In Finland, few outdoor experiences are as cherished as brewing coffee over an open fire. The art of this practice is steeped in calmness; a good fire takes time to catch, just as good coffee requires patience to reach perfection. The deliberate motions involved in this ritual—being fully present—are essential, for haste can lead to spilled coffee or a pot boiling over into the flames.
Admittedly, I am no expert in this craft. Like many Finns, I rely daily on my trusty Moccamaster to brew coffee into my beloved Moomin mug, a staple in households across the country. Yet, something nudged at my curiosity: mastering the art of campfire coffee felt like a rite of passage, a skill worth acquiring. So, on a frostbitten winter’s day, I decided to dive in.
With a blanket of snow underfoot and the freedom to create a fire in my own yard—an activity that is, in Finland, permitted only on private property—I began my search for the perfect spot along the icy riverbank. Gathering dry firewood, I built a small fire and struck a match. Soon, a fragrant plume of billowy smoke rose from the logs, and the flames licked the wood into glowing embers.
In my basket, I had gathered a few essentials:
- A steel coffee pot, free of plastic components
- One liter of water
- Coarse coffee grounds suitable for pot brewing, typically labeled with a small coffee pot icon marked “pan/pannmalet“
- A traditional wooden cup, or kuksa, favored by Finns on their excursions
As the fire crackled with life, I poured about half a liter of water into the pot. Had I been at a designated fire site, there would have been a grill grate to perch my pot neatly above the flames. But with my fire set directly on the snow, I attempted to balance the pot on the logs—a precarious choice that soon led to a minor mishap. The pot tipped, but my reflexes kicked in, and I caught it just in time, preventing a major spill. In the flurry, my hair caught a whiff of smoke; a reminder that perhaps tying it back would have been wise!
A moment later, the pot began to bubble, and upon lifting the lid, I was greeted by the sight of boiling water. I added coffee grounds, gently creating a small mound atop the surface—my personally crafted “coffee mountain.” Using about one deciliter of grounds for every half-liter of water, I replaced the lid and cautiously moved the pot from the heart of the flames to the cooler edge of the fire. My aim was to avoid a vigorous boil; I simply wanted the coffee to brew warmly.
Five minutes ticked by, during which I kept a watchful eye on the pot to ensure it didn’t tip again or boil over. A quick check of my hair revealed only minimal damage—just a faint scent of singed strands confirmed my earlier encounter with the flames.
Following the guidance I had received, I poured a splash of coffee into my kuksa, only to discover some sediment lingering within. I poured it back into the pot—apparently, this is a tradition to help the grounds settle more effectively. After a few more moments, I filled my wooden cup again; this time, the liquid was smooth as silk, free of any grounds!
The coffee was dark, clear, and beautifully aromatic. When brewed correctly over an open fire, the grounds sink to the bottom of the pot, leaving a pristine cup. Some aficionados even use a spruce twig in the spout of the coffee pot to further filter out the grounds, though its effectiveness remains a topic of debate.
In the end, I savored that well-earned cup of coffee as I watched the flames slowly dwindle. The crisp outdoor air, the smoky aroma, and the warmth of the fire rendered this moment with my coffee far more memorable than any brew made by a machine indoors.
Interestingly, my colleague Antti is so passionate about campfire coffee that he believed existing options never quite measured up. So, he took it upon himself to create his own blend—Finland, Naturally’s very own pot-brewed coffee, Blaze, specifically crafted for outdoor conditions, is available at the Finnish Nature Center Haltia in Nuuksio and through our online store.
For those who relish the experience, here are a few more photos capturing the essence of outdoor coffee moments:
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