Published May 27, 2026 03:01AM
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Four Different Methods for Brewing the Perfect Cup of Camping Coffee
Become a backcountry (or backyard) barista with these compact coffee gadgets and gear-tester-approved brewing for every kind of adventure.
From manual grinders to insulated travel mugs, the best camping coffee gear means you never have to chose between a café-quality cup and a beautiful view. (Photo: Erica Zazo)
Best Coffee-Brewing Methods Outdoors
Key Takeaway: Bring your barista-grade coffee camping with these 10 compact gadgets that will help you pull off a seriously good cup anywhere you wander and roam. This list is divided into four different brewing methods: instant coffee, French press, pour-over, and AeroPress, with a bonus brew system at the end.
Coffee tastes better outside. Anyone who has sipped a slow morning cup at the campsite or watched steam rise from their mug with a mountain view knows exactly what I’m talking about.
Boiling grounds in a camp kettle over an open fire is the old-school way to brew a cup, but camp coffee has evolved considerably. Now there’s backcountry barista gear for every type of camping coffee drinker—from compact pour-over kits to stainless steel French presses. Whether you’re a minimalist backpacker craving a quick cup on the trail or a coffee connoisseur who won’t leave home without a manual burr grinder, there’s a brewing method fit for every adventure.
Here are four ways to brew coffee while camping—and the gear you need for each method.
No Fuss Camp Coffee: Instant Coffee
For a fast cup, instant coffee is your best friend. It’s the lightest and most portable option for brewing camping coffee outdoors. Plus, it requires minimal gear to pull off a perfectly fresh, hot cup of joe. All you need is hot water, a cup, and some quality instant coffee.
MSR Switch Stove System
A simple, lightweight backpacking stove boils water in minutes. The MSR Switch elevates the camp stove game with a soft, wrap-around cork handle to protect your hand and an innovative hemispherical design that heats water faster than your average portable stove. A stable ring around the burner balances a kettle, and arms that flip out accommodate an even bigger pot—handy when you’re heating water for a crew. These thoughtful design touches make this camping stove a standout choice for anyone who takes their outdoor coffee routine as seriously as their gear list.
Alpine Mountain Gear Enamelware Mug
As snobby as I am about my coffee, I’m not as particular about my camp mug. The pricier double-walled camp cups are great for keeping your coffee hot, but I’m a sucker for nostalgic camping gear like enamelware. Alpine Mountain’s glossy, speckled camp cups ooze vintage vibes and set the scene for breakfast at the campground. They’re inexpensive, durable, easy to clean, and the perfect size for a single serving of Kuju coffee. For coffee on the go, I like to clip mine to my backpack with a carabiner.
Kuju Coffee
Dubbed “the pocket pour-over,” Kuju has become my go-to instant coffee for biking adventures, car camping, backpacking trips, and regular travel. It’s mess-free and by far the easiest (and most fun) way to whip up a cup of instant coffee. Fold-out paper arms suspend and anchor a small pouch of coffee grounds over your cup. From there, it’s as easy as pouring hot water over the powder and letting it steep and drip through. The result is one of the smoothest cups of instant coffee you’ll find. I’m partial to the medium roast Basecamp Blend, but Kuju also makes dark roast and light roast blends.
Car Campers’ Classic Cup: French Press
When you’re making coffee for a group, a French press is the move. It’s a bit clunkier and heavier than the instant method, but steeping fresh-ground beans make for a bolder brew that’s well worth the extra bulk.
YETI Rambler 34oz French Press
Glass and the outdoors don’t mix. The good news for camp coffee fiends is that YETI makes one of the burliest, break-proof French presses you’ll find. Built with the same kitchen-grade stainless steel as the rest of the Rambler line, it’s virtually indestructible, which is exactly what you want when you’re fumbling around camp before your first cup of coffee. The 34-ounce size is best for serving two to four folks, and the YETI Rambler also comes in a 64-ounce size for even larger groups.
YETI Rambler 6oz Stackable Cups
Ok, fine, sometimes I do like my coffee in fancy mugs. Especially when they’re fun-sized and keep your coffee at optimal sipping temperature ‘til the last drop hits your tongue. YETI’s stackable Rambler mugs are equal parts functional and adorable. They’re stackable for easy storage, made from kitchen-grade stainless steel, and lined with ceramic—meaning they won’t hold onto the taste or smell of whatever you sipped last (breakfast whiskey, anyone?). They’re just the right size for enjoying a few small servings of coffee, and even more perfect for an Americano on your back porch or an espresso on a 10,000-foot peak.
