Camp Coffee

Coffee Brewing over a soda can stove

I think most people will agree that a great cup of coffee makes mornings in the outdoors just a little bit better. Sitting next to a lake, having a good cup of coffee in hand and listening to the woods wake up is one of my favorite things.

I've tried a bunch of different ways to make coffee, and depending on what I'm carrying and how long I'm out, I'll use a couple of different ways. The easiest way is to buy some "tea bag" style coffee. I just throw one of them in a  big cup of water and let it boil for a few minutes. When I'm out for a few days, I'll bring along a old fashioned percolator. I've alway thought a percolator makes the best camp coffee, there's something about having a pot of coffee bubbling away over an open fire that helps make a morning in the woods even better.

I rarely ever use instant coffee unless I'm in a hurry to get moving or have nothing else. when I do I use it, I pre-mix it with powdered creamer and sugar in a ziploc bag so I just have to dump it in a cup of hot water and stir. There are a few manufacturers that make gourmet instant coffee in small packets, I have tried some and although it's not the same as a brewed cup, It is acceptable.

Old timers would often wrap ground coffee in a bandanna or clean, cut off cotton sock and tie it off and boil it for awhile. I intended to give this a try sometime but haven't had a chance yet.  You can always make "Cowboy Coffee" by just putting the grounds right in the pot with the water, boiling it for awhile, then adding a shot of cold water to settle the grounds and drink, although you will often get alot of grounds in your cup this way. 

For me.. camping and coffee seem to go hand in hand while out in the woods, If anyone has any other ideas on brewing it up...Let me know.

Thanks for reading,

N.E.V.