Coffee

[cbreneman]

Hi Everyone,

About to do the in-state portion of North Carolina in a couple of weeks and looking for a suggestion...

What's the best coffee to take along?

I'm not a coffee snob by any means, but I'm not a huge fan of Sanka instant coffee. What have y'all used?

Thanks in advance!

[Gambit McCrae]

I have always carried tasters choice when I drink coffee but I know Coffee Bustello and DD as well as Starbucks instant packets.

[Five Tango]

I take Cafe Bustelo packs.They come in a red and yellow box from the grocery and there's 6 or so little finger sized packages in each box that make a drinkable espresso with 8 oz of hot water.Extremely light weight and very convenient.

My favorite night time beverage is hot tea with some dehydrated apple cider powder mixed with it.The Alpine apple cider drink mix is available on Amazon.Fairly heavy little package so I use a half pack per night and it does not overpower the tea taste.Makes a fairly sweet and smooth drink with less caffeine than the espresso.

[JNI64]

Trader Joe's coffee tube packs with cream and sugar so good.

[rickb]

I am with Salty Sack on this — Mount Hagen instant.

Some months ago they put a sticker on it saying good for cold brew coffee too.

Sort of obvious, but As a creature of habit it took a sticker to change my life.

Every morning now.

[Starchild]

My default is Taster's Choice 100% Columbian, perhaps a Via thrown in for variety, but the 100% takes 1st IMHO. For a instant it's pretty good even for home, and being on trail it is totally satisfying.

[Venchka]

Cafe Bustello or Starbucks Italian Roast. Both in single serving packets. Cafe Bustello is less expensive. Target used to sell it. I haven’t looked in ages.
Enjoy!
Wayne

[greentick]

I have done presses in the Nalgenes and the Jetboil which make fantastic field coffee. But, generally not fantastic enough to counteract the weight savings with the starbucks packets.

Looks like BRCC has an entry now as well, can't vouch for it until this fall but I will try it out https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/col...-instant-stick

[Kittyslayer]

Looks like BRCC has an entry now as well, can't vouch for it until this fall but I will try it out https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/col...-instant-stick

I like the BRCC instant sticks better than the Starbucks VIA, although they are both similar. Also like the support BRCC gives military. If you need them quick it is easer to find the VIA on short notice.

[greentick]

I like the BRCC instant sticks better than the Starbucks VIA, although they are both similar. Also like the support BRCC gives military. If you need them quick it is easer to find the VIA on short notice.

Great! Will definitely check em out

[swjohnsey]

I'm not a coffee snob but I can't take instant. I brew cowboy coffee on the trail. I prepack my coffee, 1/4 cup of coffee, 1/4 c of any kind of sugar (I like brown sugar) in a zip lock bag. At night I set up my pot and wisperlite with 20 oz of water and dump the coffee/sugar in and put the top on. In the morning I get up and fire up the stove. By the time I get the tent knocked down the coffee comes to a boil. Take it off the heat and let is set in the cozy for 5 minutes and the tent is packed up. Decant into a plastic cup made out of the bottom of a big coffeemate container. The grounds will sink to the bottom no need to strain.

You can always find ground coffee and some type of sugar just about anyplace.

[Kittyslayer]

I brew cowboy coffee on the trail.
...The grounds will sink to the bottom no need to strain.

What is the appropriate LNT approach with regards to the grounds?

[greentick]

What is the appropriate LNT approach with regards to the grounds?

I used to scatter the grounds away from anywhere someone would sit etc. Looks like dirt. At home every so often we put the grounds in the potted plants around the house. They seem to like it.

[swjohnsey]

The grounds are organic, biodegradable.

[Starchild]

The grounds are organic, biodegradable.

Using this alone is not LNT if used as a decision to not pack it out (not that you did). Just because something is organic and biodegradable does not mean that it won't take a long time to break down, nor a attractant to local wildlife, nor visually unappealing to see. LNT involves specific knowledge or defaults to pack out.

In this case I would be concerned about small animals which if they learn that smell might seek it out, perhaps meaning getting into other hikers backpacks.

[Crass]

What is the availability of fresh roasted coffee at AT resupply stops?
I'm wondering whether or not I should arrange shipments with one of my local roasters.

[MtDoraDave]

Using this alone is not LNT if used as a decision to not pack it out (not that you did). Just because something is organic and biodegradable does not mean that it won't take a long time to break down, nor a attractant to local wildlife, nor visually unappealing to see. LNT involves specific knowledge or defaults to pack out.

In this case I would be concerned about small animals which if they learn that smell might seek it out, perhaps meaning getting into other hikers backpacks.

My barometer on LNT is usually "what if EVERYONE did it?"

Yes, lots of people use coffee grounds in their gardens or in their compost piles, but in the wilderness - often the areas are protected and restricted use, in which case introducing a foreign form of fertilizer will unnaturally alter the ecosystem.

Nobody in this thread would ever spread their coffee grounds in a campsite where it would get on the next person's clothes, tent, etc... we'd all be aware that the sweetener used would/could attract pests from ants to bears... nope, nobody here would do that. But we've all been out on the trail and seen where OTHER people have spit their toothpaste right on the ground in camp, and left food debris in shelters, in fire rings, etc. and spread their coffee grounds wherever they land, caring only for their convenience and of course the quality of their coffee.

Is spreading your coffee grounds away from camping and drinking sources a major violation of LNT principles that will get the area closed down for future hikers? No, but there are enough decent instant coffees out there, why not wait until the next trip into town to look forward to a real cup of coffee?


btw, I like the Starbucks VIAs or the Tasters Choice French Roast. The latter is a fraction the price of the former, and dang near as good!

[Staystrong]

I always use different coffee beans for my coffee machine. It grinds them and make nice espresso.
I usually order different kinds of coffee beans on amazon and testing. I really like Brazil coffee, but once when I was in Mexico, I got some Mexican coffee mixes and I suppose it was one of the best coffee I've drunk ever. Unfortunately I don't know myself which sort of coffee it was.

[Traffic Jam]

I’ve become a fan of Starbucks cold brew packets for an afternoon pick me up, especially when used with cold stream water. They’re bigger than the Via’s but it’s no big deal to carry a few for a 3-4 day hike.

[cmoulder]

Starbucks Via, Columbian and French Roast