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I never really been into coffee, but this year I have really enjoyed drinking it, exploring a lot of coffee shops in Shropshire and further away.
When walking or camping its always the flask or those horrible sachets with a jetfoil etc. I know the taste of coffee is a personal thing, but I am interested in how to make coffee when out and about in the hills.
So what equipment & accessories do people use to make that all important morning cup?
On local walks (also in Shropshire) I will stick a jetboil or my MSR pocket rocket stove, Aeropress and ziplock bag of freshly ground coffee in a day sack. I have also recently bought a collapsible V60 style funnel brewer for motorcycle camping. It makes great coffee and takes up less space than the Aeropress. I did try coffee bags but found them to produce weak, insipid, tasteless coffee.
For flask I have been using a chilli bottle. Very good insulator
Small travel size Aeropress if not too fussed about weight and pack size when walking.
Cowboy coffee technique for bike touring, takes a little longer but zero kit needed and it can make a great coffee.
Aeropress go (or just the normal one?)
Travel mug with a french press lid? https://www.dunelm.com/product/bodum-travel-vacuum-coffee-press-350ml-1000249644?defaultSkuId=30957427&gQT=1
If espresso, Wacaco have a few options.
James Hoffman on YouTube has reviews of most of these and did a portable espresso review too.
I can't be bothered carrying coffee paraphernalia, but I'll occasionally make coffee at home first and carry it with me in a pre-warmed flask. For backpacking/bikepacking I use pre-ground coffee and a GSI mug with a built-in French press mechanism - pours really badly though if you need to share.
I've used an Aeropress or a small stove-top in the past and, in the very distant past had a weird all-in-one stove-top thing with its own mini espresso enamelled mug, but I've reached the conclusion that it's more about 'good enough' than perfect. - this sort of gizmo: https://gsioutdoors.com/products/miniespresso-set-1-cup
GSI does a bunch of outdoor-specific coffee stuff as well:
https://gsioutdoors.com/collections/coffee
I have AF so limit myself to one coffee a day first thing, before I leave. If I’m in the van I have a travel aeropress but I don’t always have fresh coffee in the house so I make sure I have some of the pour through filters from Tesco, I find they make an acceptable coffee and I always have mine with milk. I do think you have to be keen on coffee to carry all of that kit plus water (milk) gas etc. I would rather carry less weight myself.
I really like my Aeropress Go.
About the size of a normal mug and everything fits into the mug itself.
That and a flask and you're golden.
Cold coffee for the win, add chocolate milk for mocha 🙂
Similar to above... Aeropress Go, coffee ground at home or take small handgrinder (heavy though), and hot water in a chillie bottle. Take Jetboil on longer trips.
I use either small gas stove or my 4g titanium esbit stove (la de day...) and an Alpkit titanium pot.
I've then a choice of a GSI pour over or GSI French press.
Final choice is the kettle on wheels.
For multi day DofE leading my optimal weight / pack size / faff ratio was a collapsible silicone filter cone. I’d pre-load some filters with coffee then fold & tape them shut.
IME the aeropress gives more consistent coffee and is easier to brew with than the filter cone but I quite like the faff of a pourover. Pack space is important to me and I like being able to squeeze the filter setup in between stuff in my bag.
Id steer clear of any French press style options because they’re such a PITA to clean and really hard not to leave grounds all over your camp spot.
A good thread by the way. I love walking and I love making and drinking nice coffee. Combining the two is one of my favourite things. I've had some sublime moments brewing up in a peaceful woodland spot or on an ancient holloway then contemplating nature whilst sat on a tree stump or stone wall and savouring the results.
Personally don’t see the point it’s not going to be good coffee, coffee is to be savoured
I did try coffee bags but found them to produce weak, insipid, tasteless coffee.
They're not brilliant but I use them if I'm travelling light. I get the strongest ones I can and double bag...
Cafetiere attachment on my jetboil
Simple. Light. Easy to clean. Makes good coffee
Jetboil cafetiere here too
Just got a nanopresso, using with a flask or small stove - not the lightest but looking forward taking it out camping/ longer rides. I brewed up to lots of jealous gazes on the ferry to Ireland last week. Decent coffee and it's paid for itself saving on expensive poor coffee when out.
Got the barrista kit too, so can brew double and carry pre-loaded pots of grounds.
I got my nanopresso and barrista kit for £32 on ebay, total bargain.
