Cowboy coffee is a simple, traditional method of making coffee without a coffee maker, often associated with camping or outdoor activities. Here’s how you can make cowboy coffee:
Ingredients
- Coarsely ground coffee
- Water
- A kettle or pot
- A campfire or stove
Instructions
- Boil the Water: Fill your kettle or pot with the desired amount of water. Place it over your campfire or stove and bring it to a boil.
- Add Coffee Grounds: Once the water is boiling, remove it from the heat and let it sit for about 30 seconds. This slightly cools the water, which helps prevent the coffee from tasting bitter. Add about 2 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee per 8 ounces (1 cup) of water.
- Stir and Let Steep: Stir the coffee grounds into the water, ensuring they are evenly distributed. Let the coffee steep for about 4-5 minutes. The longer it steeps, the stronger the coffee will be.
- Settle the Grounds: After steeping, you can either tap the side of the pot or pour a small amount of cold water into the pot. This helps the coffee grounds settle to the bottom.
- Pour and Enjoy: Carefully pour the coffee into your cup, trying to leave the settled grounds at the bottom of the pot. If you prefer, you can use a strainer to catch any stray grounds.
Tips
- Use coarsely ground coffee to minimize the amount of grounds that end up in your cup.
- If you don’t have a coffee grinder, you can crush whole beans with a rolling pin or another heavy object.
- Adjust the amount of coffee and steeping time to suit your taste preferences.