Percolating Coffee

[Bailey Guns]

On a whim today I bought a small, camp-type percolator. The blue enameled-steel type. I've used them before but it's been ages.

This one appealed to me because it was small...8 cups, I think.

Got it home and brewed the first pot. It makes the house smell fantastic! It wasn't the best cup of coffee but it's obviously got great potential. And I like the idea of being able to use this outdoors and/or without power.

For all you coffee connoisseurs...any secrets you'd like to share about your techniques for percolating the perfect cuppa Joe?

[Coffee]

[hurley842002]

Nothing quite like a cup of coffee, first thing in the morning, brewed from a percolator from the camp fire. Man I can't wait for my first camping trip of the season. I don't have any secrets, but wanted to share my enthusiasm.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I've heard that if you replace the coffee and water with an ice cold beer it tastes alot better!! [Beer]
Glad you're feeling better!!

[HBARleatherneck]

i only percolate my coffee.

i make coffee fresh every 3 days. the other 2 days I boil the coffee.

the first day, i heat untill its starts to perc, then I turn my gas stove down to medium, and perc it for another 8-10 minutes. so hot, so strong. mmmmm yum.
the other days, i just run it up to a boil and drink.
i love perc brewed coffee

i own 5 percolators. 2 enamel ones and 3 18/10 stainless steel ones of various sizes.

[Scanker19]

add a pinch of salt per pot. It will take the bitterness out and make the coffee smooth tasting.

[Scanker19]

Nothing quite like a cup of coffee, first thing in the morning, brewed from a percolator from the camp fire. Man I can't wait for my first camping trip of the season. I don't have any secrets, but wanted to share my enthusiasm.

I too am waiting proper weather for said first trip. Nothing like the smell of coffee and bacon cooking in the woods.

[Bailey Guns]

We always had a percolator in hunting camp. But, we just boiled the water and threw in the coffee grounds. I've heard you can get the grounds to settle with a splash of cold water but I found they settle just as quickly on their own once the boiling action stops.

I love getting up early in the morning...especially in the summer...and having a good cup of coffee while sitting outside and watching daylight break. Great time to do some wildlife viewing, enjoy being alive and contemplating how lucky (and thankful) I am compared to many people in this world.

[SideShow Bob]

Aaaahhhh, I remember the days before Señor Coffee, percolated coffee was all there was. All these drip coffee makers now can't hold a candle to a percolated cup of coffee.

[Bailey Guns]

I'll try the pinch of salt suggestion!

[TEAMRICO]

Dont go camping with Jordan!
His idea of "Makin' Bacon" in the outdoors always turns out with someone crying![ROFL1]

Me and the boy went up top the Rampart area on Tues and Weds. Did a little shooting at the South Site and stayed overnight. The weather report was for crap! It got pretty cold at night. Maybe in a few weeks it will be good enough to where you can hang out outside the tent!

Looking forward to go more now that Im familiar with the area.

[Poofengle]

Has anyone seen or used one of these? They look pretty neat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxIs2GVsqgY

Or for those that like to DIY :Cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v84uSQQdQeU

They seem interesting to say the least

[Bailey Guns]

Those are cool.

Another great way to make really good coffee is with a French press. Quick and easy with outstanding results.

[Zundfolge]

For all you coffee connoisseurs...any secrets you'd like to share about your techniques for percolating the perfect cuppa Joe?

As a coffee connoisseur ... scratch that. As a coffee snob I just have to add that peculating is probably the worst possible way to make coffee (because it basically recirculates water/coffee through the grounds multiple times).

Absolute best way to make your coffee is with a Chemex carafe (http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/Coffeemakers.htm) or french press (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press) (after grinding your own beans with a burr grinder, not a blade grinder) And using filtered water at 195 to 205 deg F.

[Monky]

Coffee is bleh! Don't touch the stuff.. Of course a Starbucks is easier to find than a diet mtn dew..

[Bailey Guns]

As a coffee connoisseur ... scratch that. As a coffee snob I just have to add that peculating is probably the worst possible way to make coffee (because it basically recirculates water/coffee through the grounds multiple times).

