The Best Camp Coffee Makers: Our Favorite Ways to Brew Coffee While Camping

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A good cup of camp coffee, surrounded by pines and crisp mountain air, is one of life’s greatest pleasures. From instant to stovetop espresso, we’re sharing all the different ways to brew a great cup of coffee while camping.

Megan holding a cup of coffee near a campfire

Coffee. Sweet, sweet coffee. The lifeblood of outdoor adventurers and campers everywhere. While we are willing to forgo a great many things while camping, a good cup of coffee is not one of them. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a good brew in the wild.

In this post, we highlight a few of the many, many ways to make coffee while camping. We share different brewing methods, favorite camp coffee makers, and some helpful accessories. By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll be all set to make the best cup of camping coffee on your next adventure.

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The Best Camp Coffee Makers & Methods

This list is ordered from the lightest and simplest methods of brewing camp coffee to the bulkiest and most elaborate. While each different type of coffee brewing method has its merits, it’ll be up to you to decide which one best fits your needs.

Things  to consider: 

  • Size and weight (particularly if backpacking) 
  • Typical group size 
  • Speed (how long does it take?) 
  • Ease of clean up
Mount Hagen instant coffee packaging next to a camp mug
Mt. Hagen is one of our top picks for instant coffee

Instant Coffee

Instant coffee is lightweight, compact, easy to make, and has virtually zero clean-up, making it ideally suited for both camping and backpacking.

If you’ve had questionable instant coffee experiences before, we’re here to tell you that there has been a lot of innovation in the world of instant coffee—in the past few years, there has been an explosion of incredible tasting instant coffees! If you haven’t tried instant coffee in a while, it’s worth checking a few of these brands out.

Best for: Anyone with an incentive to save space, reduce weight, or wants a completely fast, hassle-free, impossible-to-screw-up coffee-making experience in the morning.

Method: While the exact instructions will vary from brand to brand, the general idea is to put the instant coffee grounds into a cup and add a specific amount of boiling water. Stir, wait a few seconds until powder is completely dissolved, and then enjoy. We can’t imagine a simpler brewing method!

Here are a few of our favorite instant coffee brands:

alpine start packaging

Alpine Start

Alpine Start instant coffee was created by a climber and a foodie to be the best on-the-go cup of joe you can get. In addition to their Original Blend instant coffee, Alpine Start also offers an instant Dirty Chai Latte and a Coffee with Creamer. Available in individual packets or in bulk sizing.

Our take: I drank Alpine Start every day on the John Muir Trail and would definitely recommend it!

Three instant coffee packets

Mt. Hagen

This German brand of organic fair-trade instant coffee has been Megan’s go-to choice whenever we go backpacking. It’s reasonably priced but offers a very well-balanced cup of instant coffee. This is what she drank for 19 days on the John Muir Trail, and would drink it for 19 more! It is available in individual packets or in bulk sizing.

Voila coffee packaging

Voila Instant Coffee

Taking instant coffee to a gourmet level, Volia is one of the best instant coffees we’ve ever tried. They partner with local coffee roasters and use a proprietary freeze-drying technique to create a cup of instant coffee that tastes as good as a fresh cup from your local coffee shop. No joke. However, this exceptional instant coffee is priced accordingly, so we save it for special occasions.

Verve Seabright product image

Verve Coffee 

There are very few coffee blends that are so good we can remember them by name, but Verve’s Seabright is one of them. Imagine golden California sunshine, salty coastal air, and spring wildflowers all wrapped up into a cup of coffee. So, we were SO excited to learn that Verve now offers Seabright as an instant coffee (in addition to their Buena Vista and Streetlevel blends). But craft instant coffee has its price, so this might also be a good one to save for a special morning. 

Other Instant Coffees Worth Checking Out 

A green mug of coffee on a camping table

Coffee in a Bag

There is a beautiful simplicity to steeping a teabag. So why not do the same for coffee? For the longest time, the only coffee-in-a-bag option was Folgers singles, which tastes… like Folgers. But recently there has been an absolute boom in the coffee-in-a-bag space, with lots of new brands entering the market. 

