Was that picture taken near the equator?
Topic
Making a Cup from Ground Coffee
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"I don't know when you got out Nick but trioxane tablets basically disappeared from the supply room when the MRE heaters arrived."
I've never seen a MRE. We had K rations and even C rations at times. K rations even had cigarettes in them. Even mess hall coffee was suspect, unless you were fortunate enough to be on an Air Force facility :)
Years ago I bought a one-cup infuser spoon for making my morning coffee. It's plastic, with a snap-closure lid and very fine mesh, like that on the MugMate. It's meant to straddle the rim of a nearly-full mug and steep into the hot water. The quality of the brew is pretty good (depending on the quality of the grinds, of course).
For the life of me I can't find a listing or even a picture of it on the interwebz. I'm pretty sure I got it at REI, but it's not on their online site. I'll dig it out and post a picture; maybe someone knows where to get one.
> To the web site admin
> ****Please remove all references in this thread to instant so-called coffee.****
Boy, I am tempted! :-)
But I take note about Ken's comment about safety.
Cheers
"We had K rations and even C rations at times."
Nick, on the DMZ, we had one box of C rations for the middle of the night, assuming that we were on duty, which we normally were. They always had a big pot of brewed coffee in some nearby command bunker where it was warm, so that was always a big hit.
Unfortunately, I spent most of my time in a commo bunker, and there was no coffee pot. I had to make due with trioxane tablets, a canteen of water, and some instant coffee. You learn to appreciate even the smallest things.
–B.G.–
Report on the Tea Infuser for Ground Coffee idea:
It works, with certain compromises. Purchased a stainless steel mesh "ball" tea infuser at Walmart ($2.50). Can only fill half the infuser, which appears to be around 3/4 oz (in volume) of ground coffee, if you pack it in. I'm accustomed to 1 oz (volume) ground coffee per cup. I tried the infuser with 1 cup of water. Let it steep 3 minutes in hot water. The coffee was good, not bitter as expected, only a bit weak, so next time I'd only boil 3/4 cup water (OR work harder at filling the infuser fuller). Tastewise I think it is closed to a french press coffee. The ball's diameter may present a problem with sufficient depth in the cup for a good infusion, so a narrow cup is best.
I ground the coffee maybe too fine for an infuser, so the last swallow had "sand" in it.
It could work with a few tweaks to technique, I think. A lightweight, low-cost, reusable solution.
Since the tea-ball opens into two half spheres, a secondary use would be to place the infuser over the neck of your water bottle and use it as a strainer.
"Can only fill half the infuser, which appears to be around 3/4 oz (in volume) of ground coffee, if you pack it in."
I assume you say you can only fill half because the infuser opens in the middle, but if you carry a small piece of very thin cardboard/heavy paper (like a matchbook cover or some such), you can fill both sides, put the paper over one side, close, and then slide the paper out and lock the halves together. That way you don't have to limit the water for your coffee.
"Can only fill half the infuser…"
Take enough coffee in a baggie to allow you to bury both halves. Then screw them together.
I see what you're saying…bury the infuser in the coffee, and then you can scoop a full infuser. Or cardboard over one half. Both techniques sound like they'd work, with a bit of finesse.
Tea ball, if you want to see it, here:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Tea-Ball/16565411
Weighs 0.6 oz
"I'd do either over a surface that would allow me to recover spillage."
If you do your overfilling of both halves, and assembly, in a largish bag recovery is automatic.
Even so, you might want to leave a little space for expansion.
NM. Trying to behave.
Here's what I do:
Grind my coffee at home and fill a number of these ahead of time. Fold over the top edge twice and stick a stick through it (just like the plastic skewer that comes with this). Let steep for at least 4 mins. Give it a number of lifts and bobs in the water toward the end….then press out the bag some with my spoon. Disperse in nature (as a great compost-able carbon source…AFTER used for brewing) or simply drop in your garbage bag when done.
I've found this to be the easiest solution for coffee on the trail. The filter bags weigh practically nothing, and this setup makes for no real clean up other than maybe just rinsing out your mug when done.
HTH
-KJ
GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip Coffee Maker
I use AeroPress and other french style presses at home for flavor and process control, but this one can't be beat while grinding through wilds (pun intended). It weighs in at 1/2 oz, can be used with or without filters. Fairly easy cleanup when dried. If you need strong coffee, you'll need a filter to slow the flow. Filter mesh is very fine, so no mud in your mug!
Stows easy in your cookware, small, light and a pleasure to use.
Highly Recommended!
I've used this ugly brown plastic beast for years.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80750
1.6 oz or so, awkward to pack, needs topping up once to make a full cup, but hey, $4.99.
Cowboy coffee is not that hard to learn to do well.
Practice.
In the spirit of UL philosophy, why not replace carrying another gadget with learning a simple skill instead?
…..Jeff,
…..I assume the legs fold under the ring …
Yes indeed they do, light and very packable.
