Civil War soldiers, Confederate and Union, used to make
their coffee in pots. But on the march, they just used
their boilers. Remember: don't boil coffee. Confederates
and Union soldiers had a little bit of coffee, chewin
tabaccie, and that was it. Moreover, Confederates usually
had tobacco, and Union troops had the coffee. When the
troops would cross paths during the war, they would trade
coffee for tobacco and vice versa. Soldiers would take
their hardtack biscuits and soak it in coffee and get some
fat and put it in a frying pan and fry a crust on the
hardtack like chickenreal nutritious diet.

Civil War soldiers drank from large tin cups. Hot liquid
filled all the way up in a tin cup will burn yer lips.
Soldiers needed at least an inch or two at the top. So they
would only fill it two-thirds full and let it cool a little
so they could tolerate it. Don't drink from old tin cups
that you might find in an antique store. They have lead
solder. Buy a reproduction of one at a Civil War
reenactment or from a Sutler who advertises in some of the
military history magazines. Coffee boilers are large tin
cups with a handle on them. Some of them even have lids on
them. They hold 22-24 ozs. of liquid. They look like a
cup that is a coffee pot.

For more information on coffee drinkin' and the Civil War
soldier, email lifecwsoldier@coachscoffee.net

Drinkin' from an antique cup definitely enhances the coffee
drinkin' experience. The vibes of all the people who have
gone before have left their energy and spirit in the fiber
of the cup. Antique tin and enamel cups can be found in
antique stores Enamel cups are not as hot as a tin cup,
but it has that "nostaaaalgic" cup quality. I like drinkin'
from antique cups because I like that "antiqueness" of it.

Enamel cups can be found in antique stores. They range in
price from five dollars to thirty dollars. Rare ones are
those that are a unique color like brown or gray. Most
enamel cups are white with a blue, green or red trim or
just plain white. Blue is a common color also. Enamel cups
are not as old as tin cups, but they have been being made
for about fifty to sixty years. Enamel cups have been
around since World War I and are still being reproduced
today in a variety of colors. A reproduction of an enamel
cup can be acquired for about five dollars.

Everyone needs to have his or her own identity when
drinking coffee. Cat people have cat cups, etc. you need
just the right cup for drinkin' coffee. A decent coffee cup
size should be in the 12 - 16 oz. region because a small
cup does not quite get it. It needs to be bigger.

How you drink it is up to you. Be sure you have good
quality Arabica beans and that the water is at just the right
temperature. Coffee should never touch boilin' water.

For specifics directions on the exact temperature of the
water, the feel of the fine grind, what to look for before
you stir, what type of strainer to use, and how to serve,
and for more information, email openpotbrewing@coachscoffee.net

2003 permission granted to reprint this article in print or
on your website so long as the paragraph above is included
and the contact information is included to
coach@civilwaruniforms.net