Whether youre pitching your bell tent, loading the RV or packing your backpack tight for a multi day adventure, somehow theres always room for coffee. Or there should be.
Long gone are the days of forcing instant coffee down simply for the caffeine – these days, when glamping it or sleeping out on the trails, theres a brewer for you. Its possible to take a nearly complete espresso setup while out on your hols nowadays – so if youre looking for a little luxury you can count on great coffee at least.
But even if youre travelling super light, theres no reason to go without quality coffee. Along with the more traditional campsite brew methods, the list below just keeps going – right to the best ultra light, and most packable coffee methods.
Read on and well show you that camping coffee can take many forms, so you need never suffer through a cup of instant coffee again. Not on our watch.
Sink Down Method Heat a kettle or pot of water until boiling. Remove from heat and add coffee grounds in. Return to low heat and simmer. Some of the coffee grounds should start to sink to the bottom after a few minutes.
The Classic One Cup Filter / Dripper
If youve ever used a one cup pour over brewer, it may have occurred to you that this thing could go on the road. One cup drippers are ideal for camping coffee, especially if youre flying solo or with a hiking buddy.
Small and fairly pack-able, all you need are coffee grounds, the cone itself, and a few paper filters. Pour over can produce a rich, complex brew with a mouthfeel many swear by. The only sacrifice you need to make is a little time, patience and technique.
Though perhaps less suitable for bad weather and altitude, pour over brewers can still provide high quality coffee on hikes, or by the campfire.
Pros
- Great quality, smooth coffee
- Relatively easy to make
- Light and requires minimal gear
Cons
- Brewer can be a little awkward if packing tight
- Can only brew for one at a time
- Paper filters generate waste
Things You Need
- One cup pour over dripper
- Ground coffee (fine)
- Mug or cup
Brew Guide
- Boil 250-350ml of water (depends on the size of the dripper).
- Place the dripper on the lip of your cup, and place the paper filter in the dripper.
- Pour a small amount of water through the filter, then discard.
- Scoop around 15-20g of coffee into the centre of the filter.
- Pour around a quarter of your water over the grounds, to start the blooming process. This will activate the coffee and begin releasing the oils and aromas.
- After around 30 seconds, begin to slowly pour water over the coffee grounds. If you can (i.e. you have a kettle or easy pour boiler) work outwards from the centre in a circular motion.
- Keep pouring (slowly) until the cup is full.
The pour over method offers a little more luxury if you are making coffee while camping alone or with a friend – but if youre hitting the trails or bikepacking, it could still be a little awkward.
Luckily, the good folk who think about these things already got to this. Enter the travel dripper – offering pretty much the same experience as the one cup, but this time in an ultra light, ultra pack-able collapsible cone.
This is one I have sampled myself on the trails. Barely perceptible in your bag when packed, along with the filters it weighs basically zilch. So long as you can find a place to sit a cup (and the winds are not too crazy), youd be surprised where you can brew with this.
And the brew itself is surprisingly good, which can amount to a slightly surreal experience out in the wild – coffee this good on the trails just shouldnt be!
Pros
- Ultra Light
- Collapsible design makes it super easy to pack
- Easy enough to use on the trail (though not in high wind)
Cons
- Rubber construction might be off-putting for purists
- You need an appropriately sized coffee cup
Things You Need
- Travel dripper
- Freshly ground coffee (ideally)
- A way to boil water
Brew Guide
We dont need to walk you through this one, assuming you read the method above. If not, then the method is above. The only difference is when you unpack the brewer, you need to pop it out into shape. Sit on the cup, and proceed as above.
If you do aim to use this on the go, we would recommend investing in a dedicated compact camping boiler. Not only will your water be water quicker, but these guys are normally a lot easier to pour from, vs a traditional pot (assuming you didnt bring a kettle up the mountain, of course).
You cant talk about travel coffee without mentioning the Aeropress Go. Frankly, Im surprised we made it this far. If youre gonna make coffee while camping, love espresso, and hate cleaning up, this is your guy.
Allowing you to brew camp coffee under pressure, making coffee something akin to espresso, the Aeropress is a campsite miracle. And it cleans itself! Well, kinda.
It has distinct advantages, and a few drawbacks. Relatively light, so long as you have hot water and coffee grounds you can force out very decent, freshly brewed coffee pretty much anywhere.
That said, the standard model is a little clunky, but the Aeropress Go is much more packable (and thoughtfully incorporates a cup and scoop too). Its not as light as the travel dripper, but not much heavier, and all waste generated is biodegradable (if you use the metal filter).
