A great adventure starts with a good cup of camp coffee. I have heard that some people are strong enough to forego caffeine in the backcountry for the sake of cutting weight and trimming down on supplies, and that some even manage to survive without drinkingcaffeine at all. I am neither.I was once convinced that I had the flu on a camping trip—until I realized that I’d accidentally been drinking decaf. All of thisto say:my coffee ritual has to be able to go wherever I do. If you’re low on funds or just trying to keep gear clutter to a minimum, there are plenty of brewing methods that can transition seamlessly from kitchen to camp for a quality caffeine kick anywhere. Here are a few of myfavorites, from simple to over-the-top.
(Almost) Instant
Though I would never advise stooping low enoughto make instant coffee a part ofyourhome routine, I have to admit that it’s the easiest and lightestsolution for backpacking trips. Cusa cold-brewswith sustainably grown beans and then dehydrates that black goldto make its new ($7for 7 servings). The result isless bitter and burnt tasting than typical on-the-go options. (Bonus:if you’re too lazy to turn on the stove in the morning, it can even be brewed with cold water.)
If you need a quickenergy boost but don’t want to go the instant route, try steeping your coffee like tea. Make your own bag by scooping grounds into a conical filter and stapling it shut, or pick up some premade packets from ($16 for eightservings). For those of you who want to feel fancy with none of the fuss, single-serve pour-overs are also available from ($4per serving).
Pour-Overs
Get your tent-side caffeine fix the old-school way with a plastic . They’re lightweight and practically indestructible, plus one will only run you about $5 (and costabout $9). This was my method of choice for years of car camping, backpacking, and college-dorm living. The only issue is that these cones are oddly shaped, which can make them tough to pack, so clip them to the outside of your pack instead.
If you backpack often or are just looking for a sleeker pour-over solution, Miir’s collapsible ($30) works as well as the classic cone and packs down to a four-ounce, 2.5-by-5.1-inch rectangle. It’s also made from stainless steel, which won’t hold onto flavor like plastic.
French Presses
If you’re a car camperwho prefers your coffee steeped rather than filtered, an insulated press is the perfect crossover tool between your houseand the road. ($60) isideal for one person (or a couple willing to share) and keeps 22 ounces of joe toasty for hours. It’s also tough—one of our editors used hers while road-tripping in New Zealand, sailing the South Pacific, and at home in New Mexico for the past three years.
($65) is larger (48 ounces) and more heavy-duty than the Kathmandu model, with dishwasher-safe stainless-steel components. It will keep your bean juice hot for up to four hours, and the easy-pour spout makessharing mess-free.
AeroPress
The AeroPress has garnered a over the years for its unique brewing method usingalight, simple, durabledevice. The ($30)takes about a minute to maketwo cups of high-caliber Americano-style java and just a few seconds to clean(and washing up uses very little water—just ejectthe filter and grounds and wipe the plunger—which is a plus at camp).
Frequent backpackers looking for an even lighter-weight, smaller optioncan try the ($32), which packs into a compact unit and comes with a mug and a lid.
Espresso
A ($39) has been an indispensable part of my morning ritual for five years. While this device is referred to as a stovetop espresso maker, it doesn’t produce the crema-on-top brew that manypeople expect. But it does quickly makejust enough highly concentrated adventure fuel for two (at a little more than two shots per person)and requires no hand pumping or additional filters. It’s tough enough to but likely too heavy and bulky for backpacking. Those who are willing to carrythe extra weight might opt for a smaller size, like .
If you’re hell-bent on having real espresso in the backcountry, the ($67) is the way to go. At just under 12 ounces, it’s not exactly ultralight, but it’s barely bigger than a soda can andable to whip up single and double shots on the go. Be warned—generating enough pressure to produce crema means you’ll have to hand-pump this manual device.