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bobapunk
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The outfitter supplied us with Foldger's singles on our last trip, but everyone lined up for my home-ground Dunkin' Donut's original roast prepared in my Jet Boil w/ French Press accessory!
I make coffee with it at home on the weekends when I am not pressed for time in the mornings...
Only draw back is the capacity...
I have also done cowboy coffee, but not often enough to really get it down...
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fishguts
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I'm tired of Folgers singles, gonna try this before our next trip Starbucks Via Instant
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Wooly Bugger
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http://shop.bialetticafe.com/Moka-Express-3-Cup?sc=2&category=196
Cut and paste the link. I believe you can find them at Bed Bath and Beyond and Target. Practice with it at home first... I have one and I love it.
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MeatHunter
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Gotta go with my 8 cup perk. I either pregrind whole bean or buy something like Duncan brand. I stash the coffee and creamers inside the pot for easy packing. Fill with water the night before, first one up, brews it. I would like to try a French Press sometime or one them fancy fangled Espresso makers, but for now, the perk does the job well.
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ArnBarn
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quote ycc: "Good to see another YCC veteran. I was at Isabella in 1975. There were many highlights, including being flown in in Forest Service float planes on Monday, then picked up on Friday after a week of working on campsites, portages, etc.
Another time we were working at Cascade River State Park and it was so hot we slept on the smooth rocks right on the shore of Lake Superior. We were joined by a bear around midnight one evening: she wandered right through our sleeping bags while we lay motionless. She then slid into the big lake, I think just to cool off and escape mosquitoes. Incredible.
Thanks for the post. I'm not sure what happened during the 80s, but the Isabella CC camp was a fabulous place."
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dogwoodgirl
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Looks like my camp, only the dog is smaller!
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dzander7
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When my french press broke, I had to improvise and pour the hot water over the grounds. Best cup of coffee I've ever had.
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bruceye
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I'll ad a third vote with marso and nymph. Cowboy all the way! No pack space, weight or cleaning hassle and certainly no compromise of brewed flavor.
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myceliaman
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We just got back from a trip and brought Starbucks instant coffee. I'm sold
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Trygve
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Remember, if your spoon doesn't float in your coffee, you're making it too weak and you should be camping in an RV not in the woods.
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gutmon
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Always use a drip cone for solo and tandem trips, cowboy coffee with bigger groups. When I do cowboy coffee, I bring water to a boil, THEN add coffee, gently push grounds into water to wet all, allow to steep for 5-10 minutes (DO NOT BOIL) then slowly pour one cup of cold water over grounds to settle them to the bottom.
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magellan10
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dunkin donuts ground in a perc
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ycc
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I love the early morning cups of coffee. I have not canoed in the BWCA since the mid-1970s but will this July. I was thinking about those sealed motel packs of coffee and wondered if perhaps there isn't a better way to go. What I would really like to do is pre-grind some beans and store in ziplock.
I assume there are some quasi-addict coffee users like me on this board.
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Beemer01
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Pregrind whole beans at home - place in a small zip lock. Use a coffee press.
Repeat, for the second cup I just add more ground coffee to whats already there.
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BASSMASTER
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This takes up less space:
Grind your beans, seal in a zip lock.
Buy a Melita 1 cup brewer and a package of the small filters for it. Rainbow and some other grocery stores have them in the coffee isle.
Put 1 tablespoon of grounds in the filter and the brewer and pour a cup of boiling water thru it slowly into your cup. Best cup of camping joe you will ever have, other than the press. Its cheap and light weight.
Will never go back to instant or those Folger tea bag thingies.
And for god sakes don't make coffee from those motel packs!, yukk.
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kanoes
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i just bring the good old stainless steel 6 cup perk. w/fresh ground french roast.
Jan
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mr.barley
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I bring my Nissan french press when there is a lot of coffee drinkers along. If it's just me and another coffee drinker, I bring 2 indivual coffee makers. These things sit of your coffee cup and have a little meshed cup for your grounds. It's basically drip coffee. Of coarse I only use whole bean coffee pre gound before departure.
