Coffee in the Woods

[Dan00001]

I had a few hours out today walking locally. Took my new Lynx ii backpack to try out and my Kelly Kettle. My firelighting skills need much improvement. Luckily the Kelly Kettle is dead easy to light. I also took the time to practice micro navigation skills.

Hope you enjoy the photo's.



I'm in love with these old backpacks.


This stream was fast flowing and clear. There was no real need for a millbank bag but it's easier than trying to fill a KK in shallow water.








Strategically navigating my way around an obstacle.


The weather was that perfect mix of cold air and warm sun. I spent 20 minutes sat here doing absolutely nothing.

 

[Pattree]

Great view.
What coffee do you take out with you?
The Kettle looks very new.

Thanks for reminding me of the name of the filter bag. I couldn’t remember it when I wanted to.

 

[Dan00001]

Great view.
What coffee do you take out with you?
The Kettle looks very new.

Thanks for reminding me of the name of the filter bag. I couldn’t remember it when I wanted to.

I've got a whole box of Litchfield instant coffee sachets, but I really dislike instant coffee. At home I have an espresso machine and I only ever drink coffee from freshly ground beans. I'm not a snob, I'm just really not a fan of instant coffee which sounds crazy because I drink it whilst camping or out on walks - I really need to do something about that. I think I'm going to invest in an Aeropress.

I only bought the Kelly Kettle last year. We do have one in West Wales that we've had for a very long time that belongs to my uncle. It's an older one with cork bung and aluminium.

 

[Pattree]

I’ve got a little Bialetti that fits into the chimney of my Trekker (the little KK) but you’d need the appropriate Hobo attachment. The Bialetti would need something around it to stop it rattling in your aluminium Scout. I also have a Zylis cafetière mug that does a great job and no Hobo or packing needed.

Always ground coffee - but that’s just me! I’d drink coffee bags for that view!

 

[Broch]

Instant is not coffee!!
Fresh ground is quite drinkable with hot water added, stirred, left to settle, then the surface wiped with a cold spoon. Just chew the odd bit of ground
@Dan00001 - please stop advertising our fantastic countryside, we get too many coming over the border as it is!

 

[Dan00001]

I’ve got a little Bialetti that fits into the chimney of my Trekker (the little KK) but you’d need the appropriate Hobo attachment. The Bialetti would need something around it to stop it rattling in your aluminium Scout. I also have a Zylis cafetière mug that does a great job and no Hobo or packing needed.

Always ground coffee - but that’s just me! I’d drink coffee bags for that view!

I do have a moka pot but could just use that with my alcohol stove. If I get something like an Aeropress or cafetiere then I have no reason not to take the Kelly Kettle

 

[Dan00001]

Instant is not coffee!!
Fresh ground is quite drinkable with hot water added, stirred, left to settle, then the surface wiped with a cold spoon. Just chew the odd bit of ground
@Dan00001 - please stop advertising our fantastic countryside, we get too many coming over the border as it is!

I absolutely agree, it is not coffee. I have to add sugar just to drink it. I would never dream about adding sugar to fresh coffee. I could have made some cowboy coffee.

I do feel privileged to live in Wales, this place is less than a 10 minute drive from my house.

 

[MrEd]

Aeropress is worthwhile, I had one for a bit and used it with my jetboil. I also used a small one mug cafetière that goes inside your mug.

I don’t drink coffee anymore, GP told me to cut down caffeine boo

 

[Dan00001]

Aeropress is worthwhile, I had one for a bit and used it with my jetboil. I also used a small one mug cafetière that goes inside your mug.

I don’t drink coffee anymore, GP told me to cut down caffeine boo

I've wanted an Aeropress for years, I've just not gotten around to buying one. I think I will get one this year.

Sorry to hear that. What about tea? I do also drink green tea often and enjoy buying the different flavours. I usually buy from Northern Tea Merchants. I really like the spiced teas, the vanilla is very nice and I also bought one called 'Calm' which is basically some green tea mixed in with a lot of different dried flowers.

 

[Chris]

I've wanted an Aeropress for years, I've just not gotten around to buying one. I think I will get one this year.

Sorry to hear that. What about tea? I do also drink green tea often and enjoy buying the different flavours. I usually buy from Northern Tea Merchants. I really like the spiced teas, the vanilla is very nice and I also bought one called 'Calm' which is basically some green tea mixed in with a lot of different dried flowers.

Green tea has about 50% the caffeine that coffee does, so probably still not a good idea if caffeine is a health concern.

 

[Nice65]

One great advantage of the Aeropress apart from it making exceptional coffee is, the clean up. One puck of grounds and a paper filter. Quick wipe of the plunger with a kitchen towel and it goes back in your bag ready to use again.

There’s even a silicone lid available for the plunger so you can fill the inside with fresh ground and a couple of filters. As it’s grippy silicone, it can get scuffed off in transit, but a bit of care packing and it’s fine.

As for green tea…



Nice walk by the way, I’m grabbing the sunny days when I can and getting out for long walks with the dog. A couple of damp or wet grey days and I start feeling miserable at this time of year, but blue sky and sun soon tops up my mood again.

 

[Chris]

Nice walk by the way, I’m grabbing the sunny days when I can and getting out for long walks with the dog. A couple of damp or wet grey days and I start feeling miserable at this time of year, but blue sky and sun soon tops up my mood again.