Best for: Anyone who doesn’t want to go with instant coffee but also doesn’t want to deal with a coffee brewing apparatus.

Method: Place the brew bag into a cup and fill it with hot water. Steep until your desired strength is reached and then remove. If you can steep a cup of tea, then you brew a bag of coffee just as easily. The used bag of grounds can be squeezed/dried out and then packed out to be disposed of properly. 

Our Thoughts: Since the grounds don’t need to dissolve into the liquid, coffee-in-a-bag will typically taste more like a regular cup of coffee than instant coffee.

Brands Worth Checking Out 

Make your own!

It’s also easy to make your own coffee “teabag”. Simply place ground coffee in the center of a regular coffee filter. Gather up the sides of the filter together and tie it with an 8″-10″ long thread or string leaving a tailing end.

Pouring water into a camping coffee pour over

Single Serving Pour-Overs

The next step up from instant coffee and coffee-in-a-bag (at least in terms of ease of use) are single-serving pour-overs, which consist of pre-ground coffee in a foldable paper pour-over stand.

True, you’ll have to pack out both the paper filter and the wet grounds (more of a concern for backpackers than car campers), but you’ll have a cup of coffee that tastes a lot closer to a typical pour-over. For something that comes in a small, lightweight package, single-serve pour-overs can be a very appealing alternative to instant coffee.

Best for: People who want to save space and reduce weight, but want that elevated taste of a pour-over (and doesn’t mind packing out wet grounds). 

Method: Single serving pour-overs consist of a paper frame and pouch that is filled with pre-ground coffee. The frame is expanded and placed over the top of your cup. You then slowly pour boiling water through the pour-over pouch. Remove and enjoy.

Kuju coffee packaing

Kuju Pocket Pour-Over

Our favorite single-serve pour-over brand, Kuju Coffee was one of the first to bring this innovative brew method to the outdoor industry. They have fantastic tasting coffee, they offer blends and single-origin, plus they donate 1% of sales to the National Park Foundation. What’s not to love!

Other Single-Serving Pour-Overs to Check Out: 

Make your own!

You can buy these same single-brew paper pour-overs on Amazon (here’s a link to a biodegradable version!). Then you can fill them with your favorite ground coffee at the campsite, or pre-fill them at home and store them in zip-top bags (pushing all the air out as you seal it will help preserve freshness as well as help to keep the grounds in place.

GSI Pourover Camp Coffee Maker
The GSI Ultralight Java Drip is a simple, packable camp coffee maker

If “cost per use” is more important than “ease of use” you may consider going with an actual pour-over stand. While pour-over stands found in coffee shops are often made from delicate ceramic, there are many lightweights, compact, and durable pour-over stands designed specifically for campers.

Best for: Serious coffee drinkers. Especially those you are planning on grinding their own beans at the campsite. You really do get a lot of flavor out of the coffee using this method, which is why it’s the go-to method for baristas. This method takes time, so it’s best for 1-2 people. 

Method: Using either a paper or cloth filter, fill with coffee grounds and place over your cup. Heat your water until nearly boiling and then slowly pour into the filter in a circular motion. A kettle that can pour a smooth, steady stream of water without dribbling is critical for pour-over. While serious baristas use gooseneck kettles to control the flow of water, we can’t say enough good things about our GSI kettle. Small, compact, and not a single dribble.

Portable drip coffee maker

GSI Ultralight Java Drip

We have been really impressed by this lightweight and compact pour-over stand. It has a built-in reusable nylon mesh filter that just needs to be rinsed out after each use. However, it is also compatible with paper filters as well.

Soto Helix product image

Soto Helix

This clever coffee maker collapses flat and weighs just 1.6 ounces. It’s made of durable stainless steel and uses #2 filters.

