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The Art of making great camp coffee

July 29. 2025

We love coffee - there is no better way to start the day! But sometimes when camping or on the trail a good cup of coffee can be hard to come by.

So if you have ever endured a weak brew, or even god forbid instant coffee at camp - then read on for our ultimate guide on making great coffee anywhere!

Some of these tips are quite geeky - but will help create the perfect brew!

The right coffee

Starting with the right coffee will make a world of difference - so find a coffee that you love at home, and you will have a good chance of replicating that anywhere.

Store it

Airtight containers are your friend here - but don't worry about carrying a weighty tin up a mountain or taking up room in your pack.

Look out for coffee in a resealable bag with a one-way valve - most good coffee brands supply their coffee like this anyway. This allows the CO2 to escape but stops oxygen from getting in and spoiling the coffee.

The right gear

While it might be tempting to lug your set up from home with you wherever you go - this is impractical for most of us - especially if you like to brew up a hot drink on your favourite peak.

So something lightweight and packable is your best bet. That tends to rule out anything plugged in or made of glass (sorry cafetière)!

For lightweight an AeroPress is a great option - but can be slightly bulky so consider a coffee dripper. This is probably the simplest way of brewing coffee and will take up very little room.

Brew it right

This is where a coffee can be perfected - it is all about the brewing. Some of this may seem a big geeky, but can improve the quality of your drink - and we are talking about the art of making great coffee

Temperature

Pouring boiling water straight onto your coffee can cause your brew to taste bitter, so aim for slightly under boiling temperature.

96°C is the optimum temperature - unless you are carrying a thermometer with you - just wait for 30-60 seconds before pouring.

Measure your coffee

Getting great coffee every time requires consistency - so you will want to measure your coffee as accurately as possible.

Using a spoon makes it hard to get a consistent amount - so using a dedicated coffee scoop which you can level off will help with this. You can get some pretty lightweight ones too - so this won't weigh you down.

Pour your water right

Patience is a virtue and good things come to those who wait - so make sure you pour your water in slowly. This will help create an even flow of water and help with consistency.

Don't be tempted to move your kettle up and down while pouring - this again causes an inconsistent pour and the force of the water can make holes in your coffee.

If you are using a coffee dripper - don't be tempted to wash down the sides to clear coffee which has become stuck near the top. This will cause you to pour water straight through the sides without touching your coffee - resulting in a weaker brew!