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dogwoodgirl
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I use a french press as well, and bring fresh ground french roast in a ziplock bag...double bagged, since one of the worst culinary emergencies I can think of is to have my coffee get wet or spilled all over the food barrel! I have brought a melita cone in the past, but the lexan french press makes a better cuppa joe and takes up very little room.
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mhclon
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We always like the Franch press. This year we're trying the Nalgene French press. Anyone tried it? It seems like it will work just fine.
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canoepaddle
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If more then one is drinking coffee, I use the frenchpress. If it's only me, I use the new H2J0 filter I bought at REI. Worked great this spring. I grind the beans prior to the trip and seal in Food Saver bags in my Food Saver. Again this works great. For the H2Jo filter, I put the coffee in the Nalgene bottle and use the H2Jo as a filter to pour the coffee into my cup and my pint Thermos jug. Much better coffee in both the H2Jo and my frenchpress then I used to get from my perk coffee maker.
canoepaddle
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buzz17
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Pre-grind coffee of choice (french roast for me) and store in ziploc or use an empty peanut butter jar with screw on lid to keep fresh and safe from spilling or torn bag.
I used to use a percolator but switched to a press and I love it! GSI Outdoors makes a lexan press in 3 different sizes.....very inexpensive and makes great, fast coffee. Put in grounds, boil water, pour in, steep, press and enjoy.
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Soledad
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I use a French Press too. I actually use the Jetboil contraption which is too expensive for just making coffee, but I lost my other stove and metal cup so I had to get something. It keeps my coffee hot while paddling as well. Did I mention that it makes coffee very fast?
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WoodPaddle
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I tried the Press-Bot that converts your wide mouth water bottle to a coffee press. Not the best choice it costs as much as the presses mentioned above and your water tastes like week coffee for the rest of the trip. Go with those recommended above.
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NDCanoe
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I second the Lexan Java Press and homeground beans. After 4 years, my first Java Press finally wore out, so I moved to the mid-size, which works well for 2 people, but a little bulky for solo.
I also have the portable espresso maker that GCI makes for about $8. It makes a mighty potent and quick espresso.(Carabou Fireside blend for me).
I've also found if you grind the beans in the grocery store, the guy before you invariably has just ground rasberry banana mocha cherry, and now my coffee tastes like a fruit cup and I'd like to pick my own flavor.
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marsonite
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I will have to make one vote for "cowboy coffee". Add grounds directly to cold water (I too grind my own beans). Put on fire. Keep an eye on it--you don't want it to reach a full boil--remove from heat just as it is starting to boil. Set aside for 5 minutes or so to let the grounds settle. I love it this way--it's part of the canoe trip mystique. I use a french press at home.
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alpine525
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Once again - Starbucks Via gets my vote. You don't need to mess with a coffee pot - or "coffee bags" - just boil water and stir. It's the best instant coffee we've had. As for the price - look for it at Costco or at Target (on sale) - cheaper than buying it at Starbucks.
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ely bound
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We pack light, but a perculator is one luxury we don't do without. I use the perculator to pack utensils in. We always pick up some pre-ground Gene Hicks coffee in Ely before heading out.
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trix
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Rangerdad, I am with you. I still like the folgers singles. My husband doesn't drink coffee so I just boil my water, add a litle Bailey's & my folgers single. Works for me!
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mwd1976
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I used a "Big Sky Bistro" combination mug/press on my last trip. It worked pretty well for one person. You can also pour it out into a cup so you could use it for a couple people I guess. I think it's best for one person though.
http://www.rei.com/product/664265
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Rangerdad
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You are all way to hard on the Folgers singles. I actually love the way they taste! Typically I'll sit next to the fire and place my cup at the edge of the grate to keep it warm and it gets the "extra" flavoring from the fire. MMMMM Can't wait, 8/27 Batchewaung here we come!
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Amok
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JAVA JUICE!
I realize I'm going to totally get razzed by the coffee 'connoisseurs' on this one, but it worked great for me!
