Coffee alternative for back pack hunt
Contributors to this thread:Elk
From: RiverBender
11-Sep-22
Coffee addict here looking for alternatives. I plan on a few short overnight stays. Keeping things minimalist I don't want pack in a jet boil or etc but I know I'll be jonesing for caffeine. Looking at capsules or powder alternatives
From: Ace
11-Sep-22
Starbucks makes 'Via' instant, it's passable hot, and not awful cold. It comes in small packets that are very easily packable. I'm no fan of the Starbucks corp, but ... a man has gotta have his coffee. You can buy it in grocery stores. The French Roast is the strongest one.
From: TEmbry
11-Sep-22
I always bring mtn ops ignite trail packs on my camping trips. But if it’s simply the caffeine you want, get a bottle of caffeine tablets from the local drug store and call it good!
From: Griz
11-Sep-22
Folgers makes the same thing as Starbucks. Small packets that mix easy in hot or cold. You do not want to have a headache throughout your trip. I would do a test run with the capsules to make sure they work the same. For myself, I know that cold caffeine does nothing for me, it has to be hot in the morning.
From: RiverBender
11-Sep-22
Hot would be nice but I'm thinking a cold mix or tablets may at least keep the headache at bay. I tend to suffer from occasional headaches at elevation anyway. I can bring my jetboil but I would rather save the weight and just as importantly the time by skipping the boil. I'm gonna check out the instants mentioned above. Might not be great at ambient temp out of a water bottle but it might serve the purpose.
From: DGW
11-Sep-22
I have tried several of the above and the last couple years have been using Black Rifle Coffee instant coffee single packs. Bold good tasting and easy.
From: JL
11-Sep-22
Tea bags and a small candle?
From: BOHNTR
11-Sep-22
Black rifle coffee company makes their coffee in bags (like a tea bag) for the backpacker! Great tasting coffee too.
From: 'Ike' (Phone)
11-Sep-22
No such thing…Lol
From: DGW
11-Sep-22
Roy, I have only had the BRC instant in the little tubes. would be nice to compare both to see if taste the same.
From: Murph
11-Sep-22
Folgers tea bag type just need hot water cheap easy and good
From: Jethro
11-Sep-22
If it’s just the caffeine you want, can get Wilderness Athlete Energy and Focus drink mix and add it to your water.
From: Ambush
11-Sep-22
Make yourself a “pop can” alcohol stove and get a titanium cup. A couple ounces of alcohol is all you need for a couple cups of coffee. Weighs a few ounces all together and fits neatly in the cup.
The tubes are handy but expensive. Nobody remember the jars of instant coffee everybody had in the cupboard years ago? Same thing only much cheaper than tubes.
From: fdp
11-Sep-22
Never have traveled so light I couldn't or wouldn't pack a stove of some sort. Whether a simple hobo stove or a liquid fuel stove of some sort. So I always have some sort of hot beverage.
From: BOHNTR
11-Sep-22
BOHNTR's Link
Here’s the link for the brewed coffee bag.
From: BOHNTR
11-Sep-22
BOHNTR's Link
Here’s the link for the brewed coffee bag.
From: DanaC
11-Sep-22
I'm an 'instant' drinker and the day I find boiling water too much of a hassle you can just bury me.
From: RiverBender
11-Sep-22
Fdp-sheer laziness on my part in that I'm trying to skip a stove. The exact scenario is a waterhole I plan on hunting is a pretty good hump in for a 60 yo. I want to carry in basic sleeping arrangements. Hunt the waterhole till pitch dark. Bivouac out for the night with minimal gear and cold food hunt in the morning and make my way out. I'll likely do this at least a couple times. If I was staying for more than just a night I would have my stove. Making coffee on a cold am in a pack tent and the clean up takes time and effort and brrr. I'd like to pound some caffeine drink put my boots on and take off hunting. It's cold I tend to want get moving as soon as I can. If it was more than just a short night I would be more equipped
From: Straight Shooter
11-Sep-22
I’m always looking for ways to cut weight. The one thing I’d never cut out is my jetboil. Having warm oatmeal and coffee in the a.m. is a big deal not to mention a hot meal getting back to spike camp after a long day is priceless.
From: GDx
11-Sep-22
crystal lite makes caffeinated fruit drink packets.
From: Grey Ghost
11-Sep-22
I’m with Straight Shooter, my jet boil is never something I’ll leave behind. I just get it started when I roll out of my sack, and by the time I have my clothes on it’s boiling. By the time I have my boots on, my coffee is half drank and gotten my bowels moving. By the time I’m done taking care of business, my coffee is empty and I’m ready to roll. It’s all like clockwork. ;-)
Matt
From: Firsty
11-Sep-22
Just get some Vivarin caffeine tablets. If you have never taken them, each pill is about the equivalent to a cup of coffee.
