Off-the-Grid Coffee and How to Brew Great Coffee Without Electricity

Nothing beats the experience of brewing coffee off the grid—just you, the open air, and a fresh cup made the old-fashioned way. Whether you’re deep in the wilderness or just dealing with a power outage, knowing how to make coffee without electricity is a skill every coffee lover should master.

Here’s how to get the perfect campfire brew, plus one essential trick for a rich, flavorful cup.

Build a Fire That Boils Water Efficiently

The key to making great coffee while camping starts with a steady, controlled fire that heats water properly. You want high, even heat without scorching your pot or wasting fuel.

• Use the Right Wood – Hardwoods like oak, maple, and hickory burn hot and last longer, making them perfect for boiling water. Softwoods like pine burn quickly and can leave a sooty residue.
• Create a Fire Lay for Stability – A teepee or log cabin fire structure burns well, but for boiling water, try a parallel fire:
  • Place two thick logs parallel with space between them.
  • Build your fire inside this gap—this supports your kettle while allowing flames to heat the bottom evenly.
• Let It Burn to Coals – Flames are unpredictable and can scorch your pot. Once the fire burns down to glowing embers, you get consistent heat that brings water to a boil.

The Cowboy Coffee Trick for a Smooth Brew

Once your fire is ready, it’s time to brew. Cowboy coffee is one of the best ways to make coffee while camping—simple, bold, and effective. You can also make your coffee in a more traditional way like a moka pot, or just use it to heat the water for a more traditional brewing method. For those who want a more rustic approach, the cowboy coffee is a similar brewing method to cupping in that you brew the coffee and then disrupt the crust to end the brewing.

1. Boil your water over the embers.

2. Remove it from direct heat and let it sit for 30 seconds—this brings it to optimal brewing temperature (about 200°F).

3. Add coarsely ground coffee (about 2 tablespoons per 8 ounces of water, but you can go more water heavy with this method).

4. Stir and let steep for 3–4 minutes.

5. Settle the grounds – The secret to smooth cowboy coffee? Add a splash of cold water after steeping—this makes the coffee grounds sink to the bottom, so you get a clean pour. Alternatively, you can give the brew a few stirs clockwise and counter clockwise to disrupt the crust as well.