How to Make Coffee without a Campfire
During a recent camping trip we ran into the problem of being able to make coffee. It takes time to grind, brew, and heat water. Lugging…
American’s love coffee. My friend’s love coffee. I love coffee. It’s the circle of life, running in our veins, and keeps us caffeinated.
During a recent camping trip we ran into the problem of being able to make coffee. It takes time to grind, brew, and heat water. Lugging around a Keurig machine is nearly impossible, not to mention where are the outlets to plug it into? My problem with the standard French Press is the size of it. The list of worries are extensive: heat source, kettle, and the press itself. When you live in an area with increasing fire restrictions (even at campgrounds) during camping season, it makes it hard to consume this comforting beverage. For such a delectable drink, it sure does come with a lot of baggage.
Have no fear, my friend, I’ve tried different methods for brewing and I’m going to give you two recommended ways to make coffee that will save you time, energy, and space. Get your hiking boots ready, we’re about to make this a super simple journey.
Aeropress
This method, was not the ideal method to me, to be honest, due to its name. The name sounded odd. I couldn’t get past it by myself. Let me break it off for you. Try it. This coffee method is worth it. This coffee produces a concentrate like espresso strength. Add water to make this into a beverage suitable to a wide variety of palates. It’s small and portable. No outlet needed. Clean up is a breeze. Slam dunk. All the standard recipes for this brewing method need hot water but let me walk you through my recent experience using cold water at the campground.
On my recent trip I made this with fresh spring water near my campground. The water was cold, not heated in any way. I added my ground coffee beans and water, pressed it. Now I will warn you, it doesn’t press as easily as it would with hot water but do not let that dissuade you. Press on. The result is an incredibly strong cold brew style morning Joe that will leave your taste buds incredibly satisfied. I didn’t have to worry about the campfire or lugging around a propane heater and pot to heat the water either. Clean up was incredibly easy. I popped the ground out of the cylinder and left them to compost at the camping site.
Instant
I know what you are thinking when I mention this: Nescafe. I would never recommend this choice. Consider me a coffee snob. This route does take a little more time in the planning process before you camp but worth it as well if you don’t want to worry about even bringing a brewer with you. I took used Turkish ground coffee and dehydrated them in my oven at a low setting for about 12 hours. The goal is to dry out the grounds so you can use them later. I’ve tried using old espresso grounds, but let me tell you, the grind is too coarse for the purposes we will use later on.
After your grounds are dried and ready to go, it’s simple. Put a spoonful of ground into water (I used cold water again), and stir. Drip coffee in an instant. I added 12 ounces of water but you can add more or less depending upon the strength you want at the time.
Regardless of the method that you choose, the goal was to find one that you could use anywhere in the most wild of settings. The ability to consume coffee should never be back due to lack of a cafe. I enjoy my morning pour over, for sure, but in the camping setting I never want to lug around my glass carafe and expensive equipment. I would cry if I lost it or broke it in the pursuit of a wake-me-up appointment. Now you are ready to get your boots tied and head to the outdoors, unrestricted, and ready for enjoyment. Raise a mug for me and savor the view.