

Cowboy Coffee … the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Cowboy Coffee

Just mention cowboy coffee and most people get mental pictures of cowboys or campers hunched down around a campfire with an old-time fire-blackened coffee pot bubbling over, (or in), the dancing flames.



Each waiting for a delicious cup of camp coffee made the real old-fashioned way.











But the truth is…

… made the way most people picture it, cowboy coffee can taste really bad

… making really good tasting cowboy coffee really is very easy.



Here are both methods for making cowboy coffee on your next camping trip.



How to make bad cowboy coffee…

Use two tablespoons of any kind of coffee per 8oz of water Toss the measured coffee amount into the coffee pot, then add the measured amount of water Bring this mixture to a boil -carefully, the coffee grounds will float to the top, and the dome that forms will cause the pot to boil over very quickly Boil a couple minutes, then remove from the fire Let sit for a couple more minutes, then sprinkle a small palm-full of cool water into the coffee pot. This combination of sitting and cool water will help the coffee grounds settle to the bottom of the pot It’s as easy as that. Now pour each cup slowly, trying to leave the coffee grounds in the pot.



Typical results; Strong and bitter coffee.



The reason; boiling water scalds the coffee, bringing out all the bitterness, and the coffee is in contact with the heat of the boiling water too long, making it too strong.



How to make good cowboy coffee… a better way

Key points:

Most coffee recipes call for 1 tablespoon of coffee per cup – but they are talking about a 6oz cup. Since you will probably be drinking from a mug, use 2 tablespoons per cup and use the mug to measure your water

DO NOT BOIL your coffee! Boiling water scalds coffee and brings out the bitterness

DO NOT EXPECT the second cup to taste as good as the first – it will be stronger because it has remained in contact with the coffee grounds.







