Anyone who travels and is on the go often encounters harsh and bad-tasting coffee reality. Undrinkable coffee on vacation and in the most beautiful places should be on the list of things we'd rather spare ourselves. That's why we want to remedy this with this guide.
We'll give you essential tips on how to prepare really good coffee even while on the move. The recommended brewing methods and recipes work just as well on a hike as on multi-day bike tours or kayaking routes. Tips for coffee in a motorhome are also included.
But coffee brewing methods and recipes are only one side of the coin. The right water, fresh grinding, and heating the water are the real challenges for anyone who wants to brew coffee on the move.
This test, like all our tests, is independent and not sponsored. We buy our test equipment. Where we discuss things from our shop, we make that clear.
The author of the article was a German coffee sensory master and Swiss filter coffee master. Yes, such championships exist. He has been working with coffee for 15 years and founded the Coffee Makers with a passion for the subject of coffee.
Table of contents for the article.
We recommend three brewing methods:
- the perfect French press for on the go by Bestargot
- the Aeropress, almost a classic
- the Miir Pourigami filter
Other topics covered:
- How can you filter clean water on the go?
- Tips on water hardness and water sources
- Heating water without electricity
- What water temperature for what coffee?
- Can you brew coffee in a pot?
- How much coffee for how much water?
- Fresh grinding with the hand grinder
- Other outdoor and camping brewers
Three brewing methods for delicious coffee on the go
I just recently completed a multi-day kayak tour from Bern to where the Aare flows into the Rhine. During this time, I wanted to test which brewing methods really make sense on the road, take up little space, and guarantee good coffee quality in an outdoor setting. My absolute favorite while traveling is a small plunger pot (French press) by Bestargot made of titanium, followed by the classic Aeropress and the MiiR Pourigami dripper.
1. Bestargot Camping French Press
The Bestargot camping plunger pot combines many things in one. At 216 grams, the small coffee press is super light and yet feels relatively stable. I recommend a maximum coffee brewing amount of 550 ml, even though the plunger pot holds up to 730 ml to the top edge. However, since water and coffee need to be added, this maximum amount is not very useful. Various recipes can be used. In an article about the French press, we described the two best recipes for the plunger pot.
The strongest argument for the Bestargot French Press is that the water can be heated directly in the brewer. Whether on a gas stove, a spirit burner, or a fire - the folding handle of the French press hardly conducts heat, even with boiling water. So the handle remains touchable with bare hands. Attention: if flames flicker next to the brewer, the handle will also heat up!
The plunger pot makes a strong, full-bodied coffee. The mesh prevents fine particles that can taste dusty, especially if the coffee press is poured completely or shaken roughly and quickly. It's always best to pour slowly. If you want to reduce the dusty, floury texture, our YouTube video on the plunger pot has tips.
With the practical ability to heat water directly in the plunger pot, we save ourselves an additional stove or pot with the Bestargot coffee press. A real argument on trekking trips when you really want to save luggage and weight. On my kayak trip, I also prepared my meals in the plunger pot and did without all other pots. However, if you travel in a group, you'll find the French press doesn't have enough capacity.
The French press has internal markings for 500 and 300 ml that help guide you when pouring the desired amount of water. It is 11 cm high and has a diameter of 10 cm.
French Press Recipe for up to 2-3 People
- Add 500 ml of water to the brewer and bring to a boil. A 500 ml marking inside the coffee press helps with quantity calculation.
- Grind 30 grams of coffee fresh with a hand grinder. Choose the grind so that most of the coffee grounds fall in the particle range of 700 to 1000.
- Add the grounds to the brewer after it stops boiling for about two minutes. Then the brewing temperature is perfect for many lighter and roasted filter coffees.
- Stir once so that all the grounds come into contact with the water and now wait 4 minutes.
- After 4 minutes, gently press the plunger down and serve immediately.
Where can you get the Bestargot Camping French Press? We actually found the Bestargot coffee press only on Amazon*. If you find other sources, e.g. from your local trekking or outdoor shops, please add them in the comments.
