Walking Forum
Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: Breakintheclouds on 21:20:30, 10/03/11
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Please share your suggestions for lightweight coffee making! I really like having nice coffee in the mornings, but also like travelling as light as possible. In the past I've tried a tiny stove-top espresso maker (didn't work very well), coffee bags (very convenient, but dreadful coffee) and cowboy coffee (still picking the grinds out of my teeth). There must be a better way!
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Go outdoors sell an aladdin mug which you can make fresh coffee in, combination of a cafetiere and a flask. I use a cafetiere mug, carry a stove and i can make fresh coffee and drink it all in one mug. Try http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/aladdin-travel-press-p145033 (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/aladdin-travel-press-p145033) or http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smartcafe-Cafetiere-Hot-Mug-Red/dp/B0007MTNH2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299792397&sr=8-2 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smartcafe-Cafetiere-Hot-Mug-Red/dp/B0007MTNH2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299792397&sr=8-2). Both are available in different colours.
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If you use jetboil they do a press aswell http://shop.jetboil.com/index.php/coffee-press.html (http://shop.jetboil.com/index.php/coffee-press.html)
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Thanks for the quick suggestions. I should probably have said that I'm already carrying a meths stove and a pot, which doubles as my mug. So I'd prefer not to carry another mug or similar, if there's another option.
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Please share your suggestions for lightweight coffee making! I really like having nice coffee in the mornings, but also like travelling as light as possible. In the past I've tried a tiny stove-top espresso maker (didn't work very well), coffee bags (very convenient, but dreadful coffee) and cowboy coffee (still picking the grinds out of my teeth). There must be a better way!
I love good coffee too, but on a walk or wild camping i can make do with instant. Real coffee seems like a lot of palaver when walking. Of course if you dress to dine when camping, then surely the butler can carry a small percolator?
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Now don't dismiss this out of hand. My previous hairdresser does filter coffee with one of those plastic moulded things that has the coffee already in them. Single use, they stack together and don't weigh much.
Or what about some small filter papers and a funnel - chop most of the tube off the funnel so it will sit in your mug.
I use the coffee pods in my flask (2 of them in a 500ml flask) and you can get different varieties to suit your taste, but don't forget the water will affect the flavour.
Or what about a campaign for a Starbucks on every mountain top ;D
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I've used these in the past. Not bad...
http://www.coffeeperfection.com/coffee-bags.php (http://www.coffeeperfection.com/coffee-bags.php)
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How about Starbucks VIA Readybrew Italian Roast 8)
from Tesco etc
2.99 for 7 sachets
Just add hot water
Jobs a good un
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Now don't dismiss this out of hand. My previous hairdresser does filter coffee with one of those plastic moulded things that has the coffee already in them. Single use, they stack together and don't weigh much.
Those plastic cup things with coffee in the bottom are actually very good, and weigh next to nothing. As mentioned though it really wouldn't be difficult to take a small plastic funnel a filter or two and a small bag of ground coffee - just pour on the nearly boiling water.
Rob.
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I just take Kenko 3-1 mix about £2 for ten sachets or if you don,t take sugar 2-1,s top tasting coffee just add water, job done !.
Chris
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I just steel the instant coffee sachets from any B&B or hotel room I ever visit, or from any conference I go on, or from anywhere else I can get them..... in fact Wetherspoons have been a superb source of all the condiments I need for about 5 years now O0
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You may fancy something similar to the MSR mugmate i think its called. The manufacturer is Finum, available here in the UK from The Blending Room at half the price!
http://www.theblendingroom.co.uk/tea-equipment-tea-infusers-c-5_30.html
Around £7 gets you a pretty good ultralight brew basket. Dont forget though, the fresher & better the coffee, the better the grind, gets you a coffee you cant imagine. I use fresh roasted...within 4 weeks, and fresh ground on a burr grinder.
Or as mentioned, try the foil packed coffee brewers. Ive had some nice coffee out of those, but not as good as FRESH.
