I did something I've never done and brought some premium ground coffee on my fall trip.

Since I knew I would be base camping, that meant I could take my time in morning and have a decent cup of coffee instead of single serving coffee packs I favor when I'm traveling everyday.

I hate grounds in my coffee and after some experimenting at home, I found that once of those 2 piece tea diffuser's would hold enough coffee to give me a couple of decent size mugs.

I also found that if I ground beans at the coarse's setting, I eliminated the grounds/sediment issue.

Well somewhere along the line, I forgot to pack that diffuser ball and had to channel my inner McGyver. ;D

I've mentioned how I use those knee high granny nylons to pre-filter my water.
I took one of them and filled with ground coffee.
Tied a knot in it which gave me a round coffee filter pack.
Put in pot with appropriate amount of water and brought to slow boil. When water started bubbling I dunked the granny filter like you would a tea bag.
Once the color was right, I used spoon against the side of pot to squeeze all the liquid out of
bag.

I set used filter near fire pit to dry/drain.
No sediment at all. When bag was semi/dry, I undid knot, turned inside out over fire pit and all the coffee grounds came out clean as a whistle. Burned right up in that nights fire.

Dried the nylon over tree branch and put back in cooking kit.
A great way to re-cycle and simple as can be.
You can turn any pot into a gourmet coffee brewer.

My sister was in the Peace Corp in Columbia. They used an old cotton athletic sock to hold the grounds and poured the water through it.

FYI, It's a good thing they roast the coffee beans before you drink it  ;D
Specially you guys that are squeamish about burning TP in a fire pit.  ;)

Jim J Solo wrote on Oct 20^th, 2014 at 3:38pm:

My sister was in the Peace Corp in Columbia. They used an old cotton athletic sock to hold the grounds and poured the water through it. FYI, It's a good thing they roast the coffee beans before you drink it  ;D Specially you guys that are squeamish about burning TP in a fire pit.  ;)

Now I know why that region produces of the most violent narco-terrorists in the world.

I cringe to think what effect using one of my old gym socks for a coffee filter would have on someone with repeated use, roasting the beans or not. :-? :P

Might start putting TP in fire pits and other crazy things like that. ;)

You proponents of that call us dissenters "squeamish", I say it's knowing the difference between disposing of a "bio hazard" and not potentially adding it to the "fire grilled" flavor many of us enjoy. ;D ;D

I generally throw in some   (You need to Login or Register for making coffee (by the steep method).  I also noticed that they are now making them with draw strings so you don't have to keep track of a clip to keep them closed while you are making coffee.

I set the used bag by the fire to dry and burn the whole thing later.

dd

DentonDoc wrote on Oct 20^th, 2014 at 4:29pm:

I generally throw in some   (You need to Login or Register for making coffee (by the steep method).  I also noticed that they are now making them with draw strings so you don't have to keep track of a clip to keep them closed while you are making coffee. I set the used bag by the fire to dry and burn the whole thing later. dd

I have some of them and they work well too.
I just like the idea of being "green" if I can, works out well becasue I'm a cheap skate as well. ;) ;D ;D

Anyone here tried the heat sealable tea bags for coffee? I use the Folger bags now but was thinking of making my own, Eight O'clock or maybe something stronger, like a Starbucks Italian roast.

For filtered coffee I take one of these   (You need to Login or Register MSR sells the exact same unit for twice the price. I usually use it by mixing the grounds in the boiling water and then straining into the mug. If I can bear the weight I'll take a Moka pot by Bialetti for espresso strength coffee.   (You need to Login or Register

Hey Solus
I picked up the Bialetti coffee maker a few years back on your recommendation and it does indeed make a fine cup of coffee/espresso. The only thing that makes me hesitant, and I have stopped using it some time ago, is the aluminum/Alzheimer's connection. I just sort of shelved it and basically forgot about it........misplaced concern perhaps? Probably should be more concerned about the daily dose through the skin I get every time I apply deodorant!!!

So whats up with you carrying this thing anyways? A guy who counts ounces and likes to single portage! The thing weighs a bit even if it is aluminum.......you must really like your coffee :) 

I'm not a starbucks fan but when away from home, have used their VIA readybrew instants and am fine with it..... gotta say, i love pumpkins, and pumpkin pie esp. but cannot understand how anyone can drink those pumpkin spice coffees. bleh

MT-
There is this solution to the aluminum conundrum.   (You need to Login or Register

You have me worried about aluminum tying knots in my brain. 

The Moka pot is an indulgence, I only take it if I have extra room, the weight I can bear- the loss of space; not so much.

zski wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2014 at 9:33pm:

I'm not a starbucks fan but when away from home, have used their VIA readybrew instants and am fine with it..... gotta say, i love pumpkins, and pumpkin pie esp. but cannot understand how anyone can drink those pumpkin spice coffees. bleh

Heres the deal with Starbucks.......if you get a specialty coffee drink theirs is best hands down. I have taken a liking to cinnamon dulce lattes with extra shots esspresso/extra hot and no whipped cream (which makes it a girly drink;) ). My wife and daughter LOVE the pumpkin spice lattes.....

