Coffee is one of the most popular beverages enjoyed by campers, serving as both a comforting ritual and a vital caffeine kick for those wilderness mornings. It has become so popular that many outdoor companies have invested thousands of dollars in creating portable coffee-making solutions, ensuring that you can get your fix, even in the most remote backcountry. From lightweight, traditional techniques to innovative gear, campers have a range of options to suit their needs. In this guide, we’ll dive into five methods for brewing coffee while camping, each offering a unique blend of convenience, portability, and flavor to match different camping styles.
Table of Contents
Method 1: Cowboy Coffee
When you’re keeping things rugged, cowboy coffee is your go-to. This classic method requires just a pot or kettle, some coarsely ground coffee, and a heat source—no fancy gadgets are needed. It’s how trailblazers have been caffeinating for ages, and it’s still a solid pick for minimalists.
How to Do It:
- Boil water over your campfire or stove.
- Take it off the heat, and toss in 2 tablespoons of coarse coffee grounds per cup of water.
- Let it steep for 4-5 minutes.
- Add a splash of cold water to settle the grounds, then pour carefully.
Quick Tips: Too bitter? Use coarser grounds or cut the steep time. Grounds in your sip? Let it sit longer before pouring, or tap the pot to sink them. It’s not perfect, but it’s pure backcountry charm.
Method 2: French Press
If bold, smooth coffee is your thing, a portable French press is worth the pack space. It’s a step up from cowboy coffee, delivering that rich flavor you crave without the grit. Sure, it’s a bit bulkier, but lightweight models make it doable.
What You’ll Need:
- Portable French press (titanium, glass or plastic)
- Coarsely ground coffee
- Kettle or pot
How to Do It:
- Boil water and let it cool a bit.
- Add 2 tablespoons of grounds per cup to the press.
- Pour in the water, stir, and steep for 4 minutes.
- Press down slowly, pour, and enjoy.
Method 3: Pour-Over System
For the coffee purists out there, pour-over is your backcountry holy grail. It’s all about control—over the water, the bloom, the flavor. You’ll need more gear, but collapsible systems keep it packable, and the payoff is a clean, crisp cup.
What You’ll Need:
- Collapsible pour-over cone
- Paper filters (or a metal one)
- Kettle with a narrow spout
- Medium-ground coffee
How to Do It:
- Set the cone over your mug, and add a filter.
- Boil water, cool it slightly, and wet the grounds with a little pour to bloom (wait 30 seconds).
- Slowly pour the rest in spirals, from center to edge.
- Let it drip through, and drink up.
Method 4: Instant Coffee
When you’re all about speed and light packing, instant coffee shines. It’s not the snob’s choice, but today’s premium options are leagues beyond the old stuff. Just hot water and a mug, and you’re good to go.
How to Do It:
- Boil water.
- Stir in instant coffee (check the packet for amounts).
- Sip and enjoy—no fuss, no muss.
Method 5: Coffee Bags
Think tea bags, but for coffee—coffee bags are the happy medium between instant and involved. They’re pre-packed, mess-free, and deliver a decent brew with zero cleanup hassles.
How to Do It:
- Boil water.
- Drop the coffee bag in your mug.
- Pour hot water over it, steep for 3-5 minutes, then pull it out.
Final Thoughts
From the no-frills grit of cowboy coffee to the precision of a pour-over, these five methods prove you don’t have to ditch your brew in the backcountry. Each has its theme—quick and light, bold and hearty, or somewhere in between—so you can match your coffee to your camping style. Play around with these tricks, find your perfect trail brew, and let coffee kick your next trip up a notch
