Brewing pour over coffee while camping is one of the simplest ways to enjoy a fresh, flavorful cup of coffee in the great outdoors. It requires just a few key pieces of gear and a bit of preparation, but the results are well worth the effort. Whether you’re waking up to a crisp mountain morning or enjoying a lakeside sunrise, pour over coffee can elevate your outdoor experience. Here's how to brew the perfect cup while camping.
What You’ll Need:
- Pour over dripper (our go-to is the Hario V60).
- Coffee filter
- Fresh ground coffee (medium grind, similar to table salt)
- Water
- Camping kettle or pot for boiling water
- Mug or coffee container
Instructions:
1. Set Up Your Brewing Station
Find a flat surface where you can comfortably place your pour over setup. Make sure your mug or container is stable.
2. Prepare the Coffee Filter
Place your coffee filter in the pour over dripper. If you’re using paper filters, rinse the filter with hot water to remove any paper taste and to pre-warm your dripper. Discard the rinse water before brewing.
3. Measure the Coffee
The general ratio is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 oz of water. You can adjust based on how strong you like your coffee. A standard starting point is 15g of coffee to 240ml of water.
4. Boil the Water
Boil enough water to brew your coffee (about 12 oz for a standard cup). Once the water is boiling, let it cool for about 30 seconds. Ideal brewing temperature is between 195°F and 205°F (90°C to 96°C).
5. Bloom the Coffee
Pour just enough hot water over the coffee grounds to saturate them evenly (about 2x the amount of coffee you used). Let the coffee “bloom” for about 30 seconds. This allows the gases in the coffee to escape and improves the flavor extraction.
6. Pour the Water
After blooming, slowly pour the remaining hot water over the coffee in a circular motion, starting from the center and moving outwards, then back to the center. Try to keep the water level consistent, avoiding large splashes.
Pour in stages to ensure the coffee grounds are evenly saturated. The entire process should take about 2.5-3 minutes, depending on your desired strength.
7. Finish Brewing
Let the water fully drain through the coffee grounds. Once the drip slows to a stop, your coffee is ready!
8. Enjoy Your Coffee!
Remove the dripper from your mug and dispose of the used filter and grounds. If you're in a more remote area, pack out the grounds to leave no trace. Give the dripper a quick rinse and savor your freshly brewed coffee in the great outdoors.
Brewing coffee on a camping trip is a small pleasure that can make your mornings in nature even more enjoyable!
