Cowboy coffee, also called camp or range coffee, is coffee made by boiling coarse grounds directly in a pot of water over an open fire, with no filter or brewing device. It developed among cowboys, ranchers, and other travelers in the American West who needed a fast way to make coffee with minimal equipment.
The grounds go straight into the pot, are brought to a boil, and steep for a few minutes off the heat; some versions add a splash of cold water at the end to help the grounds settle before pouring. Because the grounds stay in the liquid, the result is bold and slightly gritty, with pronounced earthy, sometimes bitter notes - closer to a boiled infusion than to filtered or pressed coffee.
The method is still used in backcountry camping and on cattle drives, where a filter or French press isn't practical.