Looking like no coffee for me

Fourman110

So....next camp out is coming up and no sites with power were available (Yellowstone Lake WI). I’ve got the OEM provided battery and a 100W solar kit. Purchased a small k-cup machine over the winter thinking it’ll readily solve my 1cup a day or die coffee habit.

Just realized the machine is 800 honking watts. Didn’t realize what a power hog these were (and mine takes less than a lot of them).

Questions for the electrical experts:

1. Would I then need an 800W inverter? If so would the cigarette lighter 12v lines suffice?
2. Would one cup really drain the battery as it would appear based on specs? Ironically I picked up an 80w inverter which seems like I’m 10 fold under powered

And yes, I can buy a stove top pot or press, but it seems like a bit of inconvenience for one cup.

Mahojin

Small French press. Ah the cup of joy it makes.

WilliamA

When I was taking my basic training at Ft Knox, Ky in the early 70's, my drill sergeant said that as tank crewmen, we would be issued, not M16's, but the venerable M19A2, aka colt 45. As we were rotating to the "Russian Front" (east German border aka "Fulda Gap") he said a sidearm was more useful because if the Russians attacked early, we would be able to fend them off without having to put our coffee cups down.
I am firmly in the camp that posits few things in life can't be dealt with so long as there is coffee.
Let's do some math:
https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/watt-volt-amp-calculator.html
According to Ohms law, 800 watts at 12 volts will require 66.5 amps. The same wattage at 110 volts will require 7.2 amps or so. Assuming your battery has 240 amp/hours, and only half of that is useable (50% max battery capacity usage) that means you could probably get 1 cup or maybe 2 from a single battery. That's the good news. The bad news is you'd need wiring the size of jumper cables (6 gauge minimum) to go between the battery and inverter. The good news is a coffee maker is mostly resistive load (see my discussion on that elsewhere on this forum) so the max wattage (peak load) on the inverter is probably not more than the running load.
Moving back to my discussion about storing energy, the good news is that you carry lots of energy potential in the propane tank. That's the most efficient way to do the job. I carry 3 different kinds of stovetop coffee makers and 2 stoves. One onboard and a portable, single burner stove that works with a 1 lb cylinder.
Use the coffee maker when plugged in to shore power or gennie, the stove when you aren't.

WilliamA

WilliamA

Fourman,
When are you going to Y lake? We should do a getaway...
WilliamA

LuckyJ

I am on the @WilliamA vamp on this. I need my morning camping coffee, but it is camping, so for me, it is stove top esspresso. When at home, I go electric, but not at all a fan of the cups.

And to top it of, I use an hand driven coffe grinder when camping. Why make it easy when it can be fun.. Lol

sheaoliver

One cup a day? Impressive, I need at least two, or three, or...

So, my college-age son was home last week, and saw my camping percolator coffee pot.

Son: "You take a tea pot camping?"

Me: "That's my coffee pot."

Son: "How?"

Me: "Before drip coffee pots, this was the way to make your cup of joe."

Son: "Whoa. That's really cool."

Me: "Design a better coffee system for camping, and you'll make millions!"

Son: "Nah, I want to try making coffee that way. That's soooo cool."

--
Being new to the whole T@G experience, I was delighted to discover that on a cold morning you could start your coffee on the stove, crawl back into bed, and hear when it began perking, if it wasn't too loud outside.

Before buying a pot, I did try a number of the instant coffee brands. None of them are any better than what my great aunt served in the 70's, with the exception of the Starbuck Via. I also tried buying a few of the canned/bottled coffees and then heating them. Not bad, but not that good.

IMHO, whether it's one cup or multiple, that cup is worth the effort.

mgreen2

We had this from our tent camping days and it works on the T@G stove.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Grill-Top-Coffeemaker/10299012

TennTim

There are a several bits and pieces but I use an Aerobie (yes the flying ring company) Aeropress at home and at camp. Makes coffee 1 to 3 cups at a time. I make it directly into an insulated bottle. You can control the brewing process to your liking (steep time, steep temp, coffee to water ratio, dilution ratio, etc). Just heat water in a pot on the range.

https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/

LuckyJ

This is what I use. Can also steam the milk and Irish cream for camping latté.

WilliamA

Lucky,
Details? Make, model etc...?

WilliamA

CampHub

LOL I looked it up also! https://www.amazon.com/Bellman-Stove-Espresso-Cappuccino-Maker/dp/B000FDN1LM

WilliamA

Ordered...boom...done...
WilliamA

Fourman110

That does look really nice. Decided to try the Presto MyJo for just south of $14 while working with k-cups.

TomD

Awsome coffee maker. I’m a lazy guy. Boil some water and add a Starbucks Via Instant Coffee packet in the mug. They are quite good and come in many flavors.

OutdoorEd

@mgreen2 said:
We had this from our tent camping days and it works on the T@G stove.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Grill-Top-Coffeemaker/10299012

This appears to be pretty sweet. It's apparently been around long enough that it seems odd that I'd never heard of it. Thanks for the tip!

