Long before servings of individual coffee were available in every desirable combination of caffeine level and flavor, there was good old black coffee. A cup of joe. It consisted of coffee grounds and water, and it was made by boiling it on a stovetop or campfire.
The western chuck wagon is the traceable origin of this coffee tradition. Cowboys on the trail running cattle often worked long hours dodging stormy weather, swollen streams and swarms of insects. They were sustained by black coffee.
According to chuck wagon master Kent Rollins, the best way to make cowboy coffee is to fill a coffee pot to just below the spout and put it on the fire to heat up. When the water is warm, take it off the heat and add whatever coffee grounds you prefer.
Kent says to return the pot to the heat source and wait patiently for it to come to a full rolling boil. After boiling it for four minutes, Kent removes it from the heat and lets it settle. Then he removes the lid and takes a cup of cold water and pours it down the spout and around the edges of the pot. This is what helps settle the grounds to the bottom of the pot. Slowly pour the coffee into cups to keep the grounds out and enjoy it piping hot.
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Tips
Use two tablespoons of coffee grounds for every 8 ounces of water.
Coarser ground coffees will take longer to cook.
Some people add eggshells to the coffee to keep the grounds down.
Adjust the strength by the amount of grounds you add.
You can use a regular pot if you don’t have a coffee pot and ladle the coffee out.
This article was originally published in Girl Camper Magazine.
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