Let’s be clear from the beginning: this article is for those who love coffee. I mean really like the coffee. Loved it so much that even thinking that one day it would be impossible not to have a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. But it’s also for those who love the outdoors.
For many coffee lovers, part of the attraction (read obsession) lies in the ritual of its creation: getting the water just right, brewing for the perfect time, pouring it from the right height, and enjoying it in your favorite coffee. Of course, a cup that is just the right size, shape, and feel. The end of this ritual is the drinking experience itself. Of course, the taste and feel of good coffee is what attracts people to buy it again. But the environment in which coffee is drunk can greatly affect the overall experience.
So by taking an outdoor obsessed coffee lover into a remote, beautiful, tranquil setting (they may have gone to great lengths to get here) and giving them the opportunity to brew their favorite coffee, you’ve created a little paradise for them. Add to that their favorite people, favorite topics, and mischievous desserts to share together – and it’s blissful.
However, perfectly brewed coffee and wilderness walks don’t combine as often or easily as one might hope. Many lightweight coffee makers don’t quite meet the requirements when it comes to making barista-standard coffee. And these alternatives are all too heavy to justify carrying (to save the extra weight you’ve been trying to shed from your backpack, you’ve probably already spent more money on ultralight gear).
So, after some exploration, experimentation, and of course, having a lot of cups of coffee in more than one beautiful place, I can show you the ultimate wilderness coffee set.
Coffee Storage
First, you need to make sure that your coffee is stored properly. You need something airtight and lightweight. A good old mini Tupperware pot seems to be the easiest option. But if there’s even a small risk of that indescribable Tupperware “taste” contaminating your perfect grind, then you’re better off giving up now. If you’re picky about how your coffee is made, you should be picky about how it’s stored as well.
Foil pouches are great for storing coffee because they can be resealed, preventing air from entering, while the coffee stays inside. They’re completely waterproof and have a low-profile profile, making them perfect for slipping into a backpack pocket or cooking pot. Best of all, these packs are fragrance-free!
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Stove
To make your wilderness coffee kit as lightweight as possible, you should consider one option for heating water: the MSR Pocket Rocket 2. Weighing in at just 73 grams, this improved version of the early Pocket Rocket is so small that it fits into a mug to make your entire setup as compact as possible. But it’s not just the weight and size that are impressive. The Pocket Rocket 2 boils a liter of water in 3.5 minutes at a blazing fast rate and has more wind protection than ever before.
Snow Peak Titanium Mini Solo Cookset
Choosing the perfect pot to cook in is a hard thing to decide. There are many excellent options, and they are all lightweight, compact, and high-quality. To make your coffee taste as pure as possible, it’s best to make your pot made of titanium because it doesn’t leave a metallic taste in the water and doesn’t rust like other metals.
The Snow Peak Titanium Mini Solo Cookset is up to the job, and not just because of its light weight (156 grams) and titanium strength. It has a capacity of 0.85 liters, which is enough for two cups of coffee, but also enough for a small gas tank and your small Pocket Rocket 2. There are foldable handles on the sides to keep items streamlined, and the lid fits securely to keep boiling time as short as possible. If you prefer to drink coffee with a 300ml capacity cup, then your setup will be more simplified as the jug can be tightly embedded inside the cup.
AeroPress Coffee Maker
Your hot water has reached the all-important perfect temperature and you are ready to start brewing. It’s coffee time! Queue the AeroPress. Due to its lightweight and compact nature, it is not only great for instant brewing, but it also makes incredibly high-quality coffee. Its quality is so good that it has become the preferred brewing method in many cafes. Yes, you can indeed get barista-standard coffee in the middle of nowhere, especially if you choose the best coffee beans for Philpress.
AeroPress is easy to use, but as with any craft, the more you practice using it, the better it will be. Any excuse! It uses a paper filter to make 1 to 3 cups of coffee per press, and AeroPress claims it “produces the smoothest, fullest-bodied coffee you’ve ever tasted.”
Coffee Cup
Now it’s time for the highlight of your wilderness coffee-making journey… Cup. In my opinion, a bad cup can dramatically change the coffee drinking experience. The weight, shape, and size of the cup are all very important. These include the thickness of the rim, the feel in your hand, the presence of the handle and its shape, and whether the cup will keep its contents hot for a long time. Since all of these factors are highly dependent on personal preference, some of the following options may appeal to those who prioritize different things in their ideal camping coffee cup.
Snow Peak Ti-Double H450 Stacking Mug
- Material: Titanium
- Capacity: 450ml
- Weight: 101 grams
- Handle: None
- Features: The double wall insulation effect is very good and can be stacked
Snow Peak Titanium Single 450 Cup
- Material: Titanium
- Capacity: 400ml
- Weight: 68 grams
- Handle: Foldable
- Features: The single wall means you can reheat directly on the stove
Now that you’ve completed your task of making the perfect coffee, all that’s left is to find the perfect place to enjoy it! No matter where the happy coffee shop is, as long as we are lucky enough to drink quality coffee in our lives, may you enjoy the coffee ceremony from beginning to end.
