Pioneering the lost art of cowboy coffee and elevated chuckwagon cuisine in the spirit of the Old West.
Chuckwagon RENTAL
Our authentic 1854 John Deere chuckwagon is available to rent! Perfect for rustic weddings, historic events, and unique parties, we make it easy for you to feature a piece of history and wow guests with the coolest selfie station around. You name the place, and we take care of the rest! Get in touch for details:
Cowboy coffee
SMOKEWAGON & CO. is pioneering the lost art of Cowboy Coffee. This traditional brewing method avoids the use of plastic and filters, with NO WASTE left behind—only biodegradable coffee grounds. If you walk into literally any coffee shop across the nation, you cannot find true Cowboy Coffee. Thus, it has become our mission to revive this rich aspect of the American West culture.
EVERYTHING WE BREW, WE BREW IT FOR YOU
The Cowboy Coffee method creates a LOW-ACID BREW that is gentle on stomachs, allowing all manner of cowboys and cowgirls to enjoy it ‘round the clock. One of the biggest misconceptions about Cowboy Coffee is that it is thick and tastes bitter, burnt, or exceedingly strong. In fact, it is some of the smoothest coffee you can drink! The brewing method removes bitterness and acidity, making it gentler on stomachs and unlikely to cause indigestion, heartburn, or acid reflux.
SMOOTH ENOUGH TO DRINK IT STRAIGHT UP
Cowboy coffee is traditionally served black, but of course, you’re welcome to add your favorite cream and sugar. Though if you’ve never enjoyed coffee black—we encourage you to try it. When your coffee is made well, you might just decide you don’t need to cover up the flavor!
You may have heard rumors of any number of crazy methods used to separate the coffee grounds, from adding egg shells to the brew or using sock as a filter. We promise our coffee is both egg- and sock-free, thanks to a final cold-water shock that causes the grounds to sink to the bottom. Preparing delicious cowboy coffee is an art, yet it requires nothing more than coffee grounds, water, and the simplest of equipment—a steel pot. The elements that made it popular for pioneers on the trail and enabled chuckwagon cooks to keep hundreds of cowboys warm and caffeinated translate just as well to modern-day life, from camping, backpacking, or simply your kitchen at home. Come see us and get your GIDDY UP IN A CUP!
Preserving History
Invented in 1866 by the prominent Texas cattleman, Charles Goodnight, the CHUCKWAGON served as a mobile kitchen and became a staple of cattle drives in the Old West. “Chuck”—being both a slang term for food and a common nickname for Charles—was a fitting moniker for the sturdy horse-drawn wagons that carried the food and cooking equipment needed to feed hungry cowboys after a long day’s work. The “Cookie” played an essential role in the camp, ensuring hot coffee and food were available to sustain the cowboys from before dusk all the way to quittin’ time.
If you recall the TV mini-series, Lonesome Dove, then you may be familiar with the character, Captain Woodrow F. Call, loosely based on Charles Goodnight and played by Tommy Lee Jones.
Goodnight eventually settled in Pueblo, Colorado—a place close to our hearts, as Allison’s maternal family happens to be native Puebloans! Built in 1870, the Charles Goodnight Barn is still standing, and is home to the annual Chuckwagon Rendezvous where you can step back into the 1800s and experience traditional chuckwagon food and life.
Chuckwagon Lingo
Cackleberries or Hen Fruit = Eggs
Sinkers or Hot Rocks = Biscuits
Sipper = Gravy
Arbuckle or brown gargle = Coffee
Six-shooter coffee = Strong coffee
Skunk eggs = Onions
Slap jacks = Pancakes
Sowbelly = Bacon
Tenderfoot = A newbie or city boy
Slap-bang shop = A petty cook’s shop that didn’t offer credit; food had to be paid for with a ready “slap bang” (i.e., quickly)
Wagons & Wisdom
Check out the Smokewagon blog to learn about the history and tales of the Old West, cowboy traditions, frontier life, chuckwagon recipes, and more…
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