There are a lot of coffee can stoves out there. Some are pretty high-tech, with fancy cutting needed. This one is something you can make in about 2 minutes with basic tools.
Also note that there are no sharp corners in the finished product. That is important.
This is about saving fuel, not time. Yes, you can boil water over an open fire, too. But you could never do it on so little fuel. The small handful of oak kindling shown here is easily enough to boil two (pint) cups as shown.
#1 Ready to load. Note bolt-eyes fastened with wing nuts as pot supports. Vent holes in bottom, made with church key can opener. (only 3 vents are visible, but there are 4). These vents are turned into the wind.
#2 Good dry fuel. This is red oak kindling from my kindling box, cut to assorted lengths with the lineman pliers. Dry twigs will work just as well. Smaller pieces in foreground are placed near the vent hole, to aid lighting.
#3 Loaded and ready to light. Note the fuel is stacked loosely. A bit of birch bark at a vent hole aids lighting.
#4 Light it through a vent hole. Adding fuel while heating may be required. Just drop it in.
#5 All done. Note the fuel left. The stove makes very efficient use of the fuel, even without a lid (which would normally be used)
