Making Coffee in This War of Mine: A Survival Guide

Quick answer

• Gather your scavenged coffee beans and a heat source.
• Find a way to grind those beans – a sturdy rock or a salvaged grinder will do.
• Boil water using your best pot; clean water is a luxury.
• Use a makeshift filter: cloth, a sock, or even tightly packed leaves.
• Combine grounds and hot water, letting it steep for a few minutes.
• Strain carefully to avoid grounds in your precious brew.
• Sip slowly. Every drop counts.

Who this is for

• Survivors struggling to find and brew coffee in the game.
• Players looking to optimize their coffee-making for morale boosts.
• Anyone curious about the gritty reality of caffeine in a war-torn world.

What to check first

Brewer type and filter type

In the grim reality of This War of Mine, you won’t have fancy machines. Think scavenged pots, maybe a salvaged metal cup. Your filter will be even more basic: a clean piece of cloth, a sock, or anything that can strain out the grounds. Don’t expect perfection; a little grit is part of the experience.

Water quality and temperature

Water is life. If you can boil it, do. Unpurified water is a health risk, and in this game, sickness can be a death sentence. Aim for a rolling boil to kill most nasties. Too cool, and your coffee won’t extract properly. Too hot, and you risk burning the grounds.

Grind size and coffee freshness

Freshness is relative. Those scavenged beans might be old. Grind them as fine as you can manage without a proper grinder. A coarse grind will lead to weak coffee. A fine grind, if you can achieve it, will give you a stronger brew.

Coffee-to-water ratio

This is where you improvise. A good starting point is roughly one to two tablespoons of coffee grounds for every 6 oz of water. But in survival, you adjust based on what you have. More grounds mean a stronger, more morale-boosting coffee, but also means you use up your precious beans faster.

Cleanliness/descale status

Your “brewer” is likely a scavenged pot. Clean it as best you can. Old residue can make your coffee taste bitter or stale. While “descaling” isn’t a concern, removing grime and old food bits is.

Step-by-step (brew workflow)

1. Scavenge for Coffee Beans: Find those precious beans.

• What “good” looks like: A small stash of coffee beans, enough for a few brews.
• Common mistake: Ignoring coffee during scavenging runs. You might regret it later when morale plummets.
• Avoid it: Make coffee a priority when you see it.

2. Find a Heat Source: You need fire. A stove, a campfire, anything that burns.

• What “good” looks like: A reliable way to boil water.
• Common mistake: Not having fuel for your heat source.
• Avoid it: Stockpile fuel (wood, fuel tanks) whenever possible.

3. Gather Water: Find a water source. If it’s not clean, you’ll need to boil it.

• What “good” looks like: A container full of water.
• Common mistake: Using contaminated water without boiling.
• Avoid it: Always boil water if you suspect it’s unsafe.

4. Grind the Beans: Use a rock, a salvaged grinder, or a sturdy tool.

• What “good” looks like: Coffee grounds, ideally not too chunky.
• Common mistake: Grinding too coarsely. This results in weak coffee.
• Avoid it: Grind until the beans are broken down, even if it’s not a fine powder.

5. Heat Water: Bring your water to a boil in your pot.

• What “good” looks like: Bubbling, steaming water.
• Common mistake: Not boiling the water thoroughly.
• Avoid it: Let the water reach a rolling boil for at least a minute.

6. Prepare Your Filter: Get your cloth, sock, or makeshift strainer ready.

• What “good” looks like: A piece of material that can hold back grounds.
• Common mistake: Using a dirty or holey filter.
• Avoid it: Rinse your cloth filter if possible, and check for rips.

7. Combine Coffee and Water: Add the grounds to the hot water, or pour hot water over grounds in your filter.

• What “good” looks like: A dark, fragrant liquid starting to form.
• Common mistake: Adding too much coffee, making it undrinkable, or too little, making it weak.
• Avoid it: Start with a moderate amount and adjust in future brews.

8. Steep the Coffee: Let the grounds and water meld for 3-5 minutes.

• What “good” looks like: The water turns a deep brown color.
• Common mistake: Steeping for too short a time. This leads to weak coffee.
• Avoid it: Be patient; give the coffee time to infuse.

9. Strain the Brew: Carefully pour the coffee through your filter into a mug or container.

• What “good” looks like: Coffee in your mug, with most grounds left behind.
• Common mistake: Pouring too fast, letting grounds through.
• Avoid it: Pour slowly and steadily.

