River guide Amanda making our ‘cowboy’ coffee early in the morning.

The sun will just be rising, casting shadows on the canyon walls when you’ll hear your river guide call out  “cooooffeee.” That’s the sign that another great day in the canyon has begun.

Coffee

The guides make the coffee using the “cowboy coffee” method: boil the water, pour the grounds in and let it steep. Then pour the coffee through a strainer into a serving container. We proudly get our shade-grown, fair-trade coffee from local Flagstaff roaster, Toucanet.

We’ll provide coffee creamer, plus a variety of “coffee condiments” like sugar, sweeteners, honey, and evaporated milk. Instant decaf is also available.

Please keep in mind that exact flavors and brands may vary slightly from trip to trip. We do our best to provide an array of popular items but cannot guarantee the flavor of creamer or that there will be a specific “coffee condiment.” On longer trips, some items may run out towards the end. If you have a strong preference for your coffee additives, we recommend bringing some of your own just in case.

Tea / Other Beverages

We also have hot water available for guests who prefer tea or hot chocolate. We bring hot chocolate packets and an assortment of tea bags like green tea, chamomile, English breakfast, etc. We try to bring several types of tea but never know what will be popular, so if you prefer a certain kind you may want to bring a few bags with you.

On most mornings we also have cold juice. Crystal Light packets and electrolyte-replacement powders are available as well.

Items may vary depending on trip type & length.

Mugs

For water, guests bring their own Nalgene bottle or similar. For other beverages, GCW provides a new mug that is yours to keep. Using reusable mugs throughout the trip (and after!) helps to reduce waste from single-use cups and keep in line with “Leave No Trace” principles that help protect our outdoor spaces.

Got your coffee questions answered, but curious about alcohol? Check out our BYOB blog.

Want to know what kinds of breakfast you’ll be having alongside your morning cup of joe? Check out what food is like on a river trip.