ProView – Hikers Brew Coffee

I am part of a large family, all of who are coffee drinkers. Accumulatively we’ve worked in over 10 different shops and been making espresso for over 15 years, and over the years we have become a collective group of coffee snobs. In my childhood home, there is a multitude of different ways to make coffee, all sitting on a shelf, over two different types of espresso machines. Some of us still love a drink filled with cream and sugar, and others are purists. It may be a bit much at times, but it’s also a connector. It’s something we can all share, whether it’s on a camping trip or just around the breakfast table. 

To try out the Hiker’s brew blends my younger sis and I decided to set up our own “coffee shop.” Found a view, parked the Honda, and opened the back hatch to make a morning of it. Coffee always tastes better outside. 

Taste/Quality

My favorite way to make coffee outdoors is the Aeropress. It is my tried and true method, making a clean cup. The Hikers Brew grounds come in small packages that keep the coffee fresh even when out in the woods. The thing I observed overall while sampling these coffees, is that Hiker’s Brew makes coffee blends on the darker side of a roast. Even the “medium” and flavored coffees (Mile Marker, Van Life etc.) taste like a dark roast. If you prefer fruity aromatic coffees, then these probably won’t be your jam. When picking my own beans I usually choose a light to medium blend and take my coffee black. I found adding a little cream or oat milk to Hikers Brew balanced out the darkness of the coffee.

I’ve made Hikers brew coffee in lots of different ways (Pour over chemex, Aeropress, French press, a percolator, and even cowboy style). The flavors are as follows:

Hazy Hiker – Chocolatey, Hazelnut, Medium
Some Mores – Chocolatey, Toasted-Marshmallow, Medium
Red Rocks – Salted Caramel, Medium 
Van Life – Vanilla, Medium
Mile Marker – Colombian blend, Medium
Yurt Dirt – Guatemalan Blend, Dark roast

Mile marker was my favorite of the coffee packs. It was smooth and nutty, easy to drink. 

Yurt Dirt was definitely a full bodied dark roast. 

I don’t enjoy flavored coffees, I never really had. But my sister said she thought the Red Rocks tasted just like its description (salted caramel) and that Hazy Hiker was yummy. I sipped them both with cream. All of the coffees matched their descriptions of taste and flavors (not to mention their names are fun and creative). 

Weight/Packability

Hikers Brew comes in either 12oz bags or a 1.5 oz Venture packet. The Venture Pack makes about 4 cups of organic/fair trade coffee per pouch (give or take on your brew method). They are the perfect size to throw in a backpack for a weekend trip or take on a summit hike, with colorful designs on each pouch. Ease and simplicity are invaluable in the morning when your hands are cold and you just need a good cup of joe. I’ve been taking these coffees on the trail this winter (as a backpacking guide) and making coffee for my staff team. I love not having to deal with grinding the beans or losing freshness with pre-ground coffee that isn’t in a sealed package. 

Eco Friendly

Hiker’s brew was kind enough to send a full box of coffee products to try. Six different blends, 4 packs each. The company is passionate about sustainability. Their main message is to provide adventures with sustainable and compostable packaging while still delivering full flavored brews, making coffee easier to bring with you anywhere, while still being environmentally responsible. They use compostable packaging to keep small servings of coffee grounds fresh, without using plastic products or unnecessary bagging that just ends up getting tossed. 

If you enjoy a more robust and heavy coffee flavor than Hikers brew is for you! The ease with which you can make a pot of coffee in the woods without compromising freshness is top notch. The company’s attention to detail in the way they share their product is commendable. And hopefully some light roasted beans are in the future!