Whether they’re out on the open road or camping way off-grid, most overlanders find comfort in a good cup of coffee. But being away from modern conveniences doesn’t mean relying on sachets of the instant stuff. With a bag of high-quality beans, a simple kettle, clean water and a camp burner, any overlander can get their caffeine jolt by adapting the tried-and-true method of cowboy coffee.
So named for its roots as a humble beverage enjoyed around the campfire on long cattle drives, cowboy coffee still packs a welcome punch to this day. With the easy availability of exceptional coffee beans and precise hand grinders, many city-dwelling overlanders have put a high-end spin on cowboy coffee even when well off the beaten path or hours from the nearest coffeeshop.
![Enamelled metal coffee pot next to fresh coffee grounds](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0602/2106/3376/files/IMG_6647_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655835971)
Provided you use the best, freshest beans you can find, this virtually foolproof recipe will produce a rich, full cup.
- Add filtered water to your pot (we used a traditional Spanish enamelled kettle with a removable steeping basket from Madrid’s Réal Fabrica, but anything from a simple pot to an old-fashioned percolator works just as well).
- Using a camp burner or — if you’re looking for the real Cowboy Coffee experience — an open fire, bring the pot to a boil, then remove from the heat source and let rest for 30 seconds. (This should get the water temperature to the ideal brewing temperature of 200°F/93°C.)
- Add 2 tablespoons of finely ground coffee (we used a Colombian single-origin from Astro Café Roasters in A Coruña, Spain) for every 8 ounces / 227 grams of water and stir well. For best results, grind beans just before brewing.
- Let the coffee brew for two minutes, stir, and wait another two minutes.
- After the full four-minute brew, slowly pour some cold water into the spout of the kettle to help the grounds settle.
- Slowly pour the coffee to minimize grounds in your cup.
- Relax and enjoy your time in the great outdoors.
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![Coffee pot boiling on a gas burner](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0602/2106/3376/files/IMG_6645_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655836025)