I know an MRE comes with a heater to heat the meal. The military version does, at least. What I'm wondering about is the packet of instant coffee that comes with each MRE. In the military, when they are out in the field, how do they heat a cup of water for coffee? What do they bring with them besides the MRE?

Jeanette Isabelle

Compressed solid fuel tabs. The old military ones could boil a canteen cup of water with no problem.

The German army has the ESBIT stove. It has about the size of a deck of cards (poker not bridge) and doubles as a container for the fuel tablets.

I’ve never served in the military but I’m told sometimes the instant coffee is consumed cold, or even chewed without water.

A pinch between the cheek and gums!

There are solid fuels out there that are packable. I have not been able to get a single Esbit cube to bring an 8 ounce cup of water to a boil though. These cubes are smaller than the old "Heat Tabs" and do work well. The test was near sea level in mid 40s (F) temperatures. It took 2 cubes to reach a boil. Boiling is not required for a cup of coffee, especially instant. In the woods, I usually use the Esbit to help start a good wood fire rather than for cooking by itself. It depends on the rules where you are.

I bring the water for instant coffee to 160ºF and call it good.

If it is chewed without water, how do you add the powder non-dairy cream?

Jeanette Isabelle

I was looking for a solution to my situation. Believing that the military had that problem worked out, I posed my question. I like to seek the counsel of someone who is smarter than me. From there I can make the determination as to will it work for me.


I don't need my coffee boiling. I just need it warm.

Jeanette Isabelle

This I do not know. I dislike instant coffee enough that I'm more likely to do without than to consume it.

I should have been given the Japanese name 千尋 which means "a thousand questions."

Edit: It appears that this forum does not accept Kanji.

Jeanette Isabelle