Skip to main content

Backcountry brew: How to make cowboy coffee that doesn’t suck

What is cowboy coffee? One of our favorite camping traditions

Red-headed ax buried into a tree stump next to a blue coffee mug in the outdoors.
Ian Keefe / Unsplash

We’re overcomplicating coffee-making these days. From Aeropresses and French presses to Chemex pour-over coffee makers and high-end, Bluetooth-enabled espresso machines that cost as much as a used Corolla, there are just too many damn ways to brew a cup oo’joe. It’s easy to get lost in the proverbial sauce, thinking that you need to invest hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to make a decent cup of coffee.

But we’re firm believers that simpler is often better. When it comes to coffee-making, there is no simpler way than the cowboy coffee method. As the name implies, it’s a field-tested process that dates back to, well, ye olden days. Unfortunately, that’s as specific as we can get with the timeline because no one’s quite sure who first devised it. But we do know that it’s simple, and it works. Combine ground coffee and hot water. Add a little bit of time, stirring, and a few dashes of cold water, and you’re morning fuel is ready to go.

We’re not going to lie, though. The process is simple, but it’s also easy to screw up. Unfortunately, most campers who’ve tried cowboy coffee and failed think it’s a terrible method. Those who’ve only heard of it probably think it’s awful, too, because they’ve listened to the campers who made it wrong. We promise that made right, cowboy coffee tastes just as good as any drip- or pour-over-style coffee you make at home. Here’s how.

Blue enamel cup of hot steaming coffee sitting on an old log by an outdoor campfire. Extreme shallow depth of field with selective focus on mug.
Stephanie Frey / Adobe Stock

How to make cowboy coffee

Short of instant coffee packets, cowboy coffee is by far the simplest method of making coffee. It’s the perfect method for campsite coffee with minimal tools and ingredients and zero waste. This is your perfect cowboy coffee recipe.

Step 1: Using eight-ounce increments of water, pour into a small, not-too-shallow metal saucepan. A pan with a small pouring spot (typical of many camp kitchen pots) that’s deep enough to allow the brewed coffee grounds to settle to the bottom is ideal.

Adding a little more water than you think you’ll need is best, as any extra liquid will help “contain” the grounds at the bottom of the pot. For example, 16 ounces of water is ideal for 12 ounces of coffee.

Step 2: Using any available heat source — a residential cooktop, a portable camp stove, or even a campfire works just fine — bring your water to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and let sit for 30 seconds. This will bring the temperature down to a more reasonable 200°F. This is the ideal temp for brewing, but not burning, your coffee.

Step 3: Add two tablespoons of finely ground coffee for every eight ounces of water, and stir well. Any blend will work, from your basic Dunkin Donuts pumpkin spice to the darkest Peet’s espresso roast. You do you.

Step 4: Let the mixture sit for two minutes, and give it another stir.

Step 5: Let sit for a final two minutes.

Step 6: Once the four minutes are up, wet your hands with cool or cold water, and sprinkle the water over the top of the pot. Repeat two or three times. This step is essential, as it helps settle the grounds to the bottom of the pot.

Step 7: Slowly pour the fresh cowboy coffee into your best coffee mug.

Step 8: Enjoy! (Pro tip: Coffee grounds left in a pot of hot water quickly become bitter. So, it’s best to drink cowboy coffee immediately. Pour any leftovers into a thermal mug, or just make a fresh batch if you need a second cup.)

campfire coffee
zapCulture / Pixabay

What is cowboy coffee?

Cowboy coffee is the simplest method of making coffee. It’s time- and field-tested, requires less than 10 minutes (including boiling the water), and makes almost no waste, except for used coffee grounds, which can be safely discarded in the wild.

Young woman enjoying a cup of coffee, while sitting near a tent in the outdoors.
Julian Bialowas / Unsplash

Tips for making the best cowboy coffee

Making cowboy coffee is easy. Unfortunately, making bad cowboy coffee is even easier. That’s why many campers try it once and abandon all hope because their final product is, frankly, undrinkable.

There are three keys to making a good cowboy coffee pot: The right temperature, the right ratio of coffee grounds to water, and remembering to settle the grounds before pouring. If you miss or half-ass any of these steps, you’re almost guaranteed to wind up pitching your entire pot of brown goop into the woods.

  • A rolling boil is less than ideal for brewing good coffee. That’s why removing your pot of boiling water from the heat source for a bit is important. You want hot, but not scorching, water.
  • Adding too much or too little coffee grounds is the most common place most campers go awry. Two tablespoons of finely ground coffee for every eight ounces of hot water is the “golden ratio.” If you’re planning to camp, consider bringing a lightweight plastic tablespoon scoop.
  • Lastly, if you don’t settle the grounds with a sprinkle of water before pouring, they’ll stay floating on top, and you’ll likely wind up chewing your coffee rather than drinking it. And, no matter how much you love coffee, that’s never a good thing.

The right heat and the perfect ratio of grounds to water, plus a little time and stirring — that’s really all there is to it. Cowboy coffee making is just that simple. If you love camping and the outdoors, it’s the easy, eco-friendly, and traditional way to brew a good cuppa just about anywhere.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Samsung’s incredible outdoor TV is $4,000 off right now
Samsung The Terrace outdoor-ready QLED smart TV lifestyle image on patio.

While there are a lot of TVs catering to the average living room, for those who have outside patios and spaces, there aren't a lot of options. Having to contend with dust, rain, and other parts of the weather that electronics don't fare well in, it's no surprise that a lot of TV manufacturers don't really bother with making TVs focused on the outside. Luckily, Samsung has your back, which is good because it's a company that excels in making great TVs, and in this case, we're talking about The Terrace TV. Not only is it IP55 rated, which means it can handle both dust and rain relatively well, but it's also a QLED TV, which gives you an excellent picture and a high peak brightness, so the sun won't interrupt your viewing too much. If you're interested in grabbing one of The Terrace TVs, you better act quickly, because Samsung's Discover sales event is going to end soon, and you'll miss out on a great couple of deals, including

and a whopping

Read more
You may want an electric mountain bike, but you probably shouldn’t buy one – here’s why
Spoiler alert: You can blame the government for this, too
A large sign on a tree on the side of a mountain bike trail telling riders that e-bikes are not allowed

There is really one more type of mountain bike that should be added to the list of mountain bike categories that make up the sport. Electric mountain bikes have broken onto the scene and have rapidly grown in popularity.

One look at these electric mountain bikes, especially if you look at the suspension travel numbers, would have you thinking that they fall into the “trail” or “enduro” mountain bike category. And while these bikes do look similar, the pedal assist of an electric mountain bike means that long cross-country rides aren’t out of the question.

Read more
Make winter sports stress-free: Visit these phenomenal all-inclusive ski resorts
These are the best all-inclusive ski resorts for you this winter
Skiiers shred slopes

All-inclusive vacations can be a great way to save money and relieve stress when planning a trip. The resort handles the logistics of buying lift tickets, renting ski gear, booking lessons, cooking meals, and even supplying drinks. All you have to do is show up and enjoy yourself. If you're the type of person — or family — who enjoys the ease of taking cruises in the warmer months, an all-inclusive ski vacation might be just the thing for you.

While we appreciate that not every all-inclusive will suit everyone — perhaps you've got your perfect ski setup already and don't want to pay for a rental package you won't use. But with such a variety of packages on offer, isn't it time that you took the stress out of your ski holiday and found yourself an idyllic ski resort that not only catered to all of your skiing needs but also where you had your meals and drinks and everything else sorted before you arrive? Well, check out these 10 all-inclusive ski resorts because it's time to get booking.

Read more