Ways to Make Coffee When You Go Camping

Camping is a fun experience, whether you’re doing it alone or with friends and family. But, while sitting around the campfire at night is fun, once morning comes, you know you’ll need a steaming cup of coffee to wake you up. 

Especially if you’ve got camping activities planned, having a cup of coffee can give you that extra boost.

But how do you make coffee at a campsite? Trust us when we say that there are multiple ways to make yourself a cup of coffee, even if you’re camping out in tents. In this article, we will talk about all the different ways you can make coffee while camping.

Things You Will Need

There are multiple ways to make coffee at your campsite, whether you have electricity or not. But to make yourself that steaming cup, there are a few things that you will need. For starters, you will need your dry coffee grounds. 

Now whether you prefer a robust Colombian roast or just plain instant coffee, make sure you store it in an airtight container. You’ll also need clean water because no one wants murky coffee! Lastly, you’ll need something to drink your coffee from. 

You could pack disposable glasses, but that isn’t the most eco-friendly option. Instead, opt for durable and environment-friendly camping products like thermoses. Other than these three coffee-making essentials, you can pack creamers and sweeteners according to your preference.

Now let’s get onto the actual coffee-making techniques so that you can enjoy your brew while you camp.

Using a Kettle

This technique is excellent for people who like to travel light since it only requires a kettle and campfire. 

Using this method will not only give you a delicious steaming mug of coffee but also gives your brew a camping touch. You’ll enjoy the soothing campfire smell and taste all put together in your cup.

This method is perfect if you’re going backpacking or if you don’t have any electrical outlets near you.

All you’ll need is a kettle, water, and coffee. Fill your kettle with clean water and place it onto the campfire, letting it come to a boil. Once the water boils, remove it from the heat and let it cool down slightly before adding it to your coffee.

Then all you need to do is let it steep, and voila! You’ve got yourself some delicious coffee. Now you can either use a small sieve or pour it carefully into your cup to make sure you don’t get any coffee grounds. This method works great, and you can even use it to make coffee inside your RV.

If you’ve got an RV or a camper with electricity, you can use your stove as a heat source instead of a campfire and make some simple kettle coffee.

Using a French Press

Believe it or not, using a French press can be a highly convenient way to make coffee when you’re out camping. Also known as a cafetière, this handy little coffee brewer is available in big and small sizes.

First, however, make sure to get yourself a BPA-free plastic French press. It’s better than a glass press as it’s long-lasting and doesn’t break.

Using a French press is a relatively simple process; all you need to do is add hot water and coffee grounds, letting it steep before you push down the plunger. Make sure to let your coffee steep long enough for the flavors to infuse. You don’t need a sieve with the French press method since the plunger pushes down the grounds.

Using DIY Coffee Bags

Camping is all about DIYs, especially if you’re out backpacking. You build your tent and campfire yourself, so why not DIY your coffee as well! For this method, you’ll need either small mesh bags or coffee filters.

Fill them up with a tablespoon or two of coffee, depending on how strong you like it. Then tie it up into a small parcel, and you’re all done. Whenever you want a cup of coffee, add one of these bags into a mug of hot water and let it steep.

You can even be creative and add ingredients like cinnamon sticks into your coffee bags to make a comforting campfire beverage. These are great for people who want to pack light and not take the entire coffee jar with them. 

Using a Coffee Maker

If you’re camping in an RV, using the rest of these methods can be convenient, but maybe you’ll want an easier way of making coffee. 

Most RVs have a small kitchen area, which is perfect for installing a small coffee maker. Not only are coffee makers easy to clean, but most of them come with little coffee k-cups, which make it easy to make a single serving without a mess.

A great option is the Keurig mini coffee maker, which is smaller than five inches. This makes it a perfect fit for your RV kitchen space. It also has an automatic turn-off feature, which is fantastic since it helps conserve energy.

You can also buy the k-cups in different brew styles and flavors, making this an excellent option for your motor camping home. 

Using the Pour Over Method

This is another excellent way to make coffee if you’re trying to pack light. All you need for this method is either a coffee filter or a sieve of some sort. Add your coffee to your filter and rest it on top of your mug, slowly pouring hot water through it.

This is a great way to make coffee or even tea if you are out backpacking and don’t want to carry any extra equipment. You can even buy a submersible filter cup, which can be submerged into your mug, allowing for a more potent brew.

A submersible cup can be washed and reused, which allows for little waste.

Final Words

Who doesn’t love a good camping trip? With nature all around you, laying under the stars at night, and the feeling of gathering around a campfire. It’s truly an experience that all of us need to have at least once in our lives. 

Whether you’re camping out in tents or traveling in an RV, there is always a way to make yourself a steaming cup of joe. We hope this article helped you find the perfect way to make coffee on your camping trip.