Coffee tastes better in the nature!

April weather is playing tricks on us. Sometimes it lures us outside into nature, other times it drives us into a café for a warm, fragrant, and invigorating cup of coffee. But why not combine the two? When the weather doesn't quite invite long barbecues and cookouts, how about making coffee during a trip in nature? And not just any coffee, but really good coffee? Coffee tastes best outside…

... and we don't just mean the garden patios in front of pubs, which are slowly coming back to life. Unique cafes where you can get great coffee prepared in several ways or small roasteries where high-quality coffee beans from around the world are processed, are growing like mushrooms after the rain. And that's just great. But there is one café that is hard to beat. And that is nature. Take a trip, choose a place with a fantastic view, and in no time you can enjoy a delicious coffee. And we are happy to advise you on how to do it.

So, how do you like it best?

Making coffee over a fire in nature is something completely different!

Ground coffee or beans?

For some, it's a clear choice, for others, a dilemma. Basically, it depends on how much of a gourmet you are. Do you want to get the maximum flavor from your coffee? Then you should undoubtedly opt for whole bean coffee. However, not everyone has the time, space, or desire to grind coffee by hand before each preparation. The good news is that it's quite easy to find decent ground coffee ready for travel. We'll get to that soon...

Team coffee beans

As we mentioned, the advantage of whole bean coffee is that you get the maximum flavor from it. However, you first need to... what? Yes, grind it. For some, it's an enjoyable activity, almost relaxing, while for others it's a chore. But once you get used to regularly turning the grinder's handle, you won't want to do it any other way. The sound of cracking beans and the divine aroma will soon develop a Pavlovian reflex in you.

You will need a good grinder. It's best to grind coffee just before preparation. Of course, you can do it at home and pack the ground coffee in a bag for the trip, but it won't be quite the same. Ground coffee quickly loses its flavor. Don't worry about looking odd with a grinder in the forest. Almost all of us do it…

Select the grinding level according to the preparation method (approximately):

• Very coarse (consistency of coarse salt): French press, cold brew.
  

• Coarsely ground (resembles coarse sand): filter.
  

• Medium coarse (about like normal sand): moka pot.
  

• Finely ground (approximately like table salt): aero press, Turk.
  

• Very fine (like a powder or icing): cezve.
  

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Team ground coffee

Sometimes there simply isn't room for grinding coffee. You don't have to overlook ground coffee, but it's important to choose well. And also store it correctly – in a dry, cool place and without air access.

TIP: Perhaps the easiest outdoor coffee in the world is the one from Grower's Cup. You don't need anything besides hot water for it. Just shape the bag to the desired form (so it stands), open the top, pour in boiling water, close it, and let it drip inside. After a while, unscrew the cap—and you can pour yourself two servings of coffee that tastes great. Try different varieties, such as Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras, or Colombia. And watch out, they have teas too!

There are many simple and functional outdoor alternatives that allow you to make great coffee wherever you are. Get inspired!

1. preparation method: French press

Preparation with a French press is very simple. You pour, fill with water, wait a moment, press, and drink. However, to ensure the best result, it's good to take a few extra steps.

• Pour freshly ground coffee into the French press (approx. 25 g per 300 ml container).
  

• Boil the water and let it cool slightly (to approximately 95°C, this will take about 30 seconds).
  

• Pour the coffee into the cup one third of the way and let it extract for 45 seconds.
  

• Then add the rest of the water and wait another 3 minutes.
  

• Mix briefly and let stand for another 30 seconds.
  

• Place the plunger on the container and press. You are ready to serve.
  

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2. method of preparation: Filter

The principle of filtration consists of pouring coffee over a filter, which is most often paper.

• Place the filter in the filter station and rinse briefly with boiling water. Discard this water.
  

• Pour freshly ground coffee (10 g per serving) into the filter and place the filter station on the mug.
  

• Pour a small amount of hot water evenly into the coffee (again approx. 95°C) and let it brew briefly.
  

• Then slowly pour in the rest of the water in a circular motion and let the coffee drip through.
  

At Rigad (formerly Rigad), we can offer you two alternatives for filtered coffee:

• Stanley thermos and coffee filter set with reusable stainless steel filter. This set is designed specifically for outdoor coffee lovers.
  

• Drip It filter coffee, where you simply place the filter bag with coffee on a mug, pour hot water over it and let the coffee drip through. It tastes delicious! Again, you can choose from different flavors and there is also a tasting pack where you can find all the types together.
  