GSI pour over product image

GSI Collapsible Java Drip

While slightly heavier than the ultralight stand, this is still a really compact pour-over stand. It’s compatible with cone-shaped #4 coffee filters from any brand, which are pretty easy to find in most grocery stores or online.

Michael making coffee using an arrow press

AeroPress Coffee Maker 

This is our personal favorite way to make camp coffee. A combination between a pour-over, French press, and a pneumatic press, the Aeropress delivers incredibly rich and smooth coffee. Its quick brew time, unbelievably simple clean-up, and compact size have made the Aeropress our go-to camp coffee maker for the past 5 years. 

Ideal Use: This method is great for car campers, vanlife and RVers, or backpackers really dedicated to their coffee. OK for groups of 2-4 people as long as you have a little patience since it brews one cup at a time.

Official Top-Down Brew Method: To learn about the official top-down brew method, it’s best to just watch the official video. 

Inverted Method: This non-company-sanctioned brew method is what most baristas and serious Aeropress fans use. Place plunger on a flat surface facing up. Place the back of the base on top of the plunger and insert slightly. Add grounds into the base, drizzle hot water to degas, fill the compartment, and wait. The Aeropress is now functioning like a French press. Attach the filter to the top and place your cup upside down on top of the filter, and then carefully flip the Aeropress and cup over. Depress plunger.

For more info (with videos!), check out our in-depth article on how to use an Aeropress.

Aeropress product image

Aeropress Go Travel Coffee Maker 

Designed to be more compact and travel-friendly, the Aeropress Go is ⅓ smaller than the original. However, it comes with a collapsible stirrer, scoop, and filter holder that can all be nested inside a coffee cup.

Aeropress product image

Aeropress Coffee Maker 

This is the classic Aeropress model. It’s slightly larger than the Aeropress Go and comes with a few more accessories. Though we personally use the Go while camping for packability’s sake, this is the version we have used for years at home!

Comparison: Want to see a side-to-side comparison of the Aeropress and Aeropress Go? This document goes into all the nitty-gritty details.

Metal aeropress filter product image

Metal Filters

The Aeropress comes with paper filters, but once you’ve gone through all of those, you might consider using a reusable metal filter.

GSI java Press Camp Coffee Maker
The GSI Java Press is a durable camping French press option

Camping French Press

While many people enjoy the simplicity of a French press, the typical glass carafe is not really designed for the rough and tumble life of camping, so it’s best to leave the glass at home and pick up a durable camping-style French press. French press is great for making a lot of coffee with not much effort, but it does use a lot more (coarse) grounds than other methods, and it does require more cleaning than many other options in this article.

Ideal Use: Anyone who enjoys a simple brew method that produces deep rich-tasting coffee. This is a great option for small groups of 2-4. 

Method: Spoon coarse coffee grounds into the bottom, drizzle a little bit of hot water to “de-gas”, fill the container with hot water, stir, wait for about 8-10 minutes, and depress the plunger.

French press product image

GSI Java Press

We recently picked up the GSI Java Press to test and have really been enjoying it. It’s a plastic shatterproof carafe wrapped in a thermally insulating nylon sheath. Smooth pour, quality metal mesh filter. Overall we are very satisfied.

Green french press product image

Coffee Gator Insulated French Press

If you crossed a French Press with a Hydroflask, you’d get the Coffee Gator. This is a heavy-duty, stainless steel French Press that is double-walled and vacuum-sealed. That means your coffee stays warm 60 minutes longer than a typical glass French Press. Plus the Coffee Gator comes in a lot of really fun colors.

OXO French Press product image

OXO Outdoor Campgrounds French Press 

With a shatterproof Tritan Renew carafe—made from 50% certified recycled contents—the OXO Outdoor Campground French Press is ready for adventure while stylish enough for your home kitchen.

Michael using the jet boil camping coffee press

Cook Systems with French Press Attachments

Many integrated cook systems like Jetboil and MSR offer French press plungers. These plungers are designed to work with these rapid hot water makers, reducing the amount of gear you need to carry. 

