Coffee a la Zouave - Vol. I, Episode 7

Caffeine Headache? Don't worry! Here's a recipe from an original source that will show you how soldiers might have brewed their "cup of joe" when in a camp situation.
Looking for your own copy of the book the recipe comes from? Go here: amzn.to/2cmZ7hj (affiliate)
Here's another place it shows up, a Military Dictionary with many other recipes: amzn.to/2ch5c2G (affiliate)
Want to double-check our research? We have a book list for each episode we use printed materials for research. Find out more for yourself at allmichigancivi....
Facebook Page: / civilwardigitaldigest

[@brianfuller5868]

Hardtack and Coffee..the core of the Union soldier diet. Great videos. For many ex-soldiers, this method or similar ones became Cowboy coffee

[@simonsobolewski7831]

Will, that was cool! I am a big Soyer fan and have used his "A Culinary Campaign" for a decade as a Victoria British Army reenactor.

[@davec.8406]

Great video as always. When I was in the military it is interesting how much has not changed regarding Christmas and being home

[@Jeffhowardmeade]

Alexis Soyer lived and worked in England (he was chef of the Reform Club), but he was born, raised, and trained in France. He fled to England after the 1830 revolution.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

+Caius Martius Coriolanus thank you for sharing!

[@NSYresearch]

A genius who developed a stove that was used by the British Army for many years It was able to use any flamable fuel including camel dung!

[@dianauhlman56]

Great clip, going to have to try this out next time.

[@jshicke]

I wonder if you could pour through cloth, wring it to remove as much of the liquid as you could, and then SAVE the grounds for brewing another, weaker brew, later?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

I have done something similar. Tossing a cloth bag into the water like a big teabag. Downside is the cloth imparts a flavor in the coffee I didn’t enjoy! Jeremy

[@kimnenninger7226]

Great video. Thank you for sharing.

[@eNosArmory]

Where did you get those boil pots from?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

These are old Osman kettles.

[@vanvalkenburgfd]

Any chance of a video on authentic mess setups? There's plenty of awesome content on the simpler "campaign" style of prepping food and drink along the march or in a bivouac, but what of the multiple kettles suspended over a rectangular fire pit? Most mainstream events use too much mess equipment and a lot of it isn't correct. A video offering examples of proper gear and how it would be used could help sway some of the mainstream to a more authentic setup in the tent cities we so often see.

[@vanvalkenburgfd]

While filming at the event itself might not be as good an idea, the Liberty Rifles is doing a ton of outstanding prep for portraying the 13th Virginia in May, 2019 for "WARLIKE Along The Rapidan." There could be an opportunity to meet with a mess of comrades flush with all the right mess gear (to include a wagon) before or after.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Episodes along this line are in development already and Michael and I have had initial conversations as well. Will.

[@rjohnson1690]

I love that mess kettle.

[@skylargross5509]

Please do an episode about plates and cups

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

It’s already on our list, both for military and civilian. Will

[@skylargross5509]

Sounds awesome

[@MikeD56034]

my unit Makes this very concoction of coffee, minus the straining part, and we cheat with the coffee grounds. been watching many of your videos, and now that ive seen how to roast coffee beans. the men in my unit are not gonna like the supply Sgt much longer ;)

[@andrewepps1394]

Where did you guys find your reproduction of Beadles military handbook and soldiers manual?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

+Andrew Epps A more older reprint was purchased on an auction site and I have not found it so far looking at vendors. However, a print on demand copy can be found by following our research page. The link is in the comments and here. If we find something else we will post it. allmichigancivilwar.com/booksCWDD.html#ep7

[@ilovehorseshoecrabs]

Where did you guys get the mess kettle?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

It’s one from Osman. Sadly, they are no longer made here. Ulrich had a bunch this summer.

[@ilovehorseshoecrabs]

Alright. Thank you very much.

[@sharingtimeagain]

What is the Beadles/Beetles/Bedels book that is referenced? I'm googling but not coming up with much. I am guessing the Amazon link above is it but not opening for me. Thanks.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

It is The Military Handbook and Soldiers Manual publishes by Beadle and Company. Some vendors carry a reproduction reprint and thy can be found for sale online various places.

[@sharingtimeagain]

@@CivilWarDigitalDigest Thanks!

[@roflmows]

why not use a piece of cloth as a strainer?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

+roflmows I have seen that done as well!

[@jamesholcombe435]

roflmows muslin cloth works very well, put ground in cloth, tie with string dangle in pot like tea bag. Little mess

[@MrSheckstr]

Use a clothe strainer is a possibility, it’s just unlikely that a soldier would have a clothe that would only be used to strain coffee. When you begin to think what else they might be using that clothes for in the meantime , Ah Choo!, it makes one wary to use it in ones coffee

[@pcm9482]

Can you make video on the trans mississippi confederate unform

[@blueduck9409]

Gee, i put 2 spoons of sugar in one cup!

[@derricklindow-dcms4428]

Thank you all for these episodes! Do you all prefer any certain type of coffee to bring to events?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

+Derrick Lindow roasted beans would be my preferred. Although roasting green is an experience. Buying preground is to fine and more likely to cause a spill mess in a haversack. If you're asking about a brand, cheap and on sale! Jeremy

[@derricklindow-dcms4428]

Awesome, thank you so much! Love the videos, and my students do too!

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

+Derrick Lindow would you mind sending us a message via the website? We would like to ask a couple questions as a teacher. Www.civilwardigitaldigest.com

[@derricklindow-dcms4428]

Message sent!

[@ezragonzalez8936]

You Sound like Conan O'Brien ha

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

That’s quite a complement. Thanks!!

[@tomservo5347]

I thought soldiers used the butts of their muskets to grind coffee.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

There are many ways to get the job done. That is certainly another way to do it! Also check out our coffee on campaign episode for yet another way to grind coffee in the field. Enjoy!

[@tomservo5347]

Amazing how the Union Army basically lived on a diet of hardtack and coffee. At least boiling the water made it less likely to give the soldiers the "Tennessee Trots" or "Virginia Quickstep".

[@lilz8848]

Good coffee don't need milk or sugar only bad coffee does!!