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3. Method of preparation: Moka pot

You can successfully use the moka pot at home in the kitchen as well as outside on a fire.

• Fill the container in the lower part with water (it can be hot or cold).
  

• Add coffee to the filter in the middle section.
  

• Screw the kettle on, place it on the fire and wait until the container at the top of the kettle fills with fragrant coffee.
  

• You can tell when it's cooked by the characteristic whistling sound.
  

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4. Method of preparation: cezve

For this method of preparation, get a cezve or (provisionally) a stainless steel mug suitable for cooking over a fire.

• Pour a portion of coffee into the cezve pot. It should be ground as finely as possible.
  

• Add an appropriate amount of cold water and stir.
  

• Bring to a boil.
  

• Once the coffee is frothy, immediately remove it from the heat and wait until the froth subsides. Repeat this process three times in total.
  

• Let the coffee settle (so that the grounds settle to the bottom of the coffee pot) and pour.
  

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5. method of preparation: Cold brew

old brew brings refreshment to hot summer days. It is cold brewed coffee. This way of preparing coffee slightly changes its taste – it will be somewhat sweeter and its acidity will decrease. It is said to be gentler on the stomach. 

Preparing cold brew won't require much effort; it just takes time. It’s best to prepare it the day before in the kitchen. For your trip, simply pack it chilled in a thermos so you can have it handy at all times.

• Place coarsely ground coffee in a glass and pour cold water over it, ideally in a ratio of 8:1. Mix well.
  

• Let stand at room temperature for 12-18 hours (or overnight).
  

• Then strain the coffee through a fine cloth or coffee filter.
  

• Add ice or chill in the refrigerator.
  

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What to boil water in?

On the stove

To heat water, you can use any stove, whether it runs on gas, gasoline, or alcohol. The now well-known stove Jetboil heats water very quickly. It is available in various sizes, but mainly, it is lightweight, compact, and portable.

TIP: For some Jetboil models, it is possible to purchase a coffee press.

Boil water for coffee in a kettle or directly on the fire.

Increasingly popular are also wood stoves or "twig stoves," which consume sticks and twigs. Although they have slightly lower performance and take longer to heat water, you don't have to carry fuel with you—you can collect twigs on-site. An open flame is also more pleasant from a psychological perspective—which perfectly suits a coffee gathering.

The universal cooking sets for outdoor use are absolutely great, often including not only dishes but also a stove. The advantage is the compact package containing everything you need for cooking and dining outdoors. With such a set, you don't have to worry about whether a particular pot will fit your stove, everything is compatible.

On fire

Some like it hot and start a fire. In that case, you can heat water in a pot or mess kit, or even better in a camping kettle. You can also try a special stainless steel mug suitable for cooking over a fire – just be careful with stainless steel mugs with plastic handles, as they are not suitable for the fire.

TIP: Grabbing a hot stainless steel handle is no fun. Therefore, pack some good protective gloves.

A camping kettle is among the great gadgets for outdoor cooking.

A mug should have style

...Or maybe not. Basically, it doesn't matter what you drink your coffee from. But just like we stylishly sip from porcelain in a café, an outdoor mug should also look good and most importantly, be practical. Those who have Instagram should get an enamel mug with an "original" inscription like Adventure (of course, we have nothing against enamel mugs and own a few ourselves).

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There are, however, other options as well, such as:

• a stainless steel mug, preferably the type suitable for cooking on a fire,
  

• folding cup,
  

• thermos mug,
  

• kuksa: a traditional Finnish wooden mug is both practical and attractive.
  

Traditional Finnish kuksa is very practical. But you can also use a stainless steel or collapsible mug, a thermos mug, or an enamel mug.

What to bring?

That is very relative and depends, of course, on you and your plans. For example:

• Stove or Jetboil. But if you want to cook honestly on a fire, then...
  

• Things to start a fire – suitable material for kindling (e.g. dry bark, a piece of cotton wool, kindling), flint or lighter, or woodworking tools.
  

• A container or kettle for boiling water.
  

• Something to stir with – from an outdoor spoon to a stick.
  

• A mat to sit on, coffee in nature should be a pleasant experience...
  

• French press, aero press, moka pot, cezve... as you desire.
  

• The right mug (whether stylish or not).
  

• Enough water not just to make a coffee, but also for drinking - and to put out the fire of course!  A good hydration bladder will be a great help for this.
  

• A tasty coffee.
  

• Coffee grinder.
  

• Something tasty to go with your coffee, e.g. cookies.
  

• Fill in the blanks yourself: guitar, food, friends, hipster shirt, book...