This approach is ideal if you already use your integrated cook system in the front country to rapidly make hot water (which we often do). Or you really really like French press style coffee on your backpacking trips and you don’t mind packing the wet grounds out*.

*Yes, pack them out. Burying them in a cat hole is not an acceptable answer.

Integrated Cook Systems With French Press Attachments 

Man pouring coffee from a Camp Percolator
Image courtesy of GSI Outdoors

Stove-Top Percolator

The good old-fashioned percolator has been a go-to for camp coffee drinkers for generations. 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 is great at making lots of strong coffee over a camp stove or campfire.

Ideal Use: Depending on the size percolator, this brew method can be good for small and/or large groups. This is a great option for car camping and vanlife or RVers.

Method: Fill the kettle with water, place a paper filter in the basket (or just use the metal filter), fill with grounds, and boil until ready. Most percolators come with a glass or plastic viewing bubble at the top so you can see when the coffee is the correct color.

Percolator product image

Farberware Yosemite Percolator

Farberware has been producing percolators for decades. This stainless steel stovetop edition comes in either an 8-cup or 12-cup version. 

GSI Coffee Percolator product image

GSI Glacier Percolator

Available in a 6-cup or 14-cup version, the GSI Glacier Percolator stovetop coffee maker can handle a wide variety of group sizes.

moka pot on a camp stove

Moka Pot & Portable Espresso Makers 

If you like strong Italian-style coffee then the Moka Pot might be for you. This stovetop espresso maker produces extra-strength 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’ll never need to worry about buying or throwing away paper filters.

Ideal Use: Anyone who wants to experience the peppy bravado that only a shot of genuine Italian espresso can imbue.

Method: A Moka pot consists of three parts: the bottom reservoir, the metal filter in the middle, and the serving carafe at the top. Water is placed in the bottom and the grounds are packed into the middle filter. When placed over a stove, the water boils, steams up through the grounds, and collects in the top carafe.

Moka pot product image

Bialetti Moka Pot

The original Moka pot, Bialetti a variety of sizes – ranging from a tiny single-cup model to a gigantic 12-cup model. They are made from lightweight aluminum, which is can be a plus or a negative for some people.

Moka pot product image

GSI Stainless Moka Pot

The classic Bialetti Moka pot is made from aluminum, which many people are trying to avoid these days. This GSI Moka pot is made from non-reactive stainless steel. Same concept, different material.

camp espresso maker product image

GSI Espresso Maker

Similar in concept to the Moka pot, this GSI espresso maker trades the traditional top carafe for a spigot that puts the coffee right into your cup – which makes one less thing to clean. 

Megan sitting at a campground making coffee
The GSI Infinity Mug accompanies us on all of our backpacking trips!

Insulated Coffee Mugs

One of the easiest ways to greatly enhance your camping coffee experience is to invest in a proper camp coffee mug. 

For years, we used those ubiquitous blue-speckled enamel camp coffee mugs. But due to the high conductive of steel, they would become dangerously hot at first before rapidly going cold. We had a 2-3 minute window in which to enjoy the coffee at a reasonable temperature. 

All that changed when we upgraded to insulated coffee mugs. Now we can enjoy warm coffee throughout the morning.

Coffee mug product image

Hydro Flask Coffee Mug

We have been using these 12 oz Hydro Flask Coffee Mugs as our go-to camp coffee mug for the past few years. They are a great size and come in a lot of fun colors. They have even released a 6 oz baby and 24 oz mega-size version.

Green GSI mug

GSI Infinity Mug

Vacuum-sealed isn’t the only option. We absolutely love these GSI Infinity Mugs and use them for all our backpacking trips. They come with a neoprene sleeve that keeps your drink warm for a solid 20-minutes (we don’t need much more than that on the trail!). They are lighter and MUCH MUCH cheaper than insulated titanium backpacking mugs.

