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!
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...
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):
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!
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.
The principle of filtration consists of pouring coffee over a filter, which is most often paper.
At Rigad (formerly Rigad), we can offer you two alternatives for filtered coffee:
You can successfully use the moka pot at home in the kitchen as well as outside on a fire.
For this method of preparation, get a cezve or (provisionally) a stainless steel mug suitable for cooking over a fire.
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.
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.
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.
...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).
There are, however, other options as well, such as:
Traditional Finnish kuksa is very practical. But you can also use a stainless steel or collapsible mug, a thermos mug, or an enamel mug.
That is very relative and depends, of course, on you and your plans. For example: