How much cash to bring for ice and coffee

[dwonj]

First time burner - I know I can buy ice and coffee at Center Camp, but I don't know how much they cost (and therefore how much cash to bring)? $1.00 a bag, $100.00 a cup?

Any other reason to bring cash to the playa?

[junglesmacks]

..because the Taco Bell doesn't work on gift economy. At least there's an ATM in Center Camp so you'll be set.

[lemur]

it has in recent history been $3 for a 7 pound bag of crushed ice or $3 for a 10 pound block.. also sell 6 packs of crushed ice... for $15..

...id plan on ice runs daily unless youre totally sure it can handle the heat..




coffee? i wouldnt buy any of that shit... no idea on the costs...

[lemur]

get there early.. the lines can get crazy for ice..

there are three locations.. in the 3'oclock plaza, 9o'clock plaza and in center camp.

[Lonesomebri]

You'll need ice every day, at least you will learn to want to stand in line for ice every day. In all seriousness, good times.
As for coffee, bring a cup, you could always make it yourself, or make friends with neighbors who have some, or find a theme camp that serves it....then you have to figure out how much cookies to bring to pay for that.
It really is better to bring something to gift -honey, cookies, cake, booze- and just hit up a coffee theme camp with that, rather than go to Center Camp every morning. Or, yeah, $100 a cup of joe, my tent. I'll even strain it with a clean sock.

[CornMan]

I can understand the need for supplying ice. It would be a food safety nightmare without it, but why do they offer coffee? Money? Working in the coffee house could be a good opportunity to get some experience with espresso, cappuccino, etc in case your job gets downsized.

[Lonesomebri]

I can understand the need for supplying ice. It would be a food safety nightmare without it, but why do they offer coffee? Money? Working in the coffee house could be a good opportunity to get some experience with espresso, cappuccino, etc in case your job gets downsized.

...'cause enough important people are addicted to caffeine.

[stew]

Bring your own coffee. Odds are your camp has a stove already, and you're lazy, instant coffee is much better than its reputation.

About ice - plan for the case that there might be no ice one day - last year, allegedly, ice trucks were stuck in a dust storm, so there was nothing to sell. Plan your meals mostly with non-perishable foods, it's less hassle, cheaper and safer. It's better to have canned soup on the last day than a warm cooler full of what was once fresh meat and vegetables.

[tahiti_treat]

I think a latte-type drink was $4 or $5 last year. Regular coffee probably cheaper. I wouldn't go there every day for coffee, but on Temple burn night it was nice to get a hot beverage there since all our stuff was packed up by that point.

[theCryptofishist]

You'll need ice every day, at least you will learn to want to stand in line for ice every day. In all seriousness, good times.
As for coffee, bring a cup, you could always make it yourself, or make friends with neighbors who have some, or find a theme camp that serves it....then you have to figure out how much cookies to bring to pay for that.
It really is better to bring something to gift -honey, cookies, cake, booze- and just hit up a coffee theme camp with that, rather than go to Center Camp every morning. Or, yeah, $100 a cup of joe, my tent. I'll even strain it with a clean sock.

If I'm paying $100, I want it strained through a pad of Snowball's matted fur.

[danibel]

I think a latte-type drink was $4 or $5 last year. Regular coffee probably cheaper. I wouldn't go there every day for coffee, but on Temple burn night it was nice to get a hot beverage there since all our stuff was packed up by that point.

My sweetie likes to get an espresso on burn night after we have been wandering around. I like the atmosphere in center camp when I have a hot cuppa in my hand. I always bring my own stainless steel mug.

Ice lines last year were best about 15 minutes till close. Don't time it wrong and miss out! Blocks last A LOT longer than chipped for your food cooler.

[Savannah]

If you're a person who only chills beverages and keep your cooler shaded and a little off the ground, you can get by with ice every other day. I like to get 1 block and 1 bag of chipped ice. The line was very long at peak times last year (20-30 minutes?) so I took a friend, a wagon, and a parasol. It's not so bad; you see the city go by and have some fun conversations.

Taking turns fetching the ice is a good idea and to offer to pick up a bag for someone else is a kindness. In a group, no one person should always be responsible for fetching it, unless for some reason they love to (or there is an agreement that this is their particular camp chore).

[dwonj]

Thanks to everyone who posted so far....very very helpful.

Look for two lost souls from NJ (Father 51, son 18) this year - Doug & Geoff

[Savannah]

Consider bringing (at minimum) a stash of canned coffee or espresso (or if particular, a French press) for those mornings when you don't feel like riding a mile on your bike, standing in line, and paying $5 for a cup of coffee.

Call me crazy, but . . . I hate doing that.

I think it's very fortunate that the option is there, however.

[theCryptofishist]

The story is that the cafe is there to ease people into the life of burningman and that the coffee sales are to support it.
I"m not thrilled, but I've made my piece with it...

