A new kind of coffee maker for camping

B_and_D

B_and_D

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We have a stovetop percolator, a Melitta drip cone, and a French press. I swore by the French press, it makes great coffee, but it's kind of hard to clean, especially when you're dry camping. So I've switched back to the Melitta cone for the past year.

I'd really like to try one of these: http://aerobie.com/Products/aeropress.htm

They run a little under $30. Has anyone tried one? There is a shop in Carmel that carries them and I am tempted to take a drive down there to buy one. The appeal for me is the ease of cleaning. It also looks like it takes up very little space.
 
Good Coffee

B_and_D said:
We have a stovetop percolator, a Melitta drip cone, and a French press. I swore by the French press, it makes great coffee, but it's kind of hard to clean, especially when you're dry camping. So I've switched back to the Melitta cone for the past year.

I'd really like to try one of these: http://aerobie.com/Products/aeropress.htm

They run a little under $30. Has anyone tried one? There is a shop in Carmel that carries them and I am tempted to take a drive down there to buy one. The appeal for me is the ease of cleaning. It also looks like it takes up very little space.
Click to expand...

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I usually use an REI French Press and I also have a 12 volt 4 cup drip coffee maker. I read all of the reviews on-line and found mostly positive reviews. Let us know how it works. Does anyone know Zabar's in NY. They have a good price. The filters appear to be only about 1 cent each.

http://www.zabars.com/

Ray
 
B_and_D said:
They run a little under $30. Has anyone tried one? There is a shop in Carmel that carries them and I am tempted to take a drive down there to buy one. The appeal for me is the ease of cleaning. It also looks like it takes up very little space.
Click to expand...

I know it's not as much fun as driving to Carmel, but did you realize there is a vendor in your own home town? CHEFWORKS (walk-in retailer), 1527 PACIFIC AVE., SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060, Phone: 831-426-1351.

Save some gas for a longer camping trip.
 
Coffee Makers

We're far from being "coffee affeciandos" but we use a small, 4-cup, drip type coffee maker with a stainless carafe. We thought the metal carafe would be a good choice to withstand the rigors of camping. Don't remember the brand, but I think we paid less than $20 for it at Costco last year.

Nick
 
Paul, thanks for the tip! One of the ladies I work with takes her kids to ballet right by the Carmel shop, so I've asked her to buy me one next time she's by there.

I don't like to go the Pacific Garden Mall very much, too many scary people :eek: , but they do have some great shops there. :)
 
Well, I came into work this morning and there was my AeroPress! I tried it. It makes great coffee & is SO easy to clean up. You just take off the bottom cap and knock off the grinds into the garbage can, then rinse off the bottom of the plunger.

I think that I might just have to go make another cup....
 
So I like to bring up old threads on the same topics...

Any thoughts on 12VDC versus propane? I just installed a 154 W solar panel and I have a second battery box ready...
 
I use an AeroPress exclusively while camping. It makes great coffee, especially for me as I only really like Espresso, and this does a passable job, with no utility needs other than hot water. I've got a hand-grinder, so that takes that part of the coffee-making equation, plus the AeroPress = YUM!
 
What do you use for a hand grinder? Might just bring the electric one from home and run it on an inverter. It would use far much less power than the electric coffee maker.
 
I bought an expensive espresso machine a few years back after a good run at the poker tables and we have become rather spoiled. As part of my research on what to buy and the art of making coffee ( for some people this is their hobby and live and breathe it) I learned a lot. I also purchased a good portable espresso machine for when we have hookups. Dry camping is more challenging. French press is probably second best to a good espresso machine. It turned out to be far too messy in the trailer. Using a cone drip system is where we are at now. I am considering upgrading my inverter to accommodate my espresso machine but may try this first.

