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We will definitely be bringing a coil and a stash of teabags. I couldn't talk my wife into joining me on the Camino without these essentials, nor would I want to. The question is what to bring in terms of cups.
Thanks. That looks like a great option.Hi, Kuznitz,
If you can stand scrolling through the many posts, you will see a lot of discussion about that topic on this thread. The first year I brought an old tin camping cup that stayed too hot. Since then I have brought something like this, http://www.rei.com/product/884337/g...D=120217890000757630&lsft=cm_mmc:cse_PLA_GOOG
It is very light, and you can put the coil right into it. I threw out the top and just carry the cup. Works great.
Which Spanish shop? Quoted where? 200 grams weight seems right.
Update from the Ferretería Julio. You can now order the electric coil directly from them, without using ebay.
Their new online store is here: http://www.ferreteriajulio.com/es/index
Up on the right where it says "buscar" type in "calentador de vaso". The products will come up. I see that they have two made by the same German company Marux. One is about 15 euros, seems comparable to what most of us have. But for 30 euros you can get one that can heat 15 liters of water to boiling in about 5 minutes. Seems like that might be overkill even for the most fanatic of the coil fanatics!
Buen camino, Laurie.
Oh I like that!View attachment 25250 Hmm,, this is the first time I've tried to add a photo.. hope you can see my fabbo insulated press plunger mug.. can boil water in it, then add coffee/tea, add the plunger and presto-- plunger coffee/tea all in one crucible. weight.. utterly insignificant. Brand name Culinare. Gifted to me in Oz
As someone who has done a lot of backpacking and mountaineering, fire and having something hot to eat/drink is a critical survival skill. On my biking Camino earlier this year, I took an Esbit survival stove and fuel tablets along with a metallic cup, and some instant soup mix. Had I broken down somewhere in the cold and rain, a hot cup of something would have made a world of difference until someone came down the trail.
Was it "overkill?" Yes, but just like the rather complete first aid kit I took, it was something I felt important. I took them both for me and for anyone who was unfortunate that I might come along. In the past with a slightly different camping stove, I helped someone with beginning hypothermia enough so they could hike out to a place where help was available. There is nothing wrong with being prepared.
An electric coil doesn't work on the trail, but a fuel burning stove doesn't work in an enclosed sleeping facility.
Ok. So there is not an issue of electricution. I thought the way those things work is grounding current through the water, heats the water.@pilgr You burn your finger! But, unless the coil is malfunctioning, you will not get an 'electric slap on the finger' if that is what you are afraid of. Buen Camino, SY
@notion900 I imagine you are against using technology here as well? Perhaps some twigs and flint would be in order instead?
Ok. So there is not an issue of electricution. I thought the way those things work is grounding current through the water, heats the water.
@notion900 I imagine you are against using technology here as well? Perhaps some twigs and flint would be in order instead?
... If this immersion heater is a viable option (without me getting electrocuted), great!
So glad to see more aficionados in the electric coil club.Though I am walking a highly trafficked camino this year, the Norte, I have been extremely happy to have my coil for making coffee. I doubted about whether to bring it. But it turns out there are still lots of places where nothing opens before 8.
Well, if weight is not an issue, consider what my French friends Raymond and Etienne brought with them. They had a jet boil, http://www.jetboil.com/, and routinely made coffee out in the middle of nowhere. They had instant coffee and always carried a half liter of water just for that purpose. The only problem was finding gas canisters. They bought two in Valencia, two in Toledo, both at Decathlon. But they were running low by the time we hit the Sanabres.
Actually, the thermos flask is a good idea, since once the coffee is done you can just use it as a water bottle, no?
I'm headed for the Portuguese however this Sept 2018 and wonder if I need to take it along because of fewer services for coffee?
I agree that you don't need coils on the heavily traveled caminos. But I had one with me this year on the Norte, because I had started on the Baztán with few options. I was kind of surprised to find that I wound up using it a lot on the Norte, too -- in albergues where the kitchens are not equipped, or out in the several beautiful rural places I stayed where there was nothing around and where breakfast wasn´t served till 8 or so.You’ll be able to find coffee every morning without any problem on the Portuguese.
