Coffee and the process.
#1
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Coffee and the process.
Hello
I am in the process of narrowing down items from a list which quickly goes to excess. Coffee is a serious subject for me and I enjoy at least two cups a day. I have always taken along an old stove top aluminium coffee pot camping, but this next trip is solo. I've considered and rejected a French press since the weight is the same as the old coffee pot.
Has anyone tried a cold brew process while on tour? A piece of cheese cloth with string to form a bag. How do you make coffee on the go when travelling alone?
I am in the process of narrowing down items from a list which quickly goes to excess. Coffee is a serious subject for me and I enjoy at least two cups a day. I have always taken along an old stove top aluminium coffee pot camping, but this next trip is solo. I've considered and rejected a French press since the weight is the same as the old coffee pot.
Has anyone tried a cold brew process while on tour? A piece of cheese cloth with string to form a bag. How do you make coffee on the go when travelling alone?
#2
Senior Member
Give Starbucks Via a try. While not as good as drip, it is passable. I believe it is similar to "Turkish" coffee; an ultra-fine grind that makes a decent cup for "instant" coffee.
Last edited by Doug64; 06-30-15 at 10:25 PM.
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Hello
I am in the process of narrowing down items from a list which quickly goes to excess. Coffee is a serious subject for me and I enjoy at least two cups a day. I have always taken along an old stove top aluminium coffee pot camping, but this next trip is solo. I've considered and rejected a French press since the weight is the same as the old coffee pot.
Has anyone tried a cold brew process while on tour? A piece of cheese cloth with string to form a bag. How do you make coffee on the go when travelling alone?
I am in the process of narrowing down items from a list which quickly goes to excess. Coffee is a serious subject for me and I enjoy at least two cups a day. I have always taken along an old stove top aluminium coffee pot camping, but this next trip is solo. I've considered and rejected a French press since the weight is the same as the old coffee pot.
Has anyone tried a cold brew process while on tour? A piece of cheese cloth with string to form a bag. How do you make coffee on the go when travelling alone?
I take it camping, fishing, hiking, boating, biking, on flights, anywhere. people dont understand coffee most places, so i ensure a decent cup this way. Pre grind the coffee or find a hario hand crank burr grinder. sweetness.
#4
#5
Or you could look for a plastic French press. Mine weighs very little. Certainly not as much as an aluminum stop top pot. And you drink straight from it. Keeps the coffee hot for a long time on those cold mornings.
#6
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Another Via user. Good stuff. Can be added to a water bottle, too. OTOH, some people tour with aluminum lawn chairs. Whatever.
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Thanks for the responses.
I've seen the star bucks stuff and could do that as an emergency. I have a travel cup/press but I have the stainless version and it's kinda heavy. For personal reasons I don't want to pack disposable products. But now I'm thinking maybe a reusable basket filter is not to heavy. Like this one, Amazon link.
Thanks for the help with this one.
I've seen the star bucks stuff and could do that as an emergency. I have a travel cup/press but I have the stainless version and it's kinda heavy. For personal reasons I don't want to pack disposable products. But now I'm thinking maybe a reusable basket filter is not to heavy. Like this one, Amazon link.
Thanks for the help with this one.
#8
Senior Member
For backpacking I just take Via, sugar, and Nido (dried whole milk powder). For bike tours I always don't take even that and sometimes rely on getting my coffee at diners. I never go without my coffee at home, but on tour if I miss a day or even two it isn't the end of the world. If I miss my coffee I treat myself to some good dark chocolate.
#9
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#10
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I've been considering trying this, although if the Bodum is too heavy, this doesn't look like it will save you any weight.
I use a collapsible filter, this one, and an insulated cup. It does use paper filters, so that's one more thing to carry. I usually grind my coffee at the point of purchase and carry a couple days worth with me.
I use a collapsible filter, this one, and an insulated cup. It does use paper filters, so that's one more thing to carry. I usually grind my coffee at the point of purchase and carry a couple days worth with me.
#11
#12
Bye Bye
Via...
Although I've thought about bringing along a little wire filter holder, as well as the MSR or similar in the cup filters... but... I hand grind my beans and brew them straight away in a Chemex. I won't be bringing a grinder, and unless I'm only going out for a night or two, I don't really want to have ground coffee with me... so, Via is the next best, albeit strange, substitute.
But it works. Its not the sit around the fire or breakfast table and really breathe in the aroma, and enjoy the process and atmosphere sort of coffee... its the - warm, caffeinated drink that I only use camping sort of thing.
Although I've thought about bringing along a little wire filter holder, as well as the MSR or similar in the cup filters... but... I hand grind my beans and brew them straight away in a Chemex. I won't be bringing a grinder, and unless I'm only going out for a night or two, I don't really want to have ground coffee with me... so, Via is the next best, albeit strange, substitute.
But it works. Its not the sit around the fire or breakfast table and really breathe in the aroma, and enjoy the process and atmosphere sort of coffee... its the - warm, caffeinated drink that I only use camping sort of thing.
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So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
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Though it's the best substitute I've found, contrary to what a lot of people say Starbucks via is NOT coffee, it's a warm beverage. Came to this conclusion on my last tour when I decided to leave the French press at home. Horrible idea.
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My current setup is the bottom third of a 24oz beer can with about 8 tiny holes drilled around the bottom edge. It fits the top of my Camelbak Forge travel mug perfectly. I put a coffee filter into it, a few scoops of ground coffee to make a good cup of pour-over coffee.
A few years ago, I made a percolator to fit into my cooking pot out of beer cans:
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/71...l#post12552867
A few years ago, I made a percolator to fit into my cooking pot out of beer cans:
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/71...l#post12552867
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In that same thread, I found my old recipe for instant coffee that I prefer over Via.