Now everything is "pumpkin spice" >I got her some pumpkin spice greek yogurt the other day (she hated it).

But if you drink Starbucks regular coffee and dislike their standard brand you simply have to order Blonde roast. Its excellent! Hows that commercial go? Nothing more intriguing than a blonde with a dark past! Anyways, its good stuff........I always ask the person in line next to me what they are getting and thats how I figured out the Blonde roast is good. (Once I asked some Indian cat what he was getting and I ended up getting the same > 1/2 chia 1/2 coffee drink which was interesting).

I take some via on canoe trips as well but try the Blonde variety if your not a fan of their regular stuff.

If Starbucks instants are anything like their regular coffee then  :thumbdown

I usually double up a Flogers Coffee single bag in my cup when camping. Not the greatest but not the worst either.

I'm a Tim Hortons fan or addict I guess. Pumpkin Spice?? - guilty!

I always feel a little peculiar when I ask for the senior discount at Tim Hortons each morning when I pull up to the drive through window for coffee. So...to lessen my unwarranted feelings of guilt I usually bump the curb as i drive away or slowly pull out into traffic with out looking or drive the rest of the way to work at 10mph.

FYI - Wendy's coffee is free to seniors all the time. I stopped for restroom, felt obligated to buy something so got a cup of coffee, free.

But no serious coffee baggers here? I might have to try it next year.

IMO, I think it's more about what kind of coffee and how much you use than the method. JetBoil press for me.

I started tripping with a guy that pre-made coffee in his wife's old panty hose. 2 cups of coffee in each and tie off the hose, about the size of a "puppy" and that's what we called them. Big pot for a big group.

Let's get one thing straight right now. ;) ;D ;D

According to OfficialManCard.Com, no matter how you brew it or where it comes from, there is only ONE way a manly-man drinks his coffee.

  (You need to Login or Register

That's HOT and BLACK.

ANYTHING else your sliding down that PC girly-man scale to Oprah Land. :( :-[

Quote:

So...to lessen my unwarranted feelings of guilt I usually bump the curb as i drive away or slowly pull out into traffic with out looking or drive the rest of the way to work at 10mph.

Better too feel/ appear guilty for getting your well earned senior discount than erase ALL doubt and get that Pumpkin Spice Latte. :P ;D ;D

 

Times are a changin ST.......after my 4 shots of espresso vanilla latte administered at about 11p.m. On the Yuri "fish round the clock for 3 days" offshore boat no one is yanking my man card.........I credit the liquid courage for being the only man up at the rail at 4;30 A.M. With fish littering the deck and blood and guts spattered everywhere. The non-latte drinkers roll out around 7a.m. And look astonished to see me still up ......."yea, they started chewing around 2a.m. Right after you guys went to bed, I was going to wake you so you could help gaff my fish but I know you young guys need your beauty sleep"

It's the EXPRESSO that's giving you your burst of energy, the vanilla/latte part is so people that can't handle the strong/manly espresso experience will buy it.

Sort of like people who drink good booze mixed with a sweet soft drink. They want the buzz, but can't handle the taste.

Espresso think Don Corleone, flavored latte think wanna-be.

Yup, times are a changing, but not necessarily for the better, that is unless your Starbucks or another coffee vendor that can persuade someone to pay $$$$ bucks for sweet/creamy morning drinks that a real coffee lover wouldn't be caught dead with. :-? ;D ;D

Come on just admit it ST......your a dinosaur, probably still have rabbit ears on top of your TV with a bit of aluminum foil to improve reception of your favorite PBS show.  ;D

What is a "real" coffee lover anyways? I like it cold or hot, with cream or black, from a truck stop where its been sitting for 3 hours or freshly ground. But I know whats good and a 3 shot, extra hot cinnamon dulce latte is quite tasty at about 3 in the afternoon. Give me your address and I'll send you a Starbucks gift card so you can try one, you can thank me later.   

I'll admit I'm a dinosaur, but a manly one.
I don't pay for a cable bundle with zillions of shows I don't want to watch even if I had the time too, just so I can watch a few good shows.

I have a digital outside antenna that pulls in more channels than I could possible view, and the PBS shows are equal or better than any/most of that crap you get on cable, unless your into gratuitous sex/violence.

I like things simple and as pure as possible.
That goes for my choice of foods, drinks and lady friends. ;)

I personally think Starbucks/Clones is crap coffee, overpriced and pretentious
Quote:

3 shot, extra hot cinnamon dulce latte

I rest my case. ::) :-[ Tim Horton's/Dunkin Donuts has better coffee hands down.

