If you’re anything like me, you need a cup of coffee first thing in the morning no matter where you’re at—whether it be at home, on vacation, or even waking up in a tent in the middle of the forest.
The fun thing about coffee is its versatility. It can be as simple as warm water with instant coffee, or an intricate foldable pour-over system with hot water in a kettle over the fire.
The options are endless. So, let’s look at some of the most ideal and caffeinated setups possible when enjoying the great outdoors.
Thinking back to camping in the desert with my best friends, our setup involved a trusty portable gas-powered stove (Jetboil) for hot water and an Aeropress—a plastic and incredibly light single-cup coffee maker that’s similar to a French press but uses more pressure to force water through the filter and beans.
Bring along a little carton of oat milk and you have a delicious cup of coffee in the middle of nowhere.
But I’m no outdoor coffee professional, so I reached out to outdoor enthusiasts on the internet. Here’s what they said they use.
While Jetboils and Aeropresses came up a couple of times, one said they used a Phin—a small stainless steel coffee tool used to make Vietnamese coffee.
Similar in theory to a classic coffee pot, the Phin is much lighter and smaller and drips a single cup of coffee into a mug it’s placed on.
“Phin is super simple and can make a pretty strong cup of coffee once you get the grind down,” which is medium to medium fine, they said.
Another said they used Snow Peak’s pour-over set, which is ideal for backpacking due to its size.
“It folds down so small and compact,” they said.
For beans, many recommended their favorite local roast because any beans would work with these products. Kuju Coffee also sells single-serve 100 percent arabica pour-overs online if you’re needing some inspiration.
For a more instant option, Trader Joe’s instant coffee is my go-to. It’s nice and bold but smooth enough to drink black, and Hills Bros. offers tasty instant cappuccinos for a good sugar rush. Some of my friends enjoy Alpine Start Coffee, which prides itself on “instant coffee that actually tastes good,” alongside hot chocolate options.
I have a friend who makes a “mountain mocha”—instant coffee with instant hot chocolate. Don’t tell me that wouldn’t be an instant favorite.
So grab your favorite Nalgene, thermos, or unbreakable mug, and start your day off on that trail, ski slope, or bike track right.
This article appears in Get Outside – Winter/Spring 2025.