Caffeinated Camping: Local Edition

My favorite part of backpacking is drinking my coffee in the morning. Granted, the instant coffee itself is not usually anything to write home about, but the ritual and luxury of sipping a warm beverage, bundled up, watching the sunrise, is a huge part of why I backpack and camp. Some great local coffee roasters have jumped into the instant coffee world. I enjoyed three different brands of coffee in my backyard to reverently savor the experience.

Idle Hands Roasting Company is a Salt Lake City-based roaster that offers two varieties of instant coffee, an Ethiopian single-origin and one of their signature blends, Confluence. I chose the Ethiopian after experiencing a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony with Crack’n a Cup last weekend (another local coffee purveyor doing really cool things). 

I liked this one a lot. It had a fruity aroma that was slightly acidic on the front, but overall really smooth, featuring notes of stone fruits and caramel. 

The website provides a lot of information about the specific farm this coffee came from, such as the number of days the beans were dried. Idle Hands roasts their own beans, and then this one is made instant by Canadian company Hasty Coffee.

While the most expensive of our three options at $16 for a box of five, four-gram packets, I felt caffeinated and ready to hit the trail. I also just really appreciate the ethos of Idle Hands and am a convert to their roastery. (If you’re looking for beans, you can find Idle Hands at Loki Coffee.)

Next up was Alpha Coffee’s Seven Summits, which is the only variety they sell. Described as a medium roast, the website lists this as a Honduran coffee with notes of honey, hops and chocolate. I’ll be honest, the burnt aroma was too overpowering for me to taste much on this one. The second I started adding water, my house smelled like I’d burnt a marshmallow over a campfire. 

This is also the coarsest of the three brands I tried. Maybe it was just my poor pouring skills, but I felt sticky after mixing. The packaging also didn’t have a perforation or tear, and I didn’t think it was easy to open. 

While the least expensive option of the three brands at $13.95 for a box of 12 3.6-gram sticks, this one was my least favorite, but would definitely do as a local alternative to Starbucks VIA. Alpha Coffee is veteran- and woman- owned and donates 10% of their profits to “veterans, planet and community.”

Last but not least is Tantalus Rapid Brew’s Little Wild Horse Colombian. This is a Colombian single-origin and is a medium-light roast. This one features a strong aroma, with slightly bright acidic notes at the front and a smooth taste with some sweet and citrus aftertones. 

The second the hot water hit the freeze-dried coffee granules, I knew this one would be good. The aroma was STRONG. This is definitely the one that tastes most like a cup of coffee.

Most instant coffee experiences are about me trying to get some caffeine and start my day rather than me actually enjoying the coffee — Tantalus was a totally different experience. I didn’t want it to end. This one was a clear winner and will be accompanying me on many trips this summer.

A chemist by trade, the owner of Tantalus uses a proprietary method to freeze-dry coffee and produce an instant coffee that can stand up to Utah’s amazing outdoors. Tantalus comes in a re-sealable paper bag, with each individual packet also coming in paper instead of plastic. 

This one rings up at $21 for a bag of 10 3.5-gram packets ($2.10 a cup). There are five varieties available, ranging from one to five on the roasting scale (light to dark), two single-origins and three South American blends, all featuring outdoor Utah-inspired names. There is also an “Explorer” variety pack available. 

Read more delicious adventures from Rachel Brooks:
It’s a Beer! It’s a Seltzer! It’s … Fonio at Kiito’s Brewing
Felt Bar & Eatery: Inventive Cuisine Repurposes a Historic Building

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