[jcliff]

I like going to Center Camp when I wake up (of course, it's right across the street from my village.) I buy a lemonade or electrolyte drink which I think is $2. One tip, bringing extra money and paying forward for the next couple people in line is an easy way to gift. Last year I tried to gift, but someone before me already had me in their gift que. I told the woman I wanted to gift too, and she looked like her head was going to explode. She said (in fun) something along the lines of, "God damn hippies and their gifting!"

[Lonesomebri]

Ususally there is someplace around you with coffee being served. Go to the theme camp listings and type "coffee" into the search box, hit enter.

http://www.burningman.com/themecamps/th ... ml?yy=2012

Oh, and these are just the "official" ones. Walk the hood early in the morning and who knows what you will find.

Show up with your cup and a small gift of brown sugar, honey, something that goes with coffee, set it down for others, fill your cup, sit down, chat with neighbors......lost souls?

[Canoe]

The story is that the cafe is there to ease people into the life of burningman and that the coffee sales are to support it.
I"m not thrilled, but I've made my piece with it...

Serving including coffee, tea, latte's of both, and electrolyte drink. Starting at $4, I think the most expensive was the electrolyte drink for $6.
Who knows for this year.

Kinda of neat first thing in the morning to wonder over to center camp cafe, sip something hot or cold, and give bottles of water to the drunks who were sleeping it off on (or under) a bench where they thought it was private last night, only to gain consciousness to discover that: it's light out, there's lots and lots of people around, where the fuck am I, quick, act normal.

[CaffeineGirl]

It really is better to bring something to gift -honey, cookies, cake, booze- and just hit up a coffee theme camp with that, rather than go to Center Camp every morning. Or, yeah, $100 a cup of joe, my tent. I'll even strain it with a clean sock.

Bring your cup to EspressoCamp for your morning fix of naked espresso. All we want is your smile. Guaranteed not to be strained thru a sock.

[wh..sh]

I like going to Center Camp when I wake up (of course, it's right across the street from my village.) I buy a lemonade or electrolyte drink which I think is $2.

Last year, since I was close to center camp, I walked to get myself a cup of tea, and it turned out to be ginger flavored iced tea! *gasp* It tasted heavenly!
I think I took a sip and I had to sit down, it was that good!
I might have paid around $5 bucks.

[theCryptofishist]

I made my peace with it. my brain don't work good anymore.

[Lonesomebri]

Bring your cup to EspressoCamp for your morning fix of naked espresso. All we want is your smile. Guaranteed not to be strained thru a sock.

Sweet, ...just need to show up with a cup in hand and only wearing a smile on the face, for a good morning round of naked espresso !!!

[Canoe]

Of course you have your own cup/mug that you hand to Center Camp Cafe for them to fill. They write your name on it. They don't want the tops on them, as it slows them down and they get lost. So occasionally you get one of the baristas yelling out something like, "People, take your tops off".
So one time, one of the ladies in line shrugs and takes her top off. Poor barista.

[BBadger]

I like going to Center Camp when I wake up (of course, it's right across the street from my village.) I buy a lemonade or electrolyte drink which I think is $2.

Last year, since I was close to center camp, I walked to get myself a cup of tea, and it turned out to be ginger flavored iced tea! *gasp* It tasted heavenly!
I think I took a sip and I had to sit down, it was that good!
I might have paid around $5 bucks.

If you like that flavor, you can get ginger tea at any Asian market.

[wh..sh]

I like going to Center Camp when I wake up (of course, it's right across the street from my village.) I buy a lemonade or electrolyte drink which I think is $2.

Last year, since I was close to center camp, I walked to get myself a cup of tea, and it turned out to be ginger flavored iced tea! *gasp* It tasted heavenly!
I think I took a sip and I had to sit down, it was that good!
I might have paid around $5 bucks.

If you like that flavor, you can get ginger tea at any Asian market.

Yes, I buy it from wholefoods and any Asian markets. I make a non-tea version at home.
Honestly, I just didn't expect that kind of good quality at center camp. I was pleasantly surprised.

[RedHeaven]

I have 2 medium sized coolers and I put them in the back of my truck bed by the Cab, OFF the ground, and cover them with aluminum car shade dealios and this really thick tarp that has aluminum on one side so it repels the sun and heat. I have had great luck with this very simple method. Helps that my truck is not black too heh heh. I definitely do not have to get ice every day, every other day at the most. Its crude but works for me. I probably spend $35 on ice but I am fairly minimalist. I only have 3 containers of perishable foods, mostly I keep many perishable smoothie shakes and other beverages in them. Oh yeah, and cold pickles!!

Its so fun to talk about the simplest stuff when it comes to Bman. WOOHOOOOO So excited!!!

[ranger magnum]

I make iced tea by sticking 3 or 4 tea bags in a gallon jug of water, then leave it outside for a few hours. Pour over ice and im good!

[shroom]

I did not need ice every day. I have a 5 day cooler and kept it inside my tent out of the sun and opened only a few times a day. I bought 2 bags of ice during my entire burn. I bought 3 cups of iced chai tea as a treat. so I spent about $25 max. It all depends on how you plan and how addicted you are to having coffee/tea you didn't make yourself.