Do you want to go on a trip with friends? Well if you have any plans of going then this post will be helpful for you because it will teach you how to make coffee while backpacking or traveling.
If you are a coffee lover like me then you are never gonna miss your favorite cup of coffee even if you are on a trip. Having a strong cup of coffee while camping or traveling will boost your energy and stamina during travel.
The best part of any trip or camping is waking up in the morning and brewing a coffee mug over the bonfire. So today, this whole article is going to be about the best ways or methods by which you can brew coffee while camping, backpacking or traveling.
Whether you are on a trip to the side of a mountain or glamping in a 3-bedroom RV with a flat-screen, you have several options to make coffee while backpacking or camping.
The best part of any camping trip adventure is waking up early in the morning and preparing your coffee over an open campfire but it would be better if you have the perfect tools to do this. By perfect tools, I mean the utensils or machine you need to brew the coffee over the bonfire.
You must be knowing how to make cowboy coffee right on the campfire. Many hikers or campers have found novel ways of brewing coffee during a trip, but we will be focusing on a few professional methods of making coffee during a camp or trip.
Depending on the type of coffee you like, there are different types of coffee and methods of brewing it that produce a stronger or luscious aromatic experience. More than being an energy-boosting drink, coffee is a great way for hikers, campers, and backpackers to sit back and enjoy in the company of nature.
There is no better way to greet the morning in the wilderness than to have a cup of coffee. Drinking a cup of joe is one thing while preparing for it is another. To brew good coffee while camping requires some preparation work and you might need to bring a few tools with you.
So this post is fully going to be about the different methods of brewing and preparing coffee while backpacking or camping. I have explained everything in detail so you don’t need to worry about that. So just go on read the whole article.
Table of Contents
How to Make Coffee while Backpacking, Traveling or Camping- Different Methods:
So here are the different methods by which you can brew coffee while camping, backpacking or traveling.
#1- Use an Aeropress:
The first thing you can use to make coffee while backpacking or camping is an Aeropress. It is a device used for brewing coffee, invented in 2005 by Aerobie president Alan Adler. The Aeropress is basically a combination of pour-over and a french press. You can achieve your favorite American style coffee or even an espresso shot using this method.
In an Aeropress, coffee is steeped for 10-50 seconds and then forced through a filter by pressing the plunger through the tube. An Aeropress either uses paper filters or disc-shaped thin metal filters.
To make coffee using an Aeropress you just have to add two scopes of coffee to the larger tube of your Aeropress container. Then soak the coffee grounds and let it bloom for up to a minute.
Add hot water until the chamber is full. Stir the coffee grounds using the paddle. After that, place the plunger into the chamber and slowly press down. You can also more add water to taste. That’s how you can brew your delicious cup of coffee using an Aeropress.
- Time required: 3 minutes
- Things required: Aeropress, ground coffee, water, and kettle
#2- Use the Cowboy Method:
The second method you can use for making coffee while backpacking or traveling is by the cowboy way. It is an ideal and simple way of brewing coffee using limited resources. This method is very easy and is likely to result in a much better cup of coffee than using instant coffee.
You’ll just need to get yourself a kettle that can be placed over the campfire or whatever heat source you have. Cowboy coffee is known for its thick and dark texture.
It is also known for its use of an egg to help the brewing process, which helps to coagulate the grounds and float them to the bottom of the pot for easy and filter-free brewing.
To make coffee using the cowboy method, you just need to boil water on the kettle first. Then let the water cool for around 6 minutes. After that, add the coffee grounds and stir. You’ll then hear a sizzling sound when the coffee grounds make contact with the water.
Then let the coffee sit for up to 2 minutes. Stir it again and let it rest for another minute. Once the coffee is ready, pour it into a cup and enjoy.
- Time: 4 minutes
- Things required: water, coffee grounds, and kettle
#3- Use a Moka Pot:
The third way by which you can make coffee while backpacking or camping is by using a Moka pot. Stove-top espresso makers or Moka pots are a European tradition and produce a rich-brewed or strong coffee. Using a Moka pot or Stove-top espresso maker will reduce the amount of unnecessary heat.
If you love strong Italian style coffee then the Moka pot might be best for you. It is capable of producing powerful Italian style coffee which can be enjoyed on its own or combined with hot water to make an Americano. The Moka pot comes with a built-in metal filter basket, so you will never need to worry about buying paper filters.
For brewing coffee using a Moka pot, you just need to fill the bottom compartment with water and the middle compartment with coffee.
After that, you have to place the serving carafe at the top. When the water boils, you will notice the coffee extract goes up the serving container. The coffee brewed will be similar to an espresso drink, very strong and delectable. Moka pots can be used on the campfire as they are made of aluminum. Once your coffee is ready, go and pour it in cups for drinking.
- Time: 8 minutes
- Things required: water, Moka pot, and ground coffee
#4- Use a French Press Coffee Maker:
The fourth method of making coffee while traveling, backpacking or camping is by using a French press coffee Maker. It is a coffee brewing device and it is really simple to use. French press coffee makers are available in such durable materials as double-walled stainless steel and plastic, both of these are perfect for camping use.
The typical glass carafe French press coffee makers cannot be used for camping or backpacking, you have to use stainless steel or plastic ones. French press coffee maker is great for making a lot of coffee, but it does use a lot more coarse grounds than other methods.
To make coffee using a French press you need one cup of water per one scoop of coffee grounds. Let the boiling water cool for a minute. After that, pour half of the water into the French press while you wait for your coffee bloom. After a minute pour the remaining water.
Then allow it steep for up to 3 minutes. If you want a delectable coffee brew, then let it steep for up to 4 minutes. After this, press the French press plunger gently. Your coffee is now ready to serve and drink.
- Time: 4 minutes
- Things required: water, kettle, coffee grounds, and French press coffee maker
#5- Use a Coffee Percolator:
Another thing you can use for brewing coffee while backpacking, traveling or camping is a coffee percolator. It is a type of pot used for the brewing of coffee by continually cycling the boiling or nearly boiling brew through the grounds using gravity until the required strength is reached.
A percolator is most probably the easiest method for making camp coffee for large groups provided that the percolator is large enough for the use. A metal tube runs up into a metal basket filled with coffee grounds. As the water boils, it percolates up the tube and into the basket. This method of brewing coffee is great for making a lot of strong coffee over a camp stove or campfire.
Percolators are very easy to use. They work by cycling water continuously through the coffee grounds until the preferred strength is achieved. To make coffee using a percolator fill the kettle with water, place a paper filter in the basket or just use the metal filter.
Then fill with grounds and boil until it is ready. That’s all. Now just pour the coffee into cups and enjoy.
- Time: 6 minutes
- Things needed: coffee grounds, water, and coffee percolator
Final Verdict:
So these were the different methods by which you can make coffee while backpacking, camping or traveling. Though there are many other ways of brewing coffee while camping, these are the best methods. You can use any of these methods of brewing coffee when you go out camping or hiking.
If you are also interested in espresso coffee machines or burr coffee grinders then also check out this post of ours. So next time you go camping be sure to take any of these things with you for making a strong cup of coffee there and enjoying in the company of nature. If you don’t want to take any equipment with you then stick to the cowboy method of brewing coffee.
So how was the article guys? Did I miss anything or you want me to add something to it?
If you have any questions or queries then do ask those in the below comments section.
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