Pour it in your cup, add hot water, and *BOOM* instant caffeine.. er.. coffee. No pre-grinding, no grounds, no fancy press. Just HOT WATER and your favorite mug. Boil enough water and you can have your oatmeal at the same time!
www.javajuiceextract.com OR a few other sporting goods stores.
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TomT
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I use a lexan press too and it's great. But here's the kicker........ Disaronno Amaretto.
I brought a flask for my coffee last year but my three nephews used it too (and Loved it) and cleaned me out after 4 days. :(
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BigZig
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Here is a picture of my dog guarding my coffee press as it is working. I bring the aluminum coffee pot only for heating water because it is tradition to have it along and I like it. I leave the internal percolator parts home.
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overthehill
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I like the perked stuff and cowboy coffe is just as good if done like above. You can always pack a few filters for "the last pour". Chock fullonuts for me and if I had my druthers, I'd pack in some light cream or half& half. ( add a slight dash of salt over grind before brewing)
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ycc
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Good to see another YCC veteran. I was at Isabella in 1975. There were many highlights, including being flown in in Forest Service float planes on Monday, then picked up on Friday after a week of working on campsites, portages, etc.
Another time we were working at Cascade River State Park and it was so hot we slept on the smooth rocks right on the shore of Lake Superior. We were joined by a bear around midnight one evening: she wandered right through our sleeping bags while we lay motionless. She then slid into the big lake, I think just to cool off and escape mosquitoes. Incredible.
Thanks for the post. I'm not sure what happened during the 80s, but the Isabella CC camp was a fabulous place.
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kanoes
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no one perks coffee anymore? is it a fuel issue? im confused by all the "press" responses. Jan
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buz
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I am same as most above. GSI french press with a group. Fresh ground no matter what. Single, I am slightly different. I am pretty thrifty and while the H2JO is no doubt good, I am recycler/copier at heart. Coghlans.com has a coffee filter which is simply a filter with a hole in it on both sides with a stick thru the holes. Put over/on your cup with grounds in it, pour hot water thru. I simply made one from scrap wood and modified my standard at home use coffee filters. Works good for me.
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buzz17
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Nothing wrong with a perk kanoes. I used them for years then tried a press and liked it better. I still use a stove to boil water so fuel isn't an issue. I guess I think the coffee tastes better. Less bitter maybe.
By the way, what is it with French press, French roast......do we really credit these great inventions to the French? As far as I am concerned I bring in my BWCAW coffee press with some fresh ground wilderness coffee. Don't answer that...just a little jab at things French.
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bloomingtonsteve
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All we bring is Folger's Singles. Thery're lightweight, take up almost no room, and they taste pretty good.
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woodpecker
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Trygve
I agree with STRONG, am used to boiled coffee at rendezvous, and I'm telling you that s--t is strong...
Woodpecker
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buz
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Kanoes, I used to perk, but now press. Pressing for me is faster, maybe easier, and for sure fuel efficient. Taste is a personal thing and I think if you like stronger coffee, pressing will "get er done" better than perking. Since we are typically in a group of 4 or bigger and don't cook over a fire, the fuel adds up over a week. Just leaves some extra fuel for another fish fry!!
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CIIcanoe
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I also like to have a good cup of coffee in the morning…and evening…anytime. I have used a Lexan coffee press for years. I bought my first one at REI but I don’t remember the brand, probably GSI. I replaced my first one with a new one last year. I bought that one at REI and it was by GSI. I bought the larger size both time, the one cup version just doesn’t cut it for me.
Some people have posted before that they believe that the screen is too small thereby making the plunger hard to push. I’ve experienced that before but I believe it was because I ground my beans too fine. The key is to grind them coarser that you would at home for your coffee maker.
Earlier, this year I was at REI in Maple Grove and I wanted to look at the coffee grinder that fits on top of the coffee press. Well, I had to order it without looking at it. I got to try it out last week and it worked very well. It took approximately 1 ½ minutes to grind 4 heaping tablespoon of whole beans and it ground them up course. I had a perfect cup of coffee. It will have to be used many more times to determine its reliability.