Powered by Espresso :D
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I've started using the Lloyds Coffee Bags, which make a nice brew. Individual foil packed - a great smell when opening up first thing on a camp!! I'm on the look out though for a stronger tasting version at the moment.
Alternatively I may experiment using a tied gauze bag (tied up with string like a bouquet garni) with some cafetiere coffee in it.
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I've started using the Lloyds Coffee Bags, which make a nice brew. Individual foil packed - a great smell when opening up first thing on a camp!! I'm on the look out though for a stronger tasting version at the moment.
Alternatively I may experiment using a tied gauze bag (tied up with string like a bouquet garni) with some cafetiere coffee in it.
Gauze or muslin would probably work ok for that. Probably quite messy hence filter paper in a funnel might be cleaner (and it's biodegradable).
Rob.
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I have an MSR(?) indesructable coffee filter which is tiny and needs no papers. An essential item for bivvys and lightweight camping. Highly recommended. Expensive but very definitely worth it!
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I have used the coffee bags too, and they taste great.
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As a result of making up a lightweight cookset in anticipation of heading for the hills, and remembering how disgusting instant coffee is, I thought that I would revive this long dead thread.
I tried just throwing in a spoonful or two of ground coffee into the bottom of a mug, Turkish Coffee style, but the grounds are steeped in the hot water for a long time, and the resulting brew gets impossibly strong - strong enough to make me shudder. And then there are the grounds to avoid, and then deal with.
So I decided to make my own coffee bag by putting a couple of teaspoonfuls of ground coffee into a filter, folding it over a couple of times and then securing with a staple - works a treat when plonked into a mug of boiling hot water - the perfect cup of ground black coffee.
Anyone else do anything similar, or have other solutions that don't involve buying/carrying extra gear?
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I love good coffee too, but on a walk or wild camping i can make do with instant. Real coffee seems like a lot of palaver when walking. Of course if you dress to dine when camping, then surely the butler can carry a small percolator?
I have, on the odd occasion, dressed to dine while camping but I am afraid that I neglected to ask the steward how the chef had made the coffee that we had before the port. Sorry O0
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I saw the other day a company that does coffee bags that you fill yourself and then seal.
Have a look at stick coffee infusers:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hemoton-Strainer-Stainless-Portable-Infuser/dp/B0827ZKZ8X/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1TE7H4ZIT36Y4&dchild=1&keywords=stick+coffee+infuser&qid=1616163956&sprefix=stick+coff%2Ckitchen%2C174&sr=8-6
I got my one (similar Principal to this one) from Asda a few years back.
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As (mainly) a tea drinker I feel like an observer rather than a participant in this thread!
However; well done all round, loads of different solutions to the problem, tailored to circumstances and our varied tastes. Very impressive, award yourselves a gold star O0
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Many years ago before we had even heard of or bought our own cafetiere and then a coffee machine with grinder, we had Lyons Coffee Bags as a treat, we thought they were wonderful! ;D I expect now they will be inferior to what we are used to. I just googled as I didn’t even know if they are still made but I see they are and others make them too. Taylors have different strengths, I wonder if they may be good enough to take on a trip. I now hate instant coffee and if that’s all that’s available I will have a cup of tea instead. O0
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I saw the other day a company that does coffee bags that you fill yourself and then seal.
Speedster Backpacking Products (better known for their meths burners and windshields), sell them individually! I suppose what I have done is the same. Might look at an infuser.
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As (mainly) a tea drinker I feel like an observer rather than a participant in this thread!
However; well done all round, loads of different solutions to the problem, tailored to circumstances and our varied tastes. Very impressive, award yourselves a gold star O0
I'm a tea drinker, but find tea with powdered milk, or black tea :o , very much second best, whereas I do like my ground coffee black.
