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Best camp coffee maker?

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

I'm in the market for a new camp coffee maker.

I've had a few different french presses, they are fine but I don't like the grounds. I had a drip filter setup, also fine but a bit weak for my standards. I've had 2 different Bialetti style pots. I liked them but they were a little prone to burn coffee.

I could just get another Bialetti but what else should I look at? The aeropress? Space and backpacking isn't a huge issue. Maybe something I can talk to people at camp endlessly about, like maybe this thing

What are you using?

TJ Brumme · · Marrakech · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 1,648

Aeropress is the best option in terms of ease of use, quality, and ease of cleanup. Only downside is that it's limited to single cup brewing.

Bill M · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 317

I pour over through a filter

M Sprague · · New England · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 5,090

Get an Aeropress. They make great coffee, like a french press but much easier to clean. You shoot the grinds out the bottom when done like a syringe.
amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee…

If you want to make two cups just use more coffee, split into two cups and then dilute with more hot water. I do fine making one big mug.

For making larger amounts I would go with a simple filter. It is simple, cheap and makes good coffee if you get the grind correct and the water at the right temperature.

Chris Rice · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 55

A percolator is my choice. Not for the single cup stuff but for several cups of whatever strength you like. Pour it early for weak - wait a minute for strong.

Alastair Patrick · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 0

+1 for the Aeropress. It only costs around $25, doesn't weigh much, is probably indestructible and makes an excellent cup of coffee in half a minute (once you have boiling water, of course). It's also very easy to clean. You simply pop out a neat 'hockey puck' of compressed grounds when you're done and give it a rinse. I've used one at home every day for a year and it still looks and works as good as new.

Alastair

andyedwards · · OR · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 205
Bill M wrote:I pour over through a filter
Same. I find it tastes better than a french press. They're cheap, and you can make it as strong as you want.
Kai Huang · · Aurora, CO · Joined May 2008 · Points: 105

Another vote for Aeropress.

Scott M. McNamara · · Presidio San Augustine Del… · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 55
rocknice2 · · Montreal, QC · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 3,847

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.

M Santisi · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 1,879

When weight is a concern I bring the GSI H2JO. I just grind the coffee myself and stick with larger grounds so they don't get through the screen in the filter.

gsioutdoors.com/products/pd…

Beean · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

I use this thingy

Lightweight, fast, tastes aight.

Or I brew cowboy coffee.

Jeff Gicklhorn · · Tucson, AZ · Joined May 2008 · Points: 295

+1 for the AeroPress

wivanoff · · Northeast, USA · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 674
Beean wrote:I use this thingy Lightweight, fast, tastes aight. Or I brew cowboy coffee.
Same here. Use a regular "Mr. Coffee" basket filter. Fold twice to make a cone like a Chemex filter and then fold the bottom point over to make it flat. Much cheaper than the Melitta filters.
M L · · Sonora, CA · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 165

starbuck via packets

Austin Eddy · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 11
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.
Guy comes looking for advice for a brewing method other than the french press because it leaves too many grounds in the cup and you recommend a method that is the same as the french press minus the straining of the grounds? You recommended the method that has the absolute largest amount of grounds left in the cup.
Will Carney · · Tallulah Falls, GA · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 135

I saw a guy once that had these Wolfgang Puck Instant Hot Latte coffee drinks that had built in quicklime heaters. He would "pop" a tab on the bottom of the can and it would do it's chem reaction and...Voila! Piping hot crackaccino! Of course the ridiculousness of it soon set in as he had garbage, garbage, and more nonrecyclable garbage. And I have to say after a taste test, I was none too impressed. No offense Wolfgang if you're reading this. I still use a pyrex french press. Makes 2 good cups at a time to taste. And I like that I can pack the coffee/sugar in a bag inside the press.

matt c. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 155

I used this thing.
Simple. Easy to clean.
melitta

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316

Aero press is legit. French press is good with a little extra clean up. Pour-over is cheap and cool but filter are needed which leaves you with a manky brown rag unless a fire pit is close at hand. Starbucks Cafe Via is pure lazyman bliss.

Ed L · · Slowida · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 80

Do you aeropress fans utilize the stainless reusable filter, and if so, are you happy with it? I do have an aeropress but stand by the Bialetti as the undisputed ruler of high end coffee devices. The aeropress does have a crucial spot in my java arsenal for roadtrip/late night spro' compliments of gas station hot water systems.

William Kramer · · Kemmerer, WY · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 935
Jake Jones wrote:Spouse.
Or first one awake.

Percolator when camped by vehicle or pack in with horses, Jetboil with press when backpack in
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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