by Sarah Parrish

Created on: July 20, 2011   Last Updated: July 21, 2011

Waking up to the last of a sunrise out in the woods is even better with a steaming hot cup of cheer to warm your hands from a dewy morning. While some people don't mind the taste of instant coffee and can just bring some packets to mix with hot water, others don't consider instant coffee any kind of coffee at all.  For those sorts, it's necessary to know how to make good coffee without the aid of a coffee pot.  There are two ways to make coffee at a campfire or grill.  The first involves making coffee like tea and the second requires you to put together a makeshift percolator.

Steeping Coffee

Much like you'd expect, steeping coffee in boiling water will give a result similar to coffee without using an instant powder.  Just make sure to bring your own coffee filter, or, if you don't want to carry extra weight, bring the foot of an old pair of nylon stockings for a reusable coffee filter.  Put the ground coffee beans into the (clean) sock, tie the top, and let the bag steep in hot water until the coffee is as you like it.  The downside to using this method is the fact that coffee isn't going to be as strong as you'll make at home or by using a percolator.  The upside: it's pretty easy and all you need to bring with you is a suitable filter and some ground coffee.

Percolating Coffee

While this method is a bit trickier, it's recommended.  Especially if there are multiple coffee drinkers who go camping together, the extra bit of effort really pays off.  You'll need a pot with a lid (handle in the center of the lid), a small sieve with fine holes and a long handle, and, of course, ground coffee.  Fill the pot with water and set it on the fire or grill.  While the water is heating up, add coffee grounds to the small sieve.  If you can't find a sieve with small enough holes, use an old nylon sock to line the sieve.  Place the sieve in the center of the pot of water, bracing the handle with the lid of the pot so it remains in the center but hangs above the water line.  Invert the lid over the pot so the handle is pointing down.  Now you're all set.  Wait for the water to boil.

As the water boils, condensation forms on the inside of the lid.  Since the lid is inverted, the condensation will gravitate toward the center and drip down off the handle, into the coffee grounds.  The water moves in a cycle, with the coffee getting ever-stronger.  While it might take more time than steeping bags of coffee in hot water, this method will allow you to make coffee as strong as you like it.  You can always add more water if the coffee is getting too strong, which might happen since an inverted lid allows steam to escape.

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