Backcountry Coffee of Choice - Cowboy Coffee
Wait, what is Cowboy Coffee?
It is thought to be an outdated method of making coffee partly due to the history behind its origin. To keep it short, Cowboy Coffee is said to have come about during the westward expansion era, thus the name. Some misconceptions behind this method is that it is too thick, too acidic or too burnt tasting. However, when made correctly, it is as smooth as what you might expect from your local artisanal coffee shop.
What you need:
- A kettle or bail
- Water
- Your favorite coffee
- A spoon
- Your favorite cup
- Fire!
How to make it:
Step 1: Grab your kettle or bail and fill it with water.
Step 2: Start your fire and build up enough heat to get your water to a rolling boil. (Always adhere to fire restrictions in the area you are camping)
Step 3: Place your desired amount of coffee into the kettle or bail to boil. You can also place the coffee into the container after the water has come to a boil and been removed from the fire. However, if you want to remove the acidity from the taste of your coffee, boil it along with the water. The longer you boil, the smoother and less acidic it will taste.
Step 4: Remove your container from the fire and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes.
Step 5: The fun part, but use please caution! Pick up your bail or kettle, ensure there is ample space around you (3 feet in all directions). With speed, rotate your container in circles over your head in a spinning motion as if you were doing arm circles. As fast as you started the rotation, stop with the same speed to avoid spilling your coffee. Conduct this motion for about a minute to ensure that the inertia aids in bringing as much coffee grounds to the bottom of the container as possible.
Step 6: Allow the container to sit for about five minutes after spinning to allow any final coffee grounds that may still be floating at the top to settle. Lastly grab your favorite cup, pour and enjoy!