Bike packing I took coffee bags. Big Camping then its a stove top pot.
Personally don’t see the point it’s not going to be good coffee, coffee is to be savoured
I couldn't disagree more (your view is of course just as valid as mine). I absolutely savour my coffee when I'm outdoors, moreso in fact sometimes, than when I'm on autopilot at home in the morning. And if I'm using good quality beans, ground at home that morning, with freshly boiled water in a good brewer like a V60 or Aeropress, why wouldn't it be good coffee? I love the ritual of it and slowing down to appreciate both the coffee and my surroundings. I get that some people might see that as faff, or a good walk spoiled but then I wonder why those people would join a thread like this?
Yeah, coffee bags is the easiest, lightest and least faff that I've found.
As above, strongest ones you can get (I think Taylor's java are reasonable) and double bag. Coffee mate if you want.
Do it on some kind of jetboil type thing. I like oex heiro to do enough boiling water for 1 person general use.
If you are properly remote or want to carry less water weight, or want to enjoy the general terroir of where you happen to be, then some kind of water filter is useful too
I love the jetboil for its ease of use and lack off faff. Point taken about leaving a few coffee grounds around tho.. I can make my morning coffee without leaving my sleeping bag in a minute or two. Thats important to me
anyone got an opinion on 'coffee in a toothpaste tube'?
No Normal Dark Roast Coffee Paste - Rich, Swiss-Made, 100% Arabica
If you like espresso in the outdoors (and don't mind a bit of faff):
https://www.wacaco.com/products/minipresso-gr
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blokeuptheroad
Full Member
A good thread by the way. I love walking and I love making and drinking nice coffee. Combining the two is one of my favourite things. I’ve had some sublime moments brewing up in a peaceful woodland spot or on an ancient holloway then contemplating nature whilst sat on a tree stump or stone wall and savouring the results.
Great post. A simple pleasure
For camping I've settled on the Aeropress and have a Go version. Mostly for controlled mess and water efficiency.
At work I used to keep a Kelly Kettle in the Land Rover for breaks. Often instant coffee and in that moment between whatever task we were doing it always tasted good.
I have a mini espresso machine as well. Makes lovely coffee but is 200G+ extra weight. the jet boil attachment is 8g. I have been thru many iterations of coffee making over the years. If the jetboil attachment was not so light and easy I think I would try an aeropress. I also insist on a proper enamal mug to drink from - its so much nicer than anything else I have tried.
Matt - different strokes for different folk but my guess is we have the best part of 100 years of experience doing this between us. 🙂
The Jetboil press is a thing of joy.
Personally like BWD I can't be arsed with making it once I'm out, so it's a flak for me, I've a Camelbak insulated one that 750mil and a smaller Sigg version, that's 600ml or so (I think) both fit a cage, I'd say the Sigg keeps coffee warmer for longer, smaller sized? and the Camelbak has a straw and bite-valve which is annoying, but on long winter rides stopping on a bench with coffee is one of life's simple pleasures.
TJ, I get the making coffee without getting out your pit, but the really impressive bit is the making fresh croissant
TJ - I have the French press plunger attachment for my Jet boil. It works really well and makes good coffee, but I find it a little messier to clean than an Aeropress or collapsible V60. It also uses a little more water. No big deal, but a consideration. But an Aeropress etc. is more weight, so it's horses for courses. Motorcycle camping or a day walk I'll take the Aeropress. Bikepacking or overnight backpacking I won't.
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ultralight-javadrip/
Java Drip. Weighs nowt, fits inside my mug alongside the stove and gas can.
Its all about the compromises blokeuptheroad. I am not sure why the extra water is an issue? I drink all the coffee I make in it. Two mugs from one pot. Its certainly a bit messy tho
I did try coffee bags but found them to produce weak, insipid, tasteless coffee.
Personally I find the Taylor's coffee bags more than strong enough. Especially the green or black packet, the yellow ones are not so great unless you brew them for ages.
Great option if you like a filter style coffee IMO, though I'm very much not a coffee snob (apart from never touching instant).
Coffee bags. Zero faff. Grounds are already bagged up for "leave no trace" commitment. The only issue I've had is that it takes a while to extra the best flavour and the water can cool too much in the meantime. It's little hassle to boost it on the stove for a few seconds.
