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It's ridiculous housing this thing in a Pelican case, but with one, no one will ever think you don't take your coffee seriously.
It's ridiculous housing this thing in a Pelican case, but with one, no one will ever think you don't take your coffee seriously.
Indefinitely Wild

Never Drink Gas Station Coffee Again

One man’s quest to avoid bad coffee and dirty bathrooms

Published: 
Wes Siler
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Gas stations brew some truly terrible coffee. Gas station bathrooms are disgusting. Since I go on a lot of road trips, it means that too much of my life has been spent dealing with both. And life is short, so no more: I’m equipping myself with the ability to make an excellent brew wherever I am and that I can drink at scenic overlooks where I'll pee on trees.

This little quality of life improvement was inspired by my friend Michael Ellem, . We spent two weeks together, stuck in the mud in the Outback. Despite the record flooding, he always had a smile on his face. A big reason for that was the Bialetti coffeemaker he keeps in the back of his truck. I think my little kit is easier to use and quicker to clean up, while still brewing a truly extraordinary cup of joe.

The priority here was both quality and portability. I wanted to create a kit that would power me through an entire long-distance road trip, fit easily into my Land Rover, and be easy to use even in bad weather. This stuff makes that possible.

The Stove

This setup is just perfection. Small, light, and extremely well made, the Pocket Rocket 2 burner boils like a champ, and can vary flame levels for backcountry cooking as well. The four ounce canister can boil eight liters of water, but in this setup should last way more than eight coffees tops, since I'm typically only boiling a quarter that amount.
This setup is just perfection. Small, light, and extremely well made, the Pocket Rocket 2 burner boils like a champ, and can vary flame levels for backcountry cooking as well. The four ounce canister can boil eight liters of water, but in this setup should last way more than eight coffees tops, since I'm typically only boiling a quarter that amount. (Wes Siler)

It’s an powered by a four-ounce bottle of . The stove is ridiculously tiny, but also extremely well built, and it boils water very quickly. Bringing one liter of water to a roiling boil takes just 3.5 minutes, and I’m often heating way less. The four ounce canister will boil that liter of water eight times, and again, I’m only usually heating 250 to 500 milliliters. The flame jets out of the stove at high velocity, making it impervious to most wind conditions—I don’t feel the need to use a wind screen.

The Kettle

Let the water cool down a bit after boiling. Bigger coffee nerds than me aim for precise temperatures before pouring into the Aeropress, but I find waiting a minute or two works just fine.
Let the water cool down a bit after boiling. Bigger coffee nerds than me aim for precise temperatures before pouring into the Aeropress, but I find waiting a minute or two works just fine. (Wes Siler)

I really like . Made from stainless steel, they’re appreciably more robust than the titanium alternatives, but remain incredibly light. Like all MSR gear, this stuff is also the product of an utterly insane level of attention to detail. This Alpine Teapot can hold one-liter of liquids, perfectly nests a four-ounce fuel canister, has a lid that doesn’t fall off, and it pours smoothly and predictably. I never realized this level of perfection was possible from a simple tea kettle.

The Coffee Maker

I’ve had this Aeropress forever, as you can see from the wear and tear. It’s simple, light, robust and allows you to make a surprisingly diverse array of brews. All you have to do is vary the water temperature, the fineness of your grind, the time you let it brew, the amount of coffee you use, the quality of the filter, and what you run through it. It can make a cold brew if you use cold water, an espresso if you use enough coffee and wait, or even a latte if you heat up milk and push that through. It’s also super easy to clean up: just remove the filter and pop the used coffee grounds out the end, into a trash can. Oh, and replace the standard paper filters with .

I also keep a few packs of Alpine Start instant coffee in the kit. They're a great backup, should something happen to my espresso, and it's nice having some quality, highly-portable, single-serve packets on hand just in case I find myself at a trailhead.

The Coffee

My local cafe here in Hollywood sells Urth Cafe Italia Espresso. It’s as good as anything I’ve had. I’m currently experimenting with grind fineness in pursuit of total perfection. I know I should probably carry a grinder and do that myself, but find that having it done at the cafe, then storing the ground beans in a sealed mason jar works just fine and cuts out a little labor.

The Cups

A few minutes of effort, and you've got yourself a fine cup of coffee. To fully take advantage of this system, use it at a scenic overlook or similar. Replacing the gas station with a great view on every coffee break should markedly improve your quality of life on the road.
A few minutes of effort, and you've got yourself a fine cup of coffee. To fully take advantage of this system, use it at a scenic overlook or similar. Replacing the gas station with a great view on every coffee break should markedly improve your quality of life on the road. (Wes Siler)

These are insulated stainless steel tumblers from Stanley's cocktail shaker kit, but they sell something similar as a standalone item. I grabbed them for the kit because they fit well, but they’re also really good at keeping my coffee warm as I drink it. I see my little coffee stops as a chance to take a break and stretch my legs, so don’t need a lid or a travel mug. Stainless steel is easy to clean—I usually just finish my drink and call that good enough.

The Spoon

I seal my ground coffee in a small mason jar. That's airtight, so it keeps the coffee plenty fresh. A spoonful from the MSR Alpine Tool Spoon is about right for the Aeropress.
I seal my ground coffee in a small mason jar. That's airtight, so it keeps the coffee plenty fresh. A spoonful from the MSR Alpine Tool Spoon is about right for the Aeropress. (Wes Siler)

Again from MSR’s awesome Alpine series. It’s made from stainless steel, meaning way better made than it needs to be, and one scoop makes the perfect amount of coffee for the Aeropress. The tools on the handle are designed for liquid fuel stoves, not the Pocket Rocket 2, but you shouldn’t need to service that.

The Case

I’m ridiculous and housed my little travel coffee kit in a Pelican case. I in no way need this package to be totally waterproof or protected against drops, but it’s nice to know that I’d still be able to enjoy a great cup of coffee if I somehow ran over this thing with my 5,500-pound 4×4. You could just throw everything you see here in your trunk and let it fly loose, but housing it in a nice case adds a sense of occasion and makes it easy to collect everything if you’re hopping in another vehicle.

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