How to Make the Best Camp Coffee
What equipment do I need to make coffee while camping?
To make coffee while camping, you will need some equipment specifically designed for outdoor use. Here are the basic items that you will need to make coffee while camping:
A French press is an excellent option for making coffee while camping, as it’s portable and easy to use. Look for a press made from durable stainless steel materials with a sturdy handle and plunger. A Pour Over is also a great option for camp coffee due to its lightweight and packability.
You’ll need coffee beans suitable for outdoor use. Opt for pre-ground beans, grind them beforehand, and store them in an airtight container.
You’ll need access to clean water to make coffee while camping. If you’re camping in an area without access to running water, bring along a water filter or purification tablets to treat the water before use.
You’ll need a way to heat up water for your coffee. A camping stove or campfire will work well for this purpose.
Remember to bring a mug to enjoy your coffee! Look for a mug made from durable materials with a lid to keep your coffee hot.
Bring along a grinder to grind your coffee beans fresh, a kettle to heat up water, and a coffee scoop to measure out your coffee.
How do I grind coffee beans while camping?
Grinding coffee beans while camping can be more challenging than grinding them at home, but it’s definitely doable. Bringing a manual coffee grinder is the easiest way to grind coffee beans while camping. Look for a compact and lightweight grinder that is easy to pack! We recommend the VSSL Coffee Grinder.
If you want to avoid bringing a grinder, you can always bring pre-ground coffee. Pre-ground coffee is a convenient option that saves space in your camping gear but has some drawbacks. First, pre-ground coffee doesn’t stay fresh for as long as whole-bean coffee. This is because the coffee grounds are exposed to air, which causes them to lose flavor and aroma over time. Second, pre-ground coffee may have a different flavor and taste than freshly ground coffee, as the grinding process can release different flavors and aromas.
If you do decide to bring pre-ground coffee with you while camping, it’s important to store it properly to keep it fresh
How do I store my coffee beans while camping?
Storing your coffee beans properly while camping is crucial for maintaining their freshness and flavor. One of the best products for storing coffee beans while camping is the Airscape Coffee Canister.
The Airscape Coffee Canister features a patented two-way valve that removes air and locks in freshness, keeping your coffee beans fresh for longer. The canister is made from durable stainless steel and comes in various sizes to fit your camping needs.
To store your coffee beans in the Airscape Coffee Canister, simply fill the canister with your beans and press down on the inner lid until it reaches the level of the coffee. This will push out any excess air and create a vacuum seal, keeping your beans fresh and flavorful.
The Airscape Coffee Canister is also great for packing in your camping gear, as it is lightweight and shatterproof. It can easily fit in a backpack or camping tote, so you can take it with you on all of your camping adventures.
In addition to the Airscape Coffee Canister, there are a few other tips for storing your coffee beans while camping. Always store your coffee in a dry, cool, and dark place to protect it from light, heat, and moisture. If you’re bringing pre-ground coffee, store it in an airtight container to prevent it from stale.
We’d also recommend checking out the BruTrek® CarGo Can, which carries enough coffee grounds for one cup, or the Double Shot Travel Press, which has a storage container attached to the French Press.
What type of coffee is best for camping?
Regarding camping, the type of coffee that is best for you will depend on your personal preferences and the space and equipment you have available. That being said, there are a few types of coffee that tend to work well for camping:
- Pour-over coffee: Pour-over coffee is a lightweight, space-saving option perfect for camping. All you need is a pour-over cone, filters, and ground coffee, and you can make a delicious cup of coffee in just a few minutes. Pour-over coffee allows you to control the strength and flavor of your coffee and produces a clean and bright taste.
2. French press coffee: French press coffee is another excellent option for camping, as it allows you to extract the full oils and flavors from your coffee beans. While a French press is heavier and bulkier than a pour-over cone, it’s still a relatively lightweight and portable option. Look for a French press made from durable materials with a sturdy handle and plunger.
Best Coffee Equipment for Camping?
French Presses by BruTrek®
Overall Best Camping French Press:
OVRLNDR® By BruTrek®
The OVRLNDR® French Press is a game-changing drinkable 24 fl oz camping French press. The Bru-Stop™ plunger ensures that no coffee grounds get into your cup and allows the coffee to stay in the French press without becoming bitter from oversteeping, giving you a clean and delicious cup of coffee every time. Plus, the double-walled vacuum insulation keeps your coffee hot for hours, which is great for those chilly mornings in the woods.
One of the things that set the OVRLNDR® French Press apart from other coffee makers is its design. Made with high-quality materials like stainless steel, it’s incredibly durable and can withstand even the harshest outdoor conditions. And the best part? Thanks to its unique lid design, you can drink directly from the French Press. There is no need to pack extra cups or mugs – the OVRLNDR is the ultimate all-in-one coffee solution for outdoor adventures.
