Best Camp/Trail Coffee??

EOE_overland · 02-23-09, 05:36 PM

Gonna do some camping (Cruiser camping) in Kentucky in a few weeks, and I'm coming up with a pack list. Trying to decide what coffee to bring this time to use in my camp percolator. When I went camping Christmas eve, I bought some Starbucks Italian grind, but it was a little too fine and I ended up with a little coffee and a lot of grounds

. Still effective, but a little chewy. I don't normally make coffee with a percolator... so what's your favorite perco-coffee, or really good instant. I enjoy really good, STRONG coffee. But not ready to bring an espresso maker. Any advice?

AJP · 02-23-09, 06:40 PM

I like Illy ... Italian.... I am pretty sure you can buy the vacuum sealed cans with the roasted beans (as opposed to pre-ground) you can then grind for your perc. I find I keep changing brands as one starts to lose its appeal for me ... I think taste buds manage to get accustomed to novelty pretty quick. But the Illy is pretty good.

I am now drinking a lot more tea than I used to ... there are some pretty strong tea choices ... it is light weight and easy to make... boil water - add tea bag - let steep - add sugar and milk as desired. Very satisfying. If you like your tea hot and "black" take some sweet dates along and have one or two with the tea, Very refreshing! If you buy loose tea you can get the little stainless "balls" to hold the tea while steeping to keep the leaves out of the drink

EOE_overland · 02-23-09, 07:31 PM

I like very strong tea as well, and drink a few cups a day at work. Work coffee (super cheap!) has been eating a hole in my stomach. I like coffee when camping, especially b/c everyone else wants it. Illy is definitely good; haven't seen it sold as whole bean. I'll have to keep my eye out.

Milkwagon · 02-23-09, 07:52 PM

Have you ever heard of "cowboy coffee?" Well, use the same coffee you use or like. Percolate it. When done, crack an egg and drop it in the percolator after taking out your coffee "filter/percolator unit." The egg will cook and while doing so, will take all the remaining grinds to the bottom.

No egg taste and no grinds.

kennyfj40 · 02-23-09, 07:58 PM

I have some instant coffee I got in Japan that isn't to bad. You can try some when we meet up in March. My personal favorite is Tim Hortons, my friends in Canada got me hooked on the stuff.

lingo · 02-23-09, 08:16 PM

When they ground the beans they just ground them too fine. Next time tell them that you are going to use it in a perc and they will grind them very coarse. You will still get some grounds in your coffee but it is a perc.

EOE_overland · 02-23-09, 08:41 PM

I've heard of "cowboy coffee," but didn't know it involved the egg. Gonna have to try that one! Tim Hortons sounds good. If it's anything like Molson, it'll be just fine!

IBCRUSN · 02-23-09, 09:57 PM

I love coffee, dark coffee especially. After drinking percolator coffee for years and then trying other methods I won't go back. If we're on the trail and have no electricity I much prefer a french press since you are not boiling the ground beans over and over, they steep much like tea to you favorite strength. If there is electricity I bring along a drip machine, what can I say it's nice to wake up early and have the coffee ready (I don't function well in the AM w/o it).

As for my favorite coffee for now I'm drinking Metropolis Coffee french roast as my mainstay with the second of whatever is freshest at the time. For sure when you purchase your coffee if they grind it for you let them know how you intend to brew it and they will grind accordingly.

Oh yeah I almost forgot....friends don't let friends drink Starbucks.

FJ60Cam · 02-24-09, 12:55 AM

You can buy filters for the percolator that keeps even fine grinds out of the brew and makes cleanup a lot quicker.

hoser · 02-24-09, 01:46 AM

French Press works pretty good.

EOE_overland · 02-24-09, 05:22 AM

French press is good; I'm always worried about taking glass on a camping trip. Plus I only need to make one pot of coffee in my favorite red-enameled percolator to make all the caffeine addicts happy. I had thought about buying a pound of coffee from Contra Caf&eacute - Wake Up With Freedom Fighters (I've been wanting to try it for a while now), but knowing my track record with remembering to order stuff like that ahead of time...