Absolute best way to make your coffee is with a Chemex carafe (http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/Coffeemakers.htm) or french press (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press) (after grinding your own beans with a burr grinder, not a blade grinder).

Yeah, agreed. But this is for those "outdoor moments". I have a 1 cup brewer that looks like that Chemex brand but I don't recall who makes it.

[HBARleatherneck]

Coffee is bleh! Don't touch the stuff.. Of course a Starbucks is easier to find than a diet mtn dew..

really, i havent seen one in over 25 miles of my house. of course, i have never been to a starbucks, so who cares?

[Zundfolge]

Yeah, agreed. But this is for those "outdoor moments". I have a 1 cup brewer that looks like that Chemex brand but I don't recall who makes it.

Ah, outdoor.

Well a plastic french press would be workable.

I've also been kinda curious about this thing (http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2010/02/22/brunton-flip-n-drip-coffee-maker/).

I also can't see why someone couldn't make a Chemex style pot out of stainless steel (I understand that the Chemex is supposed to be chemically inert being pyrex style glass and all, but for roughing it I think stainless would work just fine). For that matter lexan should work too.

[hurley842002]

really, i havent seen one in over 25 miles of my house. of course, i have never been to a starbucks, so who cares?

I've said it before, but i'll say it again, I envy your living arrangements, someday, someday.

[Zundfolge]

Coffee is bleh! Don't touch the stuff.. Of course a Starbucks is easier to find than a diet mtn dew..

What does Starbucks have to do with coffee? [ROFL1]

Seriously, the burnt, bitter swill they serve ... hell I'd rather have peculated, pre-ground store brand coffee.

[mx'r]

I love it perculated. My grandad always made it when we went hunting/camping. He used a piece of paper towel in the bottom of the grounds to help prevent them from falling through. Grind it course and use the paper towel and you'll end up using it more than the drip sytem.

[ldmaster]

One cup of coffee a day.

I buy pure Kona from the islands, not the 20 percent "blend". I have a coffee pod maker, and it makes it convenient since I have a pod brewer as well.

But if I have my way and I'm out somewhere, I ALWAYS look for the old coffee - the stuff that was brewed yesterday - it just tastes better. I always wondered why guys I worked with would turn up their nose at it, preferring (in their words) "fresh" coffee - they drank so much of it I'm surprised they could taste it at all!

But if I am camping, I use a percolator, or if I have guests - I used to percolate a lot and would pour the coffee (still hot) In a sealed container, so it wouldn't lose anything to evaporation. Then just microwave it a cup at a time as I needed it.

Coffee grounds, eggshells salt - those were the days. Used to work great on the rhubarb too.

Coffee is a ritual, those that "buy it" at starbucks miss out on the essential part of it, like the difference between making break and buying it from the store - you can fine tune a brew to your specific taste.

[BigDee]

There are a few companies that make stainless steel coffee presses. They should work well for camping.

[jerrymrc]

I have two percolators, a press I bought in 82 in Belgium and a fair espresso machine but I still like the perks for the camper. My one percolator is a 20 cup job that does well. I think the biggest thing is to use a filter in one.


As a coffee connoisseur ... scratch that. As a coffee snob I just have to add that peculating is probably the worst possible way to make coffee (because it basically recirculates water/coffee through the grounds multiple times).

All well and good until you have 10 rabid people all wanting coffee at the same time. Just a sec, I have to let it steep a little...... like that is going to work on match morning. I bought the 20 cup because the 12 was not enough. [Coffee]

[Monky]

really, i havent seen one in over 25 miles of my house. of course, i have never been to a starbucks, so who cares?

You sir are an exception to the rule of having a starbucks on every corner.. do they even have corners out there? :)

[HBARleatherneck]

no we banned all the corners. to city ish.

[llostwolf]

When I'm up in the hills i use an old stainless percolator but at home I have this little 1 cup thing. The grounds are pressed in a mesh and the pressure can be changed to adjust how long the water steeps. Works very well for a dark brew.

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy16/llostwolf1/03272011054.jpg

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy16/llostwolf1/03272011055.jpg

[StagLefty]

[Coffee][Coffee][Coffee][Coffee][Coffee][Coffee][Coffee][Coffee][Coffee]
Yup coffee !!!