Not Your Average Cowboy Coffee: Pour-Over
Before pour-overs, cowboys were out there boiling coffee grounds directly in a kettle over an open flame, pouring out a cup, and calling it a morning. Bold and gritty? Absolutely. But hey, it got the job done. Thankfully, enjoying coffee outdoors has gotten a little more refined since then, with gear that actually strains the grounds before they hit your cup. Pour-overs take more time than other outdoor brewing methods, though we’d argue the payoff is worth every extra minute. And if you’re the type who loves a slow morning and takes the art of camp coffee seriously, this method (and gear) is for you.
Sea to Summit Frontier UL Collapsible Kettle
On a chilly morning at the campsite, few things are more serene than watching steam rise from the kettle spout—except maybe the curl of steam rising from your cup right after you fill it up and take the first sip. Sea to Summit’s collapsible 1.1-liter kettle was made for exactly this kind of coffee experience outdoors. It’s lightweight (7.1 ounces), quick to boil thanks to an aluminum bottom, and packable enough to bring on just about any adventure you can dream up. Pair it with a pour-over coffee steeping system, and you’ve got yourself a full outdoor coffee ritual worth waking up early for.
Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Pour Over
I’ve had the Sea to Summit X Brew for several years, and it’s been my favorite way to bring pour-overs into the backcountry or on any adventure closer to home. The brand has since upgraded the X Brew design to the Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Pour Over that folds down so small it fits in the palm of your hand. It’s ideal for solo campers and backpackers who want a more refined cup of camp coffee without the bulk. A built-in reusable stainless mesh filter cuts down on waste and results in a rich, oil-forward cup of flavorful coffee. If you’re the patient type who finds joy in listening to birdsong while your grounds steep, this gadget is for you.
The Backcountry Barista’s Secret Weapon: AeroPress
Most coffee fanatics who also love the outdoors know about AeroPress. But in case you are new here, it’s a compact espresso-meets-pour-over brewing system that’s become the cult classic way to brew camp coffee. It’s lightweight, nearly impossible to break, and brews a seriously smooth cup of joe. Whether you’re backpacking deep into the wilderness or stashing caffeine on a cycling adventure, this little press delivers a quality camping coffee cup in under a minute.
AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press
I’m partial to the smaller AeroPress Go for its ultra-compact design and carrying case, which both make it easy to stash in your pack for a hike, bike ride, or travel. It’s one of the easiest ways to enjoy a cup of coffee outdoors—just pour water over super-fine grounds (instant coffee style), then plunge. The AeroPress Go makes one 8-ounce coffee serving at a time. For a larger cup or enough for two, opt for the AeroPress XL Coffee Press. Little-known fact: The AeroPress isn’t just for hot coffee. You can steep the grounds in nature-temperature water (aka whatever water you’ve got outdoors). Just let the rounds soak a little longer before plunging the coffee.
AeroPress Natural Micro-Filters
To keep the grounds from collecting in your cup, you’ll need AeroPress filters. If you’re trying to avoid unnecessary waste, consider their reusable stainless steel filter that comes in sizes for both standard and XL AeroPress systems. Cleaning out the AeroPress is as simple as removing the filter cap and plunging the rest of the way. The grounds and filter come clean as one puck, and all that’s left to do is rinse the AeroPress out with water. Simple, efficient, and great coffee.
Bougie Bonus Brew: VSSL Hand Grinder + Pour Over Kit
Look, we’re not here to judge. If you’ve made it this far into a camping coffee gear guide, you’re probably the person at the campsite with the pickiest palate and a genuine love for the art of the outdoor brew. We respect that. If mediocre coffee simply isn’t an option for you out there (raises hand slowly), meet the most café-quality coffee setup on this list—burr hand grinder and all.
Nest Pour Over Kit + Java G25 Coffee Grinder Bundle
Fresh-ground coffee hits different. But coffee you grind by hand yourself hits even harder. The outdoor coffee enthusiasts at VSSL designed the Nest Pour Over Kit for every bougie coffee drinker who refuses to sacrifice a barista-quality cup for a mountain view (or whatever backdrop you’re chasing). The bundle comes with their signature Java G25 conical burr manual grinder, two cups with lids, and a double-walled pour-over coffee dripper. It’s a collapsible, packable brewing system that nests neatly into itself for easy storage and grab-and-go adventures. The collection tees you up for the freshest, most dialed outdoor coffee setup money can buy. Is it extra AF? Yup. Does it make a damn good cup and a whole experience out of it? 100 percent.
