Tip #2: Coffee Addicts in the Woods

I am a coffee addict- if I don't have a cup of coffee by noon my head is pounding. The prospect of not being able to have coffee in the outdoors has even made me leery of going on a few group trips which had taken on the "all natural" or "toxin free" living philosophy. I personally don't have a problem with coffee addiction, but I do have a problem being trapped by my love and need for coffee. Here are a couple methods I use to support my caffeine addiction in the back country.

1) Instant Coffee!!!

My brand of choice is Starbucks VIA, which practically tastes like regular coffee! I usually use two packets in a single cup, and I also bring along a little powdered milk and sugar, which I also use in my oatmeal. There is nothing better than sitting at camp in the morning sipping a hot cup of coffee and waiting for your breakfast to cook. Instant coffee is also pretty lightweight! Defiantly a back-country must.






2) Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Espresso beans are good in a pinch! There could be many reasons why breakfast didn't happen- maybe you are not in a position to boil water; maybe you like to tear out of camp early and eat breakfast on the road; maybe you are with a group of people who frown on coffee (weirdo's- avoid at all cost). Whatever the reason, if you know your going to get headaches without coffee and you can't really make a cup, chocolate covered espresso beans are a sure fix. Keep in mind they are heavy but each one if extremely potent.


3) Caffeinated Tea

Now, this is my least favorite option but it's what I relied on when I was on a coffee free backpacking course in California. I know this course had its reasons for banning coffee, saying it had to do with the high altitude, but I really don't buy it because the freaking instructors had their own "secret" coffee stash! Either way, I didn't struggle detoxing from coffee as much as I thought I would, but tea is defiantly a poor substitute for a good cup of Joe if you are as big of a coffee fanatic as I am. However, I always bring a bit of decaffeinated tea for the evenings, so I'm not a total tea hater. 

Hope this helps fellow trail blazing coffee addicts like me! And of course- none of this applies if you are car camping because, that's what portable drip coffee makers are for!! Break out the freshly ground Jamaican Blue Mountain and have a blast!!!

Happy Trails,
Steph