How to make coffee outdoors
Coffee bags: These are my top pick for wild camping adventures – these lightweight little bags are just like teabags. Pop one in your cup, pour on boiling water and you’ve got a decent cup of coffee. I find Taylor’s coffee bags the tastiest. Coffee bags are a great way to save on weight and fuss. Make sure you take them home with you – some can also be recycled or put in compost.
Make your own coffee bags: You can also make your own coffee bags at home using coffee filters. Pop coffee in the centre of a filter paper and tie up with cotton string or baking twine. When you’ve boiled water, just pop your homemade coffee bag in a cup and add water.
Bring a thermos: If you’re only going out in the wild for the day on a walk or a cycle, the easiest way to have a cup of coffee mid-adventure is to bring a thermos of ready-made coffee at home. My favourite flask is the Blue Marble bamboo – it’s also useful on multi-day trips as you can use the in-built tea filter for coffee grounds, too.
Cowboy coffee: If you don’t mind your coffee a little rough around the edges or you don’t have filters to hand, try making old-fashioned cowboy coffee (this is how they make coffee in the wild in Scandinavia, too). Simply add coffee grounds to water and bring briefly to the boil. Pour into a cup and let the coffee sit for a minute before drinking so the grounds sink to the bottom, and don’t drink the last inch. Here’s a proper cowboy teaching you how to make cowboy coffee.
Aeropress: If you want fancy coffee even when you’re camping in remote mountains, pack an aeropress. It’s easy to learn to use – you add fresh coffee, fill up with hot water and then plunge, like an easily portable french press. It’s a little more fiddly than my other favourite methods, but Aeropress fans argue that it makes the nicest coffee. This video shows you how to use one step by step.
Moka pot: If you’re going on a week-long family camping trip and weight isn’t an issue, take along an Italian moka pot so you can make proper coffee on your camping stove in the mornings. They’re a pleasure to use, and make really strong coffee you can top up with hot water or milk.
