Cowboy Coffee is coffee that is directly brewed in a standard cooking pot.
From Wikipedia:
“Water is heated to near-boiling temperature, ground coffee is added, and the mixture is stirred. When the grounds sink, the unfiltered product is consumed. The amount of coffee added largely depends upon the strength desired, the amount of water added to it, and the size of the vessel used. Additionally, the coffee grounds tend to absorb a small amount of water while settling. Some recipes add crushed eggshells or a raw egg (which is not consumed). These are thought to help separate the grounds from the coffee.”
I bring water to a boil, add the ground coffee and let the pot just start to boil again. Immediately remove from the fire and let it sit for about 5 minutes so the grounds fall to the bottom. And drink it. The higher the altitude the more coffee you need to use. How much coffee is really a personal preference and you learn by experimenting.
There is nothing better on a cold clear morning in the mountains.