I usually take my electric coil when staying in hotel rooms in Europe, as they rarely have a tea/coffee maker in the room, and being able to make a cup of coffee in my room, without having to go out and buying one, is worth the extra weight.
But I never take it on the Camino Francés or the Portuguese Caminos. I wouldn’t use it enough times to warrant carrying it.
Jill
Thank you!!!You’ll be able to find coffee every morning without any problem on the Portuguese.
I usually take my electric coil when staying in hotel rooms in Europe, as they rarely have a tea/coffee maker in the room, and being able to make a cup of coffee in my room, without having to go out and buying one, is worth the extra weight.
But I never take it on the Camino Francés or the Portuguese Caminos. I wouldn’t use it enough times to warrant carrying it.
Jill
Do you think we will need an electric coil on the Madrid?You’ll be able to find coffee every morning without any problem on the Portuguese.
I usually take my electric coil when staying in hotel rooms in Europe, as they rarely have a tea/coffee maker in the room, and being able to make a cup of coffee in my room, without having to go out and buying one, is worth the extra weight.
But I never take it on the Camino Francés or the Portuguese Caminos. I wouldn’t use it enough times to warrant carrying it.
Jill
Do you think we will need an electric coil on the Madrid?
My Camino packing list has been basically unchanged for the last decade. But this year, after reading the words of wisdom of iconic posters like sil, mspath, and anniesantiago, I decided to buy an immersible electric coil (plus plug adaptor) and a tin cup to bring on the Camino. I also brought a plastic baggie filled with instant coffee and in Spain bought a tube of condensed milk. I don't take sugar in my coffee usually, but I can't drink black coffee, so the condensed milk was the more palatable alternative. Altogether it probably weighed 500-800 g, so this was a considerable addition to the pack. But I had had too many coffee-free mornings on the Camino Vadiniense, Invierno, etc, and was looking for a solution.
I can't tell you how many times I thanked Sil, mspath and Annie for the tip. If you're in an albergue with a kitchen, you won't need it, but the caminos I've walked lately don't have a whole lot of those. Of the 44 days of my last camino, I'll bet I used it more than 35 mornings. I will never walk again without it, thank you thank you thank you!
Sorry, Maryvk, I really don’t know. I know they are called “calentador de vaso” and the kind of store you would find them is a ferreteria (kind of like a hardware store but broader). I see them online for sale at Amazon’s Spain site, amazon.es, so I imagine they are available. One place I would not recommend getting the coil or any electronic device is in one of the ubiquitous “tiendas de chinos.” (Kind of like what we would call dollar stores in the US, they are always owned by Chinese people and tend to have a little of everything). I know several people who have bought phone chargers there and found that they were terrible quality.Can you buy the coils on the prilgrimage?
Got mine in a little hardware store in Pamplona.Can you buy the coils on the prilgrimage?
We have a very secret ritual initiation process, but it has been suspended during covid. So I’m sure I speak for all the membership — welcome to our ranks! If you are on the Invierno, you can be sure you will have many opportunities to use it. Even on the Primitivo, because there are places where the pilgrim traffic is not heavy enough to get Spanish bar owners out of bed at pilgrim breakfast time.I thought I would revive this post by asking permission to join the rather exclusive Coil Club! Back in the winter when everything felt bleak, I stumbled across this thread and then bought an immersion coil for my next Camino, whenever that would be. Well, the time is here, and I'm soon off to Spain! One item on my long list of to-dos before the journey was to practice with the coil, and I think I've got it... under no circumstances should I plug or unplug if the coil is not immersed in water!! I have about three weeks to walk and I might end up on the Invierno, so I thought the coil could come in handy. Thanks for all of this great advice, and I'm hoping this new addition to the pack will be worth the weight! (honestly, if I only use it once and it saves me from the dreaded no-caffeine haze, it will be worth it)
Soft boiled eggs! This might end up being a Camino of little luxuries...Hi Nadine and welcome to the club!
