How to Make Coffee on a Grill While Camping

Camping in the wilderness does not mean you need to sacrifice your daily cup of java. Instead, you'll need to develop a technique to make your precious brew over an open fire or on a grill. While the resulting beverage would probably not make the cut in a coffee-tasting competition, it will give you the morning kick-start needed to push you over the next set of mountains. There are several strategies, all of which work sufficiently.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

How to Make Coffee on a Grill While Camping

Things You’ll Need:

Coffee Paper towels Bandanna Pot Water Fire Mug Spoon
Coffee
Paper towels
Bandanna
Pot
Water
Fire
Mug
Spoon

Step 1

Prepare all of your coffee making materials prior to your trip. This means grinding coffee and collecting the materials listed in the "Things You'll Need" section. Remember that the more materials you bring, the heavier your pack will be. Seek lightweight items like titanium pots and silverware.

Step 2

Prepare your fire under the grill before setting up your coffee arrangement. Make sure the fire has good coals and will not need much stoking once you begin making your coffee. A good strategy is to wake up relatively early (usually predawn) and stoke the fire from the previous night so you don't need to relight a fire.

Step 3

Make Cowboy Coffee. This is the easiest strategy. Place the desired amount of water into a cooking pot and set to boil on the grill. Once boiling, add the desired amount of coffee grounds. Let the mixture steep and boil for another five minutes. Take the pot off the grill.

Step 4

Take your spoon and rap it strongly against the side of the pot at least 20 times. This will help the grounds settle to the bottom of the pot. You can then pour off the coffee from the top into your mug.

Step 5

Use your bandanna to filter coffee. Boil water in your pot on the grill. Pour your desired amount of coffee grounds into the bandanna and drape it across your mug. Make sure the bandanna lays in a concave shape over the mug. Then carefully pour boiling water over the grounds -- your coffee will filter directly into your mug.

Tips & Warnings

Make sure to clean your bandanna before and after you use it to filter grounds.

Article Written By DB Jenkins

DB Jenkins is a professional freelance content provider. He has been running a successful freelance business for two years, and contributes regularly to many publications. His articles have appeared in "The Portland Alliance," "Portland Monthly Magazine," "in\ur Magazine," and The Tallahassee Democrat and Chronicle. He has a bachelor's degree in English from Clark University.

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