Five Clever Ways to Make Coffee While Camping…
and one method that should be avoided at all costs
When thinking of camping with coffee, most people think of the campfire, s’mores and marshmallows. But here’s something else to add to your list: camping coffee techniques. You see, when you’re out in the wild, surrounded by the great outdoors, you can still enjoy a delicious cup of brewed versus instant – as long as you know how! Here are five of our favorite coffee-related camping tips that will make your next trip even better.
The Cowboy Method
The cowboy method is a technique that involves boiling water in an open, metal container over an open fire. This method works best with a metal pot or kettle and produces the most authentic campfire coffee available. The process is simple: fill your pot with water and place it over the fire to boil. While that’s happening, add your coffee grounds directly to the water. Once the water has boiled for about five minutes, remove it from heat and let it sit for another five minutes. Nothing could be easier…
The Aeropress
The aeropress is a portable and lightweight coffee maker that is perfect for campers. It’s easy to use, convenient, and makes great coffee. The method involves placing your grounds in the filter cap at the top of the press. Then add hot water from a kettle or thermos underneath it and let it sit for one minute while you stir it gently with a spoon or stick. After the minute is up, press down on the plunger with slow and steady pressure and pour yourself a cup of coffee! Rinse and repeat for a second cup. You can dispose of the grounds and filter directly into the fire.
The French Press
The French press is another great option for campers. It’s easy to use, portable, and makes great coffee.
PRO TIP: While there are many french press models available, leave your nice glass one at home. Instead bring a cheapie with a plastic beaker so as to minimze breakage in a rough outdoor environment.
This method involves boiling water in a pot. Regardless of the size of the press, add about 1/2 inch to 3/4 on an inch of coarsely ground coffee to the bottom of the press. Now add hot water from a kettle and let it sit for one minute while you stir it gently with a spoon or stick. Flavour will improve if you stir the bloom at the top pf the pot. After the minute is up, gently press down on the plunger and pour yourself a cup of coffee! Dispose of the grounds into the fire.
The pour over method
The pour over method is a very portable brewing method for coffee that makes delicious coffee and is environmentally sound. It’s perfect for making coffee at home or on the go, using just a kettle and a filter cone.
As always, start by boiling water.
PRO TIP: In a pinch, you can make your own filters out of paper towel—just fold a sheet into quarters, along the diagonal. You’ll need to wet them before you put them in your cone. It’s best to buy pre-made filters if you don’t want to bother with this step. Cloth filters are reusable and have minimal environmental impact.
Place the filter in your cone over a cup or mug. Then boil water in a kettle and let it sit for one minute before pouring it through your filter into the cup below. This will help rid the water of any chlorine or other chemicals that might make their way into your cup later on (and give you bad-tasting coffee). Once all of the water has passed through the filter, remove it from underneath and enjoy!
Stovetop Espresso Maker
The Bialetti Moka Express is a stovetop espresso maker that’s been in production since 1933. It’s made of aluminum and has a two-chamber design that allows you to make your espresso right on top of your stovetop.
This little guy is great for camping, but it can also be used at home as well. Keep in mind that despite the name, this machne is technically not an espresso machine but more of a percolator.
We prefer the original from Bialetti because they’re the original makers of this product, but if you’re on a budget there are tons of knockoff versions available out there.
What makes mokha pots awesome for camping, is that you can store your coffee grounds right inside the base of this device. How handy and compact is that.
…and finally, avoid All Pods at all Costs
Increasingly, cars are equipped with inverters and bringing power into the back woods seems to be getting easier every year. So it’s more and more tempting to bring some sort of electrical appliance in to the back woods. But we are going to ask that you think twice before bringing your coffee pods into the wilderness.
But we are going to ask that you think twice before bringing your coffee pods into the wilderness—and here’s why:
First of all, coffee pods are terrible for the environment. They come with their own plastic packaging, which is not easily disposable in limited-to-no recycling facilities. Compostable pods will still remain in the environment for years.
So yeah… not good! Keep It simple smartypants
So Coffee While Camping? Heck Ya!
There are lots of ways to brew a good cup of coffee when camping but no matter how you choose to brew your camp coffee, it is always going to be good and it will taste so much better than instant coffee.
Somehow, cooking anything in the wild just tastes better and making coffee is no different.
