These two words strike a perky, comfy feel for many people. Say "HOT CAMPFIRE COFFEE" & it rings even better. Say "HOT LAKESIDE CAMPFIRE COFFEE" and...to many words ruin the vibe. But that's what we're after -Hot lakeside campfire type coffee.
I especially love a steaming hot cup of coffee after spearfishing in a cold, clear Wisconsin lake. I get out of the water tired, hungry & usually getting a bit chilled. I peel off the wetsuit & get into warm, dry clothes. If we want a great lakeside fish fry, then I've got work to do -fish to get ready (I fillet 'em, Cheryl cooks 'em). Need strength,
COFFEE is all about busting up the magic coffee bean to release its stimulating properties, then getting those properties past the palate in a tasty way, & into the blood stream for the perk. Here's some ways of doing that:
- Use Your Portable Grinder -your teeth. Chew a handful of beans. This is the hardest core minimalist instant coffee. I don't like the concentrated taste. Each bean has about 6 mg of caffeine. 15 beans gives about same amount of caffeine as one brewed cup of coffee. Practical, but of course misses the full enjoyable process of brewing.
- Cowboy Coffee. Boil water. Throw in ground coffee -no filter- let the groundssettle to the bottom & drink. Pick out grounds stuck in teeth with toothpick, -not the wife's favorite.😝
- Instant. Scoop a spoonful into hot water. The easiest method of all & I think tastes totally fine. Lacking just abit in rich taste & the brewing process satisfaction.
- Drone delivered latte. This is on the other end of the what I'm after & scores a 10 on the "coffee snobbery" scale. Make your phone call & set up delivery. Cool for bragging rights, but lacks the satisfaction of my own effort.
From here on there's an endless variety of filtering methods -all getting at the same thing -making coffee bean soup minus the grounds.
The French Press is a more unique method -using a plunger/syringe type mechanism to separate grounds from water. It's suppose to give a richer taste & retain more of the healthy oils & antioxidant properties in coffee. (Curiosity has got the best of me; I'm gonna break off finishing this post untill I've tried the French Press....⏱ Ok, I've tried it. I do love the simplicity of it. Might use it for lakeside coffee - not sure).
HERE'S HOW WE DO IT:
I prefer a perculator. I like the ambience added by the action & sound of the perculation, followed by the smell of coffee wafting through the air. I usually fire up the Coleman stove. (making it not officially "campfire" coffee 🤔). Fill our little perculator with water. Add a heaping teaspoon of coffee per cup. Set it to boil. Watch the clear bubble on top 'till the perculating water is dark brown -about 10 minutes.
We've tried many flavors & types of coffee, but for the most part I'm more suprised by the similarity than differences amongst coffees. Maybe my taste buds are not as refined as others. The only coffee that really contorts my face is coffee that is to weak or way to strong -most other coffee flavors & roasts are fine.
The French Press is a more unique method -using a plunger/syringe type mechanism to separate grounds from water. It's suppose to give a richer taste & retain more of the healthy oils & antioxidant properties in coffee. (Curiosity has got the best of me; I'm gonna break off finishing this post untill I've tried the French Press....⏱ Ok, I've tried it. I do love the simplicity of it. Might use it for lakeside coffee - not sure).
HERE'S HOW WE DO IT:
I prefer a perculator. I like the ambience added by the action & sound of the perculation, followed by the smell of coffee wafting through the air. I usually fire up the Coleman stove. (making it not officially "campfire" coffee 🤔). Fill our little perculator with water. Add a heaping teaspoon of coffee per cup. Set it to boil. Watch the clear bubble on top 'till the perculating water is dark brown -about 10 minutes.
We've tried many flavors & types of coffee, but for the most part I'm more suprised by the similarity than differences amongst coffees. Maybe my taste buds are not as refined as others. The only coffee that really contorts my face is coffee that is to weak or way to strong -most other coffee flavors & roasts are fine.
If we were to pick a favorite flavored coffee it'd probably be the Gevalia brand in the Mild Chocolate Mocha flavor, Creme Brulee coffee & blueberry flavored Door county coffee.
Some people add cinnamon or chocolate to the grounds for added flavor, alil salt or crushed egg shells to reduce bitterness, butter instead of cream, amongst other coffee connoisseur tips.
We've also found cost is no predictor of what coffee we like (we prefer Great Value -about the cheapest- over most other name brands, & instant over Starbucks).
In blind taste tests cheaper coffees scored higher than the expensive "sophisticated" brands. Remove the name status & packaging attraction -i.e. "snobbery" factor, & your true taste preference is free to decide.
Here's a link to a favorite site to check out other coffee brewing methods. https://gearjunkie.https://gearjunkie.com/coffee-brew-in-outdoors-camping
Some people add cinnamon or chocolate to the grounds for added flavor, alil salt or crushed egg shells to reduce bitterness, butter instead of cream, amongst other coffee connoisseur tips.
We've also found cost is no predictor of what coffee we like (we prefer Great Value -about the cheapest- over most other name brands, & instant over Starbucks).
In blind taste tests cheaper coffees scored higher than the expensive "sophisticated" brands. Remove the name status & packaging attraction -i.e. "snobbery" factor, & your true taste preference is free to decide.
Here's a link to a favorite site to check out other coffee brewing methods. https://gearjunkie.https://gearjunkie.com/coffee-brew-in-outdoors-camping
If it were not nearly midnight, I would be making some coffee right now ;-) I liked some of your connoisseur tips. Might try the egg shell trick as my taste buds are a tad on the sissy side. As always, enjoyed reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteYea, guess that's alittle late for coffee if you care to sleep solid. But glad I made coffee sound tempting, lol! Let me know if you try the egg shell trick. Thanks for reading my blog.😊
ReplyDeleteNice post, Scott! 😊 Wish I could drink the stuff! (Caffeine and I don’t get along too well these days. 😞)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading my blog and being good sport enough to comment even though coffee doesn't agree with you. You could probably add whatever your favorite drink is to a Lakeside scene and that drink would be at his best for you.
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