If you're out on the range or camping in the wilderness, you might not have access to your modern coffee-brewing equipment. But fear not, cowboy coffee can be brewed just about anywhere with just a few simple tools and ingredients. Better yet, we'll walk through how to make a smooth cup of cowboy coffee that avoids bitterness and maximizes the cocoa, caramel, and vanilla flavors of our Quarter Horse Cowboy Blend.
Materials:
- A heat source (campfire, stove, etc.)
- A pot or kettle (stainless steel or well-seasoned cast iron will work best)
- Coffee grounds (preferably our Quarter Horse Cowboy Blend)
- Water
- A metal or cloth strainer (optional)
Instructions:
1. Warm up the water: Fill your pot with the desired amount of water and place it on your heat source. Let the water heat up until it's warm.
2. Add fresh coffee grounds: Remove the pot from the heat source and add the desired amount of coffee grounds to the water. A general rule of thumb is to use one tablespoon of coffee grounds for every six ounces of water, but you can adjust to your personal preference. For best results, use a course ground coffee (which will take longer to brew).
3. Bring to a boil: Leave the coffee pot alone and let the coffee come to a boil. Being patient and letting your cowboy coffee heat up to a boil will help remove bitterness and the acids that typically cause indigestion or heartburn.
4. Reduce heat and let roll: Stir the coffee grounds in the rolling water (not fully boiling, just rolling) until they're evenly distributed, then let the mixture churn for about four minutes on its own. This allows the coffee to smoothly infuse with the water and develop the deep, rich flavor we're looking for.
5. Remove from heat and cool with water: Take your coffee pot off the heat source, let sit for about 2 minutes, and pour between a half cup to one cup of cold water into the pot. This will help settle the coffee grounds to the bottom of the pot and balance the ratio of coffee to water.
6. Strain out grounds: If you used coarsely ground coffee or you prefer not to have grounds in your cup, you can strain the mixture through a metal or cloth strainer. If you're using a cloth strainer, make sure it's tightly woven so that the grounds don't slip through.
7. Serve and enjoy: Pour your cowboy coffee into your Enameled Steel Campfire Mug and enjoy it hot. You can add sugar, cream, or other flavorings to taste, but keep in mind that cowboy coffee is typically brewed strong and may not need much doctoring up.
Additional Tips:
- Use freshly ground coffee if possible, as it will have more flavor than pre-ground coffee that has been sitting around awhile.
- Don't let the coffee boil the entire time, bring it to a boil and then let it roll and churn (just below a boil).
There you have it, a simple recipe for brewing cowboy coffee. Give it a try on your next camping trip or outdoor adventure, and have a taste of the west.