The April weather is playing tricks on us. Sometimes it lures us out into nature, other times it drives us to a cafe for a warm, fragrant and stimulating cup of coffee. But why not combine it? If it doesn't look like much for a long grilling and roasting outside, how about making a coffee during a trip in nature? And not just any, but really good coffee? Coffee tastes best outdoors...
... and by that we don't just mean the gardens in front of pubs, which are slowly coming back to life. Special cafes, where they prepare great coffee in several ways, or small roasters, where quality coffee beans from all over the world are processed, are mushrooming here. And that's just fine. But there is one cafe that just can't be beat. And that is nature. Go on a trip, choose a place with a fantastic view and you can be sipping delicious coffee in no time. And we will be happy to advise you on how to do it.
So, how do you like it best?
Making coffee on a fire in nature is something completely different!
Ground coffee or beans?
An obvious thing for some, a dilemma for others. It basically depends on how big of a foodie you are. Do you want to get the maximum flavor out of your coffee? Then, without fail, reach for the coffee beans. However, not everyone has the time, space or desire to grind coffee by hand before each preparation. The good news is that even fairly decent ground coffee ready for travel is easy to find. We'll get to that soon…
Team coffee beans
As we said, the advantage of bean coffee is that you get the maximum flavor from it. But first you need it...? Yes, grind. For some it is a pleasant activity, almost relaxation, for others it is a nuisance. But as soon as you get used to regularly turning the handle of the grinder, you won't want it any other way. The sound of popping grains and the divine aroma will soon develop your Pavlovian reflex.
So you will need a good grinder. It is best to grind the coffee just before preparation. You can of course do it at home and pack the ground coffee in a bag for your trip, but it won't be the same. Ground coffee quickly loses its flavor. But do not worry that in the forest with a grinder you will be an oddball. Almost all of us do it…
Select the degree of grinding according to the method of preparation (roughly):
- Very coarse (coarse-grained salt consistency): french press, cold brew.
- Coarsely ground (resembles coarse sand): filter.
- Medium coarse (about like normal sand): moka pot.
- Finely ground (about like table salt): aero press, Turkish coffee.
- Very fine (as a powder or flour): cezve.
Hand Coffee Grinder Helikon-Tex®
€ 26 | In stock
Team ground coffee
Sometimes there is simply no space for grinding coffee. You don't have to hate ground coffee, but it's important to choose well. And also store properly – in a dry, cool place and without access to air.
TIP: Perhaps the easiest outdoor coffee in the world is the Grower's Cup. Apart from hot water, you don't need anything at all for it. All you have to do is shape the bag into the desired shape (so that it will stand), open it at the top, pour boiling water, close it and let it drip inside. After a while, you unscrew the lid – and you can pour two portions of coffee at once, which also tastes good. Try different types such as Guatemala, Brasil, Honduras or Colombia. And watch out, they also have teas!
There are many simple and functional outdoor alternatives that allow you to brew great coffee wherever you are. Get inspired!
1st method of preparation: French press
Preparation in a French press is very simple. You pour coffee, add water, wait a while, press and drink. But in order to get the best possible result, it is good to take a few extra steps.
- Pour freshly ground coffee into the French press (approx. 25 g per 300 ml container).
- Boil the water and let it cool slightly (about 95°C, this will take about 30 seconds).
- Pour one-third of water on the coffee and let it extract for 45 seconds.
- Then add the rest of the water and wait another 3 minutes.
- Mix briefly and let stand for another 30 seconds.
- Place the plunger on the container and press. You can serve.
French Press Coffee Mug 600 ml Helikon-Tex®
€ 30 | In stock
2nd method of preparation: Filter
The principle of filtration consists in dripping coffee through a filter, which is most often made of paper.
- Insert the filter into the filter station and rinse briefly with boiling water. Pour this water out.
- Pour freshly ground coffee (10 g per portion) into the filter and place the filter station on the mug.
- Pour a small amount of hot water evenly into the coffee (again approx. 95 °C) and let it brew for a short time.
- Then slowly add the rest of the water in a circular motion and let the coffee drip.
At Rigad (formerly Top-ArmyShop) we can offer you two alternatives to filtered coffee:
- Stanley coffee mug and filter set with reusable stainless steel filter. This set is directly intended for outdoor coffee lovers.
Stanley® Camp thermo mug / coffee filter 350 ml
€ 63.6 | In stock
- Coffee in a filter Drip It, where you simply put the filter bag with the coffee on the mug, pour hot water over it and let the coffee drip. It tastes wonderful! Again, you can choose from different flavors and there is also a tasting pack on offer, where you can find all types together.
Káva ve filtru 5 druhů - ochutnávkové balení Drip it®
€ 4.8 | Out of stock
3rd method of preparation: Moka pot
You can successfully use the moka pot at home in the kitchen and outside on the fire.
