Immersion heating wand for breakfast drink?

[Redlory]

Hello,

Someone posted that n immersion heater to make ourselves a morning drink to beat the long morning queues is a handy tip.

For those who have walked it, would you recommend it? Or is this really for the big crowds on the popular Spanish leg?

Thanks heaps

 

[Lindsay53]

Hi Redlory. Personally I think the extra weight would not be worth it. The albergues usually have a kettle or microwave and there are plenty of places on the more popular Caminos to get an early morning coffee if you need it.

 

[Redlory]

Hi Redlory. Personally I think the extra weight would not be worth it. The albergues usually have a kettle or microwave and there are plenty of places on the more popular Caminos to get an early morning coffee if you need it.

Good to know, thanks. I'm conscious of keeping it as light as possible. Did you have easy access to drinkable water all the way? Thanks heaps

 

[WalkingPadre]

I used an immersion water heater for instant coffee every morning and found it well worth carrying. My experience was that morning coffee before departure was often not available without the heater. For evening tea and an occasional ramen it also worked well. Lots of things I took last time I’ll leave at home next time—this is not one of them:

https://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Immersion-Portable/dp/B001U0PA7M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSOPC0MZCRBC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sTCH4mdqe0oTdV2zgaRqme2XOp9qiMC1MqaQx8rhe0borUNNFKmcTJNxNGfOGBsp0D31c0weIjYaT1zcCpqgSJmSM9Tup9YQ6uwduXvDWYrCOOmowQQrqejrPac5x63aFrtbzIasmSoJXdJS8ZZY-lDpq9QWrD21RKVEsvTTcnGR2x4b1bC8p4vjNh1LXYZi6WXXZahk6W52UJt_LX4jEaMws-CdvVqzM5zPqOS-T2IQAFCv0Lnub1Dt47T-eRbRef9ZHb2NDQWPqXhCXcuKqYm_A61bsSTQaloOy-ayL8o.w1E1H_gVA7vWPeDNfKyNajSgBvtVyW61pcvwJhvoNXA&dib_tag=se&keywords=immersion+water+heater+lewis&qid=1734139763&sprefix=immersion+water+heater+lewis%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-1

 

[peregrina2000]

Time to reintroduce the Electric Coil Club! See this thread. We are always happy to welcome new members. @Lindsay53, I am surprised to see that you are not a convert after your Levante, because that was the first Camino I ever carried it on, and I was oh so incredibly grateful!

I would not take a coil on the Francés or other well-traveled caminos, but if you walk untraveled caminos and if you crave a hot caffeinated drink in the morning, I would definitely bring one along.

 

[peregrina2000]

I used an immersion water heater for instant coffee every morning and found it well worth carrying. My experience was that morning coffee before departure was often not available without the heater. For evening tea and an occasional ramen it also worked well. Lots of things I took last time I’ll leave at home next time—this is not one of them:

https://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Immersion-Portable/dp/B001U0PA7M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSOPC0MZCRBC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sTCH4mdqe0oTdV2zgaRqme2XOp9qiMC1MqaQx8rhe0borUNNFKmcTJNxNGfOGBsp0D31c0weIjYaT1zcCpqgSJmSM9Tup9YQ6uwduXvDWYrCOOmowQQrqejrPac5x63aFrtbzIasmSoJXdJS8ZZY-lDpq9QWrD21RKVEsvTTcnGR2x4b1bC8p4vjNh1LXYZi6WXXZahk6W52UJt_LX4jEaMws-CdvVqzM5zPqOS-T2IQAFCv0Lnub1Dt47T-eRbRef9ZHb2NDQWPqXhCXcuKqYm_A61bsSTQaloOy-ayL8o.w1E1H_gVA7vWPeDNfKyNajSgBvtVyW61pcvwJhvoNXA&dib_tag=se&keywords=immersion+water+heater+lewis&qid=1734139763&sprefix=immersion+water+heater+lewis%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-1

Totally agree with you, WalkingPadre! Welcome to the Electric Coil Club.

I see that the coil you found on Amazon comes with an adaptor plug. I would recommend taping the adaptor to the coil’s US plug when you go to Spain. Many of us learned the hard way that adaptor plugs like to stay in the socket when you pull out your coil.