I was thinking of taking the coffee grinder on my next trip but at this time I done believe I will. The reason is, I will be taking extra gear, mostly camera gear, tripod and more food: but if I throw it in at the last second I just have to deal with it.
ycc,
I believe I saw that you posted you worked in Isabella (I think the mid 70’s). I worked for the Forest Service from 1980 to 83 out of Isabella. My first year was on the initial attack fire crew and the other years were as a Recreation Technician.
Chuck
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canoealingus
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I'm with Kanoes on this one. A good Ole perc is as fancy as we get at deer camp. For backpacking we take a pot, put in the right amount of grounds and just bring it to a light rolling boil. Then add a scoop of cold water to settle the grounds...its called cowboy coffee
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Cedarboy
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GSI press for cedargirl,we have to have the coffe!!
cedarboy
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buz
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Knot, No carrying out the grounds for me. When done, add some water to the press, swish the plunger around to clean off. Then I walk away from camp and into the brush and fling the beans and water into the undergrowth. Natural if you ask me. Others may choose differently. Back in camp, another rinse, one paper towel to clean fine grounds out, done. Paper towel gets packed out.
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TrebleHook
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I also use the Jetboil press, I love how it makes alot of coffee and keeps it warm. We already had the stove so the extra 30 bucks didn't hurt to bad.
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pinecone
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My brother in-law has been bringing this trusty perc pot for years. It is black as tar, but the handle is still going strong. Coffee stays warm on the side of the fire grate.
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knothead180
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I've never used a press, but you all have got me curious. Are they hard to clean out? What do you do with the grounds, pack them out? In the past I have always used the tea bag style coffee. Admittedly, it makes a mediocre cup of coffee at best, but it sure is easy to clean up. Just toss the bags in the trash and pack them out.
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hexnymph
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I'm with Marsonite... no need to pack extra weight. Cowboy coffee is the way to go. As for the grounds, I dump them away from camp.
Hex
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L.T.sully
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I have a coffee pot in my cook kit. What I do is I buy those maxwell house pre done coffee filters/ pads. They work great, all you have to do it put them in the hot water and you have coffee. It is basicly those coffee filled tea bags supersized.
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gutmon
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Jayhawk
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Mr. coffee maker plugged into a power inverter attached to a couple of marine batteries run in parallel. OK, it's a little heavy but worth it.
Actually it's coffee singles for us...
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kansascamper
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I picked up a "solo coffee press" from Starbucks today. Picture a regular stainless steal coffee mug with a coffee press built into it. It was around 25 bucks but, has dual purpose. Ground beans in the freezer. Hmmm, I can't wait for the first cup (aug 12th 6 p.m. estimated on long island lake.)
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hmf4
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This was my second year coming to the BWCA and the Folger singles are killing me! I have never used a press, but I can guarentee you that I am swinging by REI and getting a press before the next trip.
Coffee is the second most important meal we take with us. The first being vodka and fruit juice mix... :D
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Outamatches
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I use a coffee press and love it, but when backpacking I wanted to reduce weight and bulk so I found out about these and they work great. I like Sumatra coffee and a local coffee shop roasts their own beans so I buy them and grind to my liking. I put 2 tsp in one of these bags and just touch the edge with a hot iron and it seals it up. Very little mess unlike the coffee press. I will say there is no replacement for fresh ground coffee out of a coffee press but this is the best second I could find.
http://www.thesage.com/catalog/Botanicals.html
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JolietJake
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We have used a few different things like coffee singles and press but what I like best is an MSR Mugmate I got from REI it makes strong coffee and it is a little easier and quicker than a press.
Here is a link or copy and paste
http://www.rei.com/product/726094?vcat=REI_SEARCH
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gacoleman
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Via is good, but just can't get by the price. Nescafe Classico is pretty close and I can have 8 cups for about the price of one Via.
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Mongo65
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Have to go with the french press.
