I finally tried making a pour-over at my friend's cabin... with lake water.

We were up in the Adirondacks last month, and I forgot to bring my usual filtered water. My buddy just shrugged and said 'the lake looks clean.' So I boiled some, used my V60... and the coffee tasted like a weird, fishy tea. We choked it down to be polite, but it was a total disaster. Anyone have a good portable water filter they actually trust for camping trips?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylorhunt2mo ago

My old Katadyn BeFree filter saved a trip to the White Mountains last year. That lake water coffee sounds brutal, man. I just clip the soft flask to my pack and fill it from any stream. Zero weird tastes, and it filters fast enough that you're not waiting forever for your brew water.

tyler4922mo ago

Lake water coffee builds character, or at least a strong stomach. Your filter setup sounds like cheating the system. Bet you also use a lighter instead of rubbing sticks together. Some of us enjoy the gritty taste of adventure with our morning caffeine.

craig.tessa1mo ago

tyler492 says lake water builds character, but I think it builds up something else - sediment in your mug and possibly giardia in your gut. The "gritty taste of adventure" part made me laugh, but honestly, getting sick from bad water in the backcountry can ruin a whole trip, not just a morning coffee. I actually use a simple Sawyer Squeeze these days after a bad experience with a stream that looked crystal clear but left us all with stomach cramps for two days. It fits on a standard plastic water bottle and threads right into the lid, so you're not carrying extra gear. Your buddy's lake might have been fine, but I'd rather filter than gamble my vacation on "looks clean.