Can we talk coffee brewing?

[ThundahBeagle]

What are you using for making coffee? We’ve had two percolators and we end up either waiting forever and/or eating coffee grinds. Any product suggestions?

Dont you put a paper filter into the percolator hopper? I do, and I dont end up with coffe grinds. Get an oversized paper one, fold it over the top as needed. And poke the corners of it down over the stem before putting the cover on. Love percolated coffe

 

[Bigly]

OK, I will chime in. Cold brew all the way with me. I hate hot coffee and always have. Discovered cold canned coffee with flavors and got hooked out on motorcycle tours. Needed something to perk me up and did not like the energy drinks. Now I brew at home in a glass cold brew filter system but for out on the road, we use a plastic one.

When we need a new batch, we start one in the AM. Depending on the days activities, we adjust the time. If we are mobile, we put the container in our sink and pad around it with towels and it gets a good stirring and we put it in another container then into the fridge. Sportsmobile van for reference. Grounds either go in the trash or out in the woods to compost.

 

[yabodie]

I’m going to be one of those guys. It depends on the day, who’s with me, etc. I have a stove top espresso machine, percolator, French press and sometimes pour over. If it’s just me and I’m breaking camp after I have the espresso. If others are with and I’m at camp, I do the percolator. If I’m feeling swanky I’ll do the French press. The bigger issue is the coffee grind size for the method. But that really does not bother me because I’m in the woods, and I spit out grinds that happen to show up in my cup. Or eat them.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

With the french press I always cleaned up by adding some water, swirling, and then throwing the mix 30 feet out and into the air - try and find a trace... does that make me a bad person?

Well, it MIGHT confuse the drug sniffing dogs for a bit.

I'm sure there's some reason not to do it

 

[ThundahBeagle]

What’s the big deal with tossing spent grounds in the woods after camping?
I never knew that was a no no.

I often toss mine into my garden and was taught it was good for the dirt.

I don’t camp so perhaps I was just unaware of this.

I dont know. I compost at home and add coffee grounds to that, so...

 

[ThundahBeagle]

“I've never been able to find an instant I could tolerate, at least not in the US.”

FWIW, Bustelo Instant Dark Roast is about the best tasting powdered cafe that I’ve been able to find thru the years.

Cafe Bustelo, instant or espresso grind! Some of the best off the shelf coffe I've had in the US! Good choice, sir

 

[rruff]

The most annoying things about pour-overs for me, is that they don't hold enough... so you have to mess with it... and they often don't fit over just anything.

If any body wants a simple, large, and cheap pour-over system... get a Bunn 20583.0003 Black Plastic Funnel. It has a center drip hole and little tabs on the bottom to keep it in position if you are dripping into a thermos for instance. It's $15.01 on Amazon.

You'll also need filters... BUNN 12-Cup Commercial Coffee Filters, 1000 count, 20115.0000 These are $13.89 on Amazon.

 

[Wildcat]

i went today and bought an aeropress based on all the positive comments here. so far first cup was weak. gotta work on my ratios. water is heating up now for second cup. it is definitely easy to clean and uses less fuel than a percolator.

 

[YetiX]

I have always used an aeropress and it's great. Done right, nothing makes better coffee. But when I'm hunting and getting up stupid early and don't want to take the time, I have started using Black Rifle Coffee Co.'s bags. They're like tea bags but with coffee in them. Two of those in my travel mug (yes, it's a Yeti) fill with hot water and I'm good to go.

 

[Dave in AZ]

I got a BruTek on sale 2ferOne at expo west recently, so just $18 or so. It's a sealed french press insulated thermos cup setup, but larger one holds a full Litre. Not super happy, as it does leave grounds in coffee, apparently preground Starbucks is too fine for it... I'm not gonna coarse grind beans for camping. Still getting used to it... my alternative that works just fine, is a funnel and filter, may go back to that. Just have to remember not to change my oil with that funnel!

I also have been testing instant and those Starbucks Via packets which aren't bad.

What totally Sinks the deal for me, is I bring heavy cream! I drink coffee black or mixed, but some actual cream puts anything over the top!

 

[alia176]

I'm now dating someone who drinks black coffee. I refuse to let her bring pre-ground coffee to camping so it's time to grind espresso and coarse coffee!!

 

[TwinStick]

I'm currently waiting for a new Stanley 48 oz coffee pot. Been looking at it for a while and caught it on sale w/free shipping.

 

[laxtoy]

To be fair the AeroPress does solve the mess issue with French presses. It's not really that expensive, $30, for the convenience. I don't like being locked into using a proprietary little disk filter but otherwise they seem OK to me. Not OK enough to actually buy one, though.

I use mine everyday, my wife doesn’t drink coffee, and I just want one very good cup. Fresh ground beans, coconut milk creamer, in my opinion, best cup of coffee you can make yourself unless you have an espresso maker.

I feel a lot better about the little paper filters which cost very little per cup than going the Keurig route, better coffee, less waste

 

[fourfa]

four year old necro there... Reusable metal-mesh filters are like $5, less than a new pack of disposable filters. I've used mine every day for over ten years so the ROI can be quite good.

Just to be fair - one nice thing about paper is you basically don't touch anything, dry grounds + filter go thock in the trash, brush off the plunger, get on with your day. With the metal filter, I give it a quick rinse and shake and put it away damp - so that's one extra step and an ounce or so more water used

 

[YetiX]

four year old necro there... Reusable metal-mesh filters are like $5, less than a new pack of disposable filters. I've used mine every day for over ten years so the ROI can be quite good.

Just to be fair - one nice thing about paper is you basically don't touch anything, dry grounds + filter go thock in the trash, brush off the plunger, get on with your day. With the metal filter, I give it a quick rinse and shake and put it away damp - so that's one extra step and an ounce or so more water used

I feel like the paper filter also removes some oils from the coffee which, to me, enhances the flavor and makes it more "pure"