Years back, when I worked in the Criminal Investigation Division of the Military Police (yeah, I usta be a cop -- wanna make somethin' of it?) we had precise instruction for making coffee -- instructions which included sprinkling salt over the coffee BEFORE it was made AND sprinkling it in the pot afterwards to "settle the grounds." This was made in a HUGE coffee urn, something like a stainless steel 55 gallon drum. Cops and soliers drink lots of coffee, nearly as much as Alaskans.

I've also heard of a dash of cold water or crushed eggshells being used to settle the grounds. Of course, this was done when the coffee was made by tossing a handful of ground coffee into a pot of hot water and letting it steep....

What was the rule for Cowboy Coffee? "Toss a horseshoe into the pot: if it sinks, the coffee's got to brew a while longer. If it floats, the coffee's ready to drink. If it dissolves, the coffee's perfect."