I use the immersion heater to make coffee, tea, instant oatmeal, chicken bouillon
and even soft boiled eggs. In Europe , the eggs in the store are not cold. I boil the water in my titanium cup and gently put the egg in for a 3 minutes. Then I take the egg out, and reheat the water and put the egg back in the cup. Leave it for a 3 more minutes and it is ready to eat!
I'm learning that I need to treat my coil just right! This is a good tip, to make sure it's completely dried off before packing it away- thank you!Our coil was in use when we finished our walk to Trondheim this summer. This is our second coil - the first one got rusty after I put it away wet, this one will not suffer the same fate!
Many hotel rooms in Norway do not have facilities for heating water - hah! We had tea and porridge every time we wanted them!
Soft boiled eggs!
When I first started using the coil, I bought a small tube of condensed milk in Spain to add to the coffee. I don’t like sweetened coffee, but I like black coffee even less.if I add a small bag of powdered milk (can I take this on the airplane?)
P.S. I have now located the plug, already in my backpack, and have plugged it in to my electric coil (now also packed), so that it will be ready for its primary task when I need it.When I first started using the coil, I bought a small tube of condensed milk in Spain to add to the coffee. I don’t like sweetened coffee, but I like black coffee even less.
On my last camino I packed up a small bag of powdered milk in the US and had no trouble taking it through US security. Canada may be different, but I don’t think it’s likely to be a problem.
You may have already seen this advice, but until I started taping my coil’s plug to my adaptor with duct tape, I left at least three in outlets along different caminos.P.S. I have now located the plug, already in my backpack, and have plugged it in to my electric coil (now also packed)
I don't understand this. My electric coil does not function unless immersed in water, and is designed to die at once if taken out of water when plugged in. This is a hazard to the coil, but it cannot start a fire.On the side note: electric coil heaters are illegal in the EU. Because they have no protection from overheating in case you forget to switch it off. Many fires have been started with those coil heaters. Please don't use them after a few glasses of wine or when you are sleepy in the evening. Or even better, have a coffee con Leche in Hospital de Condesagreetings from CF!
I agreed with Albertagirl. My coil which worked as Albertagirl described was purchased from Darty a very réputable French company. After all these years I am still using it and they are still selling it. See this threadI don't understand this. My electric coil does not function unless immersed in water, and is designed to die at once if taken out of water when plugged in. This is a hazard to the coil, but it cannot start a fire.
That’s news to me, too. On Amazon Spain there is no shortage of them, if you type in “calentador inmersión agua” there are many available. I certainly don‘t intend to promote illegal activity!On the side note: electric coil heaters are illegal in the EU.
On the side note: electric coil heaters are illegal in the EU. Because they have no protection from overheating in case you forget to switch it off.
Great idea, just watch out because when they get old they have a tendency to shirt out our possibly explode. I have personally seen that happen. I purchase a new one every year but there next one will be to take on my next Camino.!!My Camino packing list has been basically unchanged for the last decade. But this year, after reading the words of wisdom of iconic posters like sil, mspath, and anniesantiago, I decided to buy an immersible electric coil (plus plug adaptor) and a tin cup to bring on the Camino. I also brought a plastic baggie filled with instant coffee and in Spain bought a tube of condensed milk. I don't take sugar in my coffee usually, but I can't drink black coffee, so the condensed milk was the more palatable alternative. Altogether it probably weighed 500-800 g, so this was a considerable addition to the pack. But I had had too many coffee-free mornings on the Camino Vadiniense, Invierno, etc, and was looking for a solution.
I can't tell you how many times I thanked Sil, mspath and Annie for the tip. If you're in an albergue with a kitchen, you won't need it, but the caminos I've walked lately don't have a whole lot of those. Of the 44 days of my last camino, the Levante from Valencia, I'll bet I used it more than 35 mornings. I will never walk again without it, thank you thank you thank you!
Wonder where I can buy one small one like this one in your picture? Wish you a merry Christmas @mspathI, too, carry an electric coil which when needed is VERY useful!
