VOITED Ambassador Emily Endean shares insights about the best way to make coffee in your campervan.
"When I was leaving behind my fancy coffee machine, this was one of the hardest things I had to part with for vanlife - no joke! First thing in the morning, I need a good cup of coffee to wake me up. It is an essential part of my morning routine, right before my dog walk or dip in the sea. The rest of my life really lacks routine, with being a freelance photographer, working on different projects or travelling around – so that morning routine is an important part of my life!
The best way to make coffee in your campervan
I ended up doing a lot of research on how to make a decent coffee without fancy appliances – the options seemed to be a French press, also called a “cafetiere”, pour over, stove top, bags or instant – which was out of the question. Instant just doesn’t taste as good! Then trying to figure out what would best suit my lifestyle and travel in the van. I was so concerned that I may not be able to make a good cup of coffee in the van, but how wrong I was!
Campervan Coffee with an Aeropress Go
After doing the research online, I discovered the Aeropress Go. It seemed the easiest way to brew tasty coffee on-the-go so I was in! Using air pressure, results in an even and uniform extraction every time. The pack included a plunger, chamber, filter cap, filter holder, 100 biodegradable filters, scoop, stirrer, and mug. It's compact, easy to use, and takes up minimal space in the van. When everything is packed away in the cup it makes for a neat and compact package that can be easily stowed away. You get a little plastic case to keep the filters in but my top tip is to buy a reusable metal filter. You won’t need to worry about looking after and then disposing of the paper filters.
Campervan Coffee Basics - Favorite Brand
I like a decent ground coffee and my absolute favorite is Bad Hand Coffee, roasted in Bournemouth in the UK. When I can’t get my hands on this, I’ll look to either other independents or whatever decent ground coffee I can get in the supermarket. As a bonus, when I’m ordering my Bad Hand Coffee I can specifically request the ground to be made for the Aeropress, which is pure magic!
How to brew coffee in your campervan
Basically, you pop your filters in, grinds in, pour the water into the brewing chamber, stir, leave for a couple of minutes for time to steep, and then plunge. The coffee starts dripping into your mug as soon as the water hits the filter. Then when you plunge it’s the air pressure and micro-filtration that makes the tasty, smooth brew.
Some people weigh their coffee grounds for a specific strength, but I generally do 2 scoops of coffee and have found from using all brands that some are much stronger than others, therefore there isn’t an exact method to how much coffee grounds you use. I then add oat milk and a dash of agave to sweeten. When you're done, you eject the puck of grounds into the compost bin. Simple!
Campervan Coffee is the best
So I’ve changed my opinion: Van Coffee is the Best! I’ve completely changed my attitude and process around how I make coffee and I actually love the mindful experience of brewing this way and I wouldn’t want it any other way now! Savouring the process and taking my time with my morning routine. Now I can take my coffee with me on that morning dog walk, or down to the beach for my swim."
Happy Brewing and Happy Travels!
About Emily Endean
Emily Endean is an award-winning professional photographer and vanlife enthusiast who travels the UK in her van with her wife and dog. She Ioves being outside as much as possible and enjoys capturing the world's beauty through her camera, especially the ocean. Emily runs photography workshops and you may have noticed that she is also a huge coffee addict!
Want to know more about Emily? Check out her IG and website!
