how to cut coffee weight

(looks both ways, ducks and covers)

starbucks via

Mike Clelland's article on backpacking coffee techniques.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/coffee_beautiful_cup.html#.UbRhyRaTBhA

Unfortunately this was written before Starbucks Via was on the market – I think it is my preferred trail coffee method when camping with 1 or 2. When camping in bigger groups I'll think about bringing a proper coffee brewing method

No comparison.

Only downside is the price.

It reminds me of Esbit vs Alcohol. Esbit is the best, but it's expensive.

Makes an awesome instant coffee single, packaged just like the via, but includes cream and sugar!! For those of us who partake in such blasephemy, of course…

$2 for 10. Love them!!!

The Trader Joes instant coffee is more cream than coffee – far too weak for me. Go with Via or Via Iced!

Community Instant Dark Roast, repackaged into a flip-top plastic container. It's good coffee, and no extra trash from single-serve packets, just add to hot water in my cook pot.

Via is crap. It's main redeeming feature is that it's not bad cold, and thus good for light and fast and/or no cook trips.

If you're taking the time to make hot coffee do it right and make cowboy coffee. Lots of espresso grounds in cold water, just boil, let sit, tap to settle, pour.

Ah, you're coffee snob, Dave. Via is fine. I buy several 6-packs of Starbucks' Christmas blend when they sell them at half price in early February. That sets me up for the summer, on the cheap. Not quite as tasty as the Italian Via, but affordable.

The best way to cut weight on coffee is to just forgo it. That is my usual approach for the backcountry. It has the benefit that when I get to towns along the way or get back home the coffee tastes so good!

When I do bother with coffee in the back country I take Via and think it is fine. I am normally a Charbucks hater, but think Via is good. Different strokes though.

BTW: For those who like cream in their coffee, Nido powder is a great substitute.

Another vote for Starbucks VIA–better and lighter (IMHO) than all other options I've tried.

Cut weight elsewhere. I've seen the look on other campers faces when they all bought Via, decaf, ugh. I had real grounds and real sugar. Like hungry wolves.

Coffee is too important. Take Dave's advice.

Caffeinolics Anonymous!…kidding.

I use an Aeropress.
8.3 ounces with a metal filter. Excellent coffee with hot, not boiling, water. Less fuel than cowboy coffee. Not a lot different from a traditional press. Better filtration. Much easier to clean.

David Chenault > If you're taking the time to make hot coffee do it right and make cowboy coffee. Lots of espresso grounds in cold water, just boil, let sit, tap to settle, pour.

This is pretty much what what you get with the French press. Lacks a strainer but it can be worked around.

When I took coffee, I boiled water used an old yogurt cup to hold a coffee filter and strain. At the time, it didn't occur to me to not use a filter. In the end, I don't take coffee.

I haven't heard of S'bucks VIA. I don't get out much… "Tear open a pack of Starbucks VIA® coffee and you’re halfway to the magical moment that only a great cup of coffee can create."

I suppose I could carry a packet with 1st Aid stuff in case I need to wrench open a pack.

Oh, gosh. I remember Nescafe in school. Trying to mix it with hot water from a tap. Finally licking a little bit of the powder. I wish I hadn't just dredged up that memory…

If you are just looking for caffeine for energy or to avoid caffeine withdraw (headaches), you can use caffeine pills or Crystal Light Energy.

You can get 100 200mg caffeine pills for $6 on Amazon. This is the same amount of caffeine in 16oz of coffee. Keep in mind that most people probably regard caffeine as a diuretic, so you need to drink more water.

Crystal Light Energy packets are the same as Via packets, and weigh 2g each, with 120g of caffeine in them. This automatically helps with the diuretic effects since it's less caffeine, and mixed in with 16oz of water.

To get proper coffee you have to grind it just before brewing, so you should bring a grinder too.

I just use "Taster's Choice" freeze dried which is maybe not quite as bad as some other instant coffees.

I keep my grounds in a old school lexan Nalgene 4oz screw top jar. No odor gets out. Grounds stay fresh. Ziploc aint gonna work.

I'm with Pete. Leave it at home. Go without.

Savage.

Plastic absorbs odors, you really need a glass jar.

No issue with my 20 year old lexan jar. Glass, You're funny.

I find this to be a happy medium between drinking commie via coffee and flossing coffee grounds out of my teeth. Total weight is 1.5 oz.

I use a french press at home (wheech expleens thees reediculous accent oui oui) and find that the quality of coffee to be on par with cowboy coffee…. a french cowboy if you will.

.

In all honesty I do drink freeze dried coffee and I much prefer Trader Joes to Via.

EDIT Ok so my picture quality and size needs some improvement.

I add it (any freeze dried brand) to my granola before I leave home.

I consume coffee for the caffeine. Don't care about the taste.

> You can get 100 200mg caffeine pills for $6 on Amazon. This is the same amount of caffeine in 16oz of coffee.

Each pill provides the same amount of caffeine..?
(The effects of 100×200 would make the paper)
:^)

I didn't know about the Crystal stuff.
Still need to get out more.