On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 16:42:25 -0700, Pixmaker >
wrote:

>Having recently experienced yet another hurricane in South Florida, I
>thought we were well prepared for some days without electric power.
>Yes, I had all the supplies stored and the propane lanterns and
>Coleman stoves but. . ..
>
>I forgot about a coffee pot!
>
>We use an under-counter Mister Coffee that's worked well for twelve
>years or so and no one thought about an alternate coffee brewing
>method.
>
>After discussing various ways of doing this trick (and being unwilling
>to fall back on those "coffee bags" we had aplenty for times of
>absolute desperation) I finally gave up and resorted to dumping the
>coffee into a sauce pan of boiling water, letting it sit for a bit,
>then decanting the coffee. I recalled something about the old West
>cowboys doing something like this. And the coffee was spiced with egg
>shells and hot sauce and whatever else seemed appropriate at the time.
>It resulted in coffee but whatever went into it must have made any
>assessment of the coffee quality of secondary importance.
>
>We had a problem filtering the coffee from the grounds. The regular
>filters from the Mister Coffee clogged immediately and allowed only a
>slow drip (about one drop a minute) so they were out. I can't wait
>that long.
>
>I tried cheesecloth with similar results.
>
>An old, aluminum "teaball," when opened up, worked the best but it was
>almost impossible to hold the damned thing and pour boiling coffee
>into it at the same time. Result...blue air and no coffee.
>
>The decanted coffee was drinkable, although a little gritty.
>
>Now, whatever the circumstances, no man should have to struggle so
>mightily for a cup of coffee that assumes the importance of plasma to
>a wounded soldier.
>
>I have to believe there's a better way. At this point, I'm prepared to
>go find an old percolator. Maybe a visit to our local flea market will
>solve my problem.
>
>But I will greatly appreciate any suggestions as how to best solve
>this problem. Boiling lots of water is no problem whatsoever. But time
>is sorta of the essence because there's another one of these tropical
>hummers cooking in the South Atlantic and this seems to be the year
>for us to take multiple hits.
>
>FWIW we do like the Gevalia coffees and use them regularly. I assume
>that's not a problem. However, if a particular coffee is strongly
>recommended, I'm willing to use it. Remember, I'm planning for a
>degree of desperation here.
>
>Your recommendations will be welcomed.
>
>
>
> Pixmaker in FLL
>==========================
>It's not the heat, it's the humidity!
>==========================
>(..Think the humidity's bad?
> You should watch us vote!)

If you ever have to make boiled coffee again, that is putting coffee
in a pot with water and boiling it, just before you pour it, pour a
cupful of cold water into the saucepan. The grounds will settle to
the bottom. In the Army, it's fifty years ago now, I have watched
cooks make a huge container of coffee in the field, maybe 20 gallons
or so and when it was done pour in a quart or so of cold water. It
works and I have no idea why. Not very good coffee tho.