Coffee is a big part of many people's routines that even if SHTF, you would be hard-pressed to find people willing to give up their daily cup of joe. In most situations, preppers would simply add coffee to the ever-growing number of supplies to stockpile. If things get stressful and they want to feel energized, they can simply fire up their coffee maker and have a steaming cup of coffee. Unfortunately, not all survival scenarios involve having access to working electricity. In case of a grid-down scenario, you must learn how to make coffee without relying on electricity-powered appliances. (h/t to SHTFPlan.com)
A coffee lover's survival guide
Americans love coffee. In fact, the National Coffee Association states that 63 percent of American adults drink at least one cup of coffee per day. If you're a coffee-loving prepper, learning how to brew your own cup without the need for electricity can be an essential survival skill.
One of the first things to consider before even brewing coffee is getting it in the first place. Coffee isn't exactly something you could easily grow in your garden. When SHTF, coffee will most likely become a highly valued resource considering the number of its consumers every day. Because of this, it would be wise to store a hefty amount of coffee before anyone else gets a whiff of an incoming disaster.
Coffee beans are best kept in a dark, dry and cool location. To preserve the flavor of already-roasted beans, you should store them in an opaque and air-tight container.
In terms of what kind of coffee you must stockpile, green coffee beans can go a long way. These are unroasted coffee beans that have quite a long shelf life. While this does mean you need to learn how to roast your own beans, it involves a simple process of cooking the beans in a pot over a fire. If coffee beans aren't your cup of tea, you could stock up on instant coffee. Not only is it a quick and easy way to make coffee, but it is also easy to store. (Related: Green coffee can aid your weight loss goals.)
Once you have decided on what type of coffee to stockpile, here are ways to make your own cup without electricity:
French press
If you don't mind having cold coffee or have the means to heat it up afterward, the French press is an excellent cord-free option to brew coffee in a survival situation. Consider getting a French press that has three stainless steel screens that act as its filter.
To use a French press, first warm up a pot of hot water, then pour the water out. Then, add about eight tablespoons of ground coffee into the warm, empty pot. Afterward, pour the hot water into the pot of ground coffee, making sure to leave very little room on top. Stir the mixture of coffee and water before inserting the plunger. After four minutes of brewing, you can slowly lower the plunger toward the bottom. Turn the lid of the french press, so the spout is open, pour and enjoy.
Percolator
A percolator is quite similar to French press in that they involve the same three major components: coffee, pot and water. This off-grid coffee maker is popular among campers because it allows coffee to be made right over a campfire.
To use one, pour cold water into the bottom chamber of the percolator. The amount of water should depend on the number of cups you want to make. Assemble the rest of the percolator before adding a couple of tablespoons of coffee per eight ounces of water. Lastly, place the percolator on top of the heat source, removing just before it hits the boiling point.
Satisfy the coffee lover in you and add coffee (alongside these electricity-free coffee makers) to your prepper storage today.
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