SueBHunny

I used to be a percolator girl, but it really took FOREVER to get done and coffee is just not something I'm willing to wait forever for. I upgraded to the REI French press and I LOVE it. And it's a thermal carafe, so if I'm up before hubby, the coffee stays hot for him.

LuckyJ

They are not the quickest, you need a little more water that will stay in the bottom of the coffe maker, but they do make good coffee. I still use them if one of my esspresso machine goes bad if I have it around. But with all the tubes and handle, will not pack easy, but it does go into the cabinet under the sink.

Can wait to make my fisrt one in the T@G again, soon I hope.

@CampHub said:
LOL I looked it up also! https://www.amazon.com/Bellman-Stove-Espresso-Cappuccino-Maker/dp/B000FDN1LM

mikewingo1955

I'm a French press guy also. Get a French press, inexpensive tea kettle, water and heat it to boiling. Put the coffee in the French press, pour in the boiling water, stir, put the cover on the French press, let it sit for about 5 minutes and you have great coffee. The best coffee IMO. My French press makes about 3-4 cups, but you only make as much as you want. The tea kettle also serves other uses for anything requiring hot water. I try to carry as many things as possible that have more than 1 function.

SueBHunny

I second the tea kettle. I used a pan for a long time but grabbed a GSI tea kettle from REI this year and it's much more efficient. Heats quickly and pours easily. Also nice for late night ramen at music festivals.

BBsGarage

@SueBHunny said:
I second the tea kettle. I used a pan for a long time but grabbed a GSI tea kettle from REI this year and it's much more efficient. Heats quickly and pours easily. Also nice for late night ramen at music festivals.

Salt soup late at night would keep me awake.

Fourman110

I got my cup a day in! The Presto MyJo worked great with the k cups. Heated water in a small backpacking kettle. Together I think I had $25 into it.

LuckyJ

@WilliamA said:
Ordered...boom...done...
WilliamA

@WilliamA, I have just got a flash back, and was wondering if you ever got your coffee maker and how it turn out?

CampHub

Tasty

Fourman110

@LuckyJ said:

@WilliamA said:
Ordered...boom...done...
WilliamA

@WilliamA, I have just got a flash back, and was wondering if you ever got your coffee maker and how it turn out?

Hi WilliamA!

I ended up going old and new with the MyJo. Screw in a kCup, fill with hot water from the kettle I warmed in the stove, put the cover on and pump slowly. Worked like a charm for the 2 cups a day I have.

willbingham1

I too use the MYJO kCup and it worked just greet with a slow deliberate pump. See you at coffee time! Paid about $12 on Amazon.
Bill

nbrandt

I must chime in here because coffee is important.
At home or in the T@G we use exactly the same thing - the Melita pour over. You can buy the cones that fit the #2 #4 or #6 filter. We use the number six. Heat the water on the stove. Put the Melita cone directly on to the top of the thermos. You don't quite want boiling water - 205 F. is about right. Fine grind your coffee for best results. The key is to pour until the grounds all the grounds are wet (about 1/3 full), and then wait. Let the grounds bloom. Right when the first pour is done, then pour the filter full to the top with water. When the second pour is filtered through -you have some marvelous tasting coffee. We lived in rural central Canada for four years and everyone there made their coffee this way, If you want a demonstration - just go to Starbucks- they will do a "pour over" right before your eyes. It makes excellent coffee. Very cheap filters and they are bio-degradable. They just disappear in my compost bin.
nbrandt

OutdoorEd

@mgreen2 said:
We had this from our tent camping days and it works on the T@G stove.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Grill-Top-Coffeemaker/10299012

This works great. Bought one in June, based on this rec, and it's just like the coffee made at home.

LuckyJ

@OutdoorEd said:

@mgreen2 said:
We had this from our tent camping days and it works on the T@G stove.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Grill-Top-Coffeemaker/10299012

This works great. Bought one in June, based on this rec, and it's just like the coffee made at home.

Well, not at my home! . Lol, just teasing you!

Somemedic

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hamilton-Beach-12-Cup-Stainless-Steel-Percolator-Model-40622R/54270863

This thing boils water right NOW. Makes the best coffee by getting the water the right temp.

Also, if you put water in it without the basket it makes good hotdogs too

beaky

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/home-and-decor/small-appliances/coffee-and-tea-makers/61629?x429=true&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4fHkBRDcAR

tagurit

We really like this French press, all stainless so it packs well. Says 8-cup but it's really only four mugs. I'm the designated coffee maker (I'm always up first!), I boil a quart or so of water on the T@G stove and then pour it in the press to pre-heat it, the carafe is thermal and by pre-heating it, our second cups are always still hot. While the press is heating, I start a second quart on the stove for the coffee. Just before coffee water boils, the first pot of water goes into the sink and/or a wash basin for clean up chores later. About six heaping soupspoonfuls (eight measured tablespoons) of our favorite coffee coarsely ground go in the press followed by the quart of about 200 degree water. We brew for four minutes before pressing and I always leave room in the Norcold for a pint of half and half!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K1WNKP8/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1