Most of you probably enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea at some point(s) during the day. The mug filled with steaming liquid is what gets you out of bed in the morning, pushes you through the day, and/or winds you down for the evening. Am I right?
Whichever your drink of choice may be, the last thing you want to do is leave that routine behind when hiking or camping. So why not bring your supplies along, and make that perfect cup of hot coffee or tea outdoors?
I personally favor a hot cup of tea every morning and evening, and I continue the tradition on the trail, at my campsite, and in the backcountry. Erica does the same with coffee, so we are experts on the topic of camp coffee and tea.
I’m going to share with you exactly how to make camp coffee. You’ll learn how to make coffee backpacking and how to make coffee at camp so that you can brew a steaming cup on the trail, at your campsite, next to your car, or in the backcountry.
Once you master your camping coffee setup, you’ll be able to stretch your arms and rise from your tent on a cool morning, sit around a campfire watching the stars, or gaze out at a beautiful landscape from your camp chair at sunset, and wrap your hands around a mug of something tasty that will warm you from the inside out.
Brewing Tea and Coffee at Camp and on the Trail
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks so much for your support!
Selecting a Brewing Method
There are many ways to make camp coffee and tea and many different choices you’ll have to make, especially for coffee.
You’ll want to select a method and supplies based on these factors:
- Will you be car camping, backpacking, or day hiking?
- How many people are you brewing for?
- How fast do you want to prepare it?
- Do you need the mess to be minimal and cleanup to be quick and easy?
While none of these methods include hauling a massive Keurig or a jumbo espresso machine glowing with dozens of buttons and a dizzying array of options, some of these processes require more effort and supplies than others.
Don’t worry; I’ll share which ones are best for which outdoor activities, and then I’ll do a deep dive into each method.
Keep in mind: Just because you’re car camping doesn’t mean you need to bring extra supplies or larger equipment. If you’re like me, I prefer to use my backcountry methods even when I’m day hiking or car camping. Less mess, reduced clean-up, and fewer and lighter pieces of gear. It’s all about your personal preference!
Best Ways to Make Camp Coffee
Car Camping Methods
Backpacking and Day Hiking Methods
- Single-serve instant coffee packets
- Single-serve coffee bags
- Single-serve pour-over
- Instant coffee cubes
- Jetboil French press
Best Ways to Brew Camp Tea
Car Camping Methods
Backpacking and Day Hiking Methods
Methods of Making Coffee While Camping and Hiking
French Press / Jetboil French Press Method
Car campers who are partial to a modest amount of rich-tasting coffee can utilize the French Press technique. Since the grounds steep for a while, similar to the way a tea bag saturates in water, the coffee will have a stronger, more robust taste.
Make sure to ditch the glass carafe that comes attached to an ordinary French Press and pick up a camping-specific French Press instead. Be prepared to use more coffee grounds and set aside extra time to clean up.
For backpackers who still crave the same taste that presses produce but don’t want to carry a bulky French Press, pick up a French Press attachment for your Jetboil. It’s lightweight and a major space saver, and you’ll still get that tasty cup of coffee!
Here’s a video on how to use the Jetboil French press. ☕️
Breakdown of the French Press / Jetboil French Press Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers will enjoy the French Press. Backpackers and day hikers will prefer the Jetboil version of the French Press because of its lighter weight.
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Individuals, couples, and small groups
- Is the cleanup messy and/or time-consuming? Yes
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Slow
Moka Pot Method
Car campers who crave rich, Italian espresso will enjoy this process. You’ll definitely feel swanky if you’re car camping in the middle of the woods and fire up the Moka Pot.
For this method, place water in the bottom and pack the grounds into the middle filter. When placed over a stove, the water will boil, steam up through the grounds, and collect in the top carafe.
Breakdown of the Moka Pot Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, and RVers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Individuals, couples, and small groups
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? Yes
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Slow
Percolator Method
If you’re wondering how to make campfire coffee, this is it right here.
This is one of those tried and true methods that campers have been using for generations. Campers can make a great-tasting carafe of coffee either over a camp stove or campfire. Since there are different size percolators, you can use this method for just about any size group, small or large. Van lifers, RVers, and car campers all utilize this method.
To use a percolator, fill the kettle with water, place a filter in the basket, fill it with grounds, and boil until desired strength. You’ll be able to see what color the coffee is in most percolators by a little viewing window located at the top of the kettle.
Breakdown of the Percolator Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, and RVers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Any size group
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? Yes
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Slow
Single-Serve Instant Coffee Packets Method
This tactic is perfect for all types of campers, hikers, and travelers. It’s a simple method with plenty of options. Choose an instant coffee packet – or even a tub of instant coffee – boil some water in a Jetboil or kettle, pour the hot water over the grounds, and stir. Simple as that!
Breakdown of the Single-Serve Instant Coffee Packets Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, RVers, day hikers, and backpackers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Individuals
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? No
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Fast
Single-Serve Coffee Bags Method
This process is ideal for all types of campers, hikers, and travelers who desire simplicity and efficiency and don’t like a lot of mess or cleanup. Not many people are educated on coffee bags in the outdoor world.