10. Drink and Enjoy: Sip your hard-earned coffee.

• What “good” looks like: A morale boost and a moment of calm.
• Common mistake: Guzzling it down too fast.
• Avoid it: Savor the moment; it’s a rare luxury.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Mistake	What it causes	Fix
Using unboiled water	Sickness, loss of survivor health and morale.	Always boil water if unsure of its purity.
Grinding too coarsely	Weak, watery coffee with little flavor.	Grind as finely as possible with available tools.
Not steeping long enough	Under-extracted coffee, weak flavor, wasted beans.	Steep for at least 3-5 minutes to allow proper infusion.
Using dirty equipment	Bitter, stale taste; potential for sickness.	Clean pots and filters as best as you can.
Ignoring fuel for heat	Inability to boil water or cook, leading to despair.	Prioritize fuel scavenging and management.
Using too little coffee	Weak, unsatisfying brew; low morale boost.	Experiment to find the right ratio for your taste and resources.
Using too much coffee	Bitter, undrinkable coffee; wastes precious beans.	Start conservatively and adjust upwards if needed.
Rushing the filtering process	Grounds in your coffee, unpleasant texture.	Pour slowly and steadily to allow the filter to do its job.
Not scavenging coffee	Missed opportunity for significant morale gains.	Make coffee beans a high-priority item during scavenging.
Letting coffee go cold	Reduced enjoyment and morale benefit.	Drink it while it’s still warm.

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If survivor morale is critically low, then prioritize scavenging for coffee beans because it’s one of the most effective morale boosters.
• If you have a large stash of coffee beans, then consider using a slightly higher coffee-to-water ratio for a stronger brew because it maximizes the morale impact per cup.
• If your water source is questionable, then always boil it for at least one minute because unpurified water can lead to serious illness.
• If you have a very coarse grind, then steep the coffee for a longer period (5+ minutes) because it needs more time to extract flavor.
• If you have a very fine grind, then be careful not to over-extract, as it can become bitter.
• If you are running low on fuel, then consider making fewer, but stronger, cups of coffee to conserve resources.
• If you find a clean piece of cloth, then use it as a filter because it’s better than drinking grounds.
• If you have multiple survivors who are depressed, then make coffee a daily ritual if resources allow because consistent morale support is key.
• If you have scavenged a coffee grinder, then use it to get a more consistent grind for better flavor extraction.
• If you have a choice between coffee and other luxury goods, then consider coffee’s morale impact versus the utility of other items.
• If you are about to undertake a dangerous scavenging run, then having a cup of coffee beforehand can provide a small but welcome morale boost.

FAQ

How do I get coffee beans in This War of Mine?

You find them randomly during scavenging missions. They are a relatively rare but highly valuable find, especially for morale.

What’s the best way to grind coffee without a grinder?

Use a sturdy rock to crush the beans against a hard surface. It won’t be a perfect grind, but it’s better than whole beans.

Can I drink water directly from the tap or rain barrels?

It’s risky. Always try to boil water first to kill off any bacteria or contaminants. Sickness is a major problem in the game.

How long should I steep my coffee?

For a decent brew, aim for 3 to 5 minutes. If your grind is very coarse, you might need a little longer.

What happens if I use too much coffee?

The coffee will likely be too bitter and undrinkable, wasting your precious beans. You might also get a stomach ache, which you don’t need in this situation.

Is there a specific ratio of coffee to water I should use?

There’s no exact science in the game, but a good starting point is about 1 to 2 tablespoons of grounds per 6 oz of water. Adjust based on what you have.

Does coffee really boost morale that much?

Yes, it’s one of the most significant morale boosters available. A good cup of coffee can make a huge difference for a depressed survivor.

What if I only have a sock to filter my coffee?

A clean sock can work in a pinch. Just make sure it’s as clean as you can get it and be prepared for a slightly less refined cup.

Can I store brewed coffee for later?

The game doesn’t really support storing brewed coffee. It’s best enjoyed fresh. Brewing when you need it is the way to go.

What this page does NOT cover (and where to go next)

• Specific locations for guaranteed coffee spawns (these are random).
• Advanced brewing techniques beyond basic survival methods.
• Detailed analysis of the game’s morale system beyond coffee’s impact.
• Next: Explore guides on managing other survivor needs like food and medicine.
• Next: Look into strategies for effective scavenging and resource management.
• Next: Read up on combat and stealth tactics for navigating dangerous areas.