 

[alexwalker]

If you know you'll need it on your Camino, bring it with you.
If you think you'll need it on your Camino, leave it at home.

Spain is a sophsticated 1st world country that waa "discovered" by Europeans (Spanish) in 1492. Spain is :where you can buy anything you need at a fraction of at home and at better quality, The Camino is owerflooded with stupid items brought by people believing it was neccesities-

 

[Takahiwai]

I tried desperately to find one before my February camino this year, but struck out everywhere I looked. Eventually, on a money-changing run to San Sebastian (going off-piste) from the Via de Bayona, I found a tiny travel kettle in a back-street hardware shop. It was invaluable, though a bit awkward to jam into my backpack. I'll be searching for a coil again this coming February. Maybe I'll be luckier in Alicante!

 

[VNwalking]

I tried desperately to find one before my February camino this year,

I found mine at City Mart, surprisingly. The guy with a shp downstairs from my friend's flat in Yankin had one, too, it turned out. Times are more challenging now, but maybe check at home before setting out. Good luck!

 

[Takahiwai]

I found mine at City Mart, surprisingly. The guy with a shp downstairs from my friend's flat in Yankin had one, too, it turned out. Times are more challenging now, but maybe check at home before setting out. Good luck!

Ah, thanks so much. There's no City Mart in NPT, but I'll have a look when I go down to Yangon next time, probably en route to my camino!

 

[Lindsay53]

@Lindsay53, I am surprised to see that you are not a convert after your Levante, because that was the first Camino I ever carried it on, and I was oh so incredibly grateful!

I don't drink tea or coffee, or any hot drink except the occasional soup or hot chocolate. I did notice that even the most basic of albergues had some way of boiling water though.

 

[Lindsay53]

Good to know, thanks. I'm conscious of keeping it as light as possible. Did you have easy access to drinkable water all the way? Thanks heaps

While there are places on some Caminos where there is a fair distance between water points, on most water is readily available. The tap water in Spain and Portugal is clean and drinkable.

 

[VNwalking]

Ah, thanks so much. There's no City Mart in NPT, but I'll have a look when I go down to Yangon next time, probably en route to my camino!

The one in Yankin Center is where I got mine, not the flash one in Mm Plaza.

 

[Takahiwai]

OK, Yankin Centre - don't know it, but it's not far from my school HQ. MM Plaza - I think you must be talking about City Mart's posh sibling, Marketplace!

 

[duncanwhyte]

I use one. I've made stews and soups in hotel rooms, or busy or poorly equipped albergues kitchens. Thus avoiding ghastly package meals. Hard boiled eggs. Tea and coffee as and when.
But it needs a small pot for cooking, and suitable cleaning things. Very useful, but I'm willing to carry that bit extra for the added options.

 

[BarbaraW]

I was one who thought I couldn't manage without a coffee before setting off in the morning. It never occurred to me to take a heating coil and even if it had I wouldn't have taken it because it's important to me to keep weight and bulk down.
Guess what, one morning on the Frances I had to walk about 9 k before finding an open bar. The cravings were brief, and the cafe con leche all the more enjoyable when I got it. Last year one day my planned breakfast bar had closed down and I'd completed my days walk before getting a coffee. Breakfast was water and peanuts, no problem. You may surprise yourself.

 

[Glenshiro]

I take a heating coil and a lightweight titanium mug together with a supply of teabags and instant coffee and chocolate. I mainly stay in cheap hotels (not that there's any other kind in most of rural Spain) and can't really start the day without a shot of caffeine. And a hot chocolate is great after a cold, rainy day.

I also take it with me when travelling elsewhere in Europe. UK hotels all have a "hospitality tray" in the room with a kettle, teabags, instant coffee, UHT milk and biscuits. We Brits like a cup of tea first thing. Or coffee, if we're feeling cosmopolitan.

Incidentally, you don't need to take an adapter. (I, too, have accidentally donated many to my overnight accommodation, only to discover that hours later and miles away.) The coil I bought had a US plug, which I cut off and replaced with a European one, bought on eBay - a simple task for anyone who knows how to use a screwdriver.