How To Make Coffee While Camping: 8 Great Ways

There’s nothing like sitting over a campfire in the morning, overlooking the still, misty lake while enjoying a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee. One of the best parts about camping is having a cup of coffee over the campfire to warm you up.

Whether you’re camping in the backcountry, or are staying in a car or RV, you don’t have to sacrifice your morning cup of coffee while camping.

Here are 8 great ways how to make coffee while camping, so you can make a fresh cup wherever the adventure takes you.

1. Instant Coffee

Instant coffee is one of the easiest and quickest ways to make coffee while camping. It’s a great option if you want to pack light and compact.

Instant coffee can come in packets or containers you can easily bring along with you on your camping trip.

What Is Instant Coffee?

Instant coffee is made from brewed coffee beans that have had all of the water removed from them afterward.

Instant coffee comes in the form of dry coffee granules that need hot water to be made into a fresh cup of coffee.

Drinking coffee by the fire while camping

How To Make Instant Coffee While Camping

To make instant coffee while camping, simply put one or two teaspoons of instant coffee into your mug.

Then, boil the water in your kettle over the campfire or another heat source and pour the water into your mug.

You can adjust the strength of your coffee by adding more instant coffee or water.

2. Coffee In A Bag

Coffee in a bag is another simple way to make coffee while out camping that doesn’t require much equipment or extra tools.

You might be wondering, what exactly is coffee in a bag?

What Is Coffee In A Bag?

For all of the lightweight campers out there, another simple option is coffee in a bag.

Coffee in a bag is ground coffee put into a coffee filter and tied up with twist ties.

Essentially, you’ll be making your coffee tea bag style which is simple and guarantees you a fresh, flavourful cup of coffee.

How To Make Coffee In A Bag For Camping

Fortunately, you don’t need any special equipment to make coffee bags for camping.

Take a paper coffee filter, fill it up with about 2 ounces of freshly ground coffee, and twist it closed.

You can use twist ties or strings to tie the filter shut.

When you’re ready to make your coffee, boil hot water over the campfire and put it in your favorite mug.

Then, put the coffee bag into the mug and let it steep for 5 minutes and enjoy your fresh brew.

3. Pour-Over Coffee

Pour-over coffee is best for campers who want to pack light and are looking for an alternative to instant coffee.

The best pour-over coffee option for backcountry or lightweight campers is paper pour-over filters, which we’ll go over here.

What Is Pour-Over Coffee?

Pour-over coffee is coffee that is made by pouring hot water over coffee grounds inside of a filter.

The coffee then drips out of the filter into your coffee mug.

There are several different types of pour-over filters such as paper, silicone, or a pour-over travel mug with a built-in filter.

When camping, we recommend the paper coffee filters as they are the most compact and easiest option to bring along.

How To Make Pour-Over Coffee While Camping

Making pour-over coffee while camping is similar to making instant coffee or coffee in a bag.

It’s best to use single-serving pour-over filters when camping.

To make a pour-over coffee while camping, place the paper frame filter over the top of your mug.

Then, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of coffee to the paper filter.

Boil your kettle or water over the campfire and slowly pour the boiling water over the pour-over pouch.

4. Moka Pot

A Moka pot is a great option for coffee enthusiasts who love espresso and don’t mind bringing a portable coffee maker with them on their camping trip.

What Is A Moka Pot?

A Moka pot is a stove-top espresso coffee maker that consists of three parts: the bottom reservoir, the metal filter, and the serving carafe at the top.

There are different types of Moka pots and even electric Moka pots.

We’ll be looking at stovetop Moka pots which can be easily used while camping.

How to make coffee with a moka pot while camping

How To Make Coffee With A Moka Pot While Camping

Making coffee with a Moka pot takes a few minutes and a few simple steps.

  1. First, take your funnel and place it over the bottom basin of the Moka pot. 
  2. Fill the funnel up with ground coffee to be about ¾ full. You can either use pre-ground coffee or grind your own coffee if you prefer. 
  3. Next, boil your kettle or water and fill the bottom basin with the boiled water. Filling the bottom basin with pre-boiled water will give you a better-tasting coffee. 
  4. Place the funnel of coffee into the bottom basin. 
  5. Place the Moka pot on top of your stove or over the campfire. Leave the top of the Moka pot open so that you can see the coffee pour into the carafe. 
  6. Once the coffee starts to come out quickly, close the top of the Moka pot and remove the Moka pot from the stove or campfire.
  7. Enjoy, your Moka pot coffee is finished!

5. AeroPress

For those who are looking for a way to make coffee while camping that has the quickest and easiest clean-up, an AeroPress is a perfect choice for you.

It’s a great choice for those who are not worried about packing a little extra into their camping gear bag.

What Is An AeroPress? 

An AeroPress is a coffee maker that consists of three parts: the brew chamber, the plunger, and the coffee filter.

It’s very durable and can make up to three cups of coffee at once.

How to make coffee while camping with an aeropress

How To Make Coffee With An AeroPress While Camping

To make coffee with an AeroPress while camping, first you need to place the filter inside of the cap and attach it to the brew chamber.

Then, put the brew chamber on top of your coffee mug with the opening facing up.

Grind 5 tablespoons of coffee beans, or use pre-ground coffee beans and place them into the bottom of the brew chamber.

Next, boil the water in your kettle or pot and slowly pour enough water into the chamber so that the grounds are wet.

Wait for 10 seconds and then pour in the water until the brew chamber is nearly full. 

Wait for 2 minutes, then put the plunger into the top of the brew chamber and press down slowly until you reach the bottom. Enjoy your cup of coffee.

