Starting your day with a hot cup of coffee is a blessing, especially on a camping trip. But keep in mind that making coffee while camping is a bit of a challenge. Several methods of making coffee while camping will be discussed in detail in this post.
It is always said making coffee is difficult while camping and is quite different from your kitchen. Also, it is difficult to make coffee for a large group camping. So you have to choose a method according to the situation, which we will describe later in this post. Consider different factors while making the coffee camping, such as the convenience, size of your party, and taste.
Select The Coffee Beans Carefully
Although experts always prefer grinding fresh coffee beans while camping, we can go for free ground coffee beans. However, fresh coffee beans will always give you the best flavor and freshness of coffee. While camping, we always prefer the convenience of making coffee and a light load.
You can also get manual burr grinders which are light in weight and easy to bring along on different trips. So you should invest in a lightweight and small-size manual burr grinder. And for boiling the water, you can take a small gas stove with you.
What Are the Best Ways to Make Coffee While Camping?
Let’s discuss in detail the 10 best ways to make coffee while camping.
1. Drip Coffee
Drip coffee is the simplest and easiest way to make coffee while camping. This method lets you make the coffee how you make it in your home and get the same quality you want.
For this purpose, you need coffee, hot water, and a filter. First, boil the water and let it cool for about 30 seconds. Waiting for the water to cool will ensure the coffee will not become too bitter. Then put the filter in the coffee dripper.
On the filter, put the coffee, and make sure you are using two tablespoons of coffee per cup of water. Then pour hot water on the coffee, ensuring all the coffee grounds become wet.
Then wait for the coffee to drip in your mug or carafe for about 3 to 5 minutes. After that, remove the filter, and your delicious cup of drip coffee is ready.
2. Cold Brew Coffee
Making cold brew coffee is also easy while camping and only requires simple ingredients. Consequently, you will be able to taste coffee smoothly. For making cold brew coffee, you require water, coffee, a container, and a strainer.
You can make cold brew coffee in Aeropress, french press, and even percolators.
First, you must mix the water and coffee grounds in a container. The amount of coffee and water depends on how strong the coffee you want. When you mix the coffee and the water, put the lid on the container and let it sit for 24 hours.
You can also wait for 12 hours if you want. After 12 or 24 hours, you have to strain the coffee. Then put the strainer over the new container and pour the coffee mixture into it.
When you strain all the coffee, you can enjoy your cold brew. However, on the other side, you can also add sugar or milk according to your personal preferences or liking.
3. The Simple Pour-Over Method
The simple pour-over method is old; you need simple equipment for this purpose. You have to go for a pour-over dripper and a cone filter. Make sure that you also have a long and thin-necked kettle.
Then place the pour-over dripper on the coffee mug, and boil the water on the other side. Then put the cone filter on the dripper and ensure you wet it first. Then add one or two tablespoons of ground coffee in one cup of water.
Then pour hot water on the coffee grounds and wait about 1 minute. Make sure that you are waiting for the coffee to bloom. After that, you must add the water in a circular pattern from the outside to the inner side and reverse the process. Remove the dripper when your camp mug is full, and enjoy your delicious coffee.
4. The Classic French Press Method
The classic French press method is also a convenient method when you are on a camping trip. To make this coffee, you need to bring a French press. However, you do not need any filter or anything other than hot water and coffee.
First of all, remove the top and plunger from the French press. Afterward, add one to 1.5 tablespoons of ground coffee to the French press. On the other side, boil the water and fill the French press.
Then again, place the plunger on top of the coffee. Then press the coffee down slowly to the bottom. After that, pull the plunger up and wait for the coffee grounds to set under the surface of the hot water.
Then wait about 4 minutes so all the coffee grounds are set properly. Then again, slowly press the plunger downward, pour the coffee, and enjoy it.
5. Espresso Pot Coffee
Espresso pot coffee is made in equipment named an espresso pot. It is perfect for campers and backpackers. You will be surprised that an espresso pot is compact and foldable, so you can easily take it. You can also call it similar equipment as a percolator pot.
The device has two parts, and it is a two-step process. First, boil water and pour hot water into the bottom of the espresso pot. Then take the basket and put coffee grounds in it.
After that, place the basket in the bottom chamber and screw the top part. Then heat the pot on low to medium flame. You can also take a camp stove to make coffee while camping. Heat it for about 6 to 10 minutes.
You have to heat it till the coffee seeps into the upper chamber. Remove it from the heat when the coffee comes into the upper chamber and gives Golden Honey color. After that, put cold water over the bottom chamber. Pour the coffee afterward into your mug and enjoy your coffee.