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Many years ago before we had even heard of or bought our own cafetiere and then a coffee machine with grinder, we had Lyons Coffee Bags as a treat, we thought they were wonderful! ;D I expect now they will be inferior to what we are used to. I just googled as I didn’t even know if they are still made but I see they are and others make them too. Taylors have different strengths, I wonder if they may be good enough to take on a trip. I now hate instant coffee and if that’s all that’s available I will have a cup of tea instead. O0
I have used the Taylors coffee bags, whilst they are better than instant, that is about as good as you can say. IMHO
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I use my mothers old tea leaf strainer when out for a few days for coffee making. Lightweight and with my screw top box for the coffee grains a reasonable mug of the brew can be achieved. :)
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Carry a few Taylors of Harrogate coffee bags, the Java coffee versions, are guaranteed to blow anyone's mind, after a long and tiring jaunt.
That flask of boiling water, a splash of milk, and bobs your uncle.
I had one two weeks ago, whilst sitting quietly alone on the summit of Diffwys.
My Jetboil was on the go, favourite mug, and wow, a cuppa to equal anything from Costa or Starbucks, at a fraction of the cost, in surroundings almost as good as the cuppa
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The Aeropress makes a good cup of real coffee. Its small and plastic so pretty light. Just add ground coffee and hot water, wait a minute then press. You will have a small 'puck' of coffee grounds to get rid of but they are biodegradable.
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Thank you all of your suggestions. As I mostly am planning short 1-2 night trips, I think that I will stick to my DIY ground coffee bags for now, I'll just make up the required number before I go.
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I've got one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082M3TLYL/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_KXF1KMGK9ZQQ5MDC64VZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082M3TLYL/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_KXF1KMGK9ZQQ5MDC64VZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
Put coffee in it, stick it on top of your mug and pour hot water over it. Seems to work OK
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I've got one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082M3TLYL/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_KXF1KMGK9ZQQ5MDC64VZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082M3TLYL/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_KXF1KMGK9ZQQ5MDC64VZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
Put coffee in it, stick it on top of your mug and pour hot water over it. Seems to work OK
isn't that a bit big and delicate to carry in a rucksack?
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For me, terrible coffee really stopped my backpacking being much fun (yes yes I know, but I know what I like and it's good coffee) but I didn't want to bring a heavy, bulky solution which I only ever used for a half hour a day and the rest of the time became a nuisance. Ended up picking up a Soto Coffee Helix, which was one of the smallest and most portable options available and looks like this:
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1554/2851/products/e5df00bd-ae56-4b0c-bb84-2fd642d7fd02download1_5000x.jpg?v=1569119653)
So I use a S2S X-Mug (don't get the cup they're tiny), bring a bag of coffee grounds and a few filters, all of which packs away quite small. The Soto helix itself packs flat, and I bring a ziplock bag to store food refuse which includes the grounds. If I"m doing car camping or a day hike I like to bring my kuksa (traditional Nordic wooden mug) since otherwise I'd never use it and there's something rather rustic about having your brew like this..
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I like a good coffee but am happy to take a decent instant coffee out in to the hills. I put one spoonful for each cup I plan on having in a small ziploc bag and carry a sufficient splash of oat milk in a small plastic bottle.
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I like a good coffee but am happy to take a decent instant coffee out in to the hills. I put one spoonful for each cup I plan on having in a small ziploc bag and carry a sufficient splash of oat milk in a small plastic bottle.
A few people seem to use oat milk in coffee whats it like?
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A few people seem to use oat milk in coffee whats it like?
Less nice than cow's milk (in my opinion) for coffee. On the upside it can be stored at room temp and it doesn't curdle or go funny when you're backpacking with it. Quite nice on cereals though.
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On the upside it can be stored at room temp and it doesn't curdle or go funny when you're backpacking with it.
Didn't know that. Interesting.
Edit - advice seems to be that it should be refrigerated once opened. Wouldn't matter during cold weather, of course.
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A few people seem to use oat milk in coffee whats it like?