I will take freezing cold with blue skies and sun any day, over 10C grey and gloomy.

Only 4 weeks until spring, and then a few more after that until clocks change. Bit of daylight into the evening does a lot of work on warming up the soul as well, I find.

 

[Tony]

Nicely done, thanks for sharing Dan,

 

[Dan00001]

Thank you.

Well I shared these photos in a couple of Facebook groups and the Kelly Kettle attracted a divided opinion. One group, which I had been sharing my camping trips in for over a year kicked me out and banned me and another I'm getting a mix of friendly comments and comments such as that I've scorched the earth, that I shouldn't put hot metal on wood, that it's a massive fire hazard etc. etc.

I would welcome the opinion of people here. I raised the kettle on a bed of dead branches, I've used minimal fuel contained within the base of the kettle, it's winter in Wales the ground is wet, I left zero trace. Have I done wrong?

 

[Chris]

Thank you.

Well I shared these photos in a couple of Facebook groups and the Kelly Kettle attracted a divided opinion. One group, which I had been sharing my camping trips in for over a year kicked me out and banned me and another I'm getting a mix of friendly comments and comments such as that I've scorched the earth, that I shouldn't put hot metal on wood, that it's a massive fire hazard etc. etc.

I would welcome the opinion of people here. I raised the kettle on a bed of dead branches, I've used minimal fuel contained within the base of the kettle, it's winter in Wales the ground is wet, I left zero trace. Have I done wrong?

The few wild camping groups I have seen online absolutely adore the smell of their own farts, and will jump at any opportunity to chastise others for not doing it 'properly'.

What you did looks fine to me mate. Personally I tend to clear an area down to dirt when in the woods just in case of falling sparks/embers, but your kettle is clearly raised off of the ground and didn't start any fires or scorch anything.

 

[Dan00001]

The few wild camping groups I have seen online absolutely adore the smell of their own farts, and will jump at any opportunity to chastise others for not doing it 'properly'.

What you did looks fine to me mate. Personally I tend to clear an area down to dirt when in the woods just in case of falling sparks/embers, but your kettle is clearly raised off of the ground and didn't start any fires or scorch anything.

Haha. Thanks, I could have cleared a space down to dirt and I probably would have in summer but the ground is soaking, this area is not prone to wild fires. There are numerous fire scars in this area from campers and I've never once heard of or seen signs of a wild fire in this area. I 100% agree with and abide by the leave no trace principle.

 

[Pattree]

Ignore them!
They don’t float their open fires in mid air!
The little aluminium table that I use is still available. It’s useless as purchased because it’s held together by elastic. I bought some 5mm allthread and bolted two rods through the slats. The legs gave way quite quickly but the top works fine.

I bought mine in Tesco but I’ve seen them about. We can discuss further if you are interested. I’ll weigh it and demo etc.

It’s not just useful for the KK but you can put any hot pot or kettle on it.
This was taken six years ago when it still has its legs - now long gone. Just a tray now but works beautifully. If you’re worried at all stick it on four stones.

 

[Dan00001]

Thank you Pattree,

I actually emailed the Leave No Trace non profit organisation this morning asking what their stance is on Kelly Kettles and attached to the email my photo of the Kelly Kettle as is in this thread, the same photo that I posted to a few Facebook groups.

Well the director of education and training has gotten back to me with this reply:



Hi Daniel,

Thanks for your inquiry and support for Leave No Trace.

As you know, there are a lot of different stoves on the market, so it would be pretty tough for us to provide guidance on all of them on our website or in our Principles.

Overall, we always encourage the use of portable stoves when possible rather than building a campfire. For the Kelly Kettle specifically, I can tell you it is a great option. Our guidance would be that the stove is elevated off of the ground (just as it is in the picture you provided) so that the heat from the stove doesn’t scorch or sterilize the soil. Just like a mound fire, we recommend the use of small twigs that are dead and already down from trees. Pack the ash out.

Hope this helps?

Thanks.

 

[Pattree]

That’s great. In fact you are being far more conscientious in your research than most packersz.

To Leave No Trace - I would add:
KK users forage only a fraction of the wood that other stoves use, even other stick stoves because of the area of flame/water proximity up the flu.
(I’m not trying to start a war with other stick stove users!)

This was what my table once looked like:

First the elastic burns through and is replaced by threaded rod. I’d preempt that if I were you.

Then the plastic ends to the slats melt and fall out. No problem. Haul then out to start with.

Then the somewhat fragile legs give way - but that’s after a couple of years heavy use. I’d been using it with the legs folded up long before they broke.

Then you have a REALLY useful piece of equipment.

 

[Dan00001]

That’s great. In fact you are being far more conscientious in your research than most packersz.

To Leave No Trace - I would add:
KK users forage only a fraction of the wood that other stoves use, even other stick stoves because of the area of flame/water proximity up the flu.
(I’m not trying to start a war with other stick stove users!)

This was what my table once looked like:

First the elastic burns through and is replaced by threaded rod. I’d preempt that if I were you.

Then the plastic ends to the slats melt and fall out. No problem. Haul then out to start with.

Then the somewhat fragile legs give way - but that’s after a couple of years heavy use.

Then you have a REALLY useful piece of equipment.

That's interesting actually. I didn't realise that it folded down so small. Have added it to my watchlist. I actually have a small lathe and milling machine at home so can easily knock up different ways of fixing things together.