I drink coffee every morning. I have my routine. I measure out 18 grams of coffee and grind it using a hand grinder so as to not wake anyone up. I brew with 280 grams of water at 202 degrees using a v60 pourover set-up. I love it. It’s great. It tastes wonderful. But … when that same routine is done outdoors? Wonderful turns into A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! What is it about drinking coffee outside that is so rewarding?

I’m not a scientist but I know it must have something to do with our senses. Being outdoors you’re immersed in a different world than our cocooned homes. We feel the breeze and notice all of the smells surrounding us … the trees and other vegetation, the dirt, and more. Our visual and auditory senses are heightened. Maybe it’s some survival instinct kicking in. Lying in a tent you hear everything … all the sounds are coming at you in true surround sound fashion. Even the tiniest critter scurrying around your tent and campsite sounds like a carnivorous prehistoric dire wolf coming for you.

I still remember one year while camping atop the Pinaleño Mountains in SE Arizona being “attacked” by an obnoxious skunk. As we sat around the campfire I looked up to see him charging right towards us. He bolted out of the underbrush and made a beeline for us. It worked. We quickly dove into our tents only to peak out to see him rummaging through our abandoned food. Emboldened I gingerly left my tent and shooshed him away. Once the coast was clear we all came out and sat back down around the campfire. Sure enough, minutes later he mounted another attack and charged right at us again. This whole series of events happened a few times. We finally relented and retired to our tents for the night after cleaning up. He won. While he never sprayed my senses were heightened and I listened to him poke around seemingly all night.

Our senses are alive outdoors. As a result everything tastes better outside. Even the times when I’m making a cheap box of mac and cheese … it goes from being “blech” at home to a gourmet feast outdoors. Coffee outside is a whole different level of amazing. Our senses are alive. Not only that, but we have a deeper appreciation for things outdoors. Maybe we simply notice more because we’re in the moment and actually present and attentive to what’s around us. Whatever the case, there’s not better way to enjoy coffee than brewing it outdoors. There are a lot of ways to do so, what’s your favorite? For fun ideas check out our Brew Methods page.

Words and by Sean Benesh, Loam Coffee Founder and Brand Manager. Photos by Grant Benesh.