Hydro Flask Coffee Flask product image

Hydro Flask Coffee Flask 20oz 

One of our biggest beef with camp coffee mugs is that many of them are too big to fit in a normal car cup holder. This Coffee Flask solves that issue. Its slender design allows it to easily transition from your campsite to your car ride. With a neatly designed leak-proof flex lid, it is also a pleasure to drink from.

Portable Coffee Grinders

No doubt, bringing pre-ground coffee is the easiest way of making coffee while camping. But there is definitely an argument for bringing whole beans and grinding them fresh in the morning. 

Freshly ground coffee tastes noticeably better, even to non-coffee snobs. So if you want to make the most out of a high-end or specialty coffee, fresh ground is the way to go. Also, you may need to adjust the finest of your coffee to your brew method. Most pre-ground coffee is medium-coarse for drip coffee machines, but you may need it to be finer (for espresso) or coarser (for french press). 

Luckily, there are a number of manual coffee grinders on the market perfect for adding to your camp coffee making routine:

Javapresse coffee grinder product image

JavaPresse Coffee Grinder 

If you are looking for a solid manual coffee grinder at a reasonable price, look no further than the JavaPresse Manual Grinder. It has ceramic conical burrs that can be adjusted from super-fine to coarse. It also features a glass viewing point to allow you to see how much you’ve ground so far. 40 grams capacity.

While this coffee grinder is likely to last for years, the one area to be aware of is the detachable handle. If you use this grinder daily for years (like we did) the slight wiggle in the handle connection point will eventually start to wear away the metal, causing the handle to slip.

Hario Skerton Pro Coffee Grinder product image

Hario “Skerton” Pro Grinder 

If you need to grind a lot of fresh coffee and want a little more capacity, then the Hario Skerton Pro Grinder might be a good option for you. It has a 100-gram capacity allowing you to grind enough coffee for the whole morning in one go.  

While we are not crazy about the glass jar, it does have a rubberized bottom which helps protect it. 

VSSL Java Coffee Grinder product image

VSSL JAVA Manual Hand Coffee Grinder 

The VSSL Java is the Cadillac of hand coffee grinders. While most other brands use ceramic conical burrs, the JAVA has stainless steel burrs that make for a more consistent and easier grind. It also has 2 high-end radial ball bearings sets to ensure there is no “wobbly” when you grind and that all your energy is being evenly distributed. If you have been disappointed by low-end coffee grinders in the past (like we have) and have the budget to treat yourself, this just might be the answer.  20-gram capacity.

Are you still cattle filled with coffee on a campfire

Cowboy Coffee 

Have you ever arrived at the campground only to realize you forgot your coffee maker at home? What should you do? Panic? Cancel the trip?!

No, cowboy coffee to the rescue! 

Assuming you didn’t also forget the coffee at home too (in which case you seriously need to download our car camping checklist), all you need to brew camp coffee is a kettle or a pot of water and some coffee grounds. Here’s how to do it:

Sink Down Method

Heat a kettle or pot of water until boiling. Remove from heat and add coffee grounds in. Return to low heat and simmer. Some of the coffee grounds should start to sink to the bottom after a few minutes. To encourage them to sink, drizzle some cold water on top. Then gently pour the coffee into cups, making sure not to agitate the grounds which have sunk to the bottom. 

Scoop Top Method

Heat a kettle of water until boiling. Remove from heat and spoon coffee grounds in. Return to low heat and simmer. With a spoon, skim the coffee grounds off the surface.

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48 Comments

  1. Why in the world would you want to trek your used coffee grounds out of the wild? Coffee grounds are not trash or anything foreign to the wilderness, forest or grassy fields. Coffee is a natural mix for soil. In the home front many use to airate and fertilize their special plants. This is one item that does not need to return to the source unless you are dumping the grounds on top of a picnic table or a parking lot. Just about any ground will surfice for mixing with your grounds.

