Sierra Spine Tingling road trip

Great story, Jefe! I bet that hail storm was LOUD -- I hope no damage to the TC. Here is another idea for coffee -- even easier than a percolator. Take a basket from an old Mr. Coffee (if you are like me, you have an old one sitting in storage in the garage). The Mr. Coffee baskets take the "cupcake" filters -- cheaper and easier to find than the Mellitta conical filters. Then (and here is the trick) put a very small stainless steel bolt into the hole at the bottom of the filter, which reduces the rate of flow through the hole (that makes the coffee stronger since the grounds sit in the hot water a little longer). Secure the bolt with a stainless nut.

The basket then sits on top of a plastic coffee carafe --these are sold everywhere:



Boil the water, and voila, artisinal pour-over coffee! Absolutely delicious, and extremely simple to clean up.