From: sticksender
11-Sep-22
Chocolate covered Expresso Beans are da bomb. I pack them for occasions when I don't have the time and/or inclination to break out the stove and water. My local supermarket carries them.
From: fuzzy
11-Sep-22
https://www.amazon.com/Primula-Stovetop-Espresso-Classic-Cafetera/dp/B001J1L59E/ref=asc_df_B001J1L59E/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167131408724&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14463895384663017562&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008810&hvtargid=pla-276178527343&psc=1
From: fuzzy
11-Sep-22
I collect those little espresso pots. The 1 cup model will make a single shot of espresso over a tiny twig fire or backpacking stove in a couple minutes
From: MarkL
11-Sep-22
5 hour Energy. Small bottles, 2 per day. 1 for morning, 1 for afternoon. As the OP mentioned, not only weight savings, also time savings.
From: Olink
12-Sep-22
5 Hour Energy or the chocolate covered expresso beans. Small enough that you can take both.
From: LINK
12-Sep-22
Pour over coffee filter, your favorite cofffee and 8oz of warm piss. TBM taught me that so you can thank him. ;)
From: PECO2
12-Sep-22
You can pack in a can of Starbucks double espresso. I drink them when I need to get up and get moving in a hurry.
From: Lawdog
12-Sep-22
Not to coin a phrase, I'm with Ike. A jet boil, or similar stove, and my old steel military canteen cup, and I can make cowboy coffee any day of the week. Goggle it. It's very easy to make. If you don't want to take a stove, substitute fire.
From: BackwoodsVT
12-Sep-22
Hobo Coffee-A reciepe I learned from my Grandma who learned it directly from the hobos: Put a spoonful of coffee in your cup. Fill with boiling water. Let it sit until grounds settle to the bottom. Sip gently and enjoy! Grandma used to make me hobo coffe and molasses cookies at least once a week during the winter.
From: 2Wild Bill
12-Sep-22
2X Ike.
From: RonP
12-Sep-22
as mentioned, without a cook stove or campfire tea bags are a caffeine alternative.
i'm sure you thought through this but i'd recommend you reconsider and take a light-weight packable cook stove. it makes a world of difference for enjoyment and comfort.
From: midwest
12-Sep-22
I'd just pack in a can of BRC Espresso.
From: Tilzbow
12-Sep-22
Nunn electrolyte tablets. The Energy ones have caffeine.
From: Rut Nut
12-Sep-22
TMI Grey Ghost....................TMI! ;-)
From: tobywon
12-Sep-22
I'm not a coffee drinker, actually like the taste but when I used to see people who couldn't function without it, I stopped. Not the point of this thread, but would a sterno can work? Seems you open, light it and when done cover it again. Small and light to pack.
From: rooster
12-Sep-22
What about edible coffee beans? I just Google them, and it seems to be a good sized selection.
From: fuzzy
13-Sep-22
tobywon I backpacked for years with a folding Sterno stove. Worked great just slower than the Jetboil types
From: 70lbDraw
13-Sep-22
Sticksender X 2! Espresso beans are like crack(I’m assuming) I used to eat them all day while stalking the Mullies in the NM Sandia mountains. I’m not the most efficient hiker around, so they’d help me all day! Kinda like running NOX thru your Volkswagen!
From: peterk1234
13-Sep-22
Whiskey.
From: Corax_latrans
13-Sep-22
There IS no substitute for actual coffee. Full stop.
But the chocolate covered coffee beans are damn tasty!
From: Heat
14-Sep-22
Sprout's Instant, Medaglia D'oro, or Nescafe Instant. All decent in a pinch but not as good as a real brew by any means.
From: Ken
14-Sep-22
Via coffee packets or NUUN Energy with caffaine.
From: tthomas
16-Sep-22
Just take a tylenol and your head ache will be gone. I agree that a jet boil is worth the weight, and you probably save weight with a Mountain House instead of other real food
From: Blood
16-Sep-22
Riverbender, go buy a pre workout powder. 150-300 milligrams of caffeine plus creatine and more good stuff. Mix and enjoy. There’s lots out there if all you want is caffeine. There’s some really good ones of you want more than that.
From: Ambush
17-Sep-22
Just back from a short three day trip and I forgot the coffee. I missed it.
From: PoudreCanyon
17-Sep-22
I use Starbucks Via’s when I’m hunting. It’s just barely better than no coffee at all.
From: Ambush
17-Sep-22
^^^ I now use Black Rifle tubes. Tastes the same, but they are bow and gun friendly so it's definitely more satisfying.
And you can buy it in little jars too. But then I just have a jar of old school Sanka or Nabob instant.
From: Snag
18-Sep-22
I’ve always just ground beans and done a simple filter/drip into my cup. Fresh and light weight.
From: fdp
18-Sep-22