So far I've seen several mentions of cowboy coffee but no real cowboy coffee offered. Here in Montana, where the antelope and cowboys still roam, we have cowboy coffee, and it's yet to be co-opted by $tarbucks. So y'all listen up, ya heah! Get yer pot of water to boil'n. Easy… y'all done this b'fo. Then throw in a hand-full 'o grounds. Cowboys like Folgers from a big can. Then throw in a crushed egg shell left over from the bacon 'n eggs 'n hash browns y'all got cook'n, just don't use one that fell on the ground 'cause the cows have been stomp'n all around and doing their business there, if you know what I mean. The egg shell helps settle the grounds (don't tell $tarbucks!). then add a pinch of salt. This helps mellow yer coffee…and yer day (don't tell $tarbucks!). Take yer pot off the fire and let it sit for a minute or two, the grounds will settle all out like snow from a December sky. Pour out a cup, set yer butt down and prepare yerself to be transported to the warm, amber glow of a REAL cup-o-joe. Happy trails!
As admitted in previous post, I did not try too hard to fill my tea ball to capacity on the first try. Turns out to be easy. Open the halves so the rims are flat horizontal. Fill both sides with grounds. Press the grounds in firmly with spoon. Now close by folding inward.. Virtually no grounds get loose since they've been packed in place. Full strength brew for one cup. Not bitter on 3 min soak, haven't experimented with longer steep yet.
I think I'll go with a coarser ground for tea ball coffee, next time.
Salt in coffee?!? I'll try it.
Hey, Bolster, yes, a dash of salt to a pot works well. I had heard that the egg shells attract some of the oils making the coffee less bitter. I don't know.
Like the above Cowboy Coffee, I found the tea ball to be a bit of hastle. Kind of messy, fairly heavy for what it is, etc. I used one for a while.
Later, I tried finely ground coffee, similar to Clelland's Cowboy Coffee. I broke the baggie one time and my pack smelled like coffee for a long while. It gets into everything being ground so fine. I gave up on it and went back to instant in a baggie. Not real great black, but mixed with cocoa it tastes pretty good.
a subject near and dear to my heart – I can (albeit don't like to) go without a wee dram but coffee is non negotiable. I haven't tried that many methods – have the REI double shot mug which works great but it weighs 16 oz… and is somewhat albeit not entirely single use (yikes). I do need to experiment with taking the heavy steel handle off (which is attached with screws conveniently). Still a heavy alternative.
Use a regular french press on drive up camping. Works obviously great.
Used nescafe and was not thrilled. Tried VIA and it is OK – might have had the proportions off but not sure it was worth the cash…
That GSI rig might be the ticket – a real pour over cup of coffee – although it does look a tad bit unstable. I'd be interested in thoughts on that aspect… the regular pour over contraptions are light but oddly shaped.
I'll give an infuser a try as well – I'll take some finicky in terms of prep.
And I tip my hat to the cowboy coffee crowd. I've only tried turkish coffee and can't get past the inevitable sludge you get – even after it settles there seems to always be some floaties. I get the lighweight philosophy ought to inspire some measure of creativity and sacrifice in the interest of weight but we all draw the line somewhere and at least for now – I have to draw the line at cowboy coffee…
> line at cowboy coffee
Hate to say it, but I agree. Plus, I generally don't carry eggshells in my pack.
Even the tea ball experiment is uncertain for me…depends if a coarser grind actually reduces the sludge at the bottom, still have to try that.
The idea of sewing an ounce of coffee into a coffee filter, and then steeping it, is intriguing. Virtually no clean-up. So far I'm not finding that steeping the coffee "ruins" the experience, but a pour-through method seems, in theory and in practice, to be superior (but requires more grounds to be carried). I think there's a taste/efficiency tradeoff here. Taste may be better with pour-through, but steeping means less coffee carried and more flavor/caffein extracted.
I tried +salt, as an experiment, and was shocked that it works–even a little tiny bit of salt seemed to precipitate the bitterness out of the coffee. Not entirely a good thing, as I rather enjoy a subtle bitter edge to coffee…but something to remember for lower-grade truck-stop and diner coffee where the coffee gets a long percolation and the bitterness is overwhelming. For certain something to consider when steeping coffee, where bitterness is a definite risk.
The GSI Java, I'm certain, would produce a fine cup, with its pour-through method. Do I want yet anther fiddly item in my pack? I suppose so. It's getting crowded in there.
Hey Delmar, check out the coffee aisle at one of your local supermarkets and look for Folger's Singles. These are coffee bags similar to tea bags but larger; they're individually sealed in a foil pouch, so they stay fresh for a heck of a long time, and you can put the used bag back into the foil pouch for packing out. Available in reg. and decaf.
Alternatively, go to a natural food store or tea shop and ask for some bulk tea bags. Since they're about 5 or 6 inches long there's no sewing required, just put in the desired amount of grounds and the excess hangs over the edge of your cup. And again, it's easy to pack out. Happy trails!
Bulk tea bags, eh? Interesting!
Today I tried the Folgers Fresh Breaks (Black Silk), which (as explained in this thread, above) are the direct competition to Starbucks' Via. Made my wife try it too, she's a bigger coffee enthusiast than I am. She thought the Fresh Breaks "tasted like Folgers," which was not a compliment from her. Then I fixed her a Starbucks Via, which she thought was the best instant coffee she'd ever tried. While my opinions were less extreme, they were in the same direction as hers. Via really ain't bad, except for the price, that is.
All the same, will look for these bulk tea bags, sounds promising. Thanks. Is that what Kenneth Jacobs shows earlier in this thread?
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