How to Make Great French Press Coffee at Your RV Campsite
There’s something special about that first cup of coffee outside the RV. The campground is quiet, the air is cool, and the day hasn’t asked much of you yet.
That’s the feeling behind Mountain Trail Coffee Company: good coffee and a little time to enjoy wherever the road takes you.
For this week’s post, I’m keeping things simple with a French press. Whether you’re parked beneath the trees or spending a slow morning at home, you don’t need a complicated setup to brew a satisfying cup.
Why Bring a French Press Camping?
A French press doesn’t need electricity or paper filters. All you need is ground coffee, hot water, and a few minutes.
It also makes a full-bodied cup because its metal filter lets more of the coffee’s oils through. You may notice a little sediment at the bottom of your mug—that’s normal for this brewing method.
For RV travel, a sturdy stainless steel French press is a practical choice, especially when storage space is tight and gear gets moved around.
What You’ll Need
- Your favorite Mountain Trail coffee, coarsely ground
- A French press
- A kettle and a way to heat water
- Clean drinking water
- A spoon and a timer
- Your favorite camp mug
For a starting recipe, use 30 grams of coffee and 480 milliliters of water. That’s roughly 17 ounces of brewed coffee before the grounds absorb some of the water—enough for two modest mugs.
A small kitchen scale makes the recipe easier to repeat, but you can adjust your usual scoop measurement until you find the strength you enjoy.
My Simple Campsite Brewing Guide
1. Warm the French Press
Pour a little hot water into the empty press, swirl it around, and discard it carefully. This helps keep your coffee warm while it brews.
2. Add Your Coffee
Use a coarse grind. Very fine grounds can make the plunger harder to push and leave more sediment in your cup.
Add your measured coffee to the warmed press.
3. Pour and Stir
Bring your water to a boil, then let it settle briefly before pouring it over the grounds.
Give the coffee a gentle stir so all the grounds get wet. Put the lid on with the plunger raised.
4. Give It Four Minutes
Start with a four-minute steep.
This is a good moment to put the phone down, step outside, and take in the morning. Sometimes the best part of camping is having a few minutes with nowhere else to be.
5. Press Slowly and Serve
Push the plunger down gently. If you feel strong resistance, stop and ease it down instead of forcing it.
Pour the coffee into your mugs right away. Leaving it sitting with the grounds can change the flavor as it continues to steep.
Adjust the Next Cup to Your Taste
If your coffee tastes too strong, try a little less coffee or add hot water to the finished cup.
If it tastes thin, use slightly more coffee next time.
If it tastes bitter, try a slightly coarser grind or a shorter steep. Change one thing at a time so you can tell what helped.
There’s no prize for making coffee complicated. The goal is a cup you look forward to drinking.
Keep Cleanup Campsite Friendly
Let the grounds cool, then collect them for proper disposal. Avoid putting them down your RV sink or scattering them around the campsite.
Wipe out the press before rinsing it, and follow the campground’s rules for wastewater and trash.
Bring a Better Morning Along
You don’t need a perfect view or an elaborate coffee station to make the morning feel special. A simple brew, a comfortable chair, and a few quiet minutes can do the job.
That’s what I want Mountain Trail Coffee Company to be part of—those everyday moments that make getting outside worthwhile.
Explore our coffees at mountaintrailcoffee.com and pick a favorite for your next campsite morning.
What’s your go-to way to brew coffee when you’re camping?
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