April 21, 2024
Maybe you’ve noticed as I have that when some products are marketed towards backpackers, they tend to be at a higher price point than their everyday counterparts. Convenience comes at a cost. Of course there are specialty items with which this concept of expensive, specialty backpacking gear makes sense, but I just don’t believe that coffee falls into that category. Also, when I’m cold and groggy and fumbling for my shoes as I stumble out of the tent, I don’t always have the mental capacity (or equipment) for preparing a cup of regular coffee.
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When I’m backpacking or car camping I pick and choose where I want to keep it simple and where I want to splurge, either on comfort items, food, or entertainment. Although I love my asobu pour over coffee maker (see https://amzn.to/3yil4vD) it’s definitely not always coming with me on an adventure.
Enter instant coffee. Now I’ve purchased several brands of instant coffee and for one reason or another they just didn’t quite fit the bill – too bitter, acidic, expensive, just gross, etc, but when I stumbled upon this particular instant coffee, not only did I take it camping, but I switched over from my normal morning drip coffee routine – didn’t have my Asobu pour over coffee maker yet – for months. So maybe the demands of life were getting the best of me at the time, and dealing with the multiple steps of the coffee making process were just beyond my mental capacity…If I recall correctly that was during a time period of raising two young sons, two teenage bonus daughters, and surviving a global pandemic while teaching music remotely. I’m not sure I could do it again.
Regardless, I have since returned to my pour over routine, but for camping and backpacking instant coffee is my go-to – specifically Anthony’s Organic Instant Coffee (which you can buy here on Amazon https://amzn.to/4bwNtMG). Of all of the instant coffee brands I’ve tried, this has the smoothest taste and is most like my regular cup of coffee. No coffee maker, french press, or pour over coffee maker needed – just boiling water. No filters or grounds to deal with afterwards. Several less items for me to forget. When I’m backpacking I’ll just portion some out in another baggie, and my morning routine is taken care of.
Side note – the main photo in this blog post features a cup of coffee I purchased at Miller’s Landing Campground in beautiful Seward, Alaska. While it’s not the instant or pour over coffee featured in this post, it was a cup of coffee that I will remember for the rest of my life.
-Emily