Pros
- Measures on the side make it easy to brew
- Comes with scoop and cup
- More espresso like coffee than other light brewers
Cons
- Can still feel bulky when packing light
Things You Need
- Medium/fine ground coffee
- Mug (be sure the Aeropress fits before you head off)!
- Boiling water
Brew Guide
- Bring water to a boil.
- Grind your coffee medium fine, a little finer than youd use for pour over.
- Attach the filter and place the brewing chamber on top of your mug or cup.
- Add around 15g ground coffee to the chamber.
- Add 225 ml of boiling water quickly.
- Stir back and forth three times, then add the plunger attachment, to build pressure.
- After a minute or so, remove the plunger attachment and stir again in the same way.
- Replace the plunger, and push down slowly for around 20 seconds to pull your shot.
The Aeropress is still a great travel brewer, and handy for backpackers and cyclists too. It might seem a cliche, but its hard to overlook this modern classic.
If you prefer french press coffee and simply cant live without, there are travel presses to itch that scratch. Quick, easy and able to brew for many or few, the versatile press is a classic. The travel press offers all of the above, but in a more robust and slightly more portable package.
If you need camp coffee for the whole gang, and arent too fussy (but cant stomach instant coffee) the french press is a strong option. Camping coffee neednt be a chore – keep it simple, kick back and enjoy nature the lazy way.
Pros
- Brew for up to six people
- Can boil water over open fire
- Easy to clean and no waste
Cons
- Coffee can easily over extract
- Not easily packable
Things You Need
- Boiling Water
- Coarse Ground Coffee
- Paper Filters (Optional)
Brew Guide
- Use medium or coarse ground beans.
- Boil water, and leave to cool slightly (to avoid burning the coffee grounds)
- You want to achieve a ratio of roughly 1:15 coffee to water. For a 4 cup brewer, use 64gs of coffee, and add 950 ml of water.
- Add the coffee to the press, and slowly pour hot water (but not quite boiling) slowly over the grounds. Stir the water and coffee grounds together gently.
- Add the lid, and depress the french press plunger to just above the water line.
- Leave for 3-4 minutes, and then very slowly depress the plunger until it reaches the ground coffee.
- Pour, and enjoy.
A favourite home coffee maker, for those who want their usual creature comforts on the road, the french press is also a treasured way to make coffee while camping too.
Portable Hand Press Espresso Maker
If you want something akin to authentic espresso, but without the bulk of something like the Bellman, these guys are well worth a whirl. Hand press brewers do probably require the most elbow grease – but if youre fit enough to run the trails, this shouldnt phase you at all.
Pressure is generated by hand pumping the machine, which forces hot water through the grounds to create your espresso. All you need to do is pump, boil water, add coffee to the basket, add water, and before you know it youll be drinking coffee like don. For the espresso purist, who travels light and flies solo when camping, theres no perhaps better way to enjoy your camping coffee.
Pros
- All in one so easy to pack and impossible to lose a part
- As close as youll get to espresso in the wilds
- Often compatible with pods (as well as fresh coffee)
Cons
- Not the cheapest option
- No steamer, so its espresso or Americano only
- Pumping to pressure can be hard work
Things You Need
- Boiling water
- Finely ground coffee
- Your hand press gadget of choice
Brew Guide
As all of these guys work slightly differently, this is not a precise guide – but should help with dosing and recipe ideas at the very least.
- First, pump the machine up to pressure. Most hand pumped machines have a pressure gauge to let you know when youre there.
- Grin your coffee ultra fine. Add coffee to the basket – around 7-8gs will do it.
- Add water to the reservoir – youll be surprised how little at first, but remember this is a one shot brewer. %0ml will do it.
- Activate the pressure, and hold or place the brewer over the cup as the water is forced through the grounds into your cup.
If you want something a little more homely, the stovetop espresso maker can do a very decent job. Often referred to as a Moka pot, its ideal for brewing camp coffee, and can produce a thicker, espresso like brew at higher volume – making them perfect for camping trips with groups or the family too.
With a distinctive hourglass shape, they normally consist of two slightly conical chambers which screw together, with a coffee basket in the top of the bottom chamber. Water is wicked up through the coffee, where it bubbles and flows out of the central stem into the top chamber. Simply load, place over heat, and wait.
Although portable, they are a little clunky and heavy – though you may just about be able to lug a one-man pot on a multi day hike. For a gang who want a better brew but perhaps not at the expense of the Bellman, stovetop espresso makers are a great in-between.
