Happy International Coffee Day

When you’re on holiday in the outdoors, it can be hard to pack in all the sights and activities you came for. If you want to pet a lamb, go hill-walking, and play at the beach all in one day, you may need some caffeinated assistance. 

And there’s really no better start to a day than having a blanket over your shoulders and sipping a fresh cup of coffee outside as you take in some magnificent views. Enjoying the sunrise, having a few laughs, and looking forward to the day ahead, a cup of coffee gives you a chance to really live in the moment. Especially when you get to share it with loved ones. 

So, next time you’re camping, wouldn’t it be great to be the person who says: “who wants coffee?”

A Wigwam Cabin comes with all the necessary ingredients to make a nice cup inside if that’s your style, but we’ve assembled a list of great campfire coffee-making methods if you’re in the mood for something more rustic. 

It’s all about finding the perfect method for your needs. And as it’s International Coffee Day today, let’s do some investigating:

Cowboy Coffee

The camping classic. Either much loved or much maligned, a good old-fashioned cowboy coffee is a rite of passage for those looking for a caffeine kick on a trip to the wilderness. This is arguably the easiest method to make a coffee over a fire, but still very hard to get perfect. But if you’re not the type that minds a few grounds in your teeth, this method’s got your name all over it. 

Start by boiling enough water for everyone who wants a cup over a bed of glowing coals. Once in a rolling boil, remove from the heat and leave to sit for a second or two. Now add however many grounds you feel are right, maybe a tablespoon per serving, ideally a very coarse ground. Let it steep for five minutes, and then—believe it or not—you’re done. Pour into a cup and enjoy the rustic grittiness that comes with a hearty cowboy coffee. Although, a little bit of cold water added can help the grounds to sink to the bottom a bit more, if you wish.  

Camping Coffee Percolator

Perhaps a more off-the-beaten-path method, the camping percolator is a nice visual touch around a campfire. Generally easy and consistent, with the only downside being the need to pack up an extra appliance. 

Take out your percolator and fill with as much water as necessary, keeping in mind the fill-line if your device has one. Find out whether your device needs a filter or not, and add ground coffee (maybe one tablespoon for every two cups, and then another tablespoon for good measure). Put your pot on the fire and watch it boil. Once it's rolling, move it to a cooler spot on the fire and leave it percolating for ten to fifteen minutes. Phew, you’re all done. Pour everyone a cup and enjoy!

Instant Coffee

Almost no introduction is needed for the humble Instant: an absolute gem of convenience and ease, easily packed away, and nearly fool-proof. 

Like most coffee-making rituals, you’re going to have to start with boiling up an appropriate amount of water. Make sure to ask all of your camping companions whether or not they want a cup, and you’ll be the hero of the eight a.m. wake up.

Put in the instant coffee, add hot water, and serve! They wouldn’t call it instant if it wasn’t true. Easy and quick, even if perhaps not the strongest cup. 

Cafetiere

We’ve all come across a cafetiere cup of coffee at some point. They can be amazing at the best of times, and still pretty darn good at the worst. If you’re willing to pack up your cafetiere to go, you’ll have a great cup of coffee in no time.

As all these coffee things seem to go, you’re going to want to get some water boiling. I’ll tell you a secret: you can just use the kettle in the Wigwam if you want. No one will mind.

After leaving the water to sit for a minute or so, add coarse ground coffee (about one scoop for every cup you wish to make) to the cafetière. Fill with water and stir about five times. Put the lid on and leave for four minutes. Now scoop out any floating grounds, and then put the filter in. Push down and serve.

Pour Over

Now, I don’t want to seem like I’m biased, but I think coffee aficionados would say this is the best method for a reliable cup on the go. With a little fine-tuning, you can have a consistently smooth, delicious, and ground-free coffee every time. You’re going to need a mechanism and some coffee filters, but nothing too big. You can even get pour-overs that are perfectly sized for just one cup. 

So you’ll start with—you guessed it—boiling. This is usually a good time to grind your coffee, if you’re into a very fresh ground. Place a filter into the dripper, and pre-wet it if that’s your style. Add your ground coffee to the filter and pour your hot water over the grounds. The coffee will drip through into your mug or container in a beautiful brown waterfall. This is also the step that can elicit the most finessing from coffee pros, but you’re all done! Time to find a good spot to take in the sunrise and enjoy your fresh cup. 

Now you know all your options, go outdoors, go have fun, and go make some coffee for your friends! Have a great International Coffee Day!