How to Make Coffee When Camping
Rules of making coffee when camping
There’s something magical about sipping a hot cup of coffee while surrounded by nature. For many campers, coffee isn’t just a beverage — it’s a ritual that kickstarts the day and adds comfort to the wilderness experience.
But making coffee outdoors comes with its own challenges: limited gear, unpredictable heat sources, and the need for clean water can turn a simple brew into a tricky task. Lucky for all, there’s a way to overcome these challenges! Just a couple of simple rules can help you to make your camping coffee is as satisfying under the stars as it is at home.
Pre-grind your coffee before you go
If you’re planning on camping for longer than 2 days, then pre-grinding your coffee beans at home and taking it with you in an air tight container will ensure your coffee stays fresh. Making sure your coffee is ground perfectly will make it easier to brew too.
Consider your coffee-to-water ratio
Firstly, don’t forget the water. When making your coffee whilst camping, it is vital to make sure that your water to coffee ratio is weighed out correctly. The recommended ratio to make a great coffee when camping is using 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 8 ounces of water. This ratio will ensure you will wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.
Don’t boil your coffee
This is vital when camping with coffee. The optimal brewing temperature for your coffee is 93 to 96 degrees Celsius. If the coffee starts to boil, and continues to boil for a prolonged time, then your coffee may develop a burn out taste.
Always clean your equipment
As with any coffee brewing equipment, always clean up after use. This is to avoid any burnt coffee taste when it comes to brewing your coffee the next morning.
Essential gear for coffee when camping
To brew great coffee in the wild, having the right gear makes all the difference. Start with a reliable brewing method — options like an AeroPress, French press, or pour-over cone are lightweight and easy to pack. A small manual grinder ensures fresh grounds, while a sturdy camping kettle or pot is essential for boiling water over a stove or campfire.
Don’t forget filters, whether paper or reusable, and an airtight container to keep your coffee fresh. Clean water is key, so pack a portable filter or purification tablets. Finally, an insulated mug will keep your coffee hot as you enjoy the sunrise. With these essentials, you can turn any campsite into your personal café.
Here’s a practical checklist of essential coffee gear for camping:
Brewing Equipment
• Portable Coffee Maker (options: French press, AeroPress, pour-over dripper, or moka pot)
• Coffee Grinder (manual hand grinder (lightweight and no electricity needed)
• Kettle (small camping kettle or pot for boiling water)
Coffee Essentials
• Coffee beans, grounds or instant coffee
• Coffee filters
• Paper or reusable mesh filters (if using pour-over or AeroPress).
• Measuring spoon or scale for consistent coffee-to-water ratio.
Heat Sourcent
• Camping Stove or Portable Burner
• Gas or multi-fuel stove for boiling water.
• Fuel
Water & Storage
• Filtered or bottled water for brewing.
• Water Filter or purifier
• Airtight container for storing coffee beans or grounds.
Best coffee for camping
When it comes to camping, the best coffee is one that balances flavor, convenience, and durability. Whole beans offer the freshest taste, but pre-ground coffee saves time and eliminates the need for a grinder — perfect for minimalist campers. Medium roast is a versatile choice, delivering a smooth flavor that works well with most brewing methods.
For those who prioritize simplicity, single-serve coffee bags or high-quality instant coffee can be lifesavers, requiring minimal gear and cleanup. Whatever you choose, store your coffee in an airtight container to keep it fresh and dry, ensuring every sip feels like a little luxury in the great outdoors.
Instant coffee
This is one of the easiest ways of getting great coffee whilst camping. With NESCAFÉ instant coffee, no expertise or equipment are needed to create great tasting coffee. All you need to do is add hot water and stir.
However, before adding hot water, make sure that it is fresh (bottled) or pre-filtered water. This will ensure your instant coffee won’t taste bitter or burnt. Also, be careful not to add too much water to your instant coffee, you don’t want to make your coffee taste weak or watery.
Coffee in a bag
Much like a tea bag, coffee in a bag is another simple and effective way to make coffee whilst camping. Coffee in a bag is not the same as instant coffee, the difference between them is that the coffee in the bag consists of ground beans which are packaged inside a large filter or paper bag.
All that needs to be done to make coffee with a “coffee bag”, is to pop the bag into your chosen travel mug, and then allow the bag to steep for a few minutes.
