How To Make Coffee While Camping: The Best Methods

What could be better than waking up with the world? And there’s no better way to enjoy it than with a delicious cup of joe in your hand.

But when you’re camping, you don’t have the same coffee maker you have at home, and there’s definitely no local coffee shop nearby.

Today, we’re going to talk about how to make your cup of coffee and get your caffeine fix while camping. We’ll walk through a few methods, then show you the best and easiest way to get that beautiful coffee made in time to savor that one-of-a-kind sunrise. Let’s get started.

Cowboy Coffee

One of the most classic ways to make camping coffee—and really, coffee in general—is called cowboy coffee. It’s one of the simplest ways to make coffee, and it gets the job done.

What You’ll Need

All you’ll need for this easy recipe is a kettle or coffee pot that can go over a flame, coarse coffee grounds, and water. The main perk of this recipe is that it requires minimal equipment, so you can have coffee without lugging a bunch of gear up to the campground.

How To Make Cowboy Coffee

To make your cowboy coffee, first assemble your ingredients. Grab your kettle and add your coffee and cold water. Use about two tablespoons of coffee and eight to 10 ounces of water per serving.

Next, put the kettle over the fire and watch closely. It will take a little while to heat up, but you’ll need to keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t brew for too long.

Take the kettle off the fire as soon as you see the first signs of boiling. Then, add a splash of cold water to cool it down and stop the brewing process.

Now, give it a stir and let it sit for a few minutes. During this time, the coffee grounds will settle to the bottom, effectively halting the brewing process. Bonus: this helps prevent you from slurping down any grounds. Once the grounds have settled, pour out your coffee and enjoy.

Pros and Cons of Cowboy Coffee

The pros of this method are that it’s easy and doesn’t require much equipment. However, it does require a relatively large kettle, which can take up space in your pack.

Additionally, this method doesn’t filter out the grounds well, so you might get a few in your cup. Plus, it’s easy to over-brew, leading to a bitter, burnt taste—not the best way to start your day.

Moka Pot

Another coffee method is the Moka pot, a special type of brewer that makes a coffee concentrate somewhere between black coffee and espresso.

Supplies

For this method, you’ll need ground coffee, a Moka pot, and water.

How To Make Moka Pot Coffee

Unscrew the top part of the pot. Remove the grounds basket and fill the bottom with water until just below the safety valve. Fill the basket with coffee grounds, but don’t press them down.

Now, reassemble your Moka pot and put it over the fire. Once the water in the bottom portion boils, the pressure will push the water through the grounds, and coffee will flow into the top section.

And there you have it! You can dilute it with hot water if you’d like, then drink up.

Pros and Cons of Moka Pot Coffee

This method makes excellent coffee if you know what you’re doing. However, it takes practice. It’s also an involved process and requires cleaning multiple parts, which can be a hassle while camping.

Additionally, a Moka pot only makes one or two cups at a time. If you’re brewing for a group, it will take a while.

Pour-Over

A pour-over is a popular method found in specialty coffee shops and used by casual drinkers and experts alike.

What You’ll Need

To make a pour-over, you’ll need a coffee mug, a pour-over funnel, a coffee filter (paper or metal), coffee grounds, and boiling water.

How To Make Pour-Over Coffee

Place the pour-over funnel on top of your mug. Put your filter in the funnel and add your grounds. Pour hot water over the grounds in small bursts and watch the coffee drip into your mug.

Use about two tablespoons of grounds and 10 ounces of water per serving.

Pros and Cons of Pour-Over Coffee

While this method makes delicious coffee, it requires equipment and is an involved process. Plus, it only makes one or two cups at a time, making it inefficient for large groups.

French Press

Ahh, the classic French press—one of the most iconic ways to brew coffee.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need a French press brewer, coffee grounds, and hot water.

How To Make French Press Coffee

Boil your water. While waiting, prepare your coarse-ground coffee beans. Add the grounds to the French press, pour in the hot water, let it steep, then press the plunger down.

Now pour out your great cup of coffee and savor the flavor.

Pros and Cons of French Press Coffee

While it makes rich coffee with great flavor, most French presses only make two to three servings. The brewers are also too large for backpacking trips.

Aeropress

The Aeropress is a unique, innovative brewing method that some coffee drinkers love. Think of it as an upside-down French press.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need an Aeropress brewer, Aeropress filters, coffee grounds, hot water, and a mug.

How To Make Aeropress Coffee

Boil water. Prepare your grounds and filter, then place the filter into the circular screen and screw it onto the bottom of the brewer. Add grounds, pour in hot water, let it sit for two minutes, then press the plunger down.

Pros and Cons of Aeropress Coffee

This method is flexible—it can make a regular cup or an espresso-like concentrate. However, it requires practice and extra equipment, which isn’t ideal for campers wanting to limit their gear.

Instant Coffee

Instant coffee is one of the easiest brewing methods—no barista skills required.

What You’ll Need

All you need is instant coffee, hot water, and a mug.

How To Make Instant Coffee

Boil water, pour it into a mug, add instant coffee, stir, and enjoy.

Pros and Cons of Instant Coffee

It’s easy and convenient, but it can taste strange and has reduced caffeine levels due to the dehydration process.

Javvy Coffee Concentrate

Now, let’s talk about our favorite way to make the best camp coffee: coffee concentrate. It combines ease and deliciousness into one.

What You’ll Need

All you need is a bottle of Javvy Coffee Concentrate, water, and a mug.

How To Make Javvy Coffee

Prepare hot or cold water. Add one or two tablespoons of concentrate, stir, and enjoy.

Pros and Cons of Javvy Coffee Concentrate

It’s as easy as instant coffee but retains all the flavor and caffeine. No extra equipment is needed, and it’s flexible—perfect for hot or cold coffee.

The Best Camp Coffee

Next time you hit the campgrounds, bring a bottle of Javvy. Ditch the bulky coffee maker and make room for what matters. With Javvy Coffee Concentrate, you can have a perfect cup whether car camping, backpacking, or deep in the backcountry.

And if you brew some Javvy at the campgrounds, take a picture and tag us on Instagram @javvy.coffee—we’d love to see your coffee and the beautiful scenery.