2. The Aeropress - Classic for Outdoor Coffee
The Aeropress is almost a classic when it comes to brewing coffee while traveling or on the go. Whether on a plane, train, or on a coffee farm - we've brewed coffee with the Aeropress almost everywhere. There are even national championships for the Aeropress and a world championship held annually. The Aeropress owes a large number of delicious brewing recipes to these championships as well.
In our outdoor coffee video, we recommend a simple recipe that can be done in 1:40 minutes. What do you need for it? Hot water and ground coffee. Unlike the Bestargot camping plunger pot, the water for the Aeropress must be heated externally. This is one of two disadvantages of the versatile press. The second disadvantage is the amount. If you use the Aeropress in a classic brewing ratio of 6 grams per 100 ml, you'll get a maximum of 200 ml of water and 12 grams of coffee. More just won't fit. However, with the Bypass Aeropress method, a higher brewing amount is possible.
In our recipe, we recommend 14 grams of coffee to 200 ml. The Aeropress is pulled out so that the plunger still stands a thumb's width in the Aeropress. With the opening facing up, it is now placed on the scale or a firm surface and the coffee is added. This is followed by 200 ml of water at around 95 degrees hot. We've written a chapter further down in this article about brewing ratio and water temperature.
Now the coffee-water mixture is stirred three times so that all the coffee is wetted with water. The filter holder is screwed on with a paper or metal filter (not included). The paper filter should always be rinsed beforehand to remove paper taste and ensure it adheres well to the filter holder.
The filter holder is pushed on, the funnel that comes with the Aeropress is attached, and the vessel into which it will be pressed is also attached. At about 50 seconds, we flip the whole thing so that the filter holder and Aeropress stand on the vessel. In the next 50 seconds, the Aeropress is now pressed down without effort, so that at about 1:40 total brewing time it has pushed all the liquid through. Two important notes: Never press on the scale! Don't press out the air cushion, but only until the liquid has escaped.
The Aeropress is very resistant to breakage, light at 380 grams, and invites experimentation. I actually always have the Aeropress with me when traveling and we've had it in our shop in Germany and Switzerland for a long time. I can heartily recommend it.
However, I didn't warm up to the Aeropress Go. This small variant of the Aeropress comes with its own cup. It offers no added value, quite the opposite. Even the classic Aeropress is already at the edge for me in terms of brewing volume. And a vessel to brew into can be found almost anywhere. In Switzerland, for example, at Simons Kaffee, in Germany at Playground Coffee, and in Austria at kaffeefabrik.
3. Miir Pourigami Brewer
The Miir Pourigami filter takes up the least space of all brewers. At 144 grams, it's also number one in terms of weight. And indeed, the coffee from the Miir dripper is exactly what I expect from a good filter brewer. Classic V60 filter paper works as a paper filter, which you can get from us in the shop (CH, DE), but nowadays can even be found on the shelf at coop in Switzerland.
The Miir essentially consists of three metal plates made of stainless 18/8 steel. In principle, the dripper is robust, although after some years of use my model shows wear at the insertion points and is also slightly bent.
Miir is a sympathetic company, certified as a B Corp, and operates climate-neutral.
I brewed the Miir dripper with 15 grams of coffee and 250 ml. I added coffee in three pours.
- 50 grams of coffee for the pre-brew of 25 seconds
- After 25 seconds: pour circularly (triangularly) to 120 ml
- After 60 seconds: pour to 180 ml
- After 80-90 seconds pour to 250 ml
- Brewing time: about 2.30 minutes
Again, the same notes about roasting and corresponding water temperature apply here.
Disassembled, the dripper is 6.2 cm high and 12.7 cm wide.
Unfortunately, the availability of the Miir Pourigami dripper in the German-speaking region is somewhat limited. Miir ships from the United States, on Amazon* there's only the version with a cup, and in Switzerland the dripper is currently not available for order. Aromatico in Germany has the Miir in their range.
Water, grinding, and weighing
What water is suitable for brewing coffee
Soft water is best for brewing coffee. When you're on the go, however, the first priority is that the water is clean. Especially if only rivers and lakes are available as sources, filtration is the most important thing.
A few years ago, water spoiled my plans for a tour. I was kayaking along the Rhine from Basel to Koblenz. Along the way, I ran out of water. It's hard to believe, but the Rhine does pass through quieter sections where there's no water nearby or even a landing spot for the kayak. At that time, I made the mistake of drinking water from the Rhine, and I regretted that in an unpleasant way...