Pour-over coffee
Pour-over coffee, also known as drip coffee, is a favorite among campers for its simplicity and clean flavor profile. This method requires a coffee dripper, a filter, and your favorite mug. To brew, place the filter in the dripper, add freshly ground coffee, and slowly pour hot water in a circular motion over the grounds. This technique ensures even saturation, allowing the coffee to “bloom”—a process where carbon dioxide escapes, enhancing flavor extraction.
Fun fact: the pour-over method dates back to the early 1900s and is still considered one of the best ways to highlight the unique notes of specialty beans. While it takes a bit more time and precision than instant coffee, the result is a smooth, aromatic cup that feels like a luxury in the great outdoors.
How to make coffee when camping? Popular Brewing Methods
There have been many experiments over the years that have been trialled and tested to create some of the best and most popular camping coffee makers. Below are the best camping coffee makers that will make your camping with coffee concerns disappear.
Collapsible pour-over coffee makers (coffee drip bags)
This is a convenient option for those who love to make a pour-over coffee at home. For those who are looking to minimise space but maximise their coffee brewing at the campsite, this is a must have piece of kit.
The way to use them is to simply pop open the silicone coffee maker, and place a filter full of the grounds inside. This is when you need to heat up your water, whether it is in a pan or camping kettle, and then pour it over the grounds. Make sure to allow the coffee to bloom before pouring the water through straightaway, pour the water in a steady slow stream.
Cowboy coffee
Cowboy coffee is the ultimate back-to-basics brewing method, perfect for campers who love simplicity and tradition. This rustic technique requires nothing more than a pot, water, and coffee grounds. To make it, boil water over your campfire or stove, remove it from the heat, and stir in your coffee grounds. Let the mixture steep for a few minutes, then sprinkle a dash of cold water on top to help the grounds settle at the bottom.
Cowboy coffee has been a staple for ranchers and outdoorsmen since the 1800s, prized for its bold, unfiltered flavor. While it’s not as refined as pour-over or French press, it delivers a strong, hearty cup that feels perfectly at home under the open sky.
Aeropress coffee maker
The Aeropress is a go-to in the camping world. With the Aeropress there is no sacrifice of flavour. The Aeropress is compact and convenient and promises quality coffee with every brew. There are two ways to use the Aeropress, they are known as the inverted and the standard method. The standard method involves placing the AreoPress on top of your cup, filling it with warm water and coffee, placing the syringe-like plunger and then simply pressing down.
The inverted method begins with the AeroPress standing upside down on the plunger, filling this with coffee and hot water, and then flipping it onto the cup to then be pressed.
French Press
This cylindrical pot with a plunger has a built-in filter that presses hot water through fresh coffee grounds. The French Press uses force and pressure to push the coffee to the bottom of the pot after brewing. The French Press is incredibly easy to use and does not take up too much space at all, so won’t be a problem when it comes to taking up too much space in your tent.
Simply add water to the French Press and put the ground coffee into one of the filters. Once everything has been left to steep for a few minutes, the plunger should be pressed down until the brewed coffee has passed through into your mug.
Moka Pot
The Moka Pot is small and lightweight, making it an excellent choice for coffee loving campers. To use the Moka Pot, all you need to do is to simply fill up the lower chamber of the pot with water and to add the ground coffee to the filter basket. Screw the Moka Pot back together and then place over a low heat. When you hear the water started to boil remove the pot from the heat, and you will have delicious freshly brewed coffee.
There you have it, that is the end of our camping with coffee guide. Don’t let camping get in the way of great tasting coffee. If you want to know more about different ways to make coffee, then check out our guide on how to make the perfect coffee, next.
FAQ
Yes! Instant coffee is the easiest option for camping. While it won’t match freshly brewed coffee, high-quality brands can taste surprisingly good.
Using instant coffee or coffee bags is the simplest method — just add hot water. No extra gear required.
Not necessarily. You can make cowboy coffee with just a pot and water, but for better flavor, gear like an AeroPress or pour-over dripper helps.
The AeroPress is a top choice for campers — it’s lightweight, durable, and makes excellent coffee. French press and pour-over are also popular.
Yes, in most cases. AeroPress is lighter, easier to clean, and uses less water. French press makes richer coffee but is bulkier and harder to clean.
Pre-ground coffee is convenient, but a manual grinder gives you fresher flavor. If weight and simplicity matter, go with pre-ground.
Whole beans offer the best taste, pre-ground is practical, and instant is the easiest. Choose based on your gear and time.>
Store it in an airtight container away from moisture and heat. For longer trips, vacuum-sealed bags work best.
Filtered water removes impurities and minerals that can affect taste, giving you a cleaner, more balanced cup.
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