Boondocking Coffee in the 400

pthomas745 · December 2018

@Ratkity @DougH you can add me to the "store in an airtight container" camp. When you have bought a whole bean coffee roasted within the last few days, trying to keep that bean "fresh" against the ravages of time and oxygen is a challenge, so the airtight container is the best for me. Even with the container, I can tell by the quality of the shots my Rancilio produces that the beans are a bit past their peak. Not that they making "bad" coffee, but I can see the shot is different.

I've had several friends press me on this, and I have them bring over their whole bean coffee from the supermarket that has no date on it. Using my exact same routine, (bean weight, grind, extraction time) the older coffee never performs well. In an expresso machine, at least. I liken coffee to fruit: you aren't going to have a good experience with a banana two weeks past "just ripe."

If you ever get a chance, snack on a few coffee beans fresh from the roaster, still warm. The bean has a "crunchy" "crackly" character from all the expanded gases inside the bean that have been brought out in the roast process. As time and oxygen do their thing to the bean, it loses those gases, the bean contracts, and makes it harder to process out the solids that make good coffee.

Ratkity · December 2018

@pthomas745, if I ever go to a great roaster and taste a freshly roasted bean, I'm not sure how quickly my friends or sister could yank me away before I ate so many I could walk on the ceiling!

DougH · December 2018

There was a place in downtown Ft. Worth that used to serve "Rocket Fuel". A frozen coffee drink like the S***b**** Frap****, but with a triple shot of espresso added, then a couple heaping tablespoons of espresso grounds as well.

I made the mistake of trying one. Only once.

Two thirds of the way through I started sweating and getting heart palpitations. Thought I might need to go to the ER.

I know.... what a wuss. Too scary for me though.

pthomas745 · December 2018

Yeah, I hear the water in Ft. Worth can be rough.

Ratkity · December 2018

DougH said:

There was a place in downtown Ft. Worth that used to serve "Rocket Fuel". A frozen coffee drink like the S***b**** Frap****, but with a triple shot of espresso added, then a couple heaping tablespoons of espresso grounds as well.

I made the mistake of trying one. Only once.

Two thirds of the way through I started sweating and getting heart palpitations. Thought I might need to go to the ER.

I know.... what a wuss. Too scary for me though.

@DougH I understand! I can drink my Moka Pot and that's all for the day. I have a hard time with the energy drinks. What's more concerning for me is that I have seemed to have inherited all my Mother's allergies. Ugh. One allergy she has is to coffee (caffeine?) and she loves coffee. She gets palpitations just drinking a little decaf (rem reg coffee is 97% caffeine free while decaf is 99% caffeine free). There's still a little bit in it. I have a fear that I'll inherit that allergy (or reaction.. tis not a true allergy - sez the microbiologist). Meanwhile.... I know I will NOT be drinking any Rocket Fuel!!!

Ratkity · December 2018

P.S. I keep editing my silly post. I'm decaffeinated!! hehe.

Sneakle · December 2018

I don't know if there are any other Nespresso fans out there, but here is how we place our little machine in a TAB 320s. A bookend keeps it pressed up against the wall. Cover the bottom of the bookend with rubber shelf liner and it stays put. We use this when on shore power.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/wk/pppfz2xnlbdz.jpg

Marceline · January 2019

And you thought that it's a challenge to make good coffee in a T@B.
https://www.sailmagazine.com/cruising/video-coffee-and-the-solo-sailor

Sharon_is_SAM · January 2019

I am a little queezy just watching that!

ExposeTheWild · February 2019

Here's a video on making espresso style coffee in your T@B trailer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QlsfbaKZh0

tombeaux · February 2019

You might try this. I used a French Press with coffee ground in advance. It still seemed like the grounds found there way all over the T@B. Tried this cool brew from Whole Foods and I’m happy with it. Quick and no mess. There are tons of brands out there, but I liked this one, plus it has a cool measuring system built in.

Todd77 · February 2019

I use a stainless steel filter (can't remember the brand) and go the pour over route. If I want more than one cup I will pour over a thermos style container (like hydroflask or Klean Kanteen). Takes up very little space and i'm smiling each morning:)

b407driver · November 2019

ChanW said:

Heh. I don't know about grind time, just 28 grams of fine grind coffee, 30secs brew time. Top off with whole milk to make 16oz... Perfect coffee every time!

That's not coffee...

HAWAIIANTAB · November 2019

Can't beat the simple compact 'Melita' funnel drip coffee maker. I've gone thru a dozen different and much more expensive, digital and breakable coffee machines, but have always returned to the Malita.................fool proof [says the fool]

DougH · November 2019

Homebodyatheart · November 2019

I ran across the Stanley French Press and really like it. It’s sturdy, water boils quickly, and can be used for cooking other things like an ear of corn. About $22 at WM.

