There’s nothing better than waking up to the sunrise and chirping birds, cozy in my sleeping bag, while my husband stands in the cold morning mist, making coffee, haha. He’s one of those people who can’t live without coffee. I could go either way, but because of him, coffee is always on the camping menu.
After more than a decade of camping together – car camping, backpacking, and bikepacking – we’ve tested several different camp coffee methods. We started with a hand-me-down percolator that made a gritty cup, and through trial and error, we’ve dialed in our favorite setups.
Depending on the trip and itinerary, here are the various ways we make coffee outdoors, along with the gear we love most. Note: While we’re coffee lovers (yes, we have a Breville espresso machine at home), I consider our camp coffee to be fairly simple, no-fuss, and adaptable.
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Table of Contents
Our Go-To Camp Coffee Setup
Here’s what we typically pack for making coffee at camp:
- Camp stove – Any stove will work – we’ve used a classic Coleman stove for years. Don’t forget fuel and a lighter. If you’re going backpacking or are on the go, a JetBoil is great for making a quick cup of coffee.
- Pot for boiling water – You can thrift one, borrow from your kitchen, or invest in one that also works for backpacking trips (we love this one).
- Camping coffee mug – After years of camping, I’ve learned the best camping mug is a mug with a lid. No one likes bugs in their drink. My favorites are the REI Co-op Graphic Camp Mug.
- Coffee Bean Grinder – If you’re using whole beans, you’ll want to pack a coffee grinder. We love our OXO Outdoor Manual Coffee Grinder.
- French Press – Our favorite method for car camping! We use the Stanley Classic Vaccuum French Press (48 oz) and the Yeti Rambler French Press (64 oz).
- AeroPress Go – This mini french press is great for when we want something lightweight and easy to clean. Note: It requires filters! It comes with paper filters but I prefer the reusable version.
- Nalgene Bottles – Perfect for storing cold brew or oat milk! I especially love the 48 oz and 16 oz sizes.
- Stasher Bag – I always bring instant coffee packets, tea bags and extra filters in a waterproof, sandwich-sized Stasher bag. It guarantees we’ll always have coffee on hand.
- Kitchen Towel – For quick cleanups! You likely have a spare at home. Even a bandana works.
- Water Filter (For Backcountry Trips) – You’ll need clean water for drinking and brewing!
The Coffee We Bring Camping
We keep it simple: we buy bulk whole beans from Costco. The Kirkland medium roast for cold brew and dark roast for hot coffee. We store the extra beans in the freezer and pack what we need in a reused jar for our trips. Each morning at camp, we grind them fresh with our manual grinder!
Five Easy Camping Coffee Methods
We make our camp coffee on a stove (not over a campfire) so it’s quick, consistent, and safe no matter where we’re camping. If we’re on BLM land or at a campsite without a picnic table, we always bring a portable camp table and chairs. There’s nothing better than enjoying a cup coffee with a good view and a comfy place to sit!
French Press (Best For Car Camping)
French press is our go-to method for car camping! We freshly grind our beans in the morning, bring water to a boil, then let the coffee steep in the French press for at least 10 minutes before pressing down slowly.
(We like a bolder cup, so we give it a bit more time than the usual 4-minute method.)
Afterward, we pack out the used coffee grounds in a trash bag to leave our campsite clean for future campers.
Car camping French Press:
- Stanley Classic Vacuum French Press (48 oz) – great for two people.
- YETI Rambler French Press (64 oz) – perfect for brewing a bigger batch
Instant Coffee (Best For Backpacking)
Great for backpacking, travel and “lazy” mornings, we always have instant coffee with us. While my husband can drink any instant coffee black, I’m a little more picky.
My favorite is the Verve Instant Sampler Pack. I also like Kuju’s single-serve pour over for something in-between instant and fresh-brewed. We use our JetBoil to boil water fast, about 100 seconds!
Cold Brew (Best for Hot Weather Trips)
While store-bought cold brew is convenient, we prefer to make our own at home. We use a glass cold brew maker to steep coarse-ground coffee in the fridge a few days before the trip. It’s easy, cost-effective, and cuts down on waste. To bring it camping, we store it in a 48 oz Nalgene bottle.
AeroPress (Best for Minimal Gear)
Kind of like a mini French Press, the AeroPress is perfect when we want a quick cup with minimal cleanup. Especially handy for backpacking, just add a scoop of your ground coffee, hot water to the fill line, stir, let it sit for a minute or two, and press! We pack extra filters in our Stasher Bag but prefer using the Reusable Stainless Steel Filter.
Canned Coffee (Best for the Drive Home)
We like to throw a couple of canned coffees in the cooler for the drive home. My favorites are from La Colombe – they are super creamy and I love the new lattes with oat milk!
Pro tip: To help your cooler stay cold all weekend, pre-chill it the morning of your trip. I like to toss in a few ice blocks or frozen water bottles/jugs and let it sit for at least an hour before loading in our food and fresh ice. It makes a big difference!
The Best Camping Coffee
At the end of the day, the best camp coffee is the one you enjoy most. Whether it’s a full French Press ritual or a quick packet of instant, there’s no wrong way to do it. I hope this gave you some realistic, low-maintenance camp coffee ideas for your next trip.
Got a favorite camp coffee hack or instant coffee brand? I’d love to hear about it! Send me a message on @jaceywest.