    1. Milo, we totally get it that coffee grounds are compostable and can easily be re-integrated into the soil. If we were making coffee in our backyard, the grounds would go in the hedges. But there are a few reasons why we’d suggest packing out while backpacking. 1.) In a lot of the designated wilderness areas in the western US, it’s required you pack out all waste. 2.) Not all environments are equally suited for soil compositing: fragile alpine meadows, arid deserts, rocky summits. 3.) The strong smell of coffee can attract animals, which trains them to check backpackers sites for food. So while soil composting might works in some circumstances, we tend to err on the side of caution.

    2. Nate Denver says:

      I know this is a year old article but…..

      I live in Colorado and camp 10 to 12 times yearly.

      2 things:

      1st. Pack it out or dont pack it in. If you would rather not carry used grounds out with you, that is OK. Just take instant instead. And I do pack my tea bags out.

      2. What do you all think the preferred method for making coffee for 30 person camping would be? Need economical but still decent flavor. (full disclosure: I don’t drink coffee at all. I am a tea guy.) I will be hosting large monthly camping trips 4-5 times a year for the foreseeable future.

      1. Texsport, GSI, and a few others make mega-sized percolators (I think 24 cups). We’ve come across a few guided rafting camps (with like 30 people in them) and that was what they were using.

      2. WinterTakesAll says:

        I know this is really, really, really,*really* old, and everyone involved will have long since moved on with their lives, but just for the sake of future readers yet to come, I’d just like to tag in behind Nate and also say that it’s not all about the soil; caffeine is not safe – or necessarily *wise* – for all animals to consume. And if it smells interesting – which coffee grounds do – they *will* lick it.
        Even if your leftover grounds, dumped out in the wild, don’t outright poison any poor fuzzy li’l critter, have a heart for the other camper who might have to deal with a caffeinated bull moose (or mountain lion, or bear, or coyote…komodo dragon…cassowary…hey, I don’t know where you are).
        Half-joking? Sure. But only half.

  2. Emily Swift aka Goldie says:

    Haha this is great! I loved the little bripe! We mostly use a French press in our Skoolie. But in the woods I think instant is the way to go. If you live out there long enough it starts to taste like real coffee.

  3. Good article, so far I’ve just used the coffee press with my JetBoil Zip and a No4 coffee from Aldi and it was very easy to make and tasted good

  4. Where is the original travel espresso maker Handpresso?

    1. We had one of their models a couple of years back, and we weren’t super crazy about it. Perhaps they’ve made some improvements since. We’ll have to try them again.

  5. You can cold brew your own if you think to start it the day before. So good and smooth!

  6. Starbucks instant packets work just fine for this simple family! Sipping while looking at the lake! Camping is an escape for us.

  7. Kellie K Bassen says:

    We use a Dripolator. Best coffee we ever had

  8. I love this post! I had no idea about all of these methods to make coffee and it’s ceirtainly interesting! I was wondering which one of them did you like the most? I can think of a few method for different occasions but I think I will always prefer the pour over stand for camping (seriously coffee drinker and all that).

  9. Really nice! Enjoyed reading with a feeling of flavor and aroma of the coffee.

  10. Amazing article especially for those who can’t spend a single day without coffee.Lots of ways to brew coffee.Choose one which best suits you.Thank you for providing us with such information.

  11. Sally Kooch says:

    Great article! Can’t wait to try this!

  12. Amazing article indeed. I am a huge coffee lover and I also have a barista experience in the past. I have to say it is quite hard to spend a full day with no coffee. And that doesn’t happen in the Netherlands. As Portuguese I though it was on my blood, but Dutch are impressive with coffee!

  13. What a wonderful share! One thing I dread when I go camping is not being able to have a good cup of coffee. Don’t get me wrong, it is incredible to wake up to the great outdoors and the sounds of nature, but even better to wake up and have a warm coffee on campsite in that setting. The OXX box is SO COOL, but I’ve gotta say the classic Cowboy style is my fave. Thanks for sharing!