Cleaning the OVRLNDR French Press is a breeze too. The bottom is removable, so you can easily clean the coffee press without using much water.
Best Camping French Press for Large Groups:
Basecamp By BruTrek®
Are you tired of lugging around multiple coffee makers to satisfy the caffeine cravings of your camping group? Look no further than the Basecamp Camping French Press. This French Press is the perfect solution for big groups thanks to its 32 fl oz and 48 fl oz sizes, making it easy to brew enough coffee for everyone in one go.
But the Basecamp Camping French Press isn’t just about quantity but also quality. The Bru-Stop™ technology ensures that no coffee grounds make it into your cup, giving you a clean and delicious brew every time. Bru-Stop™ technology also stops the brewing process after pressing. This limits bitterness and allows for the first cup of coffee and the last to be the same quality. And the double-walled insulation keeps your coffee hot for hours, which is perfect for coffee all day at the campsite.
Best Drinkable French Press Options:
Double Shot 3.0 by BruTrek®
The Double Shot 3.0 Travel French Press 16 fl oz Mug is the real deal. First of all, it’s carabiner-friendly, which means you can easily clip it onto your backpack or camping gear for easy transport. The removable bottom also provides extra storage space for coffee grounds, tea bags, or whatever else you need to bring along on your outdoor adventures.
But what really sets the Double Shot 3.0 Travel French Press Mug apart is its Bru-Stop™ technology. This innovative plunger design ensures that no coffee grounds or loose tea leaves make it into your cup, giving you a clean and delicious brew every time. And because it’s built to drink out of, you don’t need to pack extra cups or mugs – the Double Shot 3.0 is the ultimate all-in-one coffee solution for your camping trips.
Another great feature of the Double Shot 3.0 Travel French Press Mug is its durability. It’s made with high-quality materials like stainless steel, which means it can withstand even the toughest outdoor conditions. And because it’s vacuum insulated, it can keep your coffee hot for hours, which is perfect for those chilly mornings in the woods.
Steel Toe 3.0 by BruTrek®
If you are looking for a drinkable French press that is simple to use and at a great price point but also brews a great cup of coffee, the Steel Toe 3.0 Drinkable French Press could be your solution. At 20 fl oz, the Steel Toe 3.0 is perfect for individual use and can be used all day because of the double-wall insulation and Bru-Stop™ technology.
The Steel Toe 3.0 as has a sip and snap lid making it spill-resistant. So, you can put it in your pack and have a hot cup of coffee straight from this drinkable French press at the top of the mountain. For the best bang for your buck for any of the BruTrek® Travel French Presses, the Steel Toe 3.0 is the best option.
Comparing BruTrek® Camping French Presses to Other Camping French Presses:
When comparing BruTrek® French Presses to other camping French presses on the market, one standout feature is the Bru-Stop™. This feature is unique to BruTrek® French Presses. It allows customers to drink directly from the French press without any coffee grounds or residue getting in the way while halting the brewing process and limiting bitterness. This is an excellent convenience for those who want to enjoy their coffee quickly and easily without the hassle of pouring it into a separate mug. Additionally, the double-wall insulation of BruTrek® French Presses helps keep the coffee hot for an extended period, ensuring that coffee lovers can savor their hot beverage even on cold camping mornings. The no-spill lid also allows easy transportation, eliminating the risk of spills or leaks while in transit.
While the Bru-Stop™ is unique to BruTrek® French Presses, other features exist in other camping French presses on the market. For instance, the Stanley Camping French Press is known for its durability and ruggedness. The Coffee Gator Insulated French Press boasts a double-layered vacuum construction that helps keep coffee hot for hours. The OXO Outdoor Campgrounds French Press has a silicone gasket that prevents grounds from escaping during brewing. Lastly, the GSI Java Press is a lightweight option perfect for those who need a portable French press that can be easily packed away for any camping adventure. As you can see, BruTrek® has options that fit or combine every single one of these features from other brands and have improved on them, making BruTrek® the #1 option for camp coffee.
Best Lightweight Options:
Aeropress®
For camping enthusiasts, the Aeropress GO is a must-have coffee maker. It’s compact, lightweight, and durable, perfect for outdoor adventures. With its unique brewing method, you’ll get a smooth and flavorful cup of coffee every time. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to clean – rinse it off, and you’re ready to go. The Aeropress® GO has a travel mug and a zippered pouch, so you can easily take them on your next camping trip. The Aeropress® GO is a great choice if you’re looking for a high-quality coffee maker perfect for camping.
The Collapsible Pour Over by BruTrek®
The stainless steel BruTrek Pour Over features a compact, collapsible design to pack flat in the included waxed canvas pouch. With the pouch and one CoffeeSock filter, it’s a lightweight 6.5 ounce and measures 7 inches by 7.5 inches by 0.5 inch, easily fitting into a backpack, bike pannier, glovebox or camper van kitchen. It can fit on most cups and all BruTrek® drinkware items.
