Brew Better — 5 Easy Ways to Make Café Quality Coffee at Home
If you've ever sipped a perfectly smooth espresso from a coffee camper window on a misty mountain morning (hi, that’s us 👋), you know coffee can be more than a morning ritual — it can be an experience.
But you don’t need a coffee camper or a commercial espresso machine to enjoy next-level coffee at home. With just a few small upgrades and easy techniques, you can make your morning cup something worth slowing down for.
1. Start With Better Beans
The biggest upgrade you can make? Your beans. Skip the grocery store bulk bin and try freshly roasted, small-batch beans from local or mission-driven roasters. Not only do they taste better, but many also focus on ethical sourcing and sustainable farming — just like the ones we serve in the camper.
👉 Pro tip: Store beans in an airtight, opaque container (not your fridge!) to keep them fresher longer.
We love working with suppliers who roast with purpose — and flavor. We recommend the delicious Atlas Blend from Kru Coffee.
2. Get the Grind Right
Your grind size matters more than you think. Too coarse and your coffee will taste sour; too fine and it turns bitter or muddy. Different brewing methods need different grinds:
French Press: Coarse, like sea salt
Drip or Pour Over: Medium, like sand
Espresso or Moka Pot: Fine, like powdered sugar
Consider investing in a burr grinder for consistent results — it’s one of the best home upgrades you can make.
Sign up for our newsletter below for tips on some of our favorite grinder equipment.
3. Use the Right Water (Yes, Really)
Since coffee is 98% water, what you brew with plays a big role. Filtered water is best — especially if your tap water is hard or chlorinated. It might sound extra, but once you try it, you’ll taste the difference.
In the camper, we filter all our brewing water to get the cleanest flavor in every cup.
4. Measure (Don't Eyeball It)
Eyeballing your coffee-to-water ratio is like baking without a recipe — sometimes it works, often it doesn’t. For consistent results, start with 1:15 ratio (1 gram of coffee to 15 grams of water).
That’s about 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 oz of water
A small digital scale makes this super simple — and helps you avoid the dreaded weak brew.
5. Elevate the Experience
It’s not just about the coffee. It’s about how it makes you feel.
Set the tone with a favorite mug, a cozy candle, or your favorite playlist. Add a little frothed milk or cinnamon. Pour it slow. Sit by the window. Pretend you’re at our camper with the mountains out front — we won’t tell. 😉
Show your love for the great outdoors with our Smokey Bear Enamelware Mug while you sip on that perfectly brewed bean water.
Also, our limited-run candle collab with Ambush Candle Co. was made for slow coffee mornings. Each scent is inspired by the springs of Saratoga. Grab yours before they sell out.
Ready to Brew Better?
You don’t need fancy gear to enjoy great coffee — just a little intention, a few tweaks, and maybe a cozy corner to sip it in. We’ll keep sharing our favorite tips and tools here on the blog (and in your cup when you visit the camper).