Things You'll Need:
- coffee grounds (in baggies)
- fire-safe percolating coffee urn (with a basket)
- twigs and sticks (about a dozen, as thick as your thumb)
- matches
- water
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Step 1
Before camping, you'll need to start by getting yourself an appropriate coffee pot. While coffee purists will advocate for a french press, and using one is certainly possible in the backcountry, a true-blue camper will want a fire-safe percolating urn with a grounds basket. It's sometimes hard to find one of these in a kitchen-supply store, since most people now use coffee pots, but if you search at garage sales and thrift stores, you are likely to find something cheap and ready for taking some damage on the fire. For your safety, you should avoid aluminum, since heating it directly on the fire may cause it to leach harmful compounds into your beverage.
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Step 2
Before you set out for camping, pack away baggies with grounds in them ahead of time. Not only will you not need to waste space by carrying a whole coffee can, but zip-lock baggies will keep your coffee measured and fresh enough. It saves space and time once you are in the wilderness.
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Step 3
Since you will be boiling the water anyway, why not use some filtered stream water? It probably won't taste any different, but it will make you feel like a real camper. If you aren't near a stream, use whatever water you've brought with you; fill your pot and set it aside.
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Step 4
Next, build your fire. You want what is called a "snack fire." That is, you want something that will burn quick and hot (just enough to boil your coffee for a few minutes). This will let you get on with your day of hiking or fishing. A snack fire is best made by starting with a tepee-type structure of six or more sticks approximately a foot long (and about as thick as your thumb). Put tinder and small twigs under the tepee, and then light it up. Once it gets going, add in some remaining sticks and wait until you have a flame and some nice embers.
Of course, if it is a cold morning and you've started a larger fire for heat, you can just pull out some embers from this and use this as a heating bed for your coffee. -
Step 5
Carefully place the grounds into the basket (it's fine if a few overflow the basket and fall into the water, because this gives you a good camping crunch). Load the basket into the urn and then put the top on.
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Step 6
Carefully place the urn onto your embers. Use sticks to stablize it if your embers are uneven. Watch it so that a sudden shift below the urn doesn't spill your coffee.
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Step 7
Percolating urns usually have a clear glass or plastic knob on the lid so you can watch the coffee "perk." Once it has perked for a few minutes, carefully pull it off the fire (use a cloth, or, if there is a handle, use a stick in the handle).
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Step 8
Add sugar or creamer you pick up at gas stations, etc. (dry creamer, of course, is best if you are keeping it with your normal camping supplies). Enjoy your beverage and make sure you extinguish your fire when you are ready to depart your site for the morning.
Comments
kristenporter said
on 11/13/2009 Great article. Love the photograph! 5* and a recommend!
eulariza said
on 11/9/2009 I've never been in a camping, but, I love COFFEE! I'll remember these tips should I be going to a camping one day!
askapeach said
on 11/9/2009 My husband brews his coffee in a percolating pot when camping. It smells so great and really adds to the camping experience. Thanks for your article!
soanyway said
on 11/9/2009 Love camping! thanks for the tips, I put lot's of things in baggies! Save's so much space.