I listen to that Starbucks guy talk and he reminds me of the Apple/Google/Amazon people.

I call it cult-speak but hey if you really think all those coffee BEVERAGES are real coffee, then drink/pay up all you want.

I like your answer ST...... at least right up to the part where you pass judgement on others and act as prosecutor, judge and hangman. Is it always your way or the highway? Sheesh!

I should add a caveat to the whole Latte scene. The only ones that are worth a dern are the ones Starbucks makes. There must be something about the strong bitter original Starbucks roast that balances out the sweetness of the latte. Throw in a few extra shots and you have a drink which actually tastes like coffee.

I have tried lattes at Barnies and Bigbys and they are a disgusting sweet syrupy mess. Blech! 

I had a middle eastern client who flew for UPS all around the world and he was one of the most gracious persons I have ever met. Before we conducted any business we had to sit and have coffee. Tiny little cups were filled with an ample amount of a very finely ground coffee and equal amount of sugar.........boiling water was added to the cup and the potent brew was quite good with the finely ground coffee basically just dissolving. Several months later I received a package which contained a complete set of the little cups and saucers as well as a few packages of the coffee (Najjar). Although he was an Iraqi Christian I got the distinct impression that such customs were the norm in that part of the world.

Ahem.....are we off track? What was this thread about? Oh yea, lattes.............I think Starbucks has some powdered type varieties much like the via style which would translate nicely to taking on a base camp style trip (packs are sort of big) 

Maybe you guys should cut back a little on the caffeine.

jimmar wrote on Oct 24^th, 2014 at 12:31pm:

Maybe you guys should cut back a little on the caffeine.

Just having little fun Jimmar ;D
I'm just curious and a little bemused on how a guy like yourself who submitted a oft quoted "manly" limerick like you did, would publicly admit to liking Pumpkin Pie spice latte's. :-? ;D ;D

I'll end my posts with a couple more thoughts on the subject. ;) ;D ;D

For people who are not into spending their hard earned money on a $3-4 dollar caffeine beverage, here's a little trick I learned from a couple who are the ultimate "foodies", but careful with their money.

Take whatever bulk coffee you prefer ( Folgers/ Maxwell House/ etc, and after you add your normal volume to your brewing device of choice, add a small amount of vanilla bean on top of it.

You can also sprinkle cinnamon on top instead of vanilla bean if you like that taste. Cinnamon has many good health benefits. You could also sprinkle Pumpkin Pie Spice over your favorite coffee IF that's your guilty pleasure.

You'll have to experiment a little. More if you like a little sweeter/vanilla taste, less if you don't.
Vanilla is a natural "anti-acid" and will smooth out or eliminate any bitter/acidic taste your economy brew might have.
Basically your getting a premium taste on a budget. 8-)

And the second is for people who rather have the cash in their pocket/bank account for their futures and not Starbucks. :o

  (You need to Login or Register

yup, simple math.......trying to get that "Starbucks will make you broke" concept through to my daughter at college. Glad my little town doesn't have a Starbucks. What my town does have however is an authentic Cuban hole in the wall where I can get fantastic Con-leche style coffee for $1 small and $2 for a big cup. I tell them to make it extra strong and tip $1.

Now if I could just apply that simple math concept to my fishing expenditures. Between rods, reels, lures and trips I could probably swing some sort of retirement...... but that would would mean no rods, reels, lures and trips, which of course is a non-starter in MT world. Maybe I'll go make some coffee and figure out how to create some more money.

In my defense, what I occasionally indulge in is a LARGE (not vente whatever it is) Timmy Hortons coffee with cream and a pumpkin spice flavor shot, no sugar. Not truly a latte. Don't even know fer sure what a latte is I guess. I used to drink it like a man, hot and black, but one day accidentally go the wrong order and thought "hmmm this tastes kinda good".

At home I drink the run of the mill brand coffee from an automatic drip maker and I drink it black, but will occasionally stir in a teaspoon of black strap molasses to take off the sharp edges.

Now as to my manliness....I still don't refuse to drink my mother-in-laws coffee, which is the grittiest, foulest tasting, bitter concoction that I have ever ingested.

I advocate pure arabica coffee processed by a careful roaster. Starbucks tends to cook too far and too fast- it creates a consistent flavor to compensate for the variety of bean quality they have to use to sustain the mass.

I'm a big fan of Peet's,   (You need to Login or Register especially the Major Dickason's Blend and the Uzuri African Blend. It's expensive, but can often be found on sale. Caribou coffee's Mahogany blend is also quite good. At home I'm an advocate for Gene Hick's coffee   (You need to Login or Register he's local, a great guy and makes some damn fine coffee, I'm partial to Canoe Blend and the Signature Blend- though the Signature Blend does not seem to play well with chlorinated water.

