How to Make Coffee Camping: 6 Methods Ranked, From Cowboy Coffee to AeroPress
The best way to make coffee camping is an AeroPress Go: great taste, one piece of gear, two minutes, and cleanup is popping out a puck. The cheapest way is cowboy coffee, which needs nothing but a pot and a little technique.
Anyone who has had coffee in the field knows the bar is low and the stakes are high. Here are six ways to clear it, ranked.
The G.O.O.D. Kit: AeroPress Go, a 20 oz tumbler, and two bags of Spectre. $99.99.
G.O.O.D. stands for Get Out Of Dodge. The AeroPress Go brews an 8 ounce cup with just hot water and packs inside its own mug at 11.4 ounces. The insulated tumbler keeps it hot for hours, and two 12 ounce bags of Spectre mean nobody rations coffee on day three. Just want the brewer? The AeroPress Go alone is $49.95.
Shop the G.O.O.D. KitAeroPress Go onlyRestocking the coffee after the trip? Subscribe to any roast and your first order is 30% off automatically, 15% off after.
What is the best way to make coffee while camping?
| Rank | Method | Taste | Weight | Cleanup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AeroPress Go | Excellent | Light | Easy, pop the puck |
| 2 | Collapsible pour over cone | Excellent | Lightest | Easy, pack out the filter |
| 3 | Camping French press | Very good, full body | Medium | Messy grounds |
| 4 | Percolator | Good if watched, bitter if not | Heavy | Messy |
| 5 | Cowboy coffee | Surprisingly good done right | Just a pot | Grounds in the pot |
| 6 | Instant | You know | Nothing | None |
1. How do you use an AeroPress when camping?
Heat water to just off the boil. Add about 15 grams of coffee (two rounded scoops) to the chamber, pour water to the top, stir for 10 seconds, wait a minute, and press slowly. Top it off with more hot water if you want a full mug. Pop the used puck into your trash bag and rinse.
2. Is pour over good for camping?
If you are counting ounces, a silicone collapsible dripper and paper filters are the lightest good-coffee option. The catch is you need a steady pour and a place to set the cup. Use a medium grind, bloom with a splash of water for 30 seconds, then pour slowly in circles.
3. Is a camping French press worth it?
You get a heavy, full-bodied cup and it makes coffee for two or three people at once. The downside is carrying the weight and dealing with wet grounds. Use a coarse grind or you will be drinking silt.
4. How do you make percolator coffee without it tasting bitter?
A percolator cycles boiling water through the grounds over and over, which is why it goes bitter fast. Use a coarse grind, keep it at a gentle perk instead of a rolling boil, and pull it off the heat after 6 to 8 minutes, as soon as the coffee in the glass knob looks right.
5. How do you make cowboy coffee?
This is the one to know, because it works with nothing but a pot and a fire.
- Bring water to a boil. Use about 2 tablespoons of coarse ground coffee per 8 ounces of water.
- Take the pot off the heat and let it sit 30 seconds so it is not scorching.
- Stir in the grounds. Let it steep 4 minutes.
- Pour in a small splash of cold water. It helps the grounds sink to the bottom.
- Pour slowly and leave the last inch in the pot. That last inch is where the grounds live.
Coarse grind and the cold splash are the difference between a good cup and chewing your coffee. A medium roast like Fire Watch is forgiving here.
6. Is instant coffee okay for camping?
It is light and it is caffeine. That is the full list of compliments. If weight is truly everything, bring it. Otherwise, a dripper and filters weigh almost nothing and taste like a completely different drink.
Should you bring whole bean or ground coffee camping?
Ground, unless you are bringing a hand grinder anyway. Grind at home to match your method (coarse for cowboy and French press, medium for pour over, fine for AeroPress), and pack it in a sealed bag. A few days is not long enough for it to go stale.
Camping high up? Water boils cooler at altitude, around 203°F at 5,000 feet, which is right in the range coffee likes. Pack out your used grounds instead of dumping them. They do not break down as fast as people think, and they attract critters.
Pack the good stuff
Grab the G.O.O.D. Kit for the full setup, or just the AeroPress Go and a bag of your roast. Then keep the pantry stocked for the next trip with a subscription: 30% off the first order automatically, 15% off after.
Shop the G.O.O.D. KitAll brewing gearQuestions people ask
What is the best way to make coffee while camping?
An AeroPress Go gives the best taste with the least gear and the easiest cleanup. For zero gear, cowboy coffee made with a coarse grind and a splash of cold water to settle the grounds works surprisingly well.
How do you make cowboy coffee?
Boil water, let it sit 30 seconds off the heat, stir in about 2 tablespoons of coarse ground coffee per 8 ounces, steep 4 minutes, add a splash of cold water to sink the grounds, and pour slowly.
What is the lightest way to make good coffee backpacking?
A collapsible silicone pour over dripper with paper filters is the lightest option that still makes excellent coffee. The AeroPress Go is a little heavier but more forgiving and easier to use.
What coffee should I bring camping?
Bring pre-ground coffee matched to your brew method, sealed in a bag. A smooth medium roast like Fire Watch is forgiving in cowboy coffee, and a dark roast like Spectre is great in an AeroPress.
Do you need a special coffee maker for camping?
No. A pot and a fire can make cowboy coffee. A dedicated travel brewer like the AeroPress Go just makes it faster, cleaner, and better tasting.
