Field Brew: Percolator, Cowboy Coffee and Backpacking
Direct answer. Outdoors, use a coarse grind and about 1:15 (30 g of coffee per 450 g of water). For cowboy coffee, steep off the boil for four minutes and settle the grounds with a splash of cold water. For a percolator, keep the heat low. Boiled coffee is bitter, which explains most of the bad field coffee you have had.
Recipe card
| Cowboy | Percolator | Backpacking (Jetboil or similar) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dose | 30 g | About 10 g per 5 oz cup (roughly 2 tbsp) | 20 g |
| Water | 450 g | Per pot marks | 300 g |
| Ratio | 1:15 | Roughly 1:15 to 1:17 | 1:15 |
| Grind | Coarse | Coarse | Coarse (or an AeroPress or pour-over cone) |
| Temperature | Off the boil, about 200°F | Low, steady perk | Off the boil |
| Time | 4 min steep | About 5 to 10 min once perking, to taste | 4 min steep |
Cowboy coffee
Bring water to a boil, take it off the heat for about 30 seconds, stir in coarse grounds, and steep for 4 minutes. Add a splash of cold water to sink the grounds, then pour slowly. Leave the last sip.
Percolator
Add water to the line, coarse grounds in the basket and set it over low heat. Once it starts to perk, keep it at a slow bubble for about 5 to 10 minutes, shorter if you like it lighter. A hard boil over-extracts. A fine grind will slip into the pot.
Backpacking
Weight matters. Pack whole bean and a small hand grinder, or pre-grind coarse and seal it. A French-press-style steep in your stove cup works, as does a collapsible cone dripper or an AeroPress. Single-serve instant is lighter, but the ground coffee is better.
Troubleshooting
- Gritty. Grind too fine. Let it settle longer or pour through a bandana or paper filter.
- Burnt. The pot stayed on direct heat. Take it off.
- Cold by the time you drink it. Preheat the cup.
I'll say this once: the Marines are not known for good field coffee, and that is a boiling problem, not a coffee problem.
FAQ
What grind for cowboy coffee?
Coarse, like sea salt, so the grounds settle.
Why does percolator coffee taste bitter?
It is usually boiled too hard or too long. Keep the heat low.
How do I make coffee without a filter?
Use cowboy method, then pour slowly or strain through a bandana.
What is the lightest way to carry coffee backpacking?
Pre-ground coarse coffee in a sealed bag is lightest. Whole beans and a small hand grinder taste better but add the grinder's weight.
Can I use pre-ground coffee in the field?
Yes. Choose coarse, and seal it from moisture.
Next: for the percolator on a tailgate, try Stubby's Boston Cowboy Blend in the coarse grind. Shipping is free on every website order.