I've never seen filters for percolators? Grocery store? Camping/hunting store?

Corey · 02-24-09, 05:30 AM

Another one for the French Press.
That is how I do it on weekends at home.
I bought an extra press last year for my camping gear.
Nothing like making breakfast over the camp stove and doing the coffee that way.

I use Millstone Colombian or Foglifter most of the time.
I grind it at home very course, and it makes perfect coffee.
I nuke 16 oz of water for six minutes to two scoops of coffee for the press.

At camp it does not take long to boil 16 oz of water in a sauce pan.
Let it steep for four minutes, press, then enjoy.

AJP · 02-24-09, 07:39 AM

"double tap"

AJP · 02-24-09, 07:40 AM

Quote:

French press is good; I'm always worried about taking glass on a camping trip

Agreed! I saw a lexan coffee press designed for camping at a local Outdoor store - apparently unbreakable. Made a lot of sense...when I went back to buy it they were out of stock........

on the subject of coffee --- anyone see the movie "The Bucket List" .. Kopi Luwak ... was the coffee... I suppose if you want to keep your pals from drinking all your coffee you could tell them it is Kopi Luwak ... and describe the "process" .

Jamaica Blue Mountain is also very nice .... and you you only come this way once!!(I'm in Canada -- and Tim Horton is pretty darn good too!.. I see there are also quite a few outlets in New York state / Buffalo area as well)

hoser · 02-24-09, 08:01 AM

This Planetary Design French Press looks trail worthy. I like the fact that it is double-walled stainless steel. My glass french press tends to lose heat faster than I'd like.

Designed as service pieces, the Table Top French presses function as traditional French presses yet provide extreme durability and heat retention capabilities glass presses simply do not.

Constructed of double-walled, vacuum-insulated, 18/8 restaurant-grade stainless steel
Patented plunger press and ultra-fine, stainless steel mesh screen
High gloss, finish
Top-shelf dishwasher safe

The Table Tops are available in three sizes:
20 oz Wide Base: 4 1/4"D. (base) x 7 3/4"H.
32 oz: 5 1/2"D. x 9"H.
48 oz: 5 1/2"D. x 10 1/2"H.

Doug_S · 02-24-09, 11:01 AM

I roast and grind my own. My dad made "cowboy coffee" by boiling the water and coffee together and then, at the end, he dumped in cold water which made the grounds drop to the bottom. It seemed to work find.

With home roasted coffee, you can control the type and darkness of the roast which yields some good stuff. My roaster cost about $90.00 which I feel was a bargain.

EOE_overland · 02-24-09, 12:19 PM

Wow, you guys are serious! I do like french press coffee; that is how I usually make it at home because my wife doesn't drink it. I guess it's a mental thing as far as taking it camping: while I'm packing my dutch oven, I can't picture Daniel Boone sitting by a fire on the Wilderness Trail with his french press by his side. But then again... he couldn't picture most of the stuff I take in my Landcruiser (or the LC itself).
Ok, I'll come over to the french press side. In fact, I can pack my percolator without the guts to use as a kettle. And that will keep me from going crazy as the tube and basket inside rattle the whole trip. So where was the downside?
I'll have to check EMS or REI or BassPro for a lexan press. I too saw them a few times, but I don't remember seeing them recently. Maybe too much BPA in the lexan? The planetary design SS press is about $30- not too bad. Or I could bring my glass press and just not throw it around like the rest of my stuff?

FJ60Cam · 02-24-09, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EOE_overland

I've never seen filters for percolators? Grocery store? Camping/hunting store?

I'm pretty sure I got them at the grocery store.

I have one of those insulated French press deals as well ... probably my favorite device for making coffee while camping. It's faster and tastes better than the perc. The only drawback is the one I have really only makes enough coffee for one person.

knoll0351 · 02-24-09, 03:41 PM

I still take my percolator camping for both the kettle and to make coffee with. I do however also take the french press since my wife likes good coffee, and so do I when she makes it. But the perk works well for the group and if not picky it's easy.
I think we will be upgrading our press also since I am always worried about breaking ours.

