Coffee-addicted backpackers and outdoorsman have faced the same problem for generations: how do you get a quality cup of coffee in nature without carrying a ton of extra weight? The AeroPress Go is a reasonable solution. It’s lightweight and is shown to make a stellar cup of coffee. But you still run the issue of carrying and grinding beans. Likewise, the cowboy coffee method is serviceable, but good luck avoiding grinds in your morning brew. Thankfully, a handful of upstart brands are attacking the problem head-on with high-quality instant coffees that take up virtually no space un your bag. Try one of the picks below on your next camping trip.
Alpine Start
Alpine Start was conceived by pro climber Matt Segal during a trip to the Bugaboos. He, like many outdoorsmen, was searching for a way to get a high-quality cup of coffee without needing to carry specialized equipment or extra weight. Alpine Start uses only high altitude Arabica beans for its Original Blend. Simply add water. If you’re more of a latte or chai person, Alpine Start has you covered with options for those drinks as well.
Voilà Coffee
When Voilà first opened, it sold through its entire stock so quickly that it had to disable the “Shop” tab on its website. It has since replenished its offering of instant formulas, each of which is individually portioned and highlights the particular region from which the beans are sourced. The available varieties come with monikers like “lively,” “complex,” and “structured.”