6. Scoop Top Method
If you want to make a cup of coffee without a bunch of equipment, then the scoop top method is just made for you. It is a simple and quick method and only requires a few things that you already have with you.
Now, you do not have to go for any complicated method, as making a cup of coffee is simple and easy. For this method, you must have a container to scoop the grounds, coffee grounds, a mug or a cup, and hot water.
First of all, scoop the desired amount of grounds into the container. Then pour hot water into that container and ensure all the grounds are wet. Then wait about 3 to 5 minutes for the mixture to steep down.
However, it all depends on how strong coffee you want. When the steeping processes are completed, stir the mixer quickly and pour the coffee into your mug or cup.
Most surprisingly, you will get a delicious cup of coffee through the scoop top method. I’m sure when you are out camping; you will surely want a scoop-top cup of coffee.
7. Grandpa’s Percolator Coffee
Grandpa’s percolator coffee method is an old method, and you might have seen this type of percolator in an antique store. To make a coffee through this method, you need a percolator pot.
It is a kettle with a lid and a little siphon window. It also contains a ground basket. First, fill the cattle with cold water and put the coffee grounds in the basket. Then put that basket in the kettle.
Then apply heat until you see that the water starts boiling in the siphon window. At this time, you have to reduce the heat and brew for about 10 minutes. Then you have to remove the percolator mechanism from the pot. At this time, wait for the coffee grounds to settle down. After that, pour your coffee and enjoy it.
8. Instant Coffee
Instant coffee is easy to make and is a blessing if you want to make it while camping or backpacking. For this purpose, you need only simple equipment which might be lightweight and compact.
Remember that there is a wide variety of instant coffee in the market. While camping, you always need an incredible-tasting instant coffee. So you can easily purchase instant coffee from any renowned brand.
Keep in mind that the exact method differs from brand to brand. However, the general idea is to put the instant coffee grounds in the cup. Then pour boiling water into it.
After that, stir the coffee with a spoon. Then you must wait a few seconds and ensure the powder is completely dissolved. The coffee you get through this method is so tasty that it refreshes your mood and mind.
9. Chemex Coffee
A Chemex coffee is a great choice if you are looking for an exotic taste while camping. The coffee you get through this method is free of bitterness and has a rich flavor.
To make the coffee through this method, you need a Chemex coffee maker, freshly ground coffee beans, a package of Chemex coffee filters, and water. First of all, place the Chemex coffee filter inside the coffee maker.
The three-layered sides of the filter must face up. Then put two tablespoons of freshly ground coffee into the filter and slowly pour the boiling water into it. Make sure that all the coffee grounds are wet.
The amount of water should be about twice the ground. Then wait for about 4 minutes for the coffee to brew. Remove the filter and the coffee grounds when the brewing process is completed.
10. Aeropress
Making coffee through Aeropress is a popular and simpler method for camping and backpacking. Aeropress is a small piece of equipment you can easily take while camping.
Make sure that along with Aeropress, you must have your filters along with you because you have to dispose of them. So keep this thing in mind Aeropress always needs more cleaning as compared to other methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can we make coffee while camping without a fire?
You can easily make coffee without fire with the help of an immersion blender. Adding your coffee grounds to boiling water in your blender is all you need to do. When you see that the water is boiled, then turn off the heat and put the immersion blender into the pot. Then blend the mixture for about 30 seconds and let it sit for 3 to 4 minutes.
How can we make coffee without electricity or gas?
You can go for solar ovens as they are a great way to heat the water for coffee. So it works without using any power. All you have to do is place your kettle or pot of water in the solar oven and let it sit for a few hours. Make sure that the water is hot enough to make the coffee instantly.
What is the simple method to make coffee?
The simple method to brew coffee is the drip method. In this method, you need a paper filter and a coffee cone. Then pour the hot water on the coffee grounds in a paper filter. The brewed coffee then slowly drips into the cup or pot with gravity. So, in this way, you can easily make delicious coffee, and you can make it in a very short time.
Final Thoughts
There are different ways you can make coffee while camping. You must choose the method that suits you according to your setup and the number of people. You can also go for an espresso pot percolator or a French press, which are very helpful for making coffee while camping with a large group.
On the other side, you can also take instant coffee or cowboy coffee for everyone. However, on the other side, if you are solo camping or camping with a small number of people, then you can choose the aero press or pour-over method for coffee brewing.
Ensure you also have custom camping mugs to enjoy your coffee properly. In this post, we have discussed the 10 best ways to make coffee while camping, from which you can choose the one according to your choice and convenience. You can comment in the comment section if you have any questions or tips.
Dr. Maksud Hassan is a medical doctor by profession and the co-founder of www.queekcoffee.com. He is a coffee lover, and he loves to advise people about the health benefits of coffee.