For a plant milk I find it's one of the closest to a cow's milk and works well in hot drinks without curdling, being too thin or adding a taste that you may not want. I've also used cashew milk in the past as I noticed it contained more calories and thought every little helps when packing camping food!
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Didn't know that. Interesting.
Edit - advice seems to be that it should be refrigerated once opened. Wouldn't matter during cold weather, of course.
I mean technically you should put cheese in the fridge too and 'cheese sweat' is a thing in the summer but we still bring it. Oat milk seem less vulnerable to going 'funny' than cow milk mind you, even if they're meant to be stored in a fridge once open. Obviously not to everyone's cup of tea, excuse the pun, but if you're doing longer trips then powdered milk is probably the better bet.
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I could of course take some of those individually containerised portions of UHT milk that you get in motels etc, but I rail against the excess of plastic packaging.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/UHT-MILK-PORTIONS-portions-10ML/dp/B003B2T9NS
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Might something like this be an option? Looks like it can be used as your normal mug.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyliss-Hot-Mug-Cafetiere-Blue/dp/B00DB4JY68/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_i=B00DB4JY68&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyliss-Hot-Mug-Cafetiere-Blue/dp/B00DB4JY68/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_i=B00DB4JY68&psc=1)
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Might something like this be an option? Looks like it can be used as your normal mug.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyliss-Hot-Mug-Cafetiere-Blue/dp/B00DB4JY68/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_i=B00DB4JY68&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyliss-Hot-Mug-Cafetiere-Blue/dp/B00DB4JY68/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_i=B00DB4JY68&psc=1)
I have one similar and found cleaning it out a bit of a pain. OK for one cup, but for a day away not as easy as the stick I mentioned earlier.
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I use this. It works really good just put filter coffee in it and leave it in your mug for a bit.
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/kitchen-stuff-c8/kitchen-accessories-c18/msr-mugmate-coffee-tea-filter-p8561
Mine is a Bodum.one though it was cheaper.
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For fresh milk on a day walk I set off with the milk frozen in a little plastic bottle and wrapped in insulation like a woolly sock / glove. Sometimes its still part frozen after 6 hrs. A 500ml carton would still be part frozen after 24hrs
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isn't that a bit big and delicate to carry in a rucksack?
That pic makes it look big. It's not much wider than a mug. Quite strong metal mesh. It goes in a tub with other bits so doesn't take up any real room. But you can get plastic ones and many variations on the theme that are no doubt tougher. It's just the one I happen to have anyway, so it goes in the rucksack!
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Last time I was in the hills wild camping I took my small Bialetti and a small bag of ground coffee with me enough for a few cups, and a small container of fresh milk. It was fine. The milk stayed refrigerated because the outside temp and wind 1600 feet up kept it nice and cold.
I have used a Bialetti for about 5 years at home since my espresso machine died. It is not as good as a machine but an acceptable and cheap compromise until I see a new machine on discount at an acceptable price.
The only slight downside is the Bialetti I think does weigh quite a bit at around half a pound or 250g.
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I must admit I take the extreme minimalist approach, boil a mug of water, add two teaspoons of ground coffee to mug off the boil. Leave two minutes. Stir (very important, makes all the gunge go to the bottom for some reason). Leave 30 seconds. Drink.
Apart from the last half inch in the mug, this makes a perfectly good cup of coffee with no other apparatus necessary, and the grounds can just be chucked on the ground.
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I must admit I take the extreme minimalist approach, boil a mug of water, add two teaspoons of ground coffee to mug off the boil. Leave two minutes. Stir (very important, makes all the gunge go to the bottom for some reason). Leave 30 seconds. Drink.
Apart from the last half inch in the mug, this makes a perfectly good cup of coffee with no other apparatus necessary, and the grounds can just be chucked on the ground.
I used to mulch my peas with coffee grounds. Not sure if it helped the peas but it kept the slugs up all night and gave the hedgehogs a run for their money.