On this year's tour, I was prepared with a water filter from Grayl. I filtered the water directly from the Aare with the filter and used it to prepare coffee. And that's not all. I consistently drank the water straight from the bottle throughout the entire trip. There were no consequences for digestion, etc.
According to the manufacturer's specifications, the filter removes 99.99% of all viruses and bacteria from the water, as well as protozoa, microplastic particles and sediments, chemicals, and heavy metals. Pretty cool. Maybe I should filter the coffee from the plunger pot too. :)
What the filter can't do: it doesn't make brackish water taste good. So look at where you're getting your water from, because bad-tasting water won't taste good even after filtering.
The filter is available directly from grayl, in Switzerland from bergzeit, and in Germany and the EU from Amazon*.
Water hardness is a problem
The filter also has no effect on water hardness, at least the manufacturer doesn't provide any information on this. I'll test this myself in the next few days. Soft water makes noticeably and perceptibly better coffee for everyone! While traveling and on vacation, sometimes compromises are necessary, yet there are a few tricks that can help you find softer water.
Water that primarily stays on the surface and hasn't traveled for many years from the rain through groundwater is softer. This includes water from lakes and rivers, for example. Especially if these rivers have a high proportion of meltwater. When water travels as groundwater past many stones, it becomes increasingly enriched with salts. In particular, magnesium and calcium, as hardness-forming agents, have a significant influence on the taste of coffee through their relationship with alkalinity. So: use river or lake water! Two good alternatives are rainwater and snow. Both have a low pH and are suitable for brewing filter coffee, and can even be mixed with other water in some cases to not be too soft.
The ideal water hardness for filter coffee is around 3° German hardness total hardness and a corresponding alkalinity of 1-2° German hardness. More details can be found in our detailed article on coffee water.
How do I brew coffee without electricity?
Hot water is the prerequisite for brewing coffee with temperature. However, electricity is not necessary for this, just the most convenient way.
On trips, trekking tours, or while camping, there are many nice ways to heat water. From fire to gas stoves or spirit burners - heating water takes a bit of time, but is almost always manageable.
A great option is also a small camp stove, which disperses the flames less than a fire. On the kayak trip, we used a gas stove, and there are numerous small and practical models available, especially in the trekking sector.
For day trips, one consideration is to take hot water with you in a thermos flask. Good thermos flasks keep the brewing water at over 90° Celsius for many hours, keeping it in the range of good brewing temperature.
If no fire starter, gas stove, or lighter is at hand, this might be a good opportunity to try cold brew. We've put together a basic recipe for "cold coffee" and many variations with other ingredients here.
What water temperature for brewing coffee?
In the German language, we've become accustomed to the phrase "brewing coffee." However, coffee should never be boiled. Boiling the brewing water is, however, a good indicator of when the right water temperature has been reached. Additionally, boiling water for several minutes kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites in the water. This is advisable with water from lakes or rivers if no water filter is used.
Starting from boiling, you should wait different lengths of time depending on the coffee used and roast level. Filter coffees from specialty coffee roasters are typically roasted lighter. These coffees are very complex, have little bitterness, and can easily be brewed at very high temperatures. Temperatures of 94° to 98° Celsius work well. Such coffees are roasted by us, but also by the top-ranking roasteries in the filter coffee competition Coffee Panel.
Coffees from the supermarket and many traditional roasters are more dark roasted. These coffees already have a pronounced bitterness of their own. Since higher temperatures promote bitterness, high brewing temperatures should be avoided. Temperatures around 90° Celsius are the best choice here. After boiling the water, you should wait longer. Depending on the size, opening of the pot, and outside temperature, boiling water cools to about 90 degrees in 3-5 minutes.
To our Swiss shop. We ship to Germany and Austria and the EU from this site.
Can you brew coffee in a pot?
Every vacation apartment and motorhome has a pot. Colloquially, we also say that we're brewing coffee. So is a pot the right place to prepare coffee? Coffee should not be "brewed" in a pot. However, the pot can be used to prepare good coffee.