The BruTrek® Collapsible Pour Over is designed to eliminate single-use filters while improving the outdoor coffee brewing experience. Learn more about CoffeeSock, the creator of the reusable organic cotton filter that comes with the Collapsible PourOver.
How do I make coffee while camping?
We’ll provide you with easy camping recipes you can follow as a general guideline for French press and pour-over coffee:
Here are step-by-step instructions for using a French Press while camping:
- Boil water in a pot or over a campfire until it reaches the desired temperature for your coffee.
- Grind your coffee beans to a coarse grind size.
- Remove the plunger from the French Press and add the ground coffee to the carafe.
- Pour the hot water over the coffee, filling the French Press.
- Stir the coffee and water together to ensure even saturation.
- Let the coffee steep for about 4-5 minutes.
- Slowly press the plunger down until it reaches the bottom of the carafe.
- Pour the coffee into your mug or travel cup and enjoy!
Remember to dispose of the coffee grounds responsibly, such as packing them in a sealable container or burying them in a designated area away from water sources. And be careful when handling hot liquids while camping, as spills can cause serious burns or injuries.
Here are step-by-step instructions for using a pour-over coffee maker while camping:
- Boil water in a pot or over a campfire until it reaches the desired temperature for your coffee.
- Grind your coffee beans to a medium-fine grind size.
- Set up your pour-over coffee maker on a flat and stable surface.
- Place a paper filter or coffee sock filter in the pour-over cone and wet it with hot water to rinse away any paper taste.
- Add the ground coffee to the filter, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.
- Pour a small amount of hot water over the coffee, just enough to saturate the grounds.
- Wait 30 seconds for the coffee to “bloom” and release any trapped gases.
- Slowly pour the rest of the hot water over the coffee in a circular motion, ensuring all the grounds are saturated.
- Wait for the coffee to finish dripping through the filter into your mug or travel cup.
- Remove the filter and dispose of it responsibly, such as packing it in a sealable container.
Enjoy your delicious pour-over coffee and the beautiful scenery around you!
Other Brewing Options:
In addition to using a French press or a pour-over setup, there are other ways to make coffee while camping. One popular method is instant coffee, a quick and easy way to get a caffeine fix. Simply boil water over a campfire or stove, pour it into a mug or pot, and add a spoonful of instant coffee. While instant coffee may have a different depth of flavor than freshly brewed coffee, it is a convenient option for those short on time or space.
Another option for making camp coffee is using a stove-top percolator. These devices have been around for decades and are still a favorite of many campers. A percolator works by heating water in a bottom chamber and cycling it through a tube and up to the top of the percolator, dripping over coffee grounds and back down into the bottom chamber. The process repeats until the coffee reaches the desired strength. Using a percolator can involve more than other methods, but many coffee enthusiasts enjoy the ritual and the resulting bold flavor. Plus, percolators are durable and can withstand the rigors of camping.
How do I dispose of coffee grounds while camping?
When camping, it’s important to dispose of your coffee grounds to minimize environmental impact properly. Here are some tips for disposing of coffee grounds while camping:
The best way to dispose of them while camping is to pack them out with your other trash. Bring a small plastic bag or container to collect your used coffee grounds, and dispose of them in a designated trash receptacle when you leave your campsite.
If you’re camping in a remote area with no trash receptacles, you can bury your coffee grounds in a shallow hole. Be sure to bury them at least 200 feet away from water sources or campsites and cover them with soil to prevent wildlife from digging them up.
Coffee grounds make a great addition to compost, so if you’re camping in an area where composting is allowed, you can add your used coffee grounds to your compost pile. Check with the park or campground first to see if composting is permitted.
Another option for disposing of coffee grounds while camping is to use a portable coffee filter that can be emptied into a trash bag or buried. Look for a filter made from biodegradable materials, such as cotton or hemp, to minimize your environmental impact.
Following these tips, you can enjoy your morning coffee while camping without harming the environment. Remember always to leave your campsite better than you found it, and dispose of all trash and waste properly.
Camping is a great way to escape technology and enjoy nature, but it doesn’t mean giving up your daily caffeine fix. A French press is a portable and easy option for making coffee while camping. Consider bringing a manual grinder or pre-ground coffee to grind coffee beans while camping. Storing coffee beans correctly is also essential, and the Airscape® Coffee Canister is an excellent option for keeping beans fresh. The BruTrek® French press is a durable and portable option for campers. While camping, pour-over coffee and French press coffee are popular options. Pack a sturdy coffee mug and bring access to clean water, a stove or campfire, and optional equipment like a grinder and kettle. Don’t forget to enjoy the great outdoors and a good cup of coffee!