Trail side Coffee Alternatives

[Metro]

Ok so there really isn’t a great alternative for that fresh French pressed cup of morning love when out in the woods but in the name of “Ultra Light” have any of you tried using alternatives like the new 5 Bucks Coffee VIA ready brew or Java Juice?

If so, is the taste comparable to a real cup of joe? Is the fast & convenient factor really worth it?

I’m looking to lighten the load a bit but the already small French press might be the last thing to go. For those of us who are caffeine addicts, how do you get your coffee fix when trail side?

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[bmike-vt]

Via is good stuff. They did their homework and it works. Was impressed first time out - cold, and I needed warm and my coffee and a friend gave me a few packs to try. Impressed...

[FeloniousDunk]

Here's the fine print first:  I really like coffee and drink a little every morning I can...but my first line of bikepacking coffee defence is not allowing myself to be so addicted to it that I can't be comfortable with out it. 

Enough of that macho talk, after all good coffee can nearly always be available.  Case in point...

I second the good review on Via.  As much as I'm not a big fan of mega chain stores, I've got to admit it's pretty darn good.  And easy.  Tried Java Juice, not nearly as good.  If I'm going to take the time to heat water Via's my new way to go hands down. 

But for me, some times a cup of coffee in the morning woods is as much about just drinking something hot than it is about the coffee taste and caffeine.  So on some trips when I can handle not having something hot in the morning I've convinced myself that taking a really dark chocolate bar with coffee beans in it is a good substitute.  I usually carry some of that anyways; lots of calories per ounce and a nice treat. 

Oh, and sometimes I'll really treat myself and throw one of those 8 ounce cans of 5bucks coffee and cream, I think that's what it's called, in the pack for the next morning.  Wow, I see a theme here, I never buy 5bucks products except for when I'm bikepacking or occasionally on a road trip.

[Pivvay]

Starbucks doubleshots if they are available (not hauling them for days), or VIA.

Or glass frappaccinos if that's all I can find   I'm not a coffee guy except once a week but I'll take all I can get by day 2 of very little sleep.

[Slowerthensnot]

If i'm not *racing* i bring a small ti french press...  If i am java juice and dark chocolate coffee beans are my friend !!

[cartographer]

I haven't used it in years, but this was my go-to for camping or even bumping up weak coffee in restaurants:

http://www.medagliadoro.com/products.htm#products03

[riverfever]

I grind beans super fine and then use this:

http://www.rei.com/product/638124

[protoceratops]

Almost half a pound weight reduction...good

http://www.rei.com/product/761283

No coffee?...barbaric

Instant Medaglia d'Oro...hoping for the best

[johnnyj]

Yes VIA is good, but it's a little pricey for me...about $11 for 12 packets.  So i like Taster's Choice Singles...7 singles for about $1.05.  there's no comparison in taste, but i'm in with taster's choice.

[Done]

NoDoz to stay awake. It's light, cheap, portable, and effective.

Coffee 'cause it tastes good. It's heavy, expensive, bulky, and yummy.

[Metro]

There are definitely faster lighter alternatives to coffee if you are just looking to get caffeine in your blood stream but for me coffee is a morning ritual. Granted that caffeine is a bad habit to be addicted to (if you are one to point fingers) there is still nothing better on a chilly morning than coming out of your sleeping bag to wrap your hands around a nice hot cup of delicious coffee and catch the sunrise before an epic day on the bike. I consider the caffeine icing on the cake.

There have been some interesting replies here. Thanks guys, keep them coming.

Dave, what kind of Ti French press do you have & use? Is it the 3 cup Snow Peak setup?

[Slowerthensnot]

uummm i think so its buried in the pile of gear at the moment

[chrisx]

I get round coffee pot filters and either make a tea bag  er coffee bag out of them, or if I have a rubber band I put it on the top of my cup and poor hot water through it.  
Avoid plastic coffee presses.
Switch to green tea... .. really

[Singlespeedpunk]

I have found staying off coffee for 2 weeks before an event is good when coupled with a 1lb bag of dark chocolate covered coffee beans to give you a little lift

As to a hot drink, I give tea and coffee a miss as I like sugar and milk in them. I have found some instant Chai which fulfils the hot drink in one tub, sweet milky and warming!

....yeah I know Chai, but I am addicted to Chai after a trip to India (even though the instant stuff is not as good, at 5am in a cold Welsh forest it will do)

SSP

[Metro]

Hey SSP you got any links to brands of good instant Chai?

[cartographer]

Oregon Chai is really good (I like the Original flavor).  It's not ultra-light as it has milk powder in there.  Otherwise I think Numi has some good chai teabags which you could augment with sugar and powdered whole milk (Nido is great).

[Singlespeedpunk]

"Drink me" Chai is about the only one widely available in the UK. I had some tea-pigs chai bags but they were big £££.

We have a great shop near us that does lots of indian foods / spices  so I'll have a dig around in there at the weekend.

SSP

[donmeredith74]

At the risk of being ridiculed for my obsession with coffee I'll tender up my recent blog post on the subject:

http://lightpack.blogspot.com/2009/11/backcountry-coffee.html

Here's a follow-up to the SnowPeak 700 + JetBoil coffee press experiment:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=26557&skip_to_post=218921#218921

I'd say the best solution is either the VIA or the SP700 with a press filter.

DM

[stevage]

Nice posts Since I catch on slowly, do you heat the mug directly, or you have a separate pot for that?

Myself, I love coffee, but I don't really miss it in the bush. Sometimes I'll take a few coffee bags and a stove (Harris), but I find I rarely actually use them. I have one friend who brings a tiny espresso put, but it seems like a lot of hassle for a minuscule quantity of coffee.

[Slowerthensnot]

Nice posts Since I catch on slowly, do you heat the mug directly, or you have a separate pot for that?

Myself, I love coffee, but I don't really miss it in the bush. Sometimes I'll take a few coffee bags and a stove (Harris), but I find I rarely actually use them. I have one friend who brings a tiny espresso put, but it seems like a lot of hassle for a minuscule quantity of coffee.

most of the time i'm cooking in and drinking out of the same ti pot...  snow peak 800ml