4 Ways to Brew Coffee on the Trail

I may or may not be addicted to coffee; jury’s still out on that one. For a while there, I struggled to find a reliable way to brew my morning dark roast while camping and I know I’m not alone in this.

There are many outdoorsmen who yearn for their morning brew before a long day of hiking, but many simply go without either due to convenience or lack of know-how. Here are four ways you can spend several days in the wilderness without leaving your caffeine behind.

French Press, Mes Amis

On the trail or in the comfort of my own home, a French press is my preferred method for brewing coffee.  Most next-level coffee drinkers will tell you this is perhaps the best method for brewing your favorite roast. What makes this great on the trail is that a French press doesn’t take up too much extra space. With it you just heat up your water, pour it into the press and add your coffee. Then, simply let it stand for however strong you like and press down to push all the coffee grounds to the bottom.

Take Your Filter With You

There are compact, portable filters available that take up very little space and work like a charm, such as Mugmate’s model. This guy attaches to the top of your mug and stays submerged in your water to brew to your heart’s desire. Bonus: It’s designed for both coffee and tea!

Oldie But a Goodie

Sometimes the oldest methods are still the best. Called the “cowboy method” by many, here all you’ll need is a pot. Simply, fill it with water, dump your coffee grounds into it and put it on the fire to brew. When it gets hot enough, remove it from the fire and allow it to cool off for a bit. After a few minutes, the coffee grounds will settle to the bottom and you can pour yourself a good old-fashioned cup of coffee.

1-2-3, Coffee!

I don’t normally lean towards instant coffee, but when you’re cut off from some of your daily conveniences, instant coffee may be the only option you have. All you have to do is heat up your water, add your instant coffee and stir it up. Yes, it will bring sideways glances from some people and you’ll miss out on the taste of a real cup of coffee, but when you’re roughing it your options are limited.  

© Photographerlondon | Dreamstime.com – Woman Having Coffee While Camping With Son

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