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Best camp coffee maker?

Eric Krantz · · Black Hills · Joined Feb 2004 · Points: 420

+1. Did a taste comparison recently with a fellow who espoused the Bialetti, and the Aeropress edged it out. Add to that it is simpler, faster, lighter weight, and packs smaller. With the Aeropress you do need to boil the water in a separate device (like the pot you're probably bringing along anyway), so the Bialetti beats it in that respect. But it makes coffee so strong it can easily be divided into 2 or 3 cups, and so fast that you can make more right away if there are more people.

I use the stainless filter. We have both the fine and the regular filter - no difference I notice except the fine filter is a bit lighter weight and can easily bend.

Don't store the Aeropress with the rubber compressed in the tube. It will shrink over time, then not seal well.

M Sprague wrote:As a kid my family used to use the Bialetti style a lot before moving on to about fifty other types. I find them spotty as far as getting good coffee out of them as it is really easy to burn the coffee and you have to be meticulous about keeping all the parts free of oil buildup. I am not too into the aluminium versions considering how corrosive coffee is too. I had an Italian GF while in school who used one and the results where so nasty I often had to pour it out when she wasn't looking. She also tried to clone a completely dried up bud so there was likely some operator error going on also. I'd go with the Aeropress or a filter system any day over a Bialetti both for quality and ease of clean-up.
Chris Graham · · Bartlett, NH · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 545

Love the AeroPress!! Great price and makes a mean cup!

Sir Spanxalot · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 5

The aeropress is wonderful if you get the grind right. Once you have the grind and water temp dialed in, it's the next best thing to a good espresso I've found.

Shameless plug for Dunn Brothers Coffee too. That stuff is amazing!

tanner jones · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,003

i have used the melitta drip pour over, rei french press, bialetti moka pot, and now the aeropress and i have to say for my money i think the aeropress is the way to go. i like a strong cup of coffee, so the "inverted method" is essential: youtube.com/watch?v=0Z-ORcQ…

good beta to get a hand grinder from an earlier poster, i'm going to have to order one.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

So after this thread, I was totally sold on the aeropress.

At least, until I saw one this weekend. I went to touch it and it fell apart, spilling grounds all over the place. Once reassembled, I got a demonstration and was extremely disappointed at the minute amount of coffee it actually made. It might have been the strongest and most delicious stuff in the world but when I'm camping, I'd rather not cool and repack a gizmo a dozen times to get a decent cup for both me and my girlfriend.

Of course my french press with the bent rod might as well be cowboy coffee. I hate that shit.

I just took a trip to the TJ Max homegoods. They had Bialetti style Moca pots of all sizes. From teeny tiny to comically oversized. I bought the one size smaller than the biggest. It makes enough to fill two standard size coffee mugs. It was $15. Had I opted for silver instead of cool red with a curvy pot, the same size would have been $10.

csproul · · Pittsboro...sort of, NC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 330
nicelegs wrote:So after this thread, I was totally sold on the aeropress. At least, until I saw one this weekend. I went to touch it and it fell apart, spilling grounds all over the place. Once reassembled, I got a demonstration and was extremely disappointed at the minute amount of coffee it actually made. It might have been the strongest and most delicious stuff in the world but when I'm camping, I'd rather not cool and repack a gizmo a dozen times to get a decent cup for both me and my girlfriend. Of course my french press with the bent rod might as well be cowboy coffee. I hate that shit. I just took a trip to the TJ Max homegoods. They had Bialetti style Moca pots of all sizes. From teeny tiny to comically oversized. I bought the one size smaller than the biggest. It makes enough to fill two standard size coffee mugs. It was $15. Had I opted for silver instead of cool red with a curvy pot, the same size would have been $10.
Don't know if I mentioned it already or not, but with Moka pots (Bialetti style) I think it is worth it spend for a Stainless Steel one. The cheaper aluminum pots leave a metallic taste IMO.
mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120
nicelegs wrote:So after this thread, I was totally sold on the aeropress. At least, until I saw one this weekend. I went to touch it and it fell apart, spilling grounds all over the place. Once reassembled, I got a demonstration and was extremely disappointed at the minute amount of coffee it actually made. It might have been the strongest and most delicious stuff in the world but when I'm camping, I'd rather not cool and repack a gizmo a dozen times to get a decent cup for both me and my girlfriend. Of course my french press with the bent rod might as well be cowboy coffee. I hate that shit. I just took a trip to the TJ Max homegoods. They had Bialetti style Moca pots of all sizes. From teeny tiny to comically oversized. I bought the one size smaller than the biggest. It makes enough to fill two standard size coffee mugs. It was $15. Had I opted for silver instead of cool red with a curvy pot, the same size would have been $10.
I never got on with the aeropress recommended method which indeed only makes a little, but with the above video's method, enough grounds and enough contact time, I get a sizeable and strong cup of coffee. Leave it upside down for longer and you get more extraction.

Still like a good espresso better.
josh holmes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 215

IMO, nothing beats one of these…nothing

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot

DavisMeschke Guillotine · · Pinedale, WY · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 225

The Bialetti is the go to piece man. It makes the best cup of espresso and coffe I've ever had, it's indestructible, and it's not much weight. Idk how you can get better than that.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35
DavisMeschke wrote:The Bialetti is the go to piece man. It makes the best cup of espresso and coffe I've ever had, it's indestructible, and it's not much weight. Idk how you can get better than that.
Well, the whole reason for this thread is that I destructed one. It wasn't bad, just broke the handle and lid, I suppose I could have fixed it.