For example last November at 7 am in El Acebo it was lonely and VERY COLD while waiting for the safety of dawn to continue walking. No other pilgrims had shared the Meson albergue. The day before after a good and copious mountain meal in the bar/restaurant downstairs I had taken a welcome hot shower. The water pressure seemed okay but plunked in the middle of the loo floor a large full water bucket with dipper was a surprise. Was this a new decoration in the Japanese bath-house style? I should have known.
By 7 am there was no running, only dipped, water available in the dorm. Thus a very welcome HOT early morning tea was boiled with the invaluable electric coil (the only 'luxury' in my kit); that single cup tasted especially splendid waiting in the cold for the sunrise!
Margaret Meredith
ranthr,Wonder where I can buy one small one like this one in your picture? Wish you a merry Christmas @mspath
79 euros for a coil! Probably very high quality, which is why you have been using it for years, I guess!ranthr,
My coil was purchased from Darty a very réputable French company. After all these years I am still using it and they are still selling it. See this thread.
Happy Christmas to you!
Indeed. Actually it was a surprise gift in 2012 from my husband as I boarded the train in Paris. It certainly lasted longer than any bouquet. By the way this was my second coil since I misused the first.79 euros for a coil! Probably very high quality, which is why you have been using it for years, I guess!
That looks quite interesting, although I followed the link to their website and couldn’t actually find it listed or on a general web search. Shame, it sounds interesting, although it seems it would difficult to get a battery to produce that much heat? Just from my physics point of view?Even better look at this!
Hot Water to Go: Portable Battery-Powered Drink Heater
It seems like there is always a new cutting-edge coffee pot, an innovative grinder or some other gadget related to heating your favorite…boazabel.medium.com
I tried too, without success. Does seem unlikely to be effective.I followed the link to their website and couldn’t actually find it listed or on a general web search.
It occurred to me that that was a fake product designed to pull people to the website. Wouldn’t be the first time.I tried too, without success. Does seem unlikely to be effective.
Thank you! The on-off switch is appealing so I ordered two!I found one with an off-on switch!
Even better look at this!
Hot Water to Go: Portable Battery-Powered Drink Heater
It seems like there is always a new cutting-edge coffee pot, an innovative grinder or some other gadget related to heating your favorite…boazabel.medium.com
Did you get them yet?Thank you! The on-off switch is appealing so I ordered two!
@Katherine Radeka, I hereby anoint you the “chief technical service officer” of the electric coil club. Many thanks.You can't hurt yourself by trying. It will either still work or it's dead.
These devices have one-way fuses that get tripped when it overheats. Even a second out of boiling water is enough to do it, but if it was cold when you unplugged it, it might still be OK.
I am waiting hopefully for you to post again on your Vasco thread, as I shall be walking that route in the fall. You have just assisted my walk by reminding me to bring my coil and a mug. Thanks for your information about the Vasco, and for the reminder.Thank you all for your quick replies, and the reassurance that it would be okay to try (I’m the person who somehow set a Jetboil on fire while camping, so I can never be too careful)
In any case, this must be a bit of Camino magic because I just tried the coil again and it worked!! Let’s hope this good luck continues and I promise I’ll be more attentive in the future
Nescafé: ‘no es café’.The quality is what you would expect from Nescafe
Welcome to the club- this is one of my favorite spaces on the forum!Never knew there was a Coil Club here! I have been using the same coil for at least 15 years now, but left it out of my pack the last couple of years. I considered it too luxurous for a pilgrim and not worth the weight. But I might put it back into my pack again on the Sanabrés next month, now I know it is allowed to carry one.
I would further suggest, to new members, to leave the coil in the water-for an additional 30 seconds after you pull out the plug from the socket.. The coil will still be hot, so don’t touch it, but it won’t melt down and will last you a lot longer. And don’t worry, your water will still be very hot!Just a reminder to newcomers to the club...
To avoid overheating and thus burning out the device, you must be careful to never have it plugged in, except while the heating element is submerged in water. So, you must place the coil in the water before you plug into the wall, and you must unplug from the wall before you remove the coil from the water.
By the way, although I am a paid up member of the club, I am not as emotionally invested in the society as some people seem to be!
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