READERS COMMENTS

I use the single serving, fresh brewed coffee packets from One Fresh Cup. They are almost as good as home, are easy and light to pack.
Posted: Nov 15, 2008 Sharon Croto

I either use tea filters, a fill it yourself teabag, or make a bag with a folded & sometimes stapled top from a 4 cup coffee filter for my coffee & tea. If I'll be in one place for several days, I make coffee in a big pot, using whole beans like our ranch cook did. You keep the pot going for a week or more, adding water & beans, removing beans when there's too many in the pot. It just gets better. All bags & beans are packed out in the zip lock baggies they came in.

Posted: Oct 12, 2008 Dusty

Does anyone know what type of plastic this is lined with? I've seen other plastic french press style coffee mugs that have the #7 logo on the bottom and others that do not but still produce that funky plastic odor when you put boiling water into it - same as a water bottle except these are designed to hold hot water! Where's the accountablility?
Posted: Sep 29, 2008 Watkins

Those packets of coffee bound up in filter paper, like you find in hotel rooms, are sold in package stores [Sam's Club, etc.] and restaurant suppliers. If you camp in a group, or like several cups each morning, and have the space, these packages have a long storage life. The packaging residue is very minor in size and weight. The grounds can go into the bottom of the day's cat hole [like an offering...], so LNT discipline can be observed. Since most of my trips include at least one small ambiance fire [in an existing ring, of course], the filter paper [less grounds, which are in the last cat hole] goes in, and I find that I do not end up packing out much packaging. This way, no special pots or other stuff has to come along and weigh down my aging legs.
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 Bovine54

I recently bought a Flej Solo Backpackers cup after reading a review on backpackgeartest.org

The cup is small enough to take in my pack plus I don't have to scratch around trying to find a spoon because it has a built in stirrer.
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 Joohn Scott

Dan, you disagree with my method of dealing with coffee grounds. That is your choice, but it is ethical, as long as it is done properly. What I take exception to, is everyone promoting single serving products. Are they convenient? I guess so? Do they taste good? Maybe, maybe not. Are they ethical? Definitely not! For each serving of single serving coffee that you use, well let’s see, you have the energy to produce the package it comes in, plus the larger package. You have no, absolutely no control over where the coffee is produced, or how it is produced. Fair Trade? Organic? Hmmm not sure, doubt it though. Oh, and the extra packaging where does it go? If you are lucky, maybe it gets recycled, which uses more energy, or worst case scenario, the landfill. So you keep using your “ethical” practices and I will use mine. With excess packaging, broadcasting coffee grounds will be a moot point as we use more and more energy; our land will be drilled, mined and clear cut, which is walking very softly.

SocraticGadfly...I haven't tried the sugar and boil technique, but will this weekend!!!
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 Beardedcanadian

The original Jetboil stove with the coffee press and home-ground beans in a Ziploc is all I need. Everything still fits inside the pot for packing, (coffee in the food sack though) and adds next to no weight.
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 Chris

Good coffee is a must!! lol
If you happen to have a Jet Boil, not the best stove but convenient. They have a press made just for the system. Works great.
Dave
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 ohiogrown

I've been backpacking since the mid 60's, and have a tub full of coffee devices (every one listed here and several others, now stored for posterity with my canvas pup tent). Coffee time is the best time of day when on the trail, and I am very picky. Percolators over-cook, instant is a poor substitute (including concentrates), French press coffee tastes weird even to the French, and espresso doesn't allow me to savor the time - might as well just chew caffeine tablets. I also hate carrying any extra weight, either in or out of the back country. I still find the best coffee is from the cowboy method. It takes a bit of finesse, but I can use my favorite brand. Medium grind is the best; fine stays in suspension and course floats. Done right, it is better than anything you could make at home or buy at 'Bucks.
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 RogDog

I have to take exception to the beardedcanadian reader on the LNT practices for coffee grounds. We brought them there therefore we should be obligated to pack them out. Scattering only leaves a mess for the next group of visitors to see, witness & wonder about the ethical standards of those visitors that preceeded them. For my vote it is either the coffee singles (place the used coffee bag back inside the foil packaging & roll shut for seal-proof & compact trash) or the Java Juice (need to thoroughly squeeze & roll all of the coffee extract from the container otherwise it tneds to make a mess so place empty packages in a ziplock bag).... Walk softly & think of others.
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 Dan H

I find the Bot coffee press that fits into the wide mouth Nalgene bottles great. I can brew and throw back into the pack for a 2nd cup for down the trail. Otherwise, i'LL settle for either instatnt of the single serve bags.

Posted: Sep 26, 2008 Chris_synol

BeardedCanadian is right... you can make either regular coffee, or, with some sugar, actually bring the coffee to a boil a few times, then back it off, for Turkish cowboy coffee.

And, Folgers? Yucckk.
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 SocraticGadfly

Yeah I've had a Mugmate for several years, it hasn't broken or gotten holes in it yet.
Great toy for java fiends.
Before that I used to do the Folgers' singles, they pack down nicely but you can't make as much with them and (obviously) you have garbage to pack out.
PMZ
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 PMZ

We like our coffee too! When backpacking we take Folgers coffee bags-just brew as directed-weigh next to nothing and grounds are contained for packing out.Not the best but better than no coffee! When base tent camping we take the trusty 28 year old aluminum percolator-yum.
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 Ellen D Mushock

Why don't you just keep it light and get the coffee singles. It's light, tastes good, and packs out with little trash. ( about 1 square inch) utilize the space for more important items.
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 Ted Adams

I'm with you on the MSR Mugmate. I tried the French Press mentioned but I don't like grounds in my coffee and I find it messy. The Mugmate keeps the grounds out and is easy to clean. Don't need a big pot for one person. Don't have to carry out filters.
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 sierras49

I'm disappointed you don't have the Press Bot listed. It's a French press that fits into a Nalgene bottle. I put the grounds in the bottle, slip the Press Bot in and screw it down, then screw the Nalgene cap onto the Bot and stick it in my pack so all I have to do in camp is add boiling water. When I'm done I screw the cap back on, pack it and dump the grounds at home. One big tip: since the Nalgene's not insulated, take a cozy or an insulated bottle holder along. It's at http://www.venturedesignworks.com/pressbot.html
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 Hikin' Edd

You should try the Filtron Cold Filter method. You steep the coffee for 12-24 hours in cold water, then carry the concentrate with you. About a 5 to 1 concentrate to water mixture tastes great. It's like carrying an extra water bottle and there is no clean up to deal with. I've used the system for years and all I have to do at home each morning is mix, micro, and go. On the trail, just boil water. You get a couple of liters of concentrate from each pound of coffee and just store it in the frige.
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 Bill Eckman

I'm disappointed you don't have the Press Bot listed. It's a French press that fits into a Nalgene bottle. I put the grounds in the bottle, slip the Press Bot in and screw it down, then screw the Nalgene cap onto the Bot and stick it in my pack so all I have to do in camp is add boiling water. When I'm done I screw the cap back on, pack it and dump the grounds at home. One big tip: since the Nalgene's not insulated, take a cozy or an insulated bottle holder along. It's at http://www.venturedesignworks.com/pressbot.html
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 Hikin' Edd

Try Java Juice. It is a concentrated coffe extract in a small puncture prood bag. One bag makes a really good cup of coffee without any hassle. You do have to pack out the paper folders but they weight nothing. Each serving costs about $1,30 at REI. Just about the same as Starbucks.
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 Gamaman Greg

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