other options. Instant coffee is palatable to many folks. Place some in a ziplock bag and simply stir into hot water. Or try the General Foods International Coffee blends. These are usually sweet and come in

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