Pros
- Strong, espresso like coffee
- Can be single serve, or brew for the gang (depending on size)
- Rugged aluminium design makes these practically unbreakable
Cons
- Better suited to camping stoves
- Can be awkward to carry and pack
Things You Need
- Finely ground coffee (espresso grind)
- Cold water
Brew Guide
- Unscrew the pot, and separate the two chambers. Remove the coffee basket from the lower half.
- Fill the lower chamber with water to just below where the coffee basket will sit.
- Place the coffee basket fitting back into the lower chamber.
- Scoop finely ground coffee into the basket, filling the basket but not packing too tight.
- Screw the top chamber on tightly, and place the brewer on the heat.
- When the brewer starts to make a popping sound, the water is passing through. You want a gentle flow of water, so if its too fast, remove from the heat or turn down.
- Youre ready to enjoy your coffee!
One option is to forego a coffee maker altogether, and simply take your own coffee bag on the road. No coffee filter, no pre-ground coffee, no grinder, no coffee grounds to dispose of. And importantly, no instant coffee is required.
But what price do you pay for leaving the camping coffee maker behind? Although the brew wont rival many of the methods on the list, you can still get a pretty good coffee from a bag. Purists will scoff, but if your imperative is to travel light, and especially if youre day hiking or running the trails, coffee bags can certainly fill a hole.
Even better, you can make your own coffee bags, so you can take your favourite blend out with you.
Pros
- Super light
- No gear required at all!
- Only requires boiling water and a cup
Cons
- Coffee is not as rich or complex as other methods
- You will need to carry the waste
Things You Need
- Coffee bag
- Cup
- Boiling water
Brew Method
To Make Your Own Coffee Bag:
- You can use a standard coffee filter. Lay it flat on a board.
- Grind medium fine coffee (or buy from the store).
- Scoop up the filter over the coffee, and tie with string or twine tightly.
To Brew:
Boil water to a rolling boil. Place your coffee bag in your cup, and pour over the water. Allow to steep for 90 secs/2 mins, remove the bag from the cup, and enjoy!
Percolator camp coffee is not to be overlooked. Not quite as low rent as Cowboy, but definitely not as upmarket as the Bellman, percolator coffee has the advantage of volume – allowing you to brew once for the whole family or camping gang. So long as theyre not too fussy.
Easy to brew, and suitable for an open campfire, percolator coffee is perfect for those who want an easy life – and dont plan on doing any hiking.
Pros
- Super easy to use
- Great for groups
- Retains heat well
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not the greatest quality coffee
- Bulky, so impractical for hiking
Things You Need
- Coarse ground coffee
- Campfire or camping stove
- Campfire percolator
Brew Guide
- Take the top off of the percolator, remove the basket and filter, and fill the pot to just below where the basket will sit.
- Place the basket back in the pot. Fill with coffee.
- Add the filter on top of the basket, and then put the lid back on the percolator.
- Put the percolator on the campfire, suspend above, or fire up the camping stove.
- Let the kettle come to the boil. This will force the water to bubble up through the coffee, and don’t be alarmed if the pot gurgles and even spits a little.
- Boil for 4-6 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, and pour.
Making a Good Pot of Campfire Coffee
FAQ
How do you make coffee without burning it?
How do you make coffee without fire or electricity?
How did Cowboys make coffee on the trail?
How do you make coffee without a filter?
Powder-fine grounds are added to an ibrik or cezve along with cold water and sugar. The mixture is then heated to just below boiling point, then removed from the heat – then the process is repeated. The coffee is poured without filtering, and the grounds are left to settle in the cups before drinking.
Is it safe to drink instant black coffee without sugar on an empty stomach?
Drinking instant black coffee without sugar on an empty stomach might cause stomachache. You can change the black coffee to a softer coffee or add some milk.
How to make coffee without a coffee maker?
Check out more pins on coffee, coffee machines or other ways on how to make coffee without coffee maker . French press coffee is the way of making coffee by mixing hot water and coffee grounds in a glass carafe and then inserting a fine mesh filter into the carafe which is then slowly pushed down to trap the grounds in the bottom of the carafe.
Can you make coffee over an open fire?
There are plenty of ways to make coffee over an open fire, no dead dinosaurs required. A percolator is a totally self-contained way to make a great cup of coffee over an open fire. No separate filters, and still a quality cup. It is a gizmo still, but I can use it both indoors and outdoors equally well.