Coffee bags look identical to tea bags; they are essentially coffee grounds in a mesh pouch. Simply boil some water in a Jetboil or kettle, toss your coffee bag into a mug with the string hanging over the rim, pour the hot water over the bag, and let steep.
PRO TIP: To make your own single-serve coffee bags, place ground coffee in a coffee filter, gather up the sides of the filter, and tie it together with a piece of string. Make sure the string is long enough to submerge in the mug and hang over the rim.
Breakdown of the Single-Serve Coffee Bags Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, RVers, day hikers, and backpackers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Individuals
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? No
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Fast
Pour-Over Method (single-serve or regular)
Pour over camp coffee is the best, most convient way to make coffee!
This technique is ideal for all types of campers, hikers, and travelers who desire a better-tasting coffee that doesn’t require a lot of effort or time. Pour-overs are basically a fancier version of instant coffee packets and coffee bags. Pouches are filled with ground coffee and are built to sit on the rim of your coffee mug while you pour hot water over the pouch.
Note that the clean-up is a bit messier than instant coffee. Just like coffee bags, campers must pack out the used pour-over coffee filter and wet grounds. But they weigh similarly to instant coffee and are known to have a better taste!
If you want to make pour over camp coffee but ditch the single-serve method, try using a camping pour over coffee set and brew that perfect pour over cup without the waste!
Breakdown of the Pour-Over Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers and RVers will enjoy the regular pour-over method while day hikers and backpackers will enjoy the single-serve pour-over method.
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Individuals
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? Yes
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Fast
Instant Coffee Cubes Method
This method is ideal for anyone outdoorsy who wishes for a simple and quick cup of coffee and who doesn’t want to deal with mess or clean-up. Simply drop a cube into boiled water, let it sit for a minute or so, and then stir! There is no bag and no wet grounds to clean up.
Breakdown of the Instant Coffee Cubes Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, RVers, day hikers, and backpackers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Individuals
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? No
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Fast
Methods Of Brewing Tea While Camping and Hiking
Kettle Method
Tea kettles used to be a lot more popular in households than they are nowadays, but in established car campgrounds, they’re still heavily present! If you have a portable camp stove or a burner in your RV or van, a kettle could be a simple way to boil a copious amount of hot water and pour it over tea bags or loose-leaf tea strainers.
Other reasons that kettles are popular amongst car campers are their versatile use for both tea and coffee and their ability to produce a large amount of hot water. I wouldn’t suggest this method for day hikers or backpackers due to its bulk.
To brew an entire pot of tea for a group – instead of pouring hot water into individual mugs – boil water, add as many tea bags as you’d like to the kettle, and let steep for several minutes until you get your desired strength.
Breakdown of the Kettle Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, and RVers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Any size
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? No
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Slow
French Press Method
French presses aren’t just for coffee drinkers; they’re for tea connoisseurs as well! Simply bring water to a boil, add the desired amount of tea leaves to the carafe, pour the almost boiling water into the carafe, and steep for the desired brew strength.
For an ultralight option, use the Jetboil French press. Pour water into the Jetboil Flash, bring it to an almost boil, pour in tea leaves, push the plunger into the pot, allow to steep, push the plunger all the way to the bottom of the pot, and pour when done!
Here’s a video on how to use the Jetboil French press. ☕️
Breakdown of the French Press Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, and RVers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Any size
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? Yes
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Slow
Single-Serve Tea Bags Method
Single-serve tea bags are the simplest way to brew hot tea on the trail or at your campsite.
For the quickest results, boil water in just 100 seconds with a Jetboil Flash, pour the hot water into your mug, and steep the tea bag. The amount of time you’ll need to steep your tea bag depends on the type of tea and desired strength.
Breakdown of the Single-Serve Tea Bags Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, RVers, day hikers, and backpackers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Individuals
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? No
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Fast
Loose-Leaf Tea Strainer Method
If you prefer loose-leaf tea, you can bring along a handy infuser to steep in your boiled water. Use a Jetboil Flash to boil water at lightning speed.
Breakdown of the Loose-Leaf Tea Strainer Method
- Who will enjoy this method the most? Car campers, van lifers, RVers, day hikers, and backpackers
- What size group is this method appropriate for? Individuals
- Is the clean-up messy and/or time-consuming? No
- Is brewing time fast or slow? Fast
What is the Best Way to Make Coffee While Camping and Hiking?
If you are a car camper who craves the routine of brewing coffee and tea and relishes the extra time and care that it takes to accomplish this goal, I’d suggest using a French press. The Jetboil French Press is ideal for backpackers, hikers, and anyone who wants to save weight and space in their backpack or vehicle.
If you’re in a hurry and prefer to wrap your hands around a mug and get back on the trail as quickly as possible, nothing beats the simplicity of tea/coffee bags and instant coffee. For a steeper price tag, but a process that yields a tastier cup of joe, try pour-over.
I’d encourage all of you to give each method a try while you’re on your various adventures – backpacking, day hiking, and car camping – to see which method grants you the best taste and overall satisfaction!
Whether you’re deep in the remote wilderness of the backcountry, hiking on a trail in rugged terrain, or car/tent camping in the frontcountry, don’t leave those precious caffeine supplies at home. Carry the tradition with you on the trail, in the backcountry, and to your campsite.
PIN IT AND SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!