    1. We can’t answer comments on this post without feeling inspired to make ourselves a cup of coffee too!

  14. Great article on the different types of coffee that could be brewed. I read this article because I have a similar one about Cowboy Coffee and wanted to see if I left out anything important but you covered most of the base that I had with some additions.

  15. Greetings! Fun write up. Regarding the eggshell coffee, Salmonella wouldn’t survive boiling water though. That was curiously funny to me.

    That aside, I do Pour Over, French Press, or Cowboy, even at home, every day, the latter lowering to simmer right after boil, stirring for five minutes. Oh my goodness, wow, such a delicious coffee. Feliz con mi cafe – gracias!

  16. Thanks for such an informative writing. I am always on tours to different parts of country, And making my own coffee during my tours is very helpful to save time as i have not to search any restaurant nearby. Cheers.

  17. Great article, I recently discovered the GSI java drip and I have to say I am in love!! I do a lot of camping and field work for work and I have to pack light so sometimes so I end up falling for the instant coffee option which I have never liked (being a picky Colombian coffee drinker).
    I used to take French press that I found in the Australian shop Kathmandu similar to the GSI Java Press, but I found that coffee wasn’t always as good but probably because its a cheaper version; and obviously when packing light sometimes I would have to sacrifice it.
    The GSI Java Drip has saved my coffee love in the outdoors, will try some of the other light options next time such as the Jetboil attachment.

  18. Illimani94 says:

    Wow! Hope you paced yourselves; that’s a lot of coffee… Over the years my wife and I have tried most of these methods. We’ve ended up settling on instant for our backpacking, snowshoe camping, climbing ventures. Just lightest and simplest. We use the instant espresso from Medaglia d’ Oro, but now I want to try the instant from Alpine Start and Swift. At home we use a stainless French press a lot, though I’ve been known to fire a moki pot (Italian stovetop espresso maker) and have become a big fan of the Aeropress. In fact, the Aeropress has become our preferred method for campervan coffee. Great coffee, fast, minimal cleanup afterwards.

  19. So useful on the different types of coffee that could be brewed. Love your step by step instruction to brew the coffee. I will keep it in my mind. Thanks for the sharing such an informative article.

    1. DH, thanks for sharing the Simpresso! Looks like it could definitely be a good choice while camping. We’ll have to try it out for ourselves sometime.

  20. Many ways i use is listed here. But the first one, instant coffee as i can say it is not a coffee.
    As a turkish i also serve turkish coffee in camps on fire, it is quite easy

    1. Hah, instant coffee is definitely not our first choice, either! We typically use it only when lightweight backpacking where it doesn’t make sense to carry heavier coffee-making equipment.

      The Turkish coffee method is also a great idea. We love a strong cup of coffee afterall!

  21. Stephen Walker says:

    Some interesting methods. Well put together thanks.
    But, for me, I’ll keep it to my Sport Presso!

  22. Paul Jackson says:

    No mention of the aeropress?

    1. Aeropress is now on the list! Thanks for catching that Paul. It’s actually one of favorite brew methods

    2. The new Pipamoka is good fun and makes good coffee too! 🙂

  23. Good choices for making coffee while on the go or on a camping adventure. Nothing rejuvenates me when camping like a fresh mug of coffee. It clears the mind!

  24. I swear by a percolator for the best camping coffee!!! We have the Farberware Yosemite one and it is fantastic! You just can’t beat the taste of percolated coffee (in my opinion at least). And the nostalgia factor is there too, it always reminds me of my great grandfather 🙂 I’ve been thinking about getting an aeropress for a quicker cup when we need a little afternoon caffeine pick me up though (even though I love my percolator it does take a long time to make coffee)- thanks for all of the awesome info/tips!

    1. We love the taste of percolator coffee too, but since it’s just the two of us, we find that the Aeropress is the straightest line between us and a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. ????

  25. This is so helpful! I made a lot of cowboy coffee when I ended up in Hawaii without a coffee pot and I use instant coffee pretty often but I would love to give some of these other methods a try too. A good cup of coffee is always worth the effort : )