If you are planning to go on a camping trip with your friends, coffee is considered one of the essentials to take with you. It provides the perfect perk me up during chilly mornings up the mountains or while discovering new trails in a nearby forest. Warmer weather calls for cold brew coffee but this shouldn’t be a problem with the right equipment and techniques. Read on for some helpful cold brew coffee camping tips.
Cold brew coffee camping: What are the methods to do it?
Here are some methods to prepare cold brew coffee for your camping trip:
By using a French Press.
One popular brewing method to prepare cold brew is with the use of a French Press. The coffee, which should be coarsely ground, should be soaked directly in the water and drained. Once the brew is up, you just push down the plunger to strain the grinds and pour the coffee. The ideal water ratio is the one to seven ratio.
Grind coffee beans on a coarse setting and place inside the French Press. Add filtered water and stir. Leave the plunger up and allow the coffee to soak in the brewer from 12 to 24 hours.
Next, press the plunger and place the cold-brew in a jar and pack it for the next camping trip. Cold-brew should be stored in the fridge or camp cooler once it is brewed but while it is still brewing room temperature should be fine.
By doing a post-brew strain using paper filters.
If you do not have French Press, you can still prepare a cold brew for your next camping trip. Use paper filters for the post-brew strain which is achieved through the use of a mason jar. You can brew just like the same method as that of a French Press. Pour the coffee over paper or even metal filters to strain and store it for your camping trip.
By preparing a cold brew concentrate.
You can have cold brew coffee ready for your next camping trip by preparing cold brew concentrate in advance. You may opt to make a big batch if you are going on a trip with a few friends.
Here are the ingredients that you will need in preparing a cold brew concentrate:
- Eight ounces whole coffee beans
- Eight cups of filtered water
- Coffee grinder
- Jar or pitcher with lid
- Cheesecloth
- Rubberband
- Fine mesh strainer
Here are the steps on how to make a cold brew concentrate:
- Grind the coffee beans to a coarse grind in your coffee grinder.
- Place together the ground coffee and water into the jar.
- Stir the mixture to incorporate.
- Steep the coffee concentrate overnight in the fridge.
- Strain the concentrate with a cheesecloth.
- Transfer the cold brew concentrate to an airtight jar or container.
What is cold brew?
Cold brew is coffee that does not use near-boiling temperatures to extract coffee properties. With cold brew, coffee is left at room temperature for up to 24 hours to naturally brew itself.
These are the benefits of cold brew coffee:
- It is less acidic.
- It is convenient.
- It is sweeter than hot brewed coffee.
- It has more antioxidants.
- It is versatile and can be used for alcoholic cocktails, drinks with no alcohol and even ice cream and cakes aside from being a great camping trip coffee choice.
Cold-brew coffee often requires some ice cubes and cold water and this can be a dilemma if you are on a long hiking trip and you’ve already used up the ice cubes you brought along in your cooler. Don’t despair though, you can still enjoy a good old hot cup of coffee while on a camping trip.
Other coffee brew methods for campers
Here are some camp coffee brew methods that you can try:
Instant coffee
Instant coffee is ideal for camping and hiking trips because it is lightweight and easy to pack. It also saves space since most brands offer packet sizes aside from the customary instant coffee in glass jars. To prepare, simply place instant coffee grounds into a cup and add boiling water. Recommended instant coffee brands for campers include Alpine Start and Mt. Hagen.
Cowboy coffee
A popular way of enjoying coffee while camping or hiking is cowboy coffee. All you have to do is just add coffee grounds to hot water. It is a simple way to enjoy coffee but it can also be messy since the grounds do not dissolve into the water. This method is ideal for big groups with no fancy coffee equipment in tow.
A surprising way to brew cowboy coffee is by placing broken eggshells or a whole raw egg into the coffee grounds. Other ways include the clean cup, sink down and scoop top methods.
Coffee in a bag
It is not just tea anymore that is placed in a bag these days since coffee-in-a-bag is becoming popular even among campers. This is ideal for backpackers and hikers who do not like instant coffee but also do not fancy dealing with coffee brewers. Simply place the brew bag in a cup and fill it with hot water. Steep to your desired coffee strength and remove the brew bag from the cup.
Single-serve pour-overs
This method involves the use of paper filters and one that is designed with campers in mind. It is ideal for backpackers and campers who like to save space and weight but do not like instant coffee. A pour over includes a paper frame and pouch that are filled with coffee grounds. The frame is placed over the top of the cup and boiling water is poured through the pouch-like pour-over.
Conclusion
Cold brew coffee camping methods such as the use of French Press and preparing cold brew concentrate are ideal ways to enjoy coffee while on camping trips in warm weather. However, there are also other means to enjoy a relaxing cup of joe while on a camping trip like cowboy coffee and coffee in a bag.
Image: istockphoto.com / Yulia Panova