Camp Mocha Instant Latte Mix, Just Add Hot Water
Mix instant coffee, dry milk, cocoa and sugar in a jar at home. At camp, boil water on a stove or over a fire grate, stir about 1/3 cup of mix into each 8-ounce mug, and drink. It takes about 10 minutes, with 5 of those at the burner.
This is a mocha you can make with one pot of hot water and a spoon. All the work happens at home in a jar. At camp there is no measuring of five ingredients, no milk to keep cold and no pan to scrub.
The dry milk gives it a creamy body, the cocoa keeps it from tasting like plain coffee, and a pinch of cinnamon and salt rounds it out. One jar covers a weekend for a small crew. It also works for backpacking, because it weighs next to nothing and keeps for weeks.
Camp Mocha Instant Latte Mix, Just Add Hot Water
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Serves
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- High flame to boil, then off
- Pack weight
- 1 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- No cooler needed
- One burner
- Low water
- One-pan cleanup
- Shelf-stable
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- Wide-mouth jar or zip-top bag
- Camp stove or fire grate
- 1 1/2-quart pot
- 6 camp mugs
- Measuring cup or 1/3-cup scoop
- Spoon for stirring
Steps
-
Mix the dry ingredients
At home, whisk the milk powder, instant coffee, cocoa, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Break up any cocoa lumps with the back of a spoon.
-
Jar it up
Pour the mix into a wide-mouth jar or a zip-top bag and seal it tight. Tuck a 1/3-cup scoop or a marked spoon in with it.
-
Boil the water
At camp, bring 1 1/2 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a pot on a stove or a fire grate. Water from a stream or lake needs a full minute of boiling (3 minutes above 6,500 feet), or treat it first.
-
Scoop into mugs
Add a heaping 1/3 cup of mix to each mug. Shake the jar first, since the cocoa settles to the bottom.
-
Pour and stir
Pour 8 ounces of hot water into each mug. Stir hard for 20 seconds, scraping the bottom, until no dry clumps are left.
-
Rest and adjust
Let the mugs sit for a minute so the milk powder dissolves fully. Taste, then stir in another spoonful of mix for more punch or a splash of water for a lighter cup.
Trail Notes
The dry mix keeps for about 2 months in a sealed jar in a cool, dry spot. Double the batch and you have it ready for the next trip.
For backpacking, bag single servings (a heaping 1/3 cup each) and stir directly in your cup. It saves washing a pot.
Use decaf instant coffee for evening mugs. For a spicier cup, add 1/8 tsp ground cayenne to the whole batch.
Pour any leftover drink out at least 200 feet from water and camp, scattered widely, or pack it out. Wipe mugs with a bit of hot water and carry the rinse water away as greywater.
Campers ask
Can I make instant mocha mix without powdered creamer?
Yes. Dry whole milk powder gives the same creamy body and is just milk. Use whole rather than nonfat for a richer cup.
How long does homemade instant latte mix last?
Stored airtight in a cool, dry place, it stays good for about 2 months. Keep it away from steam and damp air, because moisture makes the milk powder clump.
Can I make this with cold water?
Not well. Instant coffee and cocoa dissolve poorly in cold water, so you get gritty clumps. Stir the mix into a splash of hot water first, then top with cold water for an iced version.
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