- Fill the container in the lower part with water (it can be hot or cold).
- Add coffee to the filter in the middle part.
- Screw the kettle on, place it on the fire and wait until the container at the top of the kettle is filled with fragrant coffee.
- You can tell when it's ready by the characteristic whistling sound.
Hliníková Moka konvice Espresso Maker Origin Outdoors®
od € 13 | In stock
4th method of preparation: Cezve
For this method of preparation, prepare a cezve or (provisionally) a stainless steel mug suitable for cooking on fire.
- Pour a portion of coffee into the pot. It should be ground as finely as possible.
- Add an appropriate amount of cold water and stir.
- As soon as the coffee foams, immediately remove it from the heat and wait until the foam subsides. Repeat this process a total of three times.
- Let the coffee settle (so that the dregs settle to the bottom of the cezve) and pour.
Pathfinder Canteen Cup Helikon-Tex® 740 ml
€ 20 | In stock
5th method of preparation: Cold brew
Cold brew brings refreshment to hot summer days. This is cold macerated coffee. Coffee prepared in this way will slightly change its taste – it will be slightly sweeter and its acidity will decrease. It is also said to be kinder on the stomach.
Making cold brew will cost you almost no effort, it just takes time. It will be better if you prepare it the day before in the kitchen. And for a trip, you just pack it chilled in a thermos so you can always have it at hand.
- Place the coarsely ground coffee in a glass and fill it with cold water, ideally in a ratio of 8:1. Mix well.
- Let stand at room temperature for 12-18 hours (or overnight).
- Then strain the coffee through a fine cloth or coffee filter.
Big Frig® Growler 64oz thermo bottle
€ 51.6 | In stock
What to boil water in?
On a stove
You can use any stove to heat water, be it gas, petrol or alcohol. The now-notorious Jetboil cooker, which is available in various sizes, but above all is lightweight, compact and easy to store and it heats water very quickly.
TIP: It is possible to buy a coffee press for some Jetboil models.
Boil water for coffee on a stove or directly on the fire.
Wood-burning stoves, or "wood-burners", which swallow sticks and splinters, are also becoming more and more popular. Although they have a slightly lower power and the water will take longer to heat up, on the other hand, you don't have to carry fuel with you – you can collect firewood on the spot. In addition, an open fire is also more pleasant from a psychological point of view – and that, after all, is a perfect match for a coffee party.
Absolutely great are the universal outdoor cooking sets, which often include a stove in addition to dishes. The advantage is the compact package containing everything you need for cooking and eating outdoors. With a set like this, you don't have to worry about whether the given container will fit your stove, everything is compatible.
Wilderness Bottle Cook TBS Outdoor® Stainless Steel Set
€ 103.6 | In stock
On fire
Someone likes it hot and makes a fire. In that case, you can heat the water in a pot, mess tin, or even better in a camping kettle. You can also try a special stainless steel mug suitable for cooking on fire – just be careful of stainless steel mugs with plastic handles, they are not suitable for fire.
TIP: Holding a hot stainless steel handle in your hand is no easy task. So pack good protective gloves.
A camping kettle is one of the great gadgets for outdoor cooking.
Even the mug should have style
...or maybe it wouldn't have to. Basically, it doesn't matter what you drink your coffee from. But just as we sip handsomely from porcelain in a cafe, an outdoor mug should also look a certain way and, above all, be practical. Anyone who has Instagram should get a tin with, for example, the "original" inscription Adventure (of course, we have nothing against tins and we own some ourselves).
However, there are also other options, e.g.:
- stainless steel mug, preferably the type suitable for cooking on fire,
- kuksa: the traditional Finnish wooden mug is both very practical and attractive.
The traditional Finnish kuksa is very practical. But you can also use a stainless steel or collapsible mug, a thermos mug or a tin.
What to take with you?
This is very relative and depends of course on you and your plans. For example:
- Stove or Jetboil. But who wants to cook honestly on the fire, then...
- Things to start a fire – suitable kindling material (e.g. dry bark, piece of cotton wool, fire starter), flint or lighter, or woodworking tools.
- A container or kettle for boiling water.
- Any stirrer – from an outdoor spoon to a stick.
- A mat for sitting, coffee in nature should be a pleasant experience, no one wants to take a monkey butt away from there...
- As needed, french press, aero press, moka pot, cezve...
- Stylish or unstylish mug.
- Water not just for coffee, but also for drinking. If you start a fire, then also to put it out. A hydro bag will serve you well for this.
- Coffee.
- Grinder.
- Something to taste if you like, eg sugar, milk, spices, a shot of whiskey...
- Something to go with the coffee, e.g. cookies.
- Complete yourself: guitar, food, friends, hipster shirt, book…
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