I'm afraid the era of the thousand-and-one uses for the humble coffee can is coming to a close, though- they'e starting to promote plastic coffee "cans". Save the old steel ones while you can still find them.

I've only used them as a pot once or twice, but I've used them to make "hobo stoves" a half-dozen different ways.. closed at top/open at bottom, open at top/closed at bottom, suspended, air holes all around top and bottom, air holes on one side top and the other side bottom... all have similar drawbacks, but all work much better than an open fire.

Too bad they're going the way of all other non-plastic containers in the US.