What Is A Cowboy Coffee Pot
The fascination for the Wild West and everything cowboy peaked in the 19th century, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world has forgotten it. Traces of cowboy culture are still evident in costume parties, animation, and coffee. The use of cowboy coffee pots is a long-standing American tradition that brings to mind life in the trail. It isn't a special pot, but rather a brewing technique. This brewing method is still used today as an outdoor technique and as a dying craft worth preserving. If you're as curious as we are, take a ride to the wild West with us as we discover cowboy coffee pots and the cowboy coffee brew.
Everything You Need To Know About Cowboy Coffee
Cowboy coffee is a traditional and practical way of enjoying coffee outdoors. Coffee experts say that this method is far from crude since brewing it the right way may result in a surprisingly gourmet taste. And since it's easy to make, you can see why it's still a go-to brewing method.
Things You Need To Make Cowboy Coffee
The process is fairly simple, which is why it also requires simple equipment. Non-reactive saucepans and a regular kettle can already be considered cowboy coffee pots. These are some suggestions for cowboy coffee pots that you can use outdoors.
Cowboy Coffee Pots
- Overmont Camping Kettle
This lightweight camping kettle has a fast-heating capability perfect for hikers on the go. It makes up to three cups of coffee and keeps your hands protected with an insulated plastic handle. It's a handy camping kettle for making tea, hot chocolate, or your cowboy coffee. - urbenfit Camping Cookware Set
This camping set isn't just for cooking. The stainless steel saucepan can be used for brewing cowboy coffee. Non-reactive material like stainless steel is excellent for coffee, making this cookware set a practical camping item. It has a stackable and portable design to prevent bulk in packing. - REDCAMP 0.8L Mini Outdoor Camping Kettle
This small, portable kettle is one of the best cowboy coffee pots to use. It is made of premium aluminum material to survive rough handling. It has an easy-to-pour mechanism with a threaded bottom for even heating.
Coarse Coffee Grinds
Cowboy coffee uses coarse coffee grinds for brewing, similar to cold brew, which is why you may need to stock up on some coarse ground coffee like the suggested ones below.
Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Reserve of Colombian single-origin has a dark roast and coarse ground.
Gevalia Special Reserve Ground Coffee of Costa Rica, which has a medium roast and coarse ground.
Kicking Horse Hola Coffee of Central and South America, which has a light roast and coarse ground.
How To Make Cowboy Coffee
Now that we have our cowboy coffee pots and coarse ground coffee in order, we can finally start brewing.
- Bring water to a boil in your chosen camping kettle or saucepan.
- Remove the pot from the open fire when it starts to boil.
- Let the kettle sit for half a minute, so the temperature drops slightly.
- Add one tablespoon of coffee per cup of water.
- Stir and put the kettle or pot back on the open fire.
- Keep stirring until the water nears its boiling point or when you start seeing bubbles at the bottom of the sides.
- Remove the kettle from the fire.
- Pour trickles of cold water, so the coffee grounds on the surface start to sink.
- Pour the coffee slowly into a cup.
- Sip and enjoy!
The steps are easy, but there are hacks for the modern cowboy coffee drinker.
5 Simple Hacks For Brewing Cowboy Coffee
Hack # 1 - According to some experts, cowboy coffee has a secret ingredient: salt. After filling your kettle with water, add a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil. This little detail is reported to make a significant difference in your cowboy coffee's taste.
Hack # 2 - Instead of salt, some people use crushed eggshells. You can use one or the other and decide which secret ingredient tastes better.
Hack # 3 - Before you pour the coffee into a cup, you can use cheesecloth to strain the coffee grounds. Cowboys may not have this option before, but it will make life a bit easier nowadays for the modern camper.
Hack # 4 - Coarse ground coffee may get stuck in small kettle spouts. If this happens, use a paper towel and make a circle on the spout's tip, so it catches the particles.
Hack # 5 - Traditional cowboy coffee shouldn't be reheated to avoid over-extraction because of the pot's coffee grounds. But with strainers like cheesecloth, you can reheat the coffee and enjoy it all over again.
Conclusion
Modern-day cowboy coffee pots are your typical camping kettles and saucepans. This is a good thing, but you can go antique shopping for large coffee pots if you prefer doing it old style. Cowboy coffee brewing is steeped in tradition and stories, and one of the best ways to experience it is to let go of modern prejudice and take a ride to the wild side.