The Quest for Sweet, Sweet Caffeine
I allow myself just one addiction these days: coffee.
I prefer it black with a side of pie (when possible).
All coffees are welcome. Trucker coffee? Let it pour! Fancy-pants coffeehouse brew? Great! Gas station coffee that's been sitting on the warmer for 17 hours? I'll take a large!
Of course, this presents a problem on the trail. Lack of daily coffee consumption for people of my ilk can result in headaches, irritability and light coma.
I've spent a lot of time on this problem, utilizing Caffeine Delivery Systems (C.D.S.s) with varying results on previous hikes.
Two years ago, I went cold turkey off the stuff and drank tea. I figured the misery of caffeine withdrawal would be lost amid the misery of hiking miles and miles with a dead weight on my back at high elevations.
Having tried that once, I wouldn't recommend it.
Last year, I drank coffee "singles" that consist of tea bags filled with grounds. The system wasn't the greatest, but it was a fairly effective C.D.S.
This year, I want to try something new. Here are a few things I'm considering:
1. Pack in ground coffee and my "camp espresso maker," a small gadget that brews very strong coffee by the espresso-sized cup. Benefits: fresh, strong, tasty coffee. Drawbacks: extra weight.
2. Pack in an alternative caffeinated substance such as Irish breakfast tea. Benefits: little weight, and Irish breakfast tea rocks. Drawbacks: I take my tea with cream and sugar. And, it's not coffee.
3. Pack in coffee beans and chew them each morning. Benefits: efficient caffeine delivery without much weight. Drawbacks: Uncertain effect on intestinal systems.
4. Kidnap a good-looking barista and force him to prepare tasty coffee drinks. Benefits: Great tasting coffee on demand with no weight considerations. Drawbacks: Possible criminal penalties on return to civilization.
Suggestions are welcome.
I prefer it black with a side of pie (when possible).
All coffees are welcome. Trucker coffee? Let it pour! Fancy-pants coffeehouse brew? Great! Gas station coffee that's been sitting on the warmer for 17 hours? I'll take a large!
Of course, this presents a problem on the trail. Lack of daily coffee consumption for people of my ilk can result in headaches, irritability and light coma.
I've spent a lot of time on this problem, utilizing Caffeine Delivery Systems (C.D.S.s) with varying results on previous hikes.
Two years ago, I went cold turkey off the stuff and drank tea. I figured the misery of caffeine withdrawal would be lost amid the misery of hiking miles and miles with a dead weight on my back at high elevations.
Having tried that once, I wouldn't recommend it.
Last year, I drank coffee "singles" that consist of tea bags filled with grounds. The system wasn't the greatest, but it was a fairly effective C.D.S.
This year, I want to try something new. Here are a few things I'm considering:
1. Pack in ground coffee and my "camp espresso maker," a small gadget that brews very strong coffee by the espresso-sized cup. Benefits: fresh, strong, tasty coffee. Drawbacks: extra weight.
2. Pack in an alternative caffeinated substance such as Irish breakfast tea. Benefits: little weight, and Irish breakfast tea rocks. Drawbacks: I take my tea with cream and sugar. And, it's not coffee.
3. Pack in coffee beans and chew them each morning. Benefits: efficient caffeine delivery without much weight. Drawbacks: Uncertain effect on intestinal systems.
4. Kidnap a good-looking barista and force him to prepare tasty coffee drinks. Benefits: Great tasting coffee on demand with no weight considerations. Drawbacks: Possible criminal penalties on return to civilization.
Suggestions are welcome.
posted by Christina at 11:12 AM
4 Comments:
You need to drink more coffee and give us more of your thoughts, Christina!
Mark g.
I can do that...especially if I drink more coffee.
Eat chocolate-covered espresso beans!! But I try to avoid caffeine, because it makes me paranoid.
I've considered chocolate-covered beans, but I'm afraid they'll get too melty.
That's worth experimenting on, though. I'll take a baggie of them up on a training hike and report back how they work out.
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