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--- food:coffee [2024/12/28 12:29]
frater_secessus [other considerations]
+++ food:coffee [2025/03/04 20:00] (current)
frater_secessus [power consumption] added induction measurement
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 ===== economics and logistics =====
-TL;DR: coffee commonly comes in ground (as you find in cans), instant((hear me out -- secessus)), and pods.  They vary considerably in **physical bulk** and **cost per serving**. Pods tend to be the most expensive per serving and instant the least expensive.  Pods take up the most space and instant the least.
+{Note:  this section is for casual coffee drinkers, people (who in the examples below) drink Folger's like mom used to make.  If you grind your own beans, have an espresso machine, or detect notes of toffee and zebra mane in that estate Ethiopian you can skip this section. :-)   -- secessus}
+==== TL;DR ====
+Coffee commonly comes as whole or ground beans (as you find in cans), freeze-dried instant, and k-pods.  Objectively they vary considerably in **physical bulk**, **weight** and **cost per serving**. Subjectively they vary  in flavor, ease of making, ease of cleaning, amount of water used, etc.
 ==== cost per serving ====
-Using Folger's non-sale prices in the cheapest unit price at Walmart as of the time of this writing:
+Using Folger's non-sale prices in the cheapest (bulk) unit price at Walmart as of the time of this writing:
 From most expensive to least expensive, per tall cup (500ml / ~17oz)
@@ Line 82: / Line 87: @@
   - $0.35   instant coffee "singles" (individual packets)
   - $0.31 - ground coffee
-  - $**0.13** - instant coffee in jars
+  - $**0.18** - instant coffee in jars
-In bulk the most extensive option is about **10x the cost** of the least expensive.
+In bulk the most extensive option is about **7x the cost** of the least expensive.  In general ground is about 2x as much as instant, although the giant 40oz Folgers "tallboy"((might not be good for small spaces, see below)) brings it down to 1.72x.
 ==== bulkiness and storage ====
-If we assume a smaller package for 'dwellers the difference is even greater:
+Crude math done by Secessus on coffee containers in his van suggests ground coffee takes >3.5x more space (volume) to store per cup of coffee
+If we assume a smaller packages for 'dwellers the price difference is even greater:
   - **$1.88** - pods (12 pack)
-  - $0.47 - ground coffee (10oz)
+  - $0.47 - ground coffee (10oz)  Note:  while not so available as they once were, 10oz vacuum-packed "bricks" can be less expensive.((No Folgers brick was available at time of writing.  But for comparison the Bustelo 10oz brick was ~20% less than the 10oz can.))
   - $0.35   instant coffee "singles" (no bulk available)
-  - $**0.13** - instant coffee (12oz)
+  - $**0.18** - instant coffee (12oz)
+In sizes vanfolk are more likely to carry with them the most expensive option is about **10x the cost** of the least expensive.
+==== weight ====
+Using the assumptions above, ground coffee weights >**5x** more than instant.  Keurig cups add additional per-dose packaging weight.
-In sizes vanfolk are more likely to carry with them the most extensive option is about **15x the cost** of the least expensive.
+==== equipment bulk ====
+Assuming we already have a water kettle for non-coffee purposes, from bulkiest to tidiest:
-adjusted for bulkiness the economics are even more stark:  instant can be bought in bulk, ground in normal containers((see notes on vacuum pack below)), and pods in small amounts.
+  - Keurig or drip machine
+  - press
+  - pour-over
+  - spoon (to stir instant)
+If one has a dedicated kettle for boiling coffee water then the advantages above disappear.
+==== water consumption ====
+Instant coffee will use the least amount of water:  all the water used will be consumed.  Ground coffee, whether loose or in pods, will retain some amount of water. It's not a lot, but included for the purposes of completeness.
+Of the methods above, the a french press will likely require the most water for equipment cleaning.  The other methods can probably be rinsed lightly.
+==== power consumption ====
+Only the Keurig and drip coffeemakers //require// electricity. Water for press, pour-over, and instant can be boiled over [[food:cooking:stoves#gaseous_fuel|propane or gas stoves]].
-From most expensive to least expensive, adjusted for bulk purchase when possible
+Since it takes the same amount of power to heat a given amount of water there is likely little difference in brewing power consumption between Keurig and drip.  Secessus has noted 70Wh((plus inverter losses)) for drip brewing 500ml of coffee.  For comparison, he observed ~111Wh for kettle on a coil hotplate, ~67Wh for a kettle on induction,  and ~135Wh for percolator on hotplate.((more heat lost to environment))
-=== equipment requirements ===
+==== trash ====
+Note:  this section is about [[camping:dispersed:trash|dealing with trash in the vehicle]], not necessarily ecological effects.
+From most garbage produced to least (assuming we can dispense of used grounds in nature)
+  - pods
+  - ground coffee filters and can, instant "singles" pouches
+  - instant coffee jars
+Of these only the pods are egregious.  Coffee cans and instant jars can be used as trash containers  themselves (see link above) and filters and instant pouches compress nicely into such containers.  Coffee filters might be tossed into an existing campfire.

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