What is Cowboy Coffee?
Cowboy coffee is a simple, plain way of making your morning brew that can be done anywhere. This method is most often used on camping trips where supplies are limited and you don’t have the luxury of running out to your local Starbucks.
All you’ll need to make up some cowboy coffee is a pot, water, coffee beans and a heat source. The result can be super smooth and delicious or it can be a complete failure, which is why it’s important to follow the right steps so you get a great tasting, smooth cup of coffee that isn’t bitter.
How to Make Cowboy Coffee
There are a few different methods that can be used to make cowboy coffee, but they all use the same basic principles. The main goal is to get the flavor of the coffee beans into the hot water, while eliminating any bitter taste and avoiding a mouth full of coffee grinds. I have found that the best results are accomplished by using this tried and true method:
- Fill the coffee pot with water up to the bottom of the spout.
- Place the pot over the campfire and let the water warm.
- Once the water starts to boil you can add the coffee grinds to it and stir them in.
- Next, bring the water to a full rolling boil and let it boil for a few minutes. The amount of time to boil will be dependent on the type of coffee grinds you use. Coarser grinds need a little longer to boil down. Three to five minutes is usually a good starting point though. Also keep in mind that the longer that the coffee grinds boil, the stronger the coffee will be.
- Now you can remove the pot from the heat and let it cool down for a couple of minutes.
- Once the coffee has cooled off some, you’re just about ready to pour a cup. However, before you do, it’s important to settle any of the floating coffee grinds down to the bottom of the pot so you don’t end up with a mouth full of grounds. To settle the coffee grinds, pour a half cup to one cup of cold water down the spout of the pot and around the edges. This will get most of the grinds to settle to the bottom of the pot.
- There will still likely be a few coffee grinds that get stuck to the edge of the pot and will end up in your coffee if they aren’t removed. The easiest way to remove them is to dip a piece of paper towel in around the edges. Any leftover grinds should stick to it and be removed.
- You’re finally ready to pour that perfect cup of cowboy coffee. Pour it slowly so you don’t mix up the bottom of the pot too much which would cause the grinds to float back up. Be especially careful as you get down near the bottom of the pot since there will be quite a lot of grinds down there.
Cowboy Coffee Recipe
- 8 ounces (1 cup) of water per serving
- 2 tablespoons of coffee grinds for every 8 ounces of water
- 1/2 cup cold water to settle the coffee grinds
Equipment you’ll need
- Campfire: you’ll need some nice hot coals to keep a consistent temperature in order to boil the water.
- Campfire grill grate: the grilling grate should be level so there’s no danger of the pot falling over and ruining your morning brew.
- Cowboy coffee pot: A durable, easy to clean enamel camping coffee pot works well and will last a long time.
- Cowboy coffee: don’t be fooled by the name. You can use any coffee you like. Just keep in mind that the coarser the grinds, the longer you’ll need to boil them.
- Cowboy coffee mugs: Enamel camping cups are a popular choice for around the campsite and are easy to wash in between uses.
How to season your coffee pot
You might not have ever thought about seasoning your coffee pot, but a well seasoned coffee pot is just like a seasoned cast iron skillet. If it’s done right, it makes everything taste better.
The best way to season a coffee pot is by actually making a pot of coffee in it. But you won’t be drinking this coffee. No, its sole purpose will be to season the pot so that your next pot of coffee is everything you want it to be and so much more.
To season your cowboy coffee pot, fill it with water as if you were making a regular pot of coffee. Bring it to a boil and mix in the coffee grinds. Now let that coffee boil for around 10 minutes or so. Once you remove it from the heat, just set it aside for the rest of the day and let that coffee sit in it. At the end of the day, pour it out and rinse the pot with water.
You now have a seasoned coffee pot that’s ready for tomorrow morning.
Why is cowboy coffee smooth?
By boiling the coffee grinds, you are removing the acidity from the coffee, which results in a smooth taste instead of a bitter one. You may have also heard that you can add some egg shells to the coffee to make it smooth and settle the coffee grounds. While this might be true and has been done, I much prefer to keep it boiling a little longer and keep the egg shells out of it.
Conclusion
Cowboy coffee is great for making a big old pot while out on a camping trip and sharing it with friends. You might even love the taste so much that you’ll be making it at home. You can use this same method and make cowboy coffee on your stove top, using a pot or kettle.
But one of my favorite ways to make it is over a Swedish Fire Log while out ice fishing. Give it a try and let me know what you think of it.
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