I am intrigued by this coffee maker as it is essentially a French press that can be easily cleaned. This has the highest rating for alternative coffee making systems at the "Coffee Geek" site and is reported to make excellent coffee.

http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/vacpots/aeropress

It is not a big deal but if you want your coffee to be as good as it can get I would suggest a metal filter, as paper filters absorb some oils from the coffee that add much flavor. Amazon has the maker ($26) and a reusable metal filter ($12) with free shipping. Here are the links.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047BIWSK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004G7TLYO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A25SW9WEC88F0Y
 
Lesherp said:
I bought an expensive espresso machine a few years back after a good run at the poker tables and we have become rather spoiled. As part of my research on what to buy and the art of making coffee ( for some people this is their hobby and live and breathe it) I learned a lot. I also purchased a good portable espresso machine for when we have hookups. Dry camping is more challenging. French press is probably second best to a good espresso machine. It turned out to be far too messy in the trailer. Using a cone drip system is where we are at now. I am considering upgrading my inverter to accommodate my espresso machine but may try this first.

I am intrigued by this coffee maker as it is essentially a French press that can be easily cleaned. This has the highest rating for alternative coffee making systems at the "Coffee Geek" site and is reported to make excellent coffee.

http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/vacpots/aeropress

It is not a big deal but if you want your coffee to be as good as it can get I would suggest a metal filter, as paper filters absorb some oils from the coffee that add much flavor. Amazon has the maker ($26) and a reusable metal filter ($12) with free shipping. Here are the links.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047BIWSK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004G7TLYO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A25SW9WEC88F0Y
Click to expand...

That's what we have. Good to know about the metal filter! We've been using that coffee maker for over 6 years and would never go back to another type. It's super easy to clean out, all you have to do is rinse off the bottom after you push the grounds out. It makes great coffee, and it's quick. All you have to do is boil some water and pour it in.
 
We went camping this weekend and am pleased to report that the AeroPress makes an excellent cup of coffee. :new_gmorn

I have to confess that DW and I are kind of coffee snobs. It is not that we won't drink what is put before us but that we have learned what a good cup of coffee should taste like. We have come a long way from the drinking percolator coffee in North Dakota.

The problem is coffee grounds are inherently messy and a pain in a TM. With this you just put a heaping scoop in the chamber(adjust to your taste), add water, stir, let steep about a minute, stir, press the plunger slowly down extracting the coffee.

Cleanup involves removing the twist off bottom and pressing the grounds the rest of the way out the bottom into trash, scrap away the small amount of grounds sticking to the plunger and metal filter and give the AeroPress a little rinse.

I don't think it is possible to make a better cup of coffee with anything but a good espresso machine. DW thinks it is just as good.
 
I had an Aeropress, and it certainly made an excellent cup of coffee.
But it was just a little too fussy for me that early in the morning.
So I went back to a filter cone placed on top of my big insulated cup.
My daughter now enjoys the Aeropress.:eek:
 
Good grief....

Perk it... no pressing and no messing... just coffee... my goodness....:D
 
We use old Thumper. Old perker maybe 30 years old that I bought at a garage sale. I think it is one of the colors of the 50"s, maybe almond. Just dump, rinse, fill, and plug in. Music to my ears to hear old Thumper in the morning when I first get up. Best part of the day is not Folgers, but sitting out front of my TM sipping on my first cup of java made from old Thumper. BTW, I just rinse it, The strainer is as dark as the coffe I put in it. Can't wait to bet back on the road to old Thumper. We are leaving for 5 months in our TM.
 
I have the aeropress. I love it but Tom does not. So it stays at home in the back of a cabinet. We have only made 2 cups of coffee with it. I think I might list it on ebay one day.
 
Yea!

Tampajohn said:
We use old Thumper. Old perker maybe 30 years old that I bought at a garage sale. I think it is one of the colors of the 50"s, maybe almond. Just dump, rinse, fill, and plug in. Music to my ears to hear old Thumper in the morning when I first get up. Best part of the day is not Folgers, but sitting out front of my TM sipping on my first cup of java made from old Thumper. BTW, I just rinse it, The strainer is as dark as the coffe I put in it.
Click to expand...

Now THAT is how you wake up in the morning! :D
 
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