3 Ways to Make Backpacking Coffee

As a slight caffeine addict, coffee is a non-negotiable, even when camping. After an early morning on the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon, I had such a headache from lack of caffeine at the bottom that I dropped an instant coffee packet into my Nalgene and drank it lukewarm. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are lots of ways to make great tasting coffee in camp. Here are a few of my personal favorites, that take minimal gear and cleanup.

Cowboy Coffee is the most classic style of brewing coffee in the outdoors. All you need is a way to boil water and coffee grounds– no filter required. Bring the water to a boil, such as in a kettle or a Jetboil. Remove it from the heat source. Then, add the grounds, about 2 Tablespoons per 8 ounces of hot water. Let it sit, and stir. Stir every two minutes for four to six minutes. When all the grounds are at the top, such as in a French Press, add some cold water to help them sink to the bottom. Carefully pour the coffee into a cup, trying not to get too many grounds in the coffee. 

2. Jetboil French Press

If you choose to use a JetBoil to make cowboy coffee, you can buy an accessory for your JetBoil that will help with the grounds-in-the-coffee situation. Make your coffee the same way you would normally make Cowboy Coffee (see above). Instead of carefully trying not to get grounds in your final sip, use the coffee press attachment to keep those grounds pressed to the bottom of the Jetboil.

3. Jetboil + Instant Coffee

While it might not be as gourmet or interesting as brewing special coffee over a fire or “cowboy style”, my personal go-to for coffee while camping is using a Jetboil and instant coffee packets. They’re tiny and lightweight and portioned out already for you. Boil a cup’s worth of water, pour into a camp cup, and add an instant coffee packet. Done and caffeinated!

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