Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 17/6/2013We tend to use a coffee shop/bar either at the campsite or nearest village/town. You just can't make the continental equivalent yourself!
And ... if you tell me you can ... I just won't believe you!
Don't believe me then, your loss, but absolutely you can make '"continental" coffee when camping... In fact you can make it better, because you can make sure you have freshly roasted beans (buy from a roaster before you leave, like Has Bean coffee) and take a hand grinder. I can drink beans roasted the day before, and ground seconds before I brew up. The difference in taste is amazing. Is there a campsite coffee shop that can say that? I doubt it, and probably served by a minimum wage barista that does not care or really understand coffee. Good beans and good barista make good coffee, not equipment. It's like saying Jamie Oliver's camp food can't be as nice as the Little Chef down the road.
Also, what do you mean by 'continental' coffee? If you mean Italian then the vast majority of Italians use Moka pots. Or do you mean French press? That's simple too. Drip is easy to make but hard to get right, but then drip is American not 'continental'. Frothing milk can be done too.
If you are referring to the type of coffee sold in Starbucks (yuck) or Costa etc, don't be fooled into think they are continental. Espresso may have originated in Italy, but what they sell is American style coffee - huge buckets of milk.
Kelper, proper Coffee, made to your own preference, taking the time and trouble to get it right, When drank sat outside your tent with the sun shining ,the birds twittering.
Nowt tastes better
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Kelper, proper Coffee, made to your own preference, taking the time and trouble to get it right, When drank sat outside your tent with the sun shining ,the birds twittering.
OK ... I apologise ..
Of course you CAN make a decent cup of coffee: for instance ... but it takes time.
To me ... sitting on a pavement cafe in a Provencal village, in balmy weather, looking at the world go by, is one of the joys of living ... challenged only by the same place with a glass of vin rouge.
No hassle making it ... served in a proper expresso cup ... ah, c'est la vie!
And I'll still, ocassionally, succomb to a cup of coffee from the jar outside the camper ... but not often, if there's a decent cafe nearby!
And I absolutely concur about Staryucks and Costalot!
But the one doesn't, or shouldn't, rule out the other.
Totally with you on the village pavement cafe experience. Especially for espresso. But I still need to come round in the morning with my own drip brew
Perhaps the clue to your own preference lies in the sentence "I'll still, ocassionally, succomb to a cup of coffee from the jar".
Thanks for the interesting link. I'm heartened to see one of the drip machines is my home coffee maker (pictured earlier), with a different name on - both reminiscent of the old style Bunns in the US:
My Melitta maker:
The Bonavita in the link:
I'd love to take my machine when we camp, but I don't want to risk damage. Hence taking the equivalent of a multi-cup Chemex brewer.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 17/6/2013OK ... I apologise ..Of course you CAN make a decent cup of coffee: for instance ... but it takes time.
To me ... sitting on a pavement cafe in a Provencal village, in balmy weather, looking at the world go by, is one of the joys of living ... challenged only by the same place with a glass of vin rouge.
No hassle making it ... served in a proper expresso cup ... ah, c'est la vie!
And I'll still, ocassionally, succomb to a cup of coffee from the jar outside the camper ... but not often, if there's a decent cafe nearby!
And I absolutely concur about Staryucks and Costalot!
Im not sure about that article you linked, sorry. I applogise in advance, but I'm a coffee snob sorry. There is no denying it, you will have probably noticed by now. I frequent coffee forums and have friends that run coffee shops. I also know quite a few people who roast their own beans at home. I'm generalising a bit, but in the slightly (ok, very) obsessive world of gourmet coffee I can assure you that the vast majority of true coffee enthusiasts weapon of choice is the espresso machine (proper ones, often eye wateringly expensive). Most have multiple methods, with Aeropress being incredibly popular these days, but also 'pour over' like the chemex. Plus of course Moka (very popular in itally) too, but a lot of people into the 'third wave' single origin coffee turn their nose up at the bitter 'burnt' taste (must admit, I have gone off it). French press and drip are fairly low on the list for most coffee geeks, but can still be lovely when done right (Starbucks drip is far better than their espresso most of the time IMO). :)
But any method done properly will be better than a misused espresso machine that costs thousands. I was in Nero the other day. I watched the barista make me an americano - the water gushed out in about 5 seconds (if you know anything about espresso you will know that's not good, it takes at least 20-30 seconds - a big difference), leaving a very unextracted sour tasting drink. Probably due to a change in beans and the grinder not being calibrated. I would not even have noticed 12 months ago!
I'v become a coffee bore, guilty as charged. It comes from giving ip smoking and drinking i think, its my last vice too. I'll get my coat!
we used to take a cafetiere with us, but have since switched to Lyons coffee bags...as someone who only drinks freshly ground coffee when at home i was pleasantly surprised with these bags...they taste very nice...
Not a bore at all, autopilot.
I like someone who knows what s/he's talking about.
You should hear me on 'port'!!!
Latest research on coffee is saying that it's good for you! And that's not research by coffee affiliated businesses!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Coffee fix