Just curious, when considering car camping, out of a truck or van or something like most of us typically have, why is weight an issue? It wouldn't change a thing if the coffee maker weighed 28 pounds. Size is a bigger concern and the Bialetti doesn't fare too well in that aspect.

My last one lasted 4 years. I hope to get about the same out of this one.
Sir Spanxalot · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 5
mountainhick wrote: I never got on with the aeropress recommended method which indeed only makes a little, but with the above video's method, enough grounds and enough contact time, I get a sizeable and strong cup of coffee. Leave it upside down for longer and you get more extraction. Still like a good espresso better.
I have good luck pulling a strong shot the OG way for Aeropress which gets watered down with the remaining water. I think you guys have coarse grounds and need to go finer, like espresso fine, almost so fine you plug the filter.
DavisMeschke Guillotine · · Pinedale, WY · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 225

@nicelegs

I was only saying that the weight isn't bad if you wanted to bring it on backcountry trips. I usually put the bag of coffee grounds and other coffee making supplies in the bottom half. I really like coffee and I think percolating is the best way, so I make sacrifices in that department.

Eric Krantz · · Black Hills · Joined Feb 2004 · Points: 420
nicelegs wrote:So after this thread, I was totally sold on the aeropress. At least, until I saw one this weekend. I went to touch it and it fell apart, spilling grounds all over the place. Once reassembled, I got a demonstration and was extremely disappointed at the minute amount of coffee it actually made. It might have been the strongest and most delicious stuff in the world but when I'm camping, I'd rather not cool and repack a gizmo a dozen times to get a decent cup for both me and my girlfriend.
It's a bit more of a process:

1. Fill aeropress halfway with grounds
2. Pour in hot water
3. Let set 30 seconds.
4. Press into your cup
5. Pour half into your g-friends cup
6. Add water/cream

There's two cups, still strong, takes very little time.

Also, you don't have to cool the aeropress to start another cup, as you do with the Bialetti.
morkel · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 455
espressozone.com/bialetti-m…

Makes the best coffe/espresso ever

Hands down
M Sprague · · New England · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 5,090
morkel wrote:http://www.espressozone.com/bialetti-moka-express-stovetop-espresso-maker?gclid=CPXtm-SclsMCFQmqaQodlmAAFw Makes the best coffe/espresso ever Hands down
Many would differ. It is possible to make good coffee with them, but the results are often bitter, burned and metallic tasting.
morkel · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 455
M Sprague wrote: Many would differ. It is possible to make good coffee with them, but the results are often bitter, burned and metallic tasting.
Sorry you've had some bad brews. But odd, I've never tasted metal, even drinking right out of the pot. The bitter and burnt, obviously, comes from operator error; leaving the pot on the burner too long. Remove from heat immediately. Also, pretty indestructible. The gasket can wear out after many years (in a pitch I've repaired with RTV). My wife broke the handle on ours, mostly superfluous. The Italians know their coffee👍
csproul · · Pittsboro...sort of, NC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 330
morkel wrote: Sorry you've had some bad brews. But odd, I've never tasted metal, even drinking right out of the pot. The bitter and burnt, obviously, comes from operator error; leaving the pot on the burner too long. Remove from heat immediately. Also, pretty indestructible. The gasket can wear out after many years (in a pitch I've repaired with RTV). My wife broke the handle on ours, mostly superfluous. The Italians know their coffee👍
The burned and bitter taste can also be a result to the bean used, roast, and grind. The metallic taste IMO is from using aluminum moka pots. The stainless steel ones are much better.
Gordy Gordon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0

I use the top of a plastic coke bottle and a #4 filter. But I'm a just a climber not a barista.

Gordy Gordon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0
rocknice2 wrote:Cowboy Coffee. NO filters, NO special pot and you can make several cups at a time. Step 1: Grind the beans at the store with the machine set to 'TURC'. This is 1 step finer the espresso. Step 2: Boil some water and put a teaspoon of ground coffee into each cup. Step 3: Pour boiling water vigorously into cup mixing the coffee at the bottom. If all the powdered coffee isn't mixed stir with spoon a couple times. Step 4: Let cup brew for a minute or two. Just do nothing basically. Step 5: Stir the top of the coffee to break up the frothy grinds floating on top. Step 6: Give it a couple minutes for the grinds to settle a the bottom of the cup. Enjoy the coffee richness. Remember this brew is definitely NOT good to the last drop.
I agree. Its worked for centuries. Also Tapping the pot with a spoon helps settle the grounds.
mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

I received the handpresso as a gift, works great, but the shot size is tiny. Too small.

Then saw Doligo's post about this:



THANKS DOLIGO!

They come and go slightly used on ebay for about $100. I snatched one for $115 shipped as a refurb, but it came brand new sealed in the original packaging.

This is a great machine, and small enough to take van camping. I have only done a few shots and the espresso quality is equal to my home machine, with the exception of a little bit less crema. My home machine is a serious tool, one of these:



The espresso is good enough that I will be selling the Isomac. I kid you not.

I am not through the learning curve with the ROK yet, but discovered you got to heat the portafilter, the cup and the water chamber first and as long as everything is hot, the shot is excellent. Of course all variables apply: right water temp, right grind, good tamp, pulling the shot over ~25 sec. It takes about as much fuss as Aeropress to use.

I just havent figured yet how to finish with a dry puck. It's been just a little messy.

Trite, I know, but I also like that it's called ROK.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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