Coffee should not be exposed to boiling water or boiled for a long time, otherwise the coffee's own bitterness is strongly triggered and the fine flavor notes of the coffee are overpowered.
Instead, the pot should be used to boil the water. Afterwards, the coffee can be poured in a cup or pot. Use coffee in a ratio of 1:16.6. This corresponds to 6 grams of coffee per 100 ml of water.
The coffee is now added to the cup and the water is then poured in. After 4 minutes, the crust should be broken with a spoon and then skimmed off. Some of the coffee is now at the bottom of the cup. However, if you drink carefully, you'll have brewed a delicious, full-bodied coffee this way. Professional coffee tasters brew their coffee like this. However, they don't drink directly from the cup afterwards, but instead scoop the coffee with the so-called cupping spoon without stirring up particles.
How much coffee for how much water?
60 grams of coffee per 1 liter of water is the golden recipe for all filter coffee methods. With this brewing ratio, we achieve the best possible balance between coffee strength and extraction of the coffee bean.
In an article about preparing filter coffee, I go into more detail about this interplay. But how do you determine the correct proportions while on the go? For this reason, the coffee maker by Bestargot appealed to me. The measurements inside already ensure that the water amount is correct. All that's left is to weigh or measure the coffee amount accordingly.
On my trip, I had a small scale with me. In the video, I use the Timemore Nano and the coffee scale by Edo.
For shorter trips, dosing coffee in durable and waterproof tubes* is an alternative. These hold almost exactly 18 grams of coffee and are therefore perfect for 300 ml of water. Since coffee in a bag on trips quickly becomes damp anyway, transferring it to tubes is not the worst solution.
Coffee scales in our shop:
- EDO Coffee Scale: DE and EU, Switzerland
- Timemore Nano: DE and EU, Switzerland
Fresh grinding with the hand grinder
The counterpart to good coffee—the correct brewing ratio, proper water, and of course a good filter brewer—is the hand grinder. With the hand grinder, we unlock the most important aspect of coffee: complex aromas, flavor variety, and freshness.
Coffee protects itself (in part) as long as it remains unground in the bean. With grinding, the surface of the coffee is enlarged by the multitude of coffee particles. These now each react individually with oxygen and light, accelerating the aging and oxidation of the coffee. The volatile aromas of the coffee dissipate quickly. Just 30 minutes after grinding, we were able to significantly detect taste changes in the coffee in a panel with inexperienced consumers.
This is why fresh grinding of coffee is an important prerequisite to get everything out of the coffee bean that is potential in it. At the same time, a hand grinder fits very well in a travel bag. There are many good hand grinders on the market. In our video, we used the new Comandante x25 Trailmaster, which at the time of the video's release wasn't even really on the market yet. It was specifically designed by Comandante for outdoor use and is even briefly waterproof. Comandante is a German company and with its high-quality mills is always a good choice in terms of quality.
We looked at cheaper hand grinders in a comparison test of 14 hand grinders under 100 euros (which, however, could use an update because some of these grinders are no longer on the market at all.)
Also compact and travel-friendly: the classic espresso maker (moka pot). It only needs a heat source – whether a gas stove, spirit burner, or camping fire. With 12 grams of coffee to about 120 ml of water, it delivers a strong, dense coffee that requires little extra effort for travel. The only disadvantage: the aluminum construction is more fragile than titanium brewers like the Bestargot. For base camp use and motorhome trips, it's a proven choice.
Other outdoor and camping brewers
There are many good coffee brewers that can also be used while traveling, camping, on trekking tours, or while bushcrafting. The video also mentions the following brewers:
- Cafflano Go-Brew bottle: e.g. at Enjoy your Bike, Öko-Kapseln.de, Handcraft Coffee
- Sea to Summit X-Brew Coffee Dripper: Transa (CH), Sea to Summit, Berg-Freund.ch, Amazon*, naturzeit
- Coffee Dribbler: currently not found anywhere.
- Flair pro: Flair test, Flair, Amazon*
- Yellow Campo Libre cup: Amazon*
* Links marked with an asterisk are affiliate links. If you order through this link, it doesn't cost you more, but we receive a small commission. This way we can acquire new equipment to test.
