The Ultimate Guide to the Best Camping Coffee Maker in 2024
Last Updated on 1 March 2024
If, like me, you love camping, there’s nothing better than waking up to the sounds of nature around you, surrounded by the crisp morning air, enjoying that first cup of coffee to get your day started.
As the lifeblood for many campers, coffee may be one of those things you think you’ll have to forego when you’re out in the wild. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Nowadays, it’s possible to make even the best coffee with a camping coffee maker without taking up too much space, thanks to the portable coffee makers available to buy.
So, if you’re planning your next camping trip and wondering, ‘how do I choose a camping coffee maker that’s right for me?, you’re in the right place.
We’ve tested the top contenders to give you a straightforward review that helps you pick a coffee maker that’s easy to pack, use, and clean, ensuring your treasured morning brew doesn’t miss a beat—even in the wilderness. From rugged espressos to simple drips, our guide lays out the key points you need without any fuss, making sure you get your caffeine fix on your next outdoor adventure.
The Best-in-Class Camping Coffee Makers
Thanks to a rise in camping culture and coffee aficionados, outdoor enthusiasts are no longer settling for a basic cup of coffee. Not when there are plenty of pocket-sized options to choose from.
However, the kind of camping coffee maker you need depends on how you like your coffee: instant coffee, coffee in a bag, French press, or expresso. Coffee, as you can see, can get complicated, if you let it, but to answer the needs of many there are plenty of options available.
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Here are our top picks:
WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker: Best for Espresso Lovers
Aeropress Go Portable Travel Coffee Press Kit: Best for Traveling Light
Coffee Gator Pour Over Brewer: Best for Pour Over Aficionados
WACACO Cuppamoka Filter Coffee Machine: Best for Single Cup Brewing
WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker: Best for Espresso Lovers
Key Features
Manual operation, no batteries needed
Water Capacity: 80ml
Weight: 340g
Product Pros
Product Cons
The WACACO Nanopresso is the ideal camping coffee maker if you enjoy your coffee short and strong in the morning. Small and lightweight, this compact espresso maker, which operates without batteries, makes surprisingly good coffee at the press of a button. All that’s needed is finely ground coffee and hot water. When you’re ready, simply squeeze the dial to get your brewed coffee. It also comes with a water capacity of 80ml and a built-in detachable coffee cup for easy storage.
It’s a dream come true for espresso lovers as it produces rich and flavourful espresso with a dense crema, thanks to its patented design. The Nanopresso is not much bigger than a water bottle, making it highly portable to fit in your pocket or the side of your hiking backpack, and is a perfect companion for camping. The high-quality materials and components ensure a delicious espresso shot, providing great value for outdoor enthusiasts who want the best-tasting coffee.
The durability of the Nanopresso is comparable to some French press coffee makers, given its robustness and suitability for frequent outdoor use.
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Aeropress Go Portable Travel Coffee Press Kit: Best for Travelling Light
Key Features
Comes with a 15oz travel mug
Brews hot coffee in one minute
Weight: 318g
Product Pros
Product Cons
Ideal for camping and hiking, what’s not to love about the Aeropress Go camping coffee maker? If you love coffee, this may be the one for you. Lightweight and compact, the Aeropress Go will make you wonder why you’re stuck with instant coffee when camping for so long. And if you’re after a camping coffee maker that’ll give you a big cup of coffee, the Aeropress Go is the way to, well, go.
Simple to use, the Aeropress Go requires hot water and ground coffee. Before adding the plunger, stir and gently push the plunger in. Equipped with a travel mug, this coffee maker has been crafted so that the accessories it comes with (scoop, stirrer, and filter papers) all fit inside the coffee maker for easy packing down, perfect for those on-the-go camping trips.
Cleaning the Aeropress Go is a straightforward process. It requires a simple rinse and a gentle wipe to clean the device, making it as convenient as using instant coffee. The Aeropress Go is made from durable materials specifically designed to withstand the demands of outdoor use and is a reliable choice for outdoor activities and brewing fresh ground coffee.
Maxi Camping Coffee Maker: Best for Simplicity
Key Features
Compatible with all camping stovetops
Produces 5oz of coffee
Weight: 191g
Product Pros
Product Cons
In a compact package, the Maxi Camping Coffee Maker provides simplicity and durability, which is what you want from a portable coffee maker to make a decent cup of coffee. Lightweight and durable, this coffee maker is one of the best portable coffee makers and is perfect for enjoying your morning coffee with the outdoors ultralight java drip feature. It’s easy to see why this is a popular camp coffee maker.
