“Blackstrap Coffee. This 2 century old favorite coffee was a staple among miners in the 1800’s. Otherwise known as ‘Muckmen Blackstrap’ this strong blended roast will give you long lasting energy and keep you warm for hours”
I don’t have a ton of time these days for playing games, and certainly nothing like I once enjoyed. But the one game I always make time for is one that I’m fortunate enough to play with a group of close friends: 7 Days to Die
For those unfamiliar, it’s an open world zombie survival and crafting game, heavy on the base building, with something enticing for everyone to do. It’s my happy escapism place, and you can usually find me roaring around on my motorcycle, looting far flung locations for the supplies the rest of our group needs to survive one more week, and one more horde night. Early on, obtaining food and clean water (or the ability to boil water) is completely essential.
This was not my smartest recon run, but I’m a survivor!
Now, in our game, we have a fully kitted out kitchen in each of our fortified bases, complemented with a massive garden that grows everything we need to feast like the kings and queens of the apocalypse we truly are. Amidst all that, there are coolers stacked to the ceiling, all full of blackstrap coffee. It’s become such a staple during play that I obviously had to tackle it with a real recipe.
My first test of this recipe produced a punishment of a drink, something I suspect is pretty damn close to the bitter, terrible coffee one would be able to make with foraged ingredients in a true zompocalypse. I didn’t finish the cup, instead passing it around to anyone who walked through the kitchen to demonstrate its true awfulness.
After that, I did a bigger deep dive into the WHY of the gunpowder. Buckle up, because this is a journey… (or skip to the recipe below)
Gunpowder consists of potassium nitrate (saltpeter), charcoal, which is mostly carbon, and sulfur.
Anecdotally, soldiers in Napoleon’s army (and probably many other times/places) used gunpowder to season the meat when they were in dire enough straits that they were forced to eat their horses. Seems strange, until you learn that saltpeter is a naturally occurring mineral (which can be mined in 7 Days, incidentally), and was historically used as a curing agent. It gave foods a salty taste and helped preserve them. Potassium Nitrate has also been used as an ingredient in matchheads- anyone remember Holden grating matches into his coffee to make it more palatable in The Expanse? Same idea.
I know a guy who could probably get me some gunpowder, but not everybody has that friend, so I’ve opted for some substitutions. Also, uh, it’s not great to consume in any quantity, so let’s all take a pass on that, maybe. I’d like to taste some at some point, for the sake of knowing, but for now, let’s get creative with some alternatives.
I started with an old jar of instant espresso that’s been kicking around in the back of the pantry for… I’m not actually sure how long, but it’s been a while.
SO. We’ve got a pinch of salt swapped in for the saltpeter, and activated charcoal for the charcoal in the gunpowder. I suspected it might need just a little extra zip of something, so I dug out some of my reserves of amazing Viking smoked salt from Auntie Arwen’s.
The verdict?
I was up obscenely early with kids this morning, and this coffee is the only thing that has saved the entire day. I’m on my second cup, and it’s strange and compelling, and now I want to share it with people passing through the kitchen not as an example of horror, but as a proper curiosity. The charcoal, in particular, mellows any bitterness of the coffee and blackstrap, leaving you with a slightly sweet warming beverage that is entirely too easy to drink down.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go harvest some doorknobs for brass and load up my bike with a stack of Blackstrap Coffee and Hobo Stew. There are zombies that need killin’ and buildings that need lootin’!
Stay safe out there, survivors…
Recipe for Blackstrap Coffee
makes 1 serving (but can be easily sized up)
*Note* Activated charcoal can interfere with essential medication, so use with caution, even in small doses!
Ingredients:
- 8 oz. just-boiled water
- 2-3 tsp. instant espresso powder (I used Cafe Bustelo brand)
- 2 tsp. blackstrap molasses
- pinch of activated charcoal
- pinch of smoked salt
Combine all the ingredients in a heat-proof mug, stir to combine, and enjoy.
For added amusement, be sure to check out the cooking reel I also made to go with this recipe! ;)