lightweight camping

How to make camping coffee?

I was planning to go out for a lunch time walk and brew some camping coffee but the weather had other ideas – too much rain.

On a recent walk the wind shield I used was not effective so I was going to test out a new one I made from a used food tray. I moved the test to the doorway of the summer house office.

Making camping coffee in the office

The wind break was cut to fit tightly around a Bushcraft Essentials mini twig stove when using an up-cycled Burt’s Bees tin as a gel fuel burner. As the fit was close I punched some air holes low down and on two sides for air flow.

Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox
Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox with homemade wind shield

The idea of this stove is for me to have the makings for camping coffee or soup in my lightweight cookset bag. There is a very small gas burner in the cookset but no gas – the gel fuel for the Bushcraft Essentials stove is carried an up-cycled hand sanitiser bottle in the cookset stuff sack.

Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox adapted for gel fuel
The Burt’s Bees tin for the gel fuel – alight!

To test the stove wind break I made coffee.

Making Camping Coffee

There are many gadgets on the market for making coffee when camping – I have a 750ml titanium bush pot/cafetiere for when I am car camping – but when backpacking and walking I like this lightweight solution.

For a while now I have been using a plastic tea strainer as a reusable coffee filter (see my camping coffee page). Since I wrote that page I have cut down the handle and made some cut-outs so the filter sits level.

Tea strainer adapted for making camping coffee
The notches keep the filter level

The process I use is:

1 I fill the strainer mesh with ground coffee until it just covers the the plastic rim.

2 Wet the coffee grounds and then wait a minute or so.

Camping coffee wetting the grounds
For the best results the coffee grounds need a little hot water and a rest!

3 I then carefully add water to the brim of the strainer and let it drain through.

Coffee for camping in a small strainer coffee making gadget
Care is needed when filling the strainer so it does not overflow

4 It takes about 100ml to 150ml of water to make a strong brew. I top up with hot water.

Ground coffee when lightweight backpacking or camping
I never drip all the water through as it is not necessary

5 I take mine black and no sugar when camping – but I do carry coffee creamer and brown sugar for caffeine and energy boost.

This gadget and method only generates used coffee grounds to dispose of, no paper filters and there is no comparison when it comes to the weight or price of this coffee maker when compared to other backpacking/camping coffee gadgets. And it can be used as a strainer as well!

Light and simple bushcraft coffee gear
This is an excellent coffee making kit for my haversack gear

The 30ml Nalgene bottle shown in the photo when “tap” filled (start to fill the bottle and tap it to settle the coffee grounds and repeat until no more settling happens) can hold two measures of ground coffee.

The Wind Shield

It worked better than its predecessor, keeping the heat on the mug. It will also fold up small enough to store in the stove slip case with the stove and the Burt’s Bees tin.

The next test will be later in the week when I can get out for a walk.

How to make camping coffee? Read More »

Camping

Camping
MSR Hubba tent in the garden

We were planning to be camping in Dingwall this week – but family circumstances have postponed it for this year.

It did me a chance to replace all the elastic loop guys I had fitted to my tent – over the years the rubber had weakened. I also shortened the orange guy line something I had been meaning to for a couple of years.

May be there will be thunder tonight?

Camping Read More »