BIG ED

Spike Camp Coffee is built for the wildland community. The people who drink their coffee on tailgates, firelines, logging roads, and ridgelines.

August 20, 1910. The Great Idaho Fire had been burning across the Bitterroot and the Coeur d'Alene for weeks. On that day, the weather shifted. Humidity dropped. Winds picked up. The fire blew up across multiple drainages simultaneously and began moving faster than anyone had seen.

Ed Pulaski was a Forest Service ranger. He had 45 men under his watch near the mining country outside Wallace, Idaho. When the fire overran their position, Pulaski made a decision. He led his crew into an abandoned mine tunnel on Placer Creek, pushed them as far back as the tunnel allowed, soaked blankets in muddy water from the tunnel floor, and held the entrance himself.

The fire burned over them. Men panicked. Some tried to run. Pulaski drew his pistol and told them the first man who tried to leave would be shot. Then he held the entrance until he passed out from smoke.

When it was over, all but five of his crew made it out.

Two years later he designed the Pulaski tool. Half axe, half adze. Built for cutting line and grubbing roots. Functional in a way nothing before it had been. It still sits in the hands of every Wildland Firefighter today.

This roast carries his name. Not because of legend, but because the standard held. Show up. Hold the line. Do the work. Get your crew home safe.

All ratios below are based on a standard 8oz camp mug. If your mug runs larger, add half a tablespoon per extra 4oz.

AeroPress | Medium to Medium Fine Grind
3 tablespoons per 8oz of water. Give it 1- 2 minutes before pressing. Press steady and slow.

Home Drip or Camp Drip Machine | Medium Grind
1.5 to 2 tablespoons per 8oz of water. The machine does the rest.

Adjust up or down by half a tablespoon to dial in your strength.

What is Big Ed coffee?
Big Ed is a medium roast from Spike Camp Outpost, named for Edward Pulaski, the Forest Service ranger who led his crew of 45 men into a mine tunnel during the 1910 Great Idaho Fire and held the entrance himself while the fire burned over them. Clean, smooth cup. Low acidity.

Who was Ed Pulaski?
Ed Pulaski was a Forest Service ranger who became one of the most significant figures in wildland firefighting history. During the Great Idaho Fire on August 20, 1910, he led 45 men into an abandoned mine tunnel near Wallace, Idaho and held the entrance while the fire burned over them. All but five survived. He later designed the Pulaski tool, the half axe half adze combination still used on every engine in the country today.

Why is Big Ed coffee low acidity?
Medium roasting reduces the chlorogenic acids responsible for stomach discomfort during long shifts. Big Ed is formulated to run clean through a full pot without the acidic bite that causes heartburn during extended field days. Low acidity means it holds up cup after cup without wearing on you.

What grind is Big Ed?
Big Ed is medium ground. This grind runs clean across camp drip machines, Bunn commercial drip, Pour overs and AeroPress.

How many cups does a 12oz bag of Big Ed make?
A 12oz bag produces approximately 28 cups based on a standard 8oz mug at the recommended ratio. Lighter hands will get more cups. Heavier hands will get fewer.

What brewing equipment works with Big Ed?
Big Ed is built for high-volume basecamp and station setups. Camp drip machines, Bunn commercial drip, and Coleman propane drip are the primary methods. It will also work at home with a drip or pour over.

Does Spike Camp Coffee donate to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation?
Yes. $1 from every bag of Big Ed goes directly to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Spike Camp posts the running donation total at https://www.spikecampoutpost.com/collections/spike-camp-coffee

Where is Big Ed coffee roasted?
Big Ed is roasted small batch by Evans Brothers Coffee in Sandpoint, Idaho. USDA Organic certified. Fair Trade certified. Roasted to order.