Bikes, beans and brews: the simple joy of Coffee Outside

There’s something special about brewing your morning coffee not from the comfort of your kitchen, but from the saddle of your bike.

No queue. No paper cup. No ambient jazz. Just the hiss of your stove and the smell of fresh grounds. Welcome to Coffee Outside - a simple, bike-based ritual that began  in America. Load up your bicycle with a camping stove, coffee-making kit, and maybe a pastry or two. Ride out - solo or with friends - to a scenic spot: a quiet park, a riverbank, a patch of woodland where the only interruptions are the birds. Then, make coffee. That’s it. The idea is hardly novel, but we like it: no one’s trying to sell you anything. No one’s in a rush.

For all its simplicity, there’s something about combining two elemental pleasures - cycling and coffee - that transforms an ordinary morning into a small ceremony. Even the act of packing your kit becomes a kind of meditative prep: stove, fuel, water, beans, mug. Check.

Some groups meet regularly - before work on a Friday, say. Others gather spontaneously, alerted by a WhatsApp ping or Instagram post. Some just go it alone, embracing the solitude. But whether you’re part of a crowd or brewing for one, the effect is the same: you slow down. You look around. You notice things.

There’s a reason this idea has spread from Canada to Cornwall, Tokyo to the Thames. It taps into something many of us crave: time spent well, without screens or schedules. A reminder that joy can be as simple as a shared flask and a few homemade biscuits.

And bikes - simple, elegant machines - are the perfect companions. They carry your kit. They get you to places that smell of damp leaves and woodsmoke. They make you earn your coffee, just a little.

So the next time you pack your pannier, consider adding a stove and a bag of beans. Ride out early. Find your spot. Light your flame. And brew.

We’re giving away a Yeti Rambler flask for on-the-go coffee or tea. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning, just leave a comment below telling us your favourite spot for a mid-ride brew. We'll pick a winner next week.

While you’re here…

Rain or shine, ETA Cycle Insurance has your back. Whether your bike gets stolen, damaged, or breaks down mid-ride, we’re here to help you keep riding with minimal fuss. Cycle Rescue, our 24/7 breakdown service for cyclists is included for free.

Cycle Rescue is free with ETA bicycle insurance

If you suffer a breakdown (including punctures, or even a flat e-bike battery) while out cycling, our 24-hour Cycle Rescue team is on hand to arrange transport for you and your bicycle to a safe location. The service is included for free with ETA cycle insurance, along with:

• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)
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The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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