French Mess Cleaning solution

[Gina D.]

Unfortunately, my Italian grandmas espresso maker from the old country finally gave up the ghost. I gave it a somber funeral, in Italian, and into the recycling it went. I am guessing it was nearly 70 years old. It could not get anymore transplants. Done, finished, pushing up daisies.

Sooo...I will get another one when I can afford a good one. I tried a couple less expensive models..they stink..relegated to the car camping box..

I found a small French Mess, er, Press, a Bodum® Black Coffee Press in Outlet Dining & Entertaining | Crate and Barrel that is perfect for just one or two people and stows nicely.

The problem with French Messes is what to do with the compacted grounds. You have to dig them out, use TONS of water cleaning them and in general, I have not found them worth the bother. But I HATE perced coffee, so I decided to try the Press again.

My solution to the mess? I line the chamber with a Dollar store ziplock bag. A quart sized one is perfect for my pot, in goes the coffee, it steeps, the "squasher" works just fine in it, it pours well..when done, the bag and mess come out and into the trash. The chamber doesn't even need to be rinsed if you are careful.

Nope, it's not ecologically correct, but neither is consuming tons of water for clean up. <_<

[Ian G.]

The best camping coffee maker we have found is the Aropress. Works on a similar principle as the bodum but easy and fast to clean and makes awesome coffee.
AEROPRESS®

[Gina D.]

interesting..do you have to order the filters or can you buy them retail?

[Ian G.]

You can either get the filters on-line or there are a number of retail locations you can buy them. The filters actually last more than one cup, with the instructions there is information on filter re-use. We use one filter of our morning coffee(s), usually 4 to 6 cups in total

Here is a link to sources for the filters in the US
Aeropress - Where To Buy U.S.A.

[Gina D.]

thx!

I am rarely near a BB&B, so this probably won't work for me, but I am sure others will find this an interesting and viable solution!

[Roy in TO]

Any coffee filter will do with a pair of scissors. I'm sure you can handle that mod Gina.

[Gina D.]

The ziplock seems to be working wonderfully for me. I use the spent bag for other trash as well, so it isn't a complete eco disaster.

Sitting here sipping my morning Joe at this very moment.

[RogerDat]

We have thinking about picking up another Melitta coffee maker. Perking a large pot on the Coleman stove takes a pretty long time, I like the taste fine just not the long wait.

Melitta just needs hot water, filters lift out, and 6 cups should just about get us through breakfast. https://shoponline.melitta.com/produ...KRSPROVERGLASS

Wish they had a metal pot instead of glass but they do make a tasty cup of joe. Still see cone filters in grocery stores.

[Glenn Baglo]

We use a plastic thermal carafe with matching filter holder. Can't find it any more, but there is this stainless thermal carafe and filter holder.

Amazon.com : Melitta Coffee Maker, 8 Cup Pour- Over Brewer with Stainless Thermal Carafe : Ground Coffee : Grocery & Gourmet Food

[Carol H]

Gina, I hear you on the cleaning out of the french press! I like your solution.

I have bought a a few different presses to try and solve the issue of using way to much water to try and clean them out when dry camping. . One of them was the OXO French Press which has a ladle in the bottom that is suppose to help in that you just lift the coffee out of the press to clean it. It does get a lot of the coffee grinds out but didn't work as well as I had hoped. Will have to try your bag idea next trip as I had reverted back to using a simple drip cone system.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

We use a plastic thermal carafe with matching filter holder. Can't find it any more, but there is this stainless thermal carafe and filter holder.

I have a similar set up that I use if I am wanting to be very careful with water usage for clean up. I already had a thermos so I purchased a Collapsible coffee filter holder from REI that fits it and it works pretty well. Filter collapses flat for easy storage.

[Gina D.]

All good ways to brew..but my little item is well suited for fulltiming in a tiny space. It takes up no more space than a drinking glass. Less, actually.

[reeves99]

Gina, thanks for sharing your good idea. You can't go wrong with simple, small and inexpensive! (and good results)

Phil

[Steve L.]

One plus to not being a coffee connoisseur is that I like the percolator process. I pour in a half cup more water than cups of coffee I want to account for absorption and boiling away. I usually use my mug to measure the number of mugs of coffee plus a third or half a mug extra. I use those percolator filters I get at Kroger’s. Basically they’re square with one hole in the center and one at each corner. Slide it over the center post, poke it down some, spoon in the coffee, fold each corner over the center post, put on the strainer plate on top of the basket and into the percolator. I actually find this little routine pleasant in the morning, snug and warm (or cool) in my little trailer.

Since I’m only filling the percolator part way, it boils pretty quickly and percs while I’m taking care of other things. After the first cup is poured I turn the gas as low as I can get it without the flame going out to keep the second mug hot. After the meal, I just knock the folded pack of coffee out into the trash. Sometimes a little of the grounds escape around the center post and I just wipe them out of there with a paper towel or a paper napkin from breakfast.

[Darrell in Al]

Here is a few options, the one with blue cup has traveled the world literally. I've been using for about 15 years or so. The other 4 years it came from Wal-Mart I think.

I just tap out the coffee grounds unless I'm not going to use for awhile. I've got to order new rubber seal for my old one and its stable mate. Shipping will cost more.

[Mike Magee]

I've never been much of a coffee drinker, but since buying an Aeropress for my wife I now actually drink an occasional cup. It makes pretty good coffee. Cleanup is a snap, too.

[Brian M. in NY]

After trying various coffee makers, a Melitta filter over a Thermos bottle and even considering a single cup Keurig, we finally found a Dutch instant coffee that we love. Douwe Egbert. And since our ParkLiner is nicknamed Eggbert, it was no contest. Do we Eggbert? You bet we do!