6. Camping French Press

A typical french press doesn’t have the best design for camping because of its glass exterior.

Ditch your traditional french press and switch it for a camping French press for your next camping trip instead.

What Is A Camping French Press?

A camping french press is one that is specifically designed for camping – it’s durable, sealed, and designed to hold in heat.

Although there are many different types of camping French presses on the market, most are made of stainless steel, use plastic instead of glass, and have thermally insulating sheaths to hold heat in.

How To Make Coffee With A Camping French Press 

Making a coffee with a camping french press is simple.

Spoon the coffee grounds into the bottom of the french press.

Pour in a small amount of hot water to de-gas the french press.

Then, fill the container with hot water, stir and wait for 8-10 minutes.

Depress the plunger and pour your coffee into your favorite mug to enjoy!

7. Stove-top Percolator 

A stove-top percolator is a great option for those camping in RV’s or car camping.

It’s an old-fashioned method that many coffee drinkers love, especially those who love a strong cup of coffee.

What Is A Stove-Top Percolator?

A stove-top percolator is a pot that brews coffee by cycling the boiling brew through the coffee grounds.

A metal tube runs up into a metal basket at the bottom that’s filled with coffee grounds. As the water boils, it percolates up the tube and into the basket.

Depending on the size of the stove-top percolator, you can make enough coffee for large groups in one go.

How To Make Coffee With A Stove-Top Percolator While Camping

Making coffee with a stove-top percolator takes a bit more time than the other methods mentioned, but you’ll get a guaranteed delicious cup of coffee at the end.

Open the lid of the percolator and take out the tube and basket.

Fill the percolator with water and place two tablespoons of coffee grounds per serving into your basket.

Put a round paper filter into the percolator’s basket and put both the basket and tube back into the kettle.

Place the lid on top and set your percolator onto the campfire or heat source.

Let your coffee perk for 8-10 minutes, then take it off the heat source.

Let the coffee rest for two minutes before serving so that any floating grounds can settle. And there you have it, your coffee is ready.

8. Cowboy Coffee

If you’ve ever gone camping only to forget your coffee maker, cowboy coffee is the perfect backup plan.

If you remember to pack your coffee grounds and a pot, you can make cowboy coffee while camping.

What is Cowboy Coffee?

Cowboy coffee is coffee that’s made with just a kettle or pot, boiling water, and coffee grounds.

It’s the best way to make a cup of coffee if you have limited supplies and want a quick cup of joe.

How To Make Cowboy Coffee While Camping

There are two ways to make cowboy coffee while camping: the scoop top method and the sink down method.

Here is how you can make cowboy coffee using either of these two methods.

Scoop Top Method

  • Boil a kettle filled with water on a campfire or heat source.
  • Remove the kettle from the heat and spoon coffee grounds into it.
  • Place the kettle back on to low heat and let it simmer.
  • Scoop the coffee grounds off of the water’s surface and enjoy.

Sink Down Method

  • Boil a kettle filled with water on a campfire or heat source.
  • Remove the kettle from the heat and add coffee grounds in.
  • Place the kettle back on to low heat and simmer.
  • Some of the coffee grounds will sink to the bottom after a few minutes.
  • Put a small amount of cold water on top to allow the grounds to sink to the bottom.
  • Then, pour the coffee into your mug carefully, so as not to let the coffee grounds rise from the bottom of the kettle.

Top 3 Best Portable Coffee Grinders

For those who like to grind their own coffee grounds to make coffee while camping, you’ll need a portable coffee grinder.

Having an efficient, high-quality coffee grinder is the key to making a fresh-tasting cup of coffee, wherever you are.

We’ve put together a list of the top 3 best portable coffee grinders to consider for your next camping trip.

Here are the top 3 best portable coffee grinders. 

1Zpresso Q2 Manual Coffee Grinder

This coffee grinder has garnered a lot of attention from the coffee world for its high-quality results and unbeatable price.

The Q2 coffee grinder is lightweight, durable, and weighs only 9.2 oz which makes it perfect for camping.

It’s made of durable co-polyester and is a high-quality grinder for a great price.

Check it out on Amazon here.

Orphan Espresso Fixie Coffee Grinder

Orphan Espresso is known for its quality portable coffee grinders, and the Fixie coffee grinder is no different.

The grinder comes with three fixie discs that allow you to set the grinder to a fine, medium, or coarse setting.

This coffee grinder is durable, weighs just 11.5 oz, and is perfect for traveling and camping.

Check it out on Amazon here.

Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder

The Porlex mini stainless steel coffee grinder is another great choice for travelers and campers looking to pack light and who are on the go.

This coffee grinder grinds accurately, quickly and has an easy-to-grip shape that makes it easy to take on your next camping trip.

The Porlex is made of solid stainless steel and has an adjustable grinder that grinds fine, coarse, and in between coffee grounds.

Check it out on Amazon here.

What’s the easiest way to make coffee while camping?

If you’re simply looking for the easiest way to make coffee while camping that requires the least amount of work and equipment, instant coffee is the way to go.

Simply boil a kettle (or boil some water in a pot on a campfire), scoop your instant coffee into your favorite mug, pour in the water and your coffee is ready.

How to make coffee while camping

Final thoughts on making coffee while camping

Making coffee while camping can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many ways you can do so successfully and with minimal equipment or skill required.

This article has provided 8 great tips on how to make the perfect cup of joe in any situation – whether that is deep in the wilderness or just next door at your local campground.

Hey, you can even try these methods at home to spice up your morning brew!

Leave a Comment