Instant coffee

Full disclosure: I'm functional in the morning without coffee, but I do enjoy a cup, especially in cooler weather and in camp.

I've collected lots of percolators, practiced making traditional cowboy coffee, tried a pour over coffee maker and have looked at Moka pots and French press options. I even have automatic drip coffee makers that are stove top and stand-alone propane fired.

With all those options I keep falling back on something that my father drank every day for as long as I can remember. Maxwell House Instant coffee.

With up to a 20 year shelf life for unopened jars and a couple years or more for opened ones, it stores pretty well. My current jar has probably been opened for over a year and tastes fine.

Like cheap Bourbon, I can't taste much difference between instant coffee and the finest out there.
It's fast, doesn't make brewing coffee smell that could attract attention, and there's never any grounds to dispose of. It takes up less space, and I can use the water I've heated to make coffee for anything else I need hot water for. Or I can heat it up again for more coffee without altering the coffee taste.

There is a little bit of a learning curve to determine how much instant coffee to use in a cup, or a thermos. I've found a nearly level teaspoon to be about right for everyday morning coffee. A heaping teaspoon will prepare you for battle. A little goes a long way.

I could do the math from these cup measures to make a thermos to take along, or just mix the instant with the hot water as needed.

I can even get away with making instant coffee at the 1840-1940 museum events, since Nescafe introduced instant coffee commercially in 1938.

My two minute morning cup is 1/2" of heavy whipping cream with a nearly level teaspoon of instant coffee on top. I heat another cup of water in the microwave for one minute eleven seconds (111, easy to remember) then pour it into the other cup and stir. This makes a perfect temperature cup that's ready to drink.

 

I had to swear off caffeinated coffee years ago on my Doctor's inststence, due to heart and BP issues. But I do occasionally drink a cup of decaf instant. It's not "coffee" as I prefer it, but it'll do. But it's been so long now, I actually can't remember when I drank even the decaf. I have been fully weaned off it. Still, I do recall a good cup of coffee being truly one of life's simple pleasures.

 

I make "Turkish Cofveve" using Lavazza Brand Italian Roast grounds.
It's super simple, 1 level tea spoon per 8 oz cup, so for my Super Tanker Cofveve jug, it's about 6 heaping spoons worth, Italian Sweet Cream in a 60/40 split, 60% Cofveve.

Heat the water, scoop in the grounds, pour the hot water over top the grounds, let it steep a few min, then pour an ounce or two cold water on top (just like Cowboy Cofveve) then add your creamer and or Sugar and enjoy, when your done, turn the mug upside down and let the grounds dry out. simply tap mug over the garden and the grounds should all fall out!

 

I use either a stainless moke pot or a perculator depending the occasion. My wife has freeze dried our own perked coffee just to see if there is a difference.

 

As long as I get my caffeine fix everything is good. Currently I'm using K-Cups and store brand instant coffee, but at Civil War re-enactments I drink "cowboy coffee" and spit coffee grounds the rest of the day.

 

I grew up with Vietnamese friends.

I learned to love their coffee- Cafe sua da (Vietnamese coffee filter brewed over a cup with the bottom filled with sweetened, condensed milk). The little packets of Vinacafe are the closest to Cafe Sua Da that I have ever found. I usually make one pack in 6 oz of water, or two packs in 8 oz for a more realistic taste to Cafe Sua Da. I drink 2-3 packs a day, out of a 20 pack bag. I find it at my local Asian market a few blocks away.

 

I drink two cups of coffee - full strength. One in the morning, the other around 3PM.

My legs were swelling - the coffee save me from "prescription" diuretic pills. All good now.

 

Then they not making cowboy coffee right. They don't know how to settle the grounds.

 

I dump the grounds in a pot of cold water,, bring to a boil for as long as remember it's on the stove,, turn the burner to low, let the water quit rolling,, then pour cold water around in a circle around the pot,, the cold water makes the grounds sink to the bottom of the pot.

What's your cowboy coffee recipe ??
Just wanting to learn new tricks,,,

 

I always thought the reaction of the grounds to cold water being added to cowboy coffee was akin to turning on a big coffee ground magnet.
The grounds slam to the bottom of the pot.

 

I have instant Folgers and Nesquick.

 

That's what I thought as well ,, just checking if there was another way of doing it ,, sorry if I confused anyone,,, or myself,,,

 

I get my water warm before I pour in the grounds. Boil. When ready I take it off fire for a couple minutes to let the rolling stop, and like you I pour a bit of cold water around the rim and down the spout if it has one. I rarely get a ground in my cup.

 

My 'cowboy coffee'

Put beans in a clean white sock.
Mash the sock a few times with a rock.
Put sock in pot of boiling water.
Enjoy coffee
Coffee gets weak? Pull sock and mash a few more times.

 

Clean,, or worn sock ,, details matter ,,,

 

LOL

Start with clean, of course.....

 

Agreed, though the dirty sock will add a certain... 'earthier' tone to the flavor.

 

Hummm humm hummm. Jam with coffee.

 

It's going in boiling water, so it doesn't matter!