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Pmoo
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The "stovetop" espresso maker makes a wonderful and strong cup of coffee - perfect for the BWCA!
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flactemnad
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I've been a lurker for a while, but I finally have something I can contribute here. I like french presses for coffee, but dragging that along on a heavy portage trip might just invite a broken press jar. You can make coffee every bit as good without the press in my opinion, and I even use this for coffee at home from time to time:
Get good fresh roasted, fresh ground coffee if you can. Grind to the coarse drip is what I prefer.
Next, heat your water in a pot until it boils, then take off the heat and throw in your coffee and give it a few stirs with a spoon to make sure all the coffee is now wet. NO MORE STIRRING. Keep it sitting off the heat for about 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you like your coffee, then making sure there are no floating grinds you just pour off the coffee leaving the grinds in the bottom of the pan. Not unlike the Middle Eastern coffee styles of prep.
No need for a filter, but if you want it filtered the best reusable filter is a large square of old t-shirt (white is my preference). T-shirt material is a very fine filter and very fast to drain through.
If you got milk and a whisk of any kind I can even whip up frothed milk and make a cappuccino or latte if that's what you want. Just heat a pan really hot, pour in the milk and start whisking away. Tilt the pan so that one of the sides gets alot of heat, and a taller pot will work better for the scalding. Keep splashing your whisked milk against the sides of the pan and the bubbles will scald and stay set just like at the barrista. Takes some elbow grease, but it's way cheaper than a run to Starbucks from BWCA.
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babaoriley7
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quote dzander7: " When my french press broke, I had to improvise and pour the hot water over the grounds. Best cup of coffee I've ever had."
If you are a bit of a food dork like me, you might appreciate this video... which would also explain why your coffee was so good.
Drip coffee, the right way
Aside from grinding the beans, there isn't anything you can't do on the trail.
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croixboy96
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I just sip on espresso. GSI mini espresso maker, small GSI espresso cup, stove or fire, grounds in a bag, I'm set.
http://www.rei.com/product/401117 http://www.rei.com/product/401130
Takes up little space too!
Croixboy96
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MnCatfish
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We will be using a perc as well for the mornings, but I am also bringing the Stabucks Via instant coffee, its pretty good stuff. It is just extremely finely ground coffee almost like a powder. Just put in your cup and add hot water - quick and easy
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TomP
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Two big thumbs up for the Starbucks Via. A buddy brought some on our fishing trip last weekend. By far the best instant coffee I have tried.
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vickieh69
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I use a teflon collapsible coffee filter basket (approx $8.00 at REI) that you place a paper coffee filter in. It has a harder plastic base that fits over a thermos or cup. Just need to bring paper filters and coffee in a zip lock bag, boil some water and pour over grounds (coffee grounds that is). Taste almost like home only better because of the atmosphere.
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croixboy96
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Just got back and got to use my favorite that I already mentioned above. Thought I'd chime back in and throw up a photo or two...
Croixboy96 Link to Flickr for Trip Photos
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dring
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I don't drink coffee, but my daughter does and she needs it she tells me. So when we when on our trip last summer I bought an old perculator type pot from ebay for $8. She ground her coffer rather course and she said she liked the results.
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sloughman
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I bring an espresso maker like this: Espresso Maker 1-cup
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Savage Voyageur
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quote kanoes: "no one perks coffee anymore? is it a fuel issue? im confused by all the "press" responses. Jan"
Wow someone brought this thread back from the dead. Yes Jan I bring a 8 cup coffee perk pot. We fill it before we go to bed and the first one up starts it up. Nothing better.
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CaptChad
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Melitta one cup brewer with filters. It's the best way for the money and it packs small!
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bobapunk
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quote flactemnad: "I've been a lurker for a while, but I finally have something I can contribute here. I like french presses for coffee, but dragging that along on a heavy portage trip might just invite a broken press jar. You can make coffee every bit as good without the press in my opinion, and I even use this for coffee at home from time to time:
Get good fresh roasted, fresh ground coffee if you can. Grind to the coarse drip is what I prefer.
