Sock coffee

[hotwine]

Don't know how many of you have had the privilege of makin' this stuff, but it's real simple: a fistfull of grounds thrown into a bootsock, tied off with a knot, and allowed to steep in a steel helmet of boiling water over an open fire. I always tried to use a clean sock, but sometimes that wasn't possible, so the coffee would be infused wth that unique aroma and flavor of athlete's foot.

Tried a 1999 Domaine des Cedres CdR this evening, and P-yew! The nose of brett was overwhelming! No fruit, no alcohol, just a nosefull of funk! It blew off over the next hour, exposing a very pleasant bed of lush fruit, showing a rich body and yielding to a quite pleasing finish. But the first image that came to mind was one of sock coffee made with a very well-seasoned sock. If you try this one, be patient - it does get better. On sale for $7.99 from what my retailer claimed was his normal $12.99.

BTW, I rarely make sock coffee any more... only when afield hunting or fishing, or cooking with the BBQ trailer away from home. With the pit, it's easy to place a campfire-style coffee pot on the firebox and make up a pot in no time. But I always manage to find a clean sock for that trick these days!