There is nothing quite like a good cup of coffee in the morning for coffee lovers. A cup of coffee is a very essential breakfast item. But what do you do when camping and there’s no coffee shop around? Never fear; there are plenty of ways to make coffee while camping. In this article, we’ll reveal the best methods of how to make coffee while camping, so you can enjoy your favourite drinks even when you’re in the great outdoors.
Make Coffee While Camping – The Best Methods Revealed
Whether tent camping or RV-ing, coffee is essential to your morning. The proper brew means the difference between getting out the door and staying in bed. This article will share our favourite coffee-making methods while camping—from stovetop options to everything in between. Whether you prefer solid or mild coffee on the rocks or French presses, we’ve got you covered.
What you need is some coffee grounds and a way to heat water. Using the following methods, you can easily brew up your favourite blend in the woods or on the trail.
Types of Coffee Pot Methods

There are two basic ways to brew coffee outdoors: percolation and French press.
The percolator method utilizes coffee grounds, boiling water, and a coffee filter or strainer, as you would find in an outdoor stove. In the French press method, you steep your coffee grounds in hot water for a few minutes, then strain out the dirt. Both ways produce strong coffee, but percolators are quicker and more reliable.
Methods for Brewing Coffee in an Outdoor Oven
If you have an outdoor grill or fire pit, you can use it to heat water and make coffee. Grills work well because they have vents that let steam escape without letting rain in. After your water boils, pour some through a coffee filter (or cheesecloth) into a mug or pot. Fill the grill, place your coffee grounds in the filter, and add it to the grill. Cover the grill with a lid or grill cover, and let it brew for a few minutes until the coffee is strong. Use this method only when there’s no danger of rain.
Methods for Brewing Coffee in a Metal Can
If you have a large enough tin can, you can make your stovetop percolator to brew coffee. Fill the can with damp sand (silty or sandy soil will work better) and add two pieces of foil to create holes large enough for the coffee grounds to fall through. Pour boiling water into the can until it reaches about three-quarters of the way up the side of the can. Place your coffee grounds in the foil, then add to the can. The water will collect at the can’s bottom, creating a percolator. Cover the top of the can with a lid or aluminium foil and let it brew for about five minutes. The resulting coffee is vital, so adjust to your taste.
Methods for Brewing Coffee in a Baking Pan
Baking pans are good choices for percolators because they’re deep and allow water to expand and boil. Fill a baking pan with dry sand and set it on top of two burners. Pour in enough water to cover the sand and bring it to a boil. Once it starts boiling, please remove it from the heat and drop it in your coffee grounds. Cover it with a lid or aluminium foil and let it brew for about five minutes.
Methods for Brewing Coffee in a Hand-Held Pot
If you don’t have access to a stove, try brewing in a pot that holds about a quart of water. Fill the pot with four inches of water and bring it to a boil over high heat. When the water reaches a boiling point, remove it from the heat and add your coffee grounds. Cover the pot and let it sit for about 10 minutes to allow the coffee to be steep. Strain out the bases with a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
Methods of Lighter Fluid Coffee
The first method for making coffee while camping is to use lighter fluid. Yes, you read that correctly. Using lighter fluid for this method is safe since it’s already been proven to be very safe by millions of people. However, it’s not recommended because you’re adding extra chemicals to the food you cook. For a cleaner alternative, fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Pour the water into your favourite mug and enjoy.
Preparation of Coffee Beans | Make Coffee While Camping

Once you’ve picked your brewing method, you’re ready to prepare your beans. There are three main ways to do this: traditional, pour over and pour through.
Traditional
Many outdoor enthusiasts use a traditional drip method with paper filters and a French press. Fill a pot with six to eight inches of water and bring it to a boil. Then, add one tablespoon of coffee grounds to the filter. Pour three tablespoons of the brewed coffee into a cup and strain the rest through the filter back into the pot. Repeat this process until you have three tablespoons of coffee left.
Pour Over
This method uses an electric kettle and paper filters. Add two tablespoons of coffee grounds to the filter and pour four cups of water. Place the kettle under the spout and turn it on. When the water starts dripping, press the brew button. Continue pressing the button until the water is wholly dripped through the filter.
Pour Through
This method uses a pour-over coffee brewer and paper filters. Fill the pot halfway with water and add the coffee grounds. Fill the rest with water, bring it to a boil, and then remove it from the heat. Place the coffee grounds in the filter, press the brew button, and pour the coffee over the grounds.
Preparation of Coffee Ingredients
Once you’ve picked your brewing method, you’re ready to make the actual coffee. There are two main ways to make coffee: drip or espresso.
Drip
You can brew a basic drip coffee with ground coffee and hot water in a percolator. Add two tablespoons of ground coffee to the filter in your French press or drip coffee maker. Add one cup of hot water to the percolator, stir, and then let it sit for three minutes. You can also use an automatic drip coffee machine to make your coffee. Fill the water reservoir with water and add two tablespoons of coffee to the filter. Pour in one cup of cold water, stir, and then let it sit for three minutes.
Espresso
You can make espresso in a stovetop espresso maker. Add a tablespoon of coffee grounds to the filter and fill the tank with water. Place the pot on medium heat and let it boil for 30 seconds. Then, pour in one cup of cold water and stir. Turn the machine to “espresso” and let it brew for one minute. After one minute, you can start pulling shots.
Grinding Coffee Beans
There are a few different ways to grind coffee beans, but using a coffee grinder is the best. You can use an old-fashioned manual burr grinder or a coffee bean grinder that sits on your stove. Either way, you’ll want to ensure that the submarine is clean and free of debris before you grind your beans. The best way to do this is to run cold water through it, then let it sit for about 30 seconds. Next, run hot water through the grinder. The hot water will break up any stuck-on coffee grinds and make your grinder work faster.
Making Espresso
If you’ve never made espresso before, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is. All you need is an espresso machine. These can be as simple as a stovetop espresso maker or as complex as a traditional espresso machine. Choose whatever works best for you. Some espresso machines have their built-in grinder, while others require you to buy a separate one.
Choose your coffee grounds and empty the settings from the box into the portafilter. Grinding coffee beans yourself ensures that you’re getting fresh ground coffee. Next, push your machine’s espresso button or lever to start brewing. When it’s done brewing, remove the portafilter and serve.
Milk and Sweeteners
Coffee and milk are essential to the taste of a good cup of coffee. Add your favourite type of milk to your coffee in the same way that you would with hot cocoa. Try adding a vanilla or almond extract splash to jazz up the flavours. As for sugar, a splash of honey adds sweetness without changing the taste. You can add brown sugar or a few raw sugar cubes to make your coffee more traditional.
Experiment with different coffees, brewing methods, and additives to find what works best for you. Your taste buds might surprise you.
Final Words
The best ways to make coffee while camping is revealed in this article. From percolators to French presses, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your favourite brew outdoors. Coffee is a staple in many people’s lives. Coffee is essential to most people’s diets, whether they drink it for breakfast, during the workday, or as a relaxant after a long day. There are many ways to make coffee, each with its unique flavour. Whether you prefer drip or espresso, milk and sweeteners, or grinding your beans, there’s a way to make coffee that’s perfect for you.