Quote:

Now as to my manliness....I still don't refuse to drink my mother-in-laws coffee, which is the grittiest, foulest tasting, bitter concoction that I have ever ingested.

;D ;D ;D

DentonDoc wrote on Oct 20^th, 2014 at 4:29pm:

I generally throw in some   (You need to Login or Register for making coffee (by the steep method).  I also noticed that they are now making them with draw strings so you don't have to keep track of a clip to keep them closed while you are making coffee. I set the used bag by the fire to dry and burn the whole thing later. dd

Experianced DD's setup. I think it's the best I've seen. I have the GSI collapsible drip. It's a lot of extra weight for nothing in comparison. Now to find a good clip like he has. :) Thanks Doc

Ordered some Gene Hicks sampler packs today. Sounded pretty good.

jimmar wrote on Oct 25^th, 2014 at 12:41am:

Ordered some Gene Hicks sampler packs today. Sounded pretty good.

That does sound pretty good and a very reasonable price. I wonder if you catch more with the fisherman's blend?

I keep trying to upgrade my coffee situation on trips but invariably I go back to instant for space and weight reasons. But Denton Doc might have pointed me in the right direction with the little sacs and steep method, probably would of never occurred to me.

Back in the deer hunting days we would just throw a bunch of grounds in a pot of boiling water and then give it a stir and let it settle out.......pretty good.

All this talk of high priced coffee.........I drink Maxwell House at home, make it strong and use a press, I like it well enough and don't go broke.

I think the 2 best coffees I have ever had were what was common in Kansas City (several of the hotels had it) I asked for the name of it but promptly forgot and the other brand I love is Babys Coffee which is roasted in Louisiana but I purchase in a storefront in Key West. I have a collection of their T shirts as I dig the Logo.

  (You need to Login or Register;  

I think the finum filter is small light and less hassle than the filter bags. It easily slides into my small stainless cup. I simply throw grounds in boiling water, wait a minute or two and pour through the filter into my cup.

  (You need to Login or Register

jimmar wrote on Oct 25^th, 2014 at 12:41am:

Ordered some Gene Hicks sampler packs today. Sounded pretty good.

received the coffee yesterday. fast service plus they threw in 2 extra packets of different variety for free.  I have yet to try it  but I expect good things.

Solus wrote on Oct 27^th, 2014 at 3:33pm:

I think the finum filter is small light and less hassle than the filter bags. It easily slides into my small stainless cup. I simply throw grounds in boiling water, wait a minute or two and pour through the filter into my cup.   (You need to Login or Register

Geez, could anything be simpler? Rumor has it that you should wait 30 seconds after boiling the water before adding grounds........not sure I am to that level of coffee sophistication (I usually just take instant) and couldn't tell the dif. Adding grounds to boiling water was always the way we made it in deer camp and it was great even without straining the grounds.

The trade off is another pan to rinse? Make the coffee in the oatmeal pan and then strain into a cup? ("That would be correct sir")

What if your entire mess kit is the stainless steel cup as is often the case on back packing trips? Probably back to instant anyways for space and weight considerations.........I have to use 2 of those Starbucks vias to make a decent cup.

Speaking of cups.......while I love my Evernew Titanium pan I despise titanium cups. They are easily crushed and stuff gets cold really fast. My stainless steel cup has been on every outdoor adventure for the past 2 decades, just have to place the handle upwind ;)   

I liked Solus suggestion with the brewing basket and purchased both sizes since shipping was about as much as the basket.

This seems to be the right thinking IMO. The basket is very light but reasonably strong. The smaller size (medium) was bigger than I thought it would be and that will be the size that should interest canoe trippers. The larger size will be regulated to steeping cups of tea on the home front.

Boil water, throw grounds directly in (cowboy coffee) and strain through filter into cup. Presto.......No heavy complicated press, no little bags to fill etc. etc. Thanks Solus, this will be a significant upgrade for me with very little sacrifice in terms of weight or bulk  :thumbup

I have a solo cook kit that includes one pot (a little over a liter) and the pot holds the mug, plastic bowl, filter and spoon. Packed small, but having just one pot was time consuming (coffee- clean pot, oatmeal- clean pot, coffee again), so I went back to my 2 nesting pots so I could do coffee and oatmeal without cleaning or re-priming the stove.

this topic has been worked over pretty well, and i'm just fine with starbucks via instant coffee for camping. butt: while waiting for my wife to finish shopping, found these in the kitchen section at Marshall's.
  (You need to Login or Register;  
packs flat and looks durable. .at 2.49 nothing to lose.  like Solus, one of my favorites is Peet's Major Dickason's Blend. this year, we brew.

:thumbup
You can never have to many good options.
I like that there is no waste with it.