Next, heat your water in a pot until it boils, then take off the heat and throw in your coffee and give it a few stirs with a spoon to make sure all the coffee is now wet. NO MORE STIRRING. Keep it sitting off the heat for about 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you like your coffee, then making sure there are no floating grinds you just pour off the coffee leaving the grinds in the bottom of the pan. Not unlike the Middle Eastern coffee styles of prep.
No need for a filter, but if you want it filtered the best reusable filter is a large square of old t-shirt (white is my preference). T-shirt material is a very fine filter and very fast to drain through.
If you got milk and a whisk of any kind I can even whip up frothed milk and make a cappuccino or latte if that's what you want. Just heat a pan really hot, pour in the milk and start whisking away. Tilt the pan so that one of the sides gets alot of heat, and a taller pot will work better for the scalding. Keep splashing your whisked milk against the sides of the pan and the bubbles will scald and stay set just like at the barrista. Takes some elbow grease, but it's way cheaper than a run to Starbucks from BWCA."
You may not know it, but you just described how to make "Cowboy Coffee"!
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Chicagored
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I am a big fan of the cowboy coffee method. I boil the water first, then take it off the heat and throw in the grounds. When I am having fresh eggs for breakfast, I also add a teaspoon of ground eggshell to the coffee. It smooths out the flavor and helps the grounds settle. I found out about this method from reading pre 1950 cookbooks and I found it makes a noticable difference.
You can also plan in advance by taking eggshells and baking them at 350 degrees for ten minutes, crush them and place in a zip lock bag for later use.
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mc2mens
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quote myceliaman: "We just got back from a trip and brought Starbucks instant coffee. I'm sold" Me too! Great coffee, compact and light.
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Arne
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Starbucks Via instant
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luft
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quote Scout64: "quote joetrain: "quote Arne: "Starbucks Via instant " +1" +1 - easiest way to make coffee. And it tastes pretty good too. "
I agree... my coffee of choice. Tastes good to me and no coffee grounds to clean up.
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Scout64
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quote joetrain: "quote Arne: "Starbucks Via instant " +1" +1 - easiest way to make coffee. And it tastes pretty good too.
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ArnBarn
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I wish to meet again some of the 1975 Guys and Gals that made my 1975 YCC Isabella experience so special.Look me up if you're in Two Harbors!!! The dog that Bob Hunger presented me at our last banquet lived for almost 15 years and the pictures I have from that summer of the people and places we worked and shared are very special and will always be a personal treasure. I look forward to hearing from any of you...HEY Skip..can you still talk like DONALD DUCK?? We laughed our ass off!!! GREAT TIMES... ARNESTO
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joetrain
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quote Arne: "Starbucks Via instant " +1
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uigreyjay
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msr mugmate i have pressed in the past, but this little bugger makes a strong, delicious cup. grind home roasted beans to a medium grind, put in 3 rounded spoons, pour in very hot water, as the longer the coffee steeps, the better. just ordered one for the mrs. she's a decaff drinker.
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bobapunk
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I have heard about the egg shell trick, but I never tried it myself. I may have to do that some time!
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flactemnad
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quote bobapunk: "You may not know it, but you just described how to make "Cowboy Coffee"!"
I'd always heard cowboy coffee had the egg shells in it, but really there's no need for that. And I didn't like the shells anyway, although some claim to like it. Pre-toasting the egg shell might be a good alternative, but I've never had a problem with the grounds settling.
Once when I had cowboy coffee they guy making it put it back on the fire to boil it a bit - talk about nasty - very acidic and not at all pleasurable to drink. Same beans made without boiling the coffee or using the egg made a very nice cup o' joe that I think more people liked.
Making simple coffee like that, serving up fresh, I think it's good and rich. If you like "american" drip coffee then you might want to use less coffee per cup, as this is rich almost like an espresso.
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Intrekid
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Cowboy coffee all the way for me! The last thing I need is any extra items in my mess kit.
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