How to Make Campfire Coffee Like a Pro

Author: Melissa Collins

Updated: October 19, 2022

Easy Campfire Coffee

First night under the stars. The trip you’ve been dreaming of for months and you’re finally there, at the foot of the mountain. It’s been a long day and you still have to raise the tent and make dinner, and…

Well, coffee would be great right now, wouldn’t it? We feel your pain and the ache in your muscles and we’re here to help. Here’s all you need to know about making campfire coffee.

How to Prepare Campfire Coffee

Let’s cover the basics first: what do you have in your back-pack and you should have because there’s always the next time.

A good pot. You need a pot big enough to make coffee for all the people in your party, otherwise, some people won’t be very happy. Then, you need a pot that can be placed over the fire. And, believe it or not, your pot should have some soot on it as this adds flavor to your brew. Bet you didn’t know that!
Look for a long stick or something similar to handle the pot safely.
Coarse coffee grounds work better with this brewing method as they release the flavors more slowly. Fine grounds boil faster and make the coffee bitter.
It won’t be like your regular filter coffee, it will be better as all the fats in the grounds stay in the brew! Trust us!

How to Brew Delicious Campfire Coffee

Now that you’ve set up the fire (hopefully!) let’s get the coffee going!

It’s best to use bottled water and you should measure 6 fl oz per cup.
Pour the water in the pot and bring it to boil. When it’s boiling, use the stick to remove the pot from the fire.
Let it cool down for a minute. Boiling water scorches the grounds and you don’t want that.
Add approximately 6g of coffee grounds per cup. Well, you’re not expected to have precision scales tucked in your back-pack so put two tablespoonfuls of coffee per cup. That’s better!
Let the grounds steep for 4-5 minutes. Hopefully, by that time they start sinking to the bottom of the pot.
The coffee has cooled enough. Pour it carefully in the cups, trying to keep the grounds away, Takes a bit of practice, but you’ll master it eventually!
Remember to wash the pot carefully. You’ll want coffee in the morning, too!

Campfire Coffee Smackdown: The Best Methods

Is this the only way to make campfire coffee? Obviously not and we’ll examine all the options you have.

Instant coffee

That’s the easiest type of coffee there is, only many say it’s not really coffee. If you like the taste, boil some water and there you go.

AeroPress

If you have one of these clever coffee-makers at home, it might be a good idea to pack it with your things. It might save you from messing around with the pot, and it will filter the grounds properly.

French Press

As before, it’s a less messy alternative, only you will have to be careful with it because it’s glass and accidents do happen. If you break it, you will find yourself without coffee, miles away from the nearest coffee shop. That would be really sad.

Moka Pot

Great idea. Who doesn’t like a good shot of espresso? Such pots are small and easy to carry around, plus they don’t break. The problem is you will have to be very careful how you handle such a small pot over an open fire.

What to look for when choosing a camping coffee maker

OK, we’ve discussed several ways of making campfire coffee, but still how do you decide what coffee maker to take with you, especially if you have severalbest coffee in the world alternatives. Here’s what you should keep in mind!

Portability

You need something small, sturdy, and easy to pack!

Brew Strength

Maybe some of the people in your party want stronger coffee, or maybe you need one. The coffee maker you take with you should be versatile so you can adjust the strength of the brew as needed.

Clean-up

A complicated machine won’t do on a camping trip, especially as you don’t know if you have access to a water source to clean it after each use. The model should be easy to clean and you should do so as soon as you’re done with it.

Tips for Making Perfect Coffee While Camping

Basically, you now know enough to make a good campfire coffee, but this is not amateur hour, so here are some pro tips.

Introducing the coffee bags. They’re just like teabags, only with coffee grounds in them. You can find coffee bags in some stores, but you can also prepare them yourself ahead of the trip. All you need are #4 coffee filters and dental floss or cotton twine.

Put 4-6 tablespoons of coffee (depending on your taste) in a coffee filter, gather the sides and tie the bag. Easy-peasy!
Your friends will be impressed with your clever idea and this will take care of the messy grounds’ problem.

Have you ever tasted Egg Coffee? Your next camping trip is the time to try this recipe. As the name says, it’s coffee with an egg in it, shells included! You will need a pot to beat the egg, while you can ask one of your buddies to pulverize the shells as best they can. After you beat the egg, add the normal quantity of coffee you’d use and the eggshells.

Pour some water in a pot (enough for the whole gang) and bring it to boil, then gently pour the egg and coffee mixture in. Let it simmer over the fire for three minutes and pour the brew in the cups. Your buddies might be a bit shocked and reluctant to try it, but have them take a sip anyway. Surprisingly enough, the resulting brew is light, flavorful, and not at all bitter! Now you can call yourself a pro!

Quick Recap - TLDR

Before you go on a tip, consider carefully what coffee maker you should pack – remember small, sturdy, and easy to clean! Make your own coffee bags if you don’t want grounds floating in your cup! Remember only to use water that is safe to drink!

Are you ready to be the guy who makes the best coffee in the world?

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Sources

What to Remember When Preparing Campfire Coffee:
https://www.slurp.coffee/en/blogi/articles/brewing-guides/campfire-coffee/

6 Great Ways To Make Camping Coffee
https://50campfires.com/6-great-ways-to-make-camping-coffee/