Backcountry Beacon

There are few things better than coming out of your tent on a cold morning, firing up the camp stove, and making yourself a fresh cup of coffee. We’ve come a long way since cowboy coffee. No longer do you have to struggle through a cup of sludge or submit yourself to the coffee sacrilege of instant.

But things could still turn out undrinkable if you brew your coffee wrong. So we’ve come up with a few tips on how to brew the perfect cup of backcountry coffee.

French Press

With the French press, you can get it drastically wrong or deliciously right. When you get it right, the French press produces a rich, full-body brew. When things go bad, it can either taste like dirty water (too weak) or crude oil (too strong).

Grind

• Coarse – Grind those beans as coarse as you can get. If you love coffee, invest in a burr grinder, which feeds the beans from the top, grinds evenly, and produces less heat to create a better cup of coffee. Seriously. Or just go to the coffee shop and ask them to grind your coffee coarse.

Method

1. Pour coffee in – experiment at home to find the right ratio
2. Bring water to a boil, then remove from heat, allowing the boil to just peter out
3. Add just enough water to cover the grounds
4. Stir it up
5. Fill carafe
6. Place plunger on top but do not press down
7. Wait 4 minutes – no more, no less
8. Slowly push plunger down – try to take at least 20 seconds to reach bottom
9. Enjoy immediately

Single Pour Drip

These things are all the rage. At your local coffee shop you may have seen a tattooed barista concentrating over an inverted ceramic cone. Luckily the backcountry method is simple and lightweight. Tip: Use a filter. Even if the thing says you don’t need one, use a filter.

Grind

• Medium – Too fine and you’ll clog up the filters; too course and it’ll be weak

Method

1. Place filter into cone and pour in a little water to pre-soak it
2. Add coffee
3. Slowly pour just-before-boiling water into the center of the cone in a circular motion, adding just enough water to cover the grounds – it should create a crema on top
4. As the water sinks, gradually add more water to the center of the cone in that same circular motion until you have a full cup

Percolator

The percolator is more than just a catchy tune—this is the old campground standby. Use this method when you have a large group of crabby campers.

Grind

• Course – Too fine and you’ll clog up the basket

Method

1. Fill with cold water, using the marking to fill percolator to desired level
2. Add coffee into the top basket
3. Make sure the basket fits securely in carafe
4. Securely place lid on basket
5. Place percolator on burner over medium heat
6. Brew until coffee is desired color/strength – can take up to 20 minutes

Espresso

Yup, espresso has made it into the backcountry. It’s actually a very simple and fast way to brew a strong shot of coffee. Although making a latte could be a bit tricky. Whether you use a camping espresso maker or an old school stove-top espresso maker, the method is pretty much the same.

Grind

• Fine – and use only the best coffee.

Method

1. Unscrew cap and remove the inner funnel filter
2. Fill the lower part with fresh cold water, making sure not to fill above the little button-looking thing (it’s a valve)
3. Fill the funnel filter with fine coffee
4. Slowly screw the top back on, making sure the grooves line up
5. Place on stove over high heat
6. (For stovetop makers) When the top portion is full, remove from heat

Over-the-Top

A few backcountry gear manufacturers have officially gone overboard. Call me old fashioned, but part of the lure of enjoying a cup of coffee in the wilderness is it’s simplicity. I’m just after a tasty jolt of caffeine. But hey, if you want something a bit more fancypants, you’re in luck:

Brunton Brewfire Coffee Maker

“This portable coffee maker runs on propane or butane canister fuel, and brews up to eight steaming cups of your favorite go-juice. The stainless steel carafe keeps coffee hot for up to 2.5 hours.”

Snowpeak Titanium Cafe Latte Set

“Brew your coffee in the café press and then foam up your milk (or milk powder) in the milk foamer. Snow Peak made the Café Latte Set out of titanium, so it’s light on your back and lasts for ages.”

What’s your camping coffee secret?

We’re always after new ways to get our caffeine fix. Enlighten us.

Related Posts:

• Camp Chef Recipe #4: Hobo Potatoes
• Camp Chef Recipe #2: Taco Rice
• Camp Chef Recipe #1: Fire Roasted Chicken Tacos

Tags: backpacking, camping, coffee, cooking, food