Coffee bags create more waste in total tho. Can you get reusable bags like you get reusable teabags? the ones for tea will not be big enough for coffee
Taylors coffee bags are compostable* so I take them home and they go in the garden waste bin. How many folk are bagging their grounds and taking them home?
* There's still an issue with the foil wrappers, but they're working on that.
I got bought some of these a while back, they're resealable pouches with a little poring attachment
Are they the best coffee? Maybe not. But they are super convenient, take up no room and one used you can empty them out and put your own ground in for next time.
Fair enough scotroutes
Its a bit tricky really to find the best compromise. I shall ponder about the grounds because I do not bag them and take them home. Starts to get into the " if one person does it no great foul but what if everyone does?" territory
to take all the grounds home from a cafetiere would really mean a filter to get the grounds out of the rinsing water and a dry bag to carry them in I guess
Hmmm food ( or coffee) for thought
I am not sure why the extra water is an issue?
Most of the time in campsites etc. it's not. It can be if you are wild camping, not pitched near a safe water source and relying on the water you are carrying. I'm not saying it's a big issue, just a small consideration when weighing up the pros and cons of different kit. As you say, it's all about compromises.
If bike packing I take instant sachets ??????
I will admit to not taking coffee grounds home. I am absolutely fastidious about leave no trace otherwise, so I suppose it's a little hypocritical. In my mind they are compostable, biodegradable plant matter. A few days from becoming soil. But I get the argument that if everyone did it, it would be bad and I've also read recently that I might be introducing nutrients into fragile soil ecosystems that wouldn't otherwise be there. I promise to mend my ways! <sheepish, blushing emoji>
But who takes their turds home? Some hardcore wildcampers are now suggesting this ( there was an e coli outbreak at a bothy because of contaminated water source from too many folk shitting around the bothy IIRC) I have found lovely campsites surrounded by half buried turds
If bike packing I take instant sachets ??????
Your kind isn't welcome round here. 😉
Aeropress go (or just the normal one?)
James Hoffmann raised a good point about the Go..... why smaller? The normal Aeropress is small enough.
Some hardcore wildcampers are now suggesting this ( there was an e coli outbreak at a bothy because of contaminated water source from too many folk shitting around the bothy IIRC)
In the US, park rangers will search your kit when leaving a trail, no poo you get fined.
Never take water down stream of a bothy, a few years ago, in a Sutherland bothy, there was a French lad who was incapacitated for 2 days, from doing just that. He looked absolutely terrible.
Indeed a few years ago I started to take grounds home - an advantage of the drip if I use a paper filter. I too realised I was taking everything other than poop and coffee grounds home, so should step up.
Poop container is a stretch too far for me currently...
If bike packing I take instant sachets ??????
Heresy and I'm therefore also a heretic 🙂
Enough luggage space issues on short tour type rides through having cheaper, bulkier kit without adding something else bulky just to make two cups of coffee a day.
To add to this blasphemy, mediocre coffee in the outdoors will always trump better coffee anywhere else.
the jetboi8l attachment packs away inside it and weighs 8g.
Its the one luxury I insist on ( well a couple of others actually as well)
ON my big bike ride I was astonished that loads of folk with huge amounts of luggage had nothing to make coffee with. I used it as an ice breaker on campsites - offering folk without good coffee a cup. always went down well.
Aeropress go in the van or static camping
GSI ultralight java drip if I'm bivvying
Flask for day walks
To add to this blasphemy, mediocre coffee in the outdoors will always trump better coffee anywhere else.
This. If I'm truly "in the moment" then the quality of the coffee is a lot less important than whatever else I'm feeling. The same is, of course not true when it comes to whisky.
James Hoffmann raised a good point about the Go….. why smaller? The normal Aeropress is small enough.
But the normal Aeropress doesn't collapse down to a mug sized object with all parts inside it. If you are carrying it in your rucksack it really matters. If you're in a car then who cares
The same is, of course not true when it comes to whisky.
Definitely!
The advantage of the whisky situation is that it takes up exactly the same amount of space regardless of quality so you can go upmarket with no downsides.
Although I'm also now disappearing down the rabbit hole of scoping out other people's lightweight coffee set ups.
Next, what lightweight leaf tea set up....
Although I’m also now disappearing down the rabbit hole of scoping out other people’s lightweight coffee set ups.
I might need to weigh mine - ti everything, one esbit, one filter paper and pourer, plastic mug, coffee grounds, lighter...