It doesn't have the same caffeine kick that brewed coffee has, but it got me by on a few mornings, until I got underway and found a place to buy a decent cup.
I can't stand Starbucks coffee so Via is out.
Here's my recipe for a decent 16 oz cup of instant coffee:
1 Tablespoon of Medaglia D'Oro instant espresso
1 Tablespoon of Nescafe Classico instant coffee
1 Tablespoon of Nido powdered whole milk
7 sugar cubes (cubes pack smaller than loose sugar) - I like lots of sugar
Combined into small zip-lock baggies (3"x4", from the jewelry/craft aisle at Wal-Mart) at home.
I use a leak-proof travel mug, so it gets a pretty good shaking to mix it. I've had spotty results when trying to stir it with a spoon.
Here's my recipe for a decent 16 oz cup of instant coffee:
1 Tablespoon of Medaglia D'Oro instant espresso
1 Tablespoon of Nescafe Classico instant coffee
1 Tablespoon of Nido powdered whole milk
7 sugar cubes (cubes pack smaller than loose sugar) - I like lots of sugar
Combined into small zip-lock baggies (3"x4", from the jewelry/craft aisle at Wal-Mart) at home.
I use a leak-proof travel mug, so it gets a pretty good shaking to mix it. I've had spotty results when trying to stir it with a spoon.
#17
Senior Member
MMACH5 mentioned that they "can't stand Starbucks coffee so Via is out". I too typically don't like Starbucks coffee as they prepare it, but find both Via and beans purchased from Starbucks and brewed at home to be different. I find Via to not be great but to be acceptable in a pinch.
Not sure about Medaglia D'Oro instant espresso since I have not tried it, but I found Nescafe Classico to be awful. Maybe it is better in your mixture though.
BTW, on a different note, for me nothing sucks as bad as McDonalds coffee. I find it completely undrinkable and even loading it up with extra cream and sugar can't mask the nasty taste.
Not sure about Medaglia D'Oro instant espresso since I have not tried it, but I found Nescafe Classico to be awful. Maybe it is better in your mixture though.
BTW, on a different note, for me nothing sucks as bad as McDonalds coffee. I find it completely undrinkable and even loading it up with extra cream and sugar can't mask the nasty taste.
#18
When was the last time you tried it? A few years back they switched from (what I thought was) undrinkable sludge served at a temperature slightly hotter than the sun's core, to what I find to be quite reasonable coffee. I hate the McDonalds corporation, but to be fair, I don't mind their coffee.
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Here is my favorite prep method while backpacking, canoeing, or touring:
O.D.Compact Dripper 4 | Montbell America
I pour through directly into a Nalgene, or large mug, depending on how much I brew.
O.D.Compact Dripper 4 | Montbell America
I pour through directly into a Nalgene, or large mug, depending on how much I brew.
#20
Senior Member
When was the last time you tried it? A few years back they switched from (what I thought was) undrinkable sludge served at a temperature slightly hotter than the sun's core, to what I find to be quite reasonable coffee. I hate the McDonalds corporation, but to be fair, I don't mind their coffee.
#21
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MMACH5 mentioned that they "can't stand Starbucks coffee so Via is out". I too typically don't like Starbucks coffee as they prepare it, but find both Via and beans purchased from Starbucks and brewed at home to be different. I find Via to not be great but to be acceptable in a pinch.
Not sure about Medaglia D'Oro instant espresso since I have not tried it, but I found Nescafe Classico to be awful. Maybe it is better in your mixture though.
BTW, on a different note, for me nothing sucks as bad as McDonalds coffee. I find it completely undrinkable and even loading it up with extra cream and sugar can't mask the nasty taste.
Not sure about Medaglia D'Oro instant espresso since I have not tried it, but I found Nescafe Classico to be awful. Maybe it is better in your mixture though.
BTW, on a different note, for me nothing sucks as bad as McDonalds coffee. I find it completely undrinkable and even loading it up with extra cream and sugar can't mask the nasty taste.
As for McDonald's coffee, I'm not a big fan. I'm not a big fan of iced coffee either. However, McDonald's Café iced coffee doesn't suck.
Any time I order it, I have to argue with the cashier. They always ask, "What flavor?"
I say, "No flavor. Just sweetener."
They fumble around and sometimes have to get a manager to show them how to get the register to ring up without picking a flavor.
One day, (admittedly when I was shorter tempered than usual) the cashier said, "No, you HAVE to pick a flavor."
"Watch me not pick a flavor." And I walked out the door.
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I have a little plastic filter I picked up at REI that sits down in a pot of boiling water to steep. Weighs next to nothing and tiny. I put it in the same one pint pot that I cook other stuff in. So that and a cup and some ground coffee puts me in business.
#23
Bike touring webrarian
I only drink coffee when I tour, as much for the buzz as for any endurance effects. I don't pack it. I drink it when I get breakfast. If it isn't available, I go without.
Here is an interesting article at travellingtwo.com about a method for making coffee in pot without any other equipment: Making The Perfect Camp Coffee | TravellingTwo: Bicycle Touring Around The World
There are also additional ideas in the comments section.
Here is an interesting article at travellingtwo.com about a method for making coffee in pot without any other equipment: Making The Perfect Camp Coffee | TravellingTwo: Bicycle Touring Around The World
There are also additional ideas in the comments section.
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Instant. Not fancy, not gourmet, but it is fast and easy.
If you are a snob, instant expresso.
https://www.amazon.com/Medaglia-DOro-.../dp/B002BTI9B0
If you are a snob, instant expresso.
https://www.amazon.com/Medaglia-DOro-.../dp/B002BTI9B0