Here is a link for some Lexan Presses though:
lexan french press - Google Product Search

Corey · 02-24-09, 04:25 PM

I grew up camping with my parents who always had an old fashioned percolator on the trailer stove.
However as I mentioned above, I have an extra French Press in my camping gear.

Using it is not as nostalgic as the old style percs, but I sure enjoy the better taste and ease of the press.

dtrain · 02-24-09, 06:23 PM

I french press every morning.

Use this when camping... remove handle, boil water, add grounds, add handle. Can also save you pan on the trail.

Coleman - French Press -

donjuanmiguel · 02-24-09, 08:59 PM

You guys are nuts...I like it. If power is available, I take along a mini burr grinder, tea kettle, and a french press. I there is power plus more people, I drop the press and go for the drip. Perk is wonderful but drip is fast and clean.

Aint nothing like a shot of wiskey in the evening and fresh coffee in the morning.

IBCRUSN · 02-24-09, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donjuanmiguel

You guys are nuts...I like it. If power is available, I take along a mini burr grinder, tea kettle, and a french press. I there is power plus more people, I drop the press and go for the drip. Perk is wonderful but drip is fast and clean.

Amen!! I have a spare drip just for those campgrounds that have powered sites. I have one of the Lexan french presses the guys above mentioned which has treated me well. I think I paid $16 for the same one as below.

Amazon.com: GSI Outdoors Lexan JavaPress: Sports & Outdoors

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug_S

I roast and grind my own.

With home roasted coffee, you can control the type and darkness of the roast which yields some good stuff. My roaster cost about $90.00 which I feel was a bargain.

I haven't reached that stage yet. Not to get too off topic but after you purchased the roaster or equivalent what does a pound of good coffee cost you?

donjuanmiguel · 02-25-09, 09:48 AM

I don't want to hijack Doug's answer, his may be different, but on average a lb of green will run $5.5. Roasting your own beans is way cool and easier than you might think given the list of roaters available.

EOE_overland · 02-25-09, 06:30 PM

I certainly don't mind the hijack, but I have a terrible coffee craving now. Every time I check the thread and there's something new about roasting and pressing, I can smell it in my head! I think I'll dig the press out of the back of the cabinet and make some in the morning. Mmmmmm. Coofffffeeeee.

EOE_overland · 02-25-09, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrain

I french press every morning.

Use this when camping... remove handle, boil water, add grounds, add handle. Can also save you pan on the trail.

Coleman - French Press -

I like the Coleman Press; it's all-in-one. Just like my percolator, only without the disappointing ending.

kennyfj40 · 02-25-09, 07:47 PM

I've been using the coleman drip coffee maker that fits on the coleman stove. Works great and works just like the drip coffee maker at home, plus don't have to have power to run it!

mcewan13 · 02-25-09, 11:09 PM

coarse ground flav of the moment + lexan french press + 16oz Contigo thermos mug.

Damn mug will not leak no matter how many times i drop it and it keeps the coffee hot for hours. Too hot actually. I've now begun a routine where I fill the Contigo, drink a cup out of a normal ceramic mug, and then come back for the contigo. 10 bones at Costco.

valentine · 02-25-09, 11:47 PM

My wife watches a couple of kids who's mom works at Starbucks.

She got us the employee discount on a french press exactly like this one.

Stainless steel. Works Awesome!

We also have a couple Starbucks "single serving" french press cups. They work great also, but are kind of hard to figure out the right amount of coffee to put in them.

Scott_sFZJ80 · 02-27-09, 10:01 PM

I use a percolator whenever I go camping and I use fine ground. I just take the regular filter that I use in the mr. coffee machine. Just push the filter in at the center of the percolator until you poke a small hole in it. It works like a charm.

But yet I can never stop singing "it's time for the percolator..." when I'm setting it up.