Ratkity · November 2019

*GASP* @Homebodyatheart! Do you want to give @DougH a heart attack? hehehehe

DougH · November 2019

https://youtu.be/st571DYYTR8

Deb55 · November 2019

@TerryV6, we use a Melitta pour over coffee pot, too, but ours has the stainless thermal carafe instead of the glass. It keeps the coffee hot for a longer time. No electricity needed!

Emma62 · November 2019

Thx for the french press video DougH. I'm going to try that tomorrow morning.

I use a french press at home but when I'm camping I fresh grind organic medium roast coffee beans with a hand grinder (Peruvian, Ethiopian, usually a single source instead of a blend) then put the ground coffee into a drawstring bag meant for making cold brewed coffee.

Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013R3Q7B2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bags: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072MGP456/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I pour boiling water over the bag, dip it up and down several times to wet all the coffee then let it sit for 5-8 minutes.

It's very convenient to do it this way when camping as then the bag can simply be thrown away.

Cherokee · November 2019

We place an old fashion peculator on the gas stove filled with course ground coffee. Great tasting with a little practice !

pthomas745 · November 2019

I surrender to DougH again, who wins every one of these coffee threads with his spectacular machines.

I'll throw the Aeropress back into the mix, because it makes a great cup of coffee. And the clean up is completely effortless in comparison the the french press.

Ratkity · November 2019

pthomas745 said:

I surrender to DougH again, who wins every one of these coffee threads with his spectacular machines.

I'll throw the Aeropress back into the mix, because it makes a great cup of coffee. And the clean up is completely effortless in comparison the the french press.

I have used the Aeropress and it was easy clean-up and decent flavor. I had to play with the grind to get the richness correct. My Bro-in-law gave me some tips on how to get the best flavor out of the Aeropress. His sis is an Aeropress expert.

Now, I've heard even better things about the nanopress, especially with the Barista Kit. That makes it a two shot espresso machine (who drinks just one shot?). The Aeropress doesn't have the pressure needed to be strictly called espresso, but the nanopress does. I'll give a report as soon as it arrives!

WilliamA · November 2019

Here's a good camp coffee recipe that my brother and I use:
Get a one gallon cowboy coffee pot with the porcelain coating. Fill it with river water. Dump most of a can of cheap ground coffee in along with a couple pickled eggs. Add a couple tablespoons of used motor oil to prevent sticking. Boil over your evening fire for 3 hours or until most of the liquid is gone. Drink a bottle of Jack Daniels by the fire. Set the coffeepot off to cool overnight. In the morning, add 3 cups of river water and reheat.
Enjoy!

(I love this thread! But it should be titled: "Camping while you are french!"
I'm also a bit confused by all of the comments about "cleaning" (??) Your coffeepot?? What for???

WilliamA

DougH · November 2019

@WilliamA We heard it will be below zero around Baraboo tomorrow. BRRR! Fond memories of trying to van camp without a heater in Wisconsin one night when it hit 30 below. I think that area creates stronger than average folk.

WilliamA · November 2019

DougH,
It could also be the coffee? We had 3 deg F this morning. Light jacket weather...lol
WilliamA

dCliffhanger · November 2019

I went with the AeroPress as it's unbreakable and compact. It makes very good coffee but not enough for me. I think it needs more grounds per cup because the brew time is shorter than the 6 minutes I use for my home french press. Even if you wait for it to steep, quite alot of liquid drains through before much time passes. Having a 320 T@B, there is no inverter to allow an electric percolator. My routine is simply heat water in a kettle that provides for both coffee and my dose of oatmeal. A second cup can be brewed as needed right over the first without ejecting the "puck".

ChanW · November 2019

@dCliffhanger, use the Aeropress in the upside-down mode! It works much better all around.

Look here: https://www.northstarroast.com/brew-method/aeropress-inverted/

dCliffhanger · November 2019

ChanW said:

@dCliffhanger, use the Aeropress in the upside-down mode! It works much better all around.
Look here: https://www.northstarroast.com/brew-method/aeropress-inverted/

Hey that method looks like it will allow as much brew time as I want! Cool! There is little precision allowed in my brewing process. No scale, not even a measuring cup. I have the 2 Tbs measure that came with and my coffee cup. No room in a T@B for extraneous items! Thank you!

N7SHG_Ham · November 2019

A few tips on Aeropress. I use a small burr grinder and don't weigh or measure my beans or the ground coffee. Instead I time the grind and with my grind settings I find 18" of run is just right, this is a bit of experimentation to find out the time, but requires no measuring. I find that a very fine grind also works better.

I pretreat the paper filter by adding boiling water to the press and draining before adding the coffee.

After adding coffee and water, insert plunger then pull up slightly to create a vacuum. This allows a longer steep time if you want, my standard time is 105 seconds, but this can be whatever you like.

The Aeropress gets used at home as well as camping, I probably have well over 1000 cups of coffee with it and no issues with wear yet.

Once you perfect the grind and timing, it makes a very good cup consistently anyplace.

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