The Maxi Camping Coffee Maker includes two removable filters and a convenient handle to hold when drinking your coffee. The only downside is that you can only make 5oz of coffee at a time, which isn’t enough for one person. If more than one of you are camping together, you’ll need to brew a few cups to get a large cup of coffee to start your day; however, it’s a better alternative to cowboy coffee while camping.
The Maxi Camping Coffee Maker can be used by filling the bottom chamber with water, adding ground coffee between the two mesh filters, and putting the parts together. For maintenance, place it in the dishwasher for cleaning or take apart and rinse.
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Groenenberg Espresso Maker: Best for Home-Like Espresso
Key Features
Suitable for all types of cookers
Durable stainless steel construction
Weight: 760g
Product Pros
Product Cons
With its durable stainless steel construction, the Groenenberg Espresso Maker is another great choice as a camp coffee maker. Through its sleek design, it offers a coffeehouse-quality experience at home or outdoors and can make between four and six cups of coffee, ideal for those who like their coffee in the morning.
This aluminium-free moka-style camping coffee maker is a heavy-duty, weighty stainless steel that delivers delicious and aromatic coffee that’s better than most barista machines in someone’s home. Similar to using an ultralight java drip, it’s suitable for personal or shared use, making it a great option for your camping trips.
FinalPress Coffee and Tea Maker: Best for Versatility
Key Features
Made of Stainless steel
Super fast and portable
Weight: 231g
Product Pros
Product Cons
Made from high-quality materials, the FinalPress Coffee and Tea Maker offers versatility and ease in brewing both coffee and tea. Its on-the-go design makes it convenient for travel, camping, or enjoying a fresh cup of coffee or tea anywhere.
The FinalPress Coffee and Tea Maker is crafted from high-quality stainless steel. It utilises a patent-pending spring mechanism that provides control over the brewing process, enabling the extraction of rich flavours. To release the rich flavours, whether drinking tea or coffee, simply add tea or coffee into the filter, pour in hot water, stir, and press the plunger. It couldn’t be any easier.
It is advised to treat it similarly to a teabag, allowing it to brew for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, and finishing with the press.
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Bialetti Moka Express: Best for Traditionalists
Key Features
Six cup capacity
Easy to clean
Weight: 725g
Product Pros
Product Cons
Invented in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti, the Bialetti Moka Express offers a time-tested method for brewing rich and flavourful coffee. For traditionalists, the Bialetti Moka Express is a classic choice. It is favoured for its time-honoured approach to brewing coffee, resulting in a rich and flavorful taste.
Made of aluminium, the Bialetti Moka Express is made from high-quality materials and is easy to pour thanks to its ergonomic handle. And when your camping is over, it’s easy to clean, which is what you want with camping coffee makers.
Coffee Gator Pour Over Brewer: Best for Pour Over Aficionados
Key Features
Material: Stainless steel
Filter: Double-layered mesh
Weight: 254g
Product Pros
Product Cons
Featuring a double-layered mesh filter and sleek stainless steel design, the Coffee Gator Pour Over Brewer is ideal for pour-over enthusiasts and those who love using a brew coffee dripper. Small and lightweight, it features a paperless stainless steel filter, a glass carafe that’s crafted from 100% BPA-free, heat-resistant glass, and a laser-cut stainless steel mesh filter.
These features are intended to facilitate an even extraction and deliver a well-balanced flavour. The double-layered mesh filter improves the coffee flavour by eliminating the need for disposable paper or cloth filters. This washable and reusable filter ensures a clean and smooth cup of coffee every time it’s used.
The brewing process of the Coffee Gator Pour Over Brewer works by pouring water over coffee grounds, allowing the brewed coffee to drip down through the filter, resulting in a handcrafted and aromatic cup of pour-over coffee. Perfect coffee every time.
