Pour Over Coffee at Camp: What You Need
Making pour-over coffee at a campsite is straightforward with the right gear. You need a pour-over brewer that fits your mug or bottle, ground coffee (about 30 g per serving), hot water, and a way to heat it. Two travel-friendly options from Mountain Sports are the Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Pour Over and the Rambler Pour Over from Yeti. Both are designed for outdoor use but differ in materials and packability.
Two Pour Over Makers for Camp
- Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Pour Over: The Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Pour Over folds flat for storage in its polypropylene mount base, then pops out when needed. The stainless steel mesh filter is sized for one serving (approx. 30 g) of ground coffee and fits most mugs and wide-mouth bottle rims. Its collapsible design saves space in your pack, and the universal fit works with common camp mugs and bottles.
Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Pour Over - Rambler® Pour Over: The Rambler Pour Over from Yeti is built for camp kitchens and outdoor adventures, delivering peak flavor at any elevation. It is part of the Mountain Sports camp kitchen collection and available in Navy. Its rugged construction is ideal for campsite use, and it is designed to perform well even at higher elevations where boiling points are lower.
Rambler® Pour Over
Brewing Steps for Camp Pour Over
The exact timing and water temperature depend on your stove and altitude, but the general process is the same for both brewers.
- Heat water: Bring fresh water to a boil on your camp stove. At higher elevations, water boils at a lower temperature, so you may need to adjust your brew time.
- Prepare the brewer: For the Frontier Ultralight, pop the filter unit out of the base and place the base on your mug or wide-mouth bottle. For the Rambler Pour Over, simply set it on your cup.
- Add coffee grounds: Add approximately 30 g of medium-ground coffee to the filter. The Frontier's mesh filter holds the grounds while allowing coffee oils to pass through for a rich cup.
- Bloom and pour: Pour a small amount of hot water over the grounds to saturate them, then wait briefly. Slowly pour the remaining water in a steady spiral, keeping the grounds covered.
- Wait and serve: Let the water drip through completely. Remove the brewer and enjoy your coffee. Clean the filter by rinsing with water.
Choosing Between the Two
The Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Pour Over is the better choice if pack space is tight: it folds flat and weighs little. The Rambler Pour Over is sturdier and better suited for camp kitchens where weight is less of a concern. Both make a single serving and require only hot water and ground coffee.