If you want a physics lesson at the same time then the esbit coffee maker is great. Fuel tablets are getting harder to come by though.
https://esbit.de/en/products/camping-coffee-maker
Garage dweller - tea ball - / reusable tea bag
Kelly kettle.
Tin mugs.
Ground coffee.
Put the coffee in your mug. Add the water. Leave for several minutes. Drink, except for the last bit.
On a longer trip, a trangia w kettle works for cowboy coffee in a mug. But that assumes you're doing other catering on the trangia for the trip and not a quick night away.
If you work your grounds right you can create a snail proof barrier so no slime encroachment into the tent porch
I keep my coffee in a very small dry bag. Takes a full bag from the shops but keeps it sealed from air and reduces in size as I use it. Best solution I have found
But the normal Aeropress doesn’t collapse down to a mug sized object with all parts inside it.
I think the point is the normal Aeropress makes a full mug's worth of coffee and had been used for nearly a decade and a half as the travel/backpack/office solution for good coffee. The Go is made shorter to fit in a mug it can only half fill (granted unless it has Tardis like capabilities that would always be the case with this design of the coffee maker).
A travel case/mug for the normal Aeropress would have been what, 2.5 cm longer than the Go's overall size? Ah, but then they can't sell you two products. So you have to buy the new size, see also 650b/29er wheels.
I have both. My Go hasn't been used in forever, I'm attached to my OG aeropress.
This has kept me brewed up in plenty of places where instant was the only offering.
In the new year I'll be looking at the retention for the inside, needs a revisit to tweak it further.
Put the coffee in your mug. Add the water. Leave for several minutes. Drink, except for the last bit.
Top tip....once your coffee has steeped for a couple of minutes, splash a little bit of cold water in. It has an unnerving ability to take the grounds to the bottom of the mug.
I'm cowboy coffee when space is tight and aeropress when I've got a bit more space. Though a very small Mokapot looks a lot classier in an insta kind of way if that's the way you roll.
I did tend to use an Aeropress. But now I tend to brew the coffee at home and take it in a flask. Much less hassle.
Nobody taking a grinder? Are you animals?
(yes, I’m kidding)
Next, what lightweight leaf tea set up….
I'd just chuck it straight into the mug. It's how my grandad drank it, I was probably in my 20s when I discovered via somewhat startled friends who were visiting that this wasn't what everyone did.
Is this peak STW, or are we building up to NY’s eve?
Next, what lightweight leaf tea set up….
Aeropress or Hario V60 and filters.
Various set-ups depending on where I’m going/ how I’m getting there.
1. Snow Peak titanium French press and Snow Peak hand burr grinder for visiting the parents/ in-laws. Enough coffee for the wife and I to cope.
2. Snow Peak collapsible V60 / pre-ground coffee/ Soto burner for camping or sightseeing gravel rides.
3. just got a Wacaco minipresso for Xmas. Will use that with the coffee grinder and burner for post snowboard carpark espresso for designated driver apres tomorrow
Is this peak STW, or are we building up to NY’s eve?
Think we have a winner
just got a Wacaco minipresso for Xmas. Will use that with the coffee grinder and burner for post snowboard carpark espresso for designated driver apres tomorrow
I have a dinky little one cup mokka pot which makes an OK espresso (like) coffee.
Or I can do coffee bags direct in a cup and just boil it for extra long (still pretty weak)
Least faff and bulk is still instant sachets, but also least pleasant to drink...
Top tip….once your coffee has steeped for a couple of minutes, splash a little bit of cold water in. It has an unnerving ability to take the grounds to the bottom of the mug.
Thanks. Going to a bothy on the 28th. I'll try it.
Is there any scientific reasoning behind such a technique?
Is there any scientific reasoning behind such a technique?
My first guess was going to be to do with water hardness as boiled water is softer than fresh water. So adding those ions probably disrupts the electrical charge on the surface of the grounds. The same way rivers dump all their sediment in the estuary on contact with salt water.
However Google suggests that when you add hot water the air trapped in the coffee/tea expands and causes them to float. If you boil the water then eventually this air comes out, otherwise it'll just reach an equilibrium in your not-quite-boiling mug. When you cool it rapidly those bubble shrink and the particles can sink.
Poop container is a stretch too far for me currently…
With sufficient good quality strong coffee the two tidy-up exercises could tend to be in short succession.
Thanks thisisnotaspoon, that was exactly the type of answer I was after.
I'll try it.