WACACO Cuppamoka Filter Coffee Machine: Best for Single Cup Brewing
Key Features
Spill-proof drinking lid and insulation cup
Brewing time: 2-3 minutes
Weight: 320g
Product Pros
Product Cons
Designed for single-cup brewing, the WACACO Cuppamoka is a portable filter coffee machine that uses vacuum pressure brewing to deliver rich and aromatic coffee. For those who prefer a smooth cup of coffee without the fuss of brewing multiple cups at once, the WACACO Cuppamoka is one to consider.
With its built-in stainless steel filter, this camp coffee maker eliminates the need for paper filters and is quick and easy to operate for delicious coffee in just a few minutes. What’s not to love about this brew buddy? Not only is it small and lightweight and provides a perfect cup of coffee, but it’s a coffee, dripper, and mug, making this an excellent all-in-one maker to have on your next outdoor trip.
Choosing Your Perfect Camping Coffee Maker
As you can see, there’s a multitude of camping coffee makers available, each with its unique features and brewing methods. But how do you choose the one that’s perfect for you? It all comes down to personal preferences, brewing methods, and the size of your camping group.
Several factors such as flavour preference, style preference, choice of coffee beans, water-to-coffee ground ratio, brewing time, and considerations like size and weight can influence the choice of a camping coffee maker.
Finally, the size of your camping group can influence your choice. If you’re camping with a large group, you might prefer a coffee maker that can brew multiple cups at once. Conversely, if you’re camping alone or with a partner, a single-serve coffee maker might be the perfect fit.
Understanding Brewing Preferences
Your brewing preferences can significantly steer your choice of a camping coffee maker. Are you an espresso enthusiast, a pour-over aficionado, or a fan of the French press? Each brewing method has a distinct impact on the taste of your coffee, and choosing the right one can dramatically enhance your coffee-drinking experience.
The different brewing methods and their characteristics are:
French press: immersion brewing, stronger and richer flavours
Pour-over: infusion method, lighter and more standard-filter-like coffee flavours
Espresso: a concentrated form of coffee made with pressurised hot water, rich and flavourful shot with a dense crema
The taste can be influenced by variables like the roast, grind size, water quality, and type of coffee beans used.
When selecting a coffee maker, espresso lovers should consider the ease of cleaning, portability, cost per use, and ease of use. On the other hand, pour-over enthusiasts should consider the coffee maker’s cost per use, ease of use, portability, lightweight design, size and capacity, as well as its construction and durability.
Compatibility with Camping Gear
The compatibility of a camping coffee maker with your existing camping gear is another vital factor to consider when making a selection. This includes compatibility with your camping stove and your water source.
Some camping coffee makers, like the WACACO Nanopresso and Groenenberg Espresso Maker, are compatible with most stoves, making them a flexible choice for various camping conditions. If you prefer to make your coffee over a campfire, the Aeropress Go is a great option as it’s designed to be used over a campfire, providing the flexibility to make coffee while camping.
In terms of water sources, some coffee makers, like the Maxi Camping Coffee Maker, require hot water to be poured over the coffee grounds. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure you have a reliable source of hot water when you’re camping.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the perfect camping coffee maker involves considering a variety of factors including your personal preferences, brewing methods, group size, and compatibility with your existing camping gear. Whether you’re an espresso lover, a pour-over enthusiast, or a fan of the French press, there’s a camping coffee maker out there that’s perfect for you.
So next time you’re planning a camping trip, don’t forget to pack your favorite camping coffee maker. Because there’s nothing quite like waking up in the great outdoors to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to get your day started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best coffee making method for camping?
The best coffee making method for camping is using a percolator, which effectively brews strong coffee over a camp stove or campfire.
How do you drink coffee while camping?
Brew your coffee bag with boiling water over a stove or fire, let it steep for 1-3 minutes, then remove the bag and enjoy your fresh camping coffee.
How do you make a latte when camping?
Use a hand grinder to grind the coffee beans, a Moka pot to brew the coffee, and a Nanofoamer to froth the milk for a latte while camping. This way, you can enjoy a fresh brew coffee latte during your camping trip without a hassle.
What are the different brewing methods available in camping coffee makers?
You can choose from methods like espresso, pour-over, and French press when using camping coffee makers, each affecting the taste and texture of your coffee differently.
How does the size of the camping group influence the choice of a camping coffee maker?
The size of your camping group will determine the capacity of the coffee maker you need. For a large group, consider a coffee maker that can brew multiple cups at once, while for a smaller group, a single-serve coffee maker may be more suitable.