How to Make Great Coffee While Camping: 6 Easy Methods

The best camping coffee is the one you'll actually make at 6am in the cold. For most people that's a pour-over dripper or an AeroPress with pre-measured grounds. If you're cooking for a group, a French press or moka pot does the job. Below are six ways to make good camping coffee, what to pack, and the small fixes that make a big difference.

We brew a lot of coffee outdoors. Road trips, campsites, a quiet pullout before the sun clears the ridge. These are the methods that have earned a spot in our bag.

Quick answer: which camping coffee method should you use?

What to pack for camping coffee

• Coffee. Whole beans plus a hand grinder if you want the freshest cup. Otherwise, grind at home and pack it in an airtight container.
• A kettle. A gooseneck helps with pour-over, but any pot works.
• Your brewer and the right filters.
• A small scale or a measuring scoop. Measuring is the easiest way to make camp coffee taste like home.
• An insulated mug or bottle to keep it hot.
• A trash bag for grounds and filters. Pack them out.

1. Pour-over: the cleanest cup at camp

A plastic or collapsible dripper weighs almost nothing and makes a cup that tastes like it came from a café.

1. Heat water to just off the boil (about 30 seconds after it stops boiling).
2. Use about 20g of medium-fine coffee for 320g of water (roughly a 1:16 ratio).
3. Pour a little water to wet the grounds and wait 30 seconds. This is the bloom.
4. Pour the rest slowly in circles. Aim to finish in 2.5–3.5 minutes.

Tip: Wind cools your water fast. Brew in the shelter of your car or tent vestibule.

2. AeroPress: the solo traveler's favorite

It's nearly unbreakable, easy to clean, and forgiving. That makes it a strong pick for backpacking and early starts.

1. Add about 15g of medium-fine coffee.
2. Pour in 220–250g of hot water and stir for 10 seconds.
3. Wait about 1.5–2 minutes, then press gently.
4. Pop the puck of grounds into your trash bag. Rinse and done.

3. French press: coffee for the whole campsite

If you're making coffee for four, a French press is the simplest way to do it at once. Look for a steel or insulated one, not glass.

1. Use coarse grounds at about a 1:15 ratio (for example, 50g coffee to 750g water).
2. Add hot water, stir, and put the lid on.
3. Steep 4 minutes, then press slowly and pour everything out right away so it doesn't turn bitter.

4. Moka pot: strong coffee on a camp stove

The moka pot makes a small, intense cup that's great on its own or stretched with hot water. It sits right on a camp stove.

1. Fill the bottom chamber with hot water up to the valve.
2. Fill the basket with fine-ish grounds (a little coarser than espresso). Level it, don't tamp.
3. Brew on low-to-medium heat with the lid open. When it starts to sputter, take it off the heat.

Tip: Starting with hot water shortens the brew time and keeps the coffee from tasting burnt.

5. Cowboy coffee: no gear, no problem

All you need is a pot, water, and coarse coffee. It's the classic campfire method for a reason.

1. Bring water to a boil, then take it off the heat for 30 seconds.
2. Stir in about 2 tablespoons of coarse coffee per 8 oz of water.
3. Let it steep 4 minutes. Add a splash of cold water to help the grounds sink.
4. Pour slowly so the grounds stay at the bottom.

Campfire rules change with the season and location, so check conditions and fire restrictions before you go. A camp stove is often the safer choice.

6. Cold brew: the hot-weather option

Heading to the desert or on a long summer drive? Make cold brew before you leave or right at camp.

1. Combine coarse coffee and cold water at about 1:8 in a jar.
2. Let it steep 12–18 hours in a cooler or shaded spot.
3. Strain through a paper filter or cloth. Dilute to taste.

Brewing at altitude

Water boils at a lower temperature the higher you go, roughly 1°F lower for every 500 feet. At a high-Sierra campsite, your "boiling" water may already be well under 200°F. To compensate, grind a little finer or steep a little longer. Use water right at the boil instead of letting it cool first.

Choosing a coffee for camping

Outdoors, simple and comforting usually wins. Medium and darker roasts hold up well in a French press or moka pot, and they're forgiving if your water temperature isn't perfect. Lighter roasts shine in a pour-over when you have a few extra minutes to get it right.

• For a bold campfire cup: Summit Camp, our dark roast.
• For an easygoing morning brew: Fireside Blend, a Brazil and Colombia medium roast.
• For a bright pour-over at sunrise: Guji Rift Bloom, an Ethiopian light-medium roast.

Camping coffee FAQ

How do you make coffee while camping without a coffee maker?

Make cowboy coffee: steep coarse grounds in hot water in a pot for about 4 minutes, let the grounds settle, and pour slowly.

Should I bring whole beans or ground coffee camping?

Whole beans with a hand grinder give the freshest flavor. Pre-ground is fine for short trips if you store it airtight and away from heat and sunlight.

What is the easiest camping coffee method?

An AeroPress or a single-cup pour-over dripper. Both are light, quick, and easy to clean.

How do I keep coffee hot at camp?

Preheat your insulated mug or bottle with a splash of hot water, then pour your coffee in right after brewing.

Camping coffee gear we recommend

You don't need much to brew well outdoors. These are the kinds of gear that match the methods above. Each link goes to the maker's own site, so you can check current models, sizes and prices before you buy.

• AeroPress. Compact, tough and easy to clean, which is why it's a go-to for solo trips. See the travel-friendly options at AeroPress.
• Pour-over dripper. A lightweight plastic dripper is hard to beat for car camping and road trips. Take a look at Hario or the collapsible drippers from Snow Peak.
• Moka pot. A classic stovetop brewer for strong, small cups. Find one at Bialetti.
• Hand grinder. Fresh-ground coffee at camp, no power needed. Browse Timemore.
• Insulated mug or camp French press. Keeps your coffee hot while you take in the view. Check out Stanley.

Start with one brewer you'll use every trip. Add the rest as you go.

Start your next brew

The best part of camping coffee isn't the gear. It's the ten quiet minutes while it brews. Pack a bag you're excited about and see where the morning goes.

Find your next coffee →

Thanks for being part of this journey.