In a hurry, here are our top pick, editor’s choice, and best value.
Top pick
Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker
The AEROPRESS Coffee and Espresso Maker is known as the most versatile coffee maker. You can use it at home and can even carry it out easily during your travels to make a perfect cup of coffee on the go.
Editor’s choice
Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper
The Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper is a single-piece apparatus, making it among the most portable coffee makers on this list.
It is suitable for camping and backpacking for its compact size and is also affordable at the same time.
Pour-over coffee makers are underrated.
Best value
Primula Coffee Brew Buddy
The Primula Coffee Brew Buddy is another great lightweight coffee maker designed for utmost portability. It is constructed using a single piece of mesh that is held intact by a plastic ring. The advantage with this mesh filter is that you can rinse the mesh out after each use.
It is quite hard to imagine your morning without a great cup of coffee, isn’t it? A freshly brewed coffee gives you the perfect caffeine kick for the rest of the day. People emphasize so much on getting the best coffee machines for their homes.
But these machines are often not portable and can’t be carried outdoors. If you’re someone who’s always on the go, you need to look for a coffee maker that is portable and functional everywhere.
Having a portable, lightweight coffee maker will enable you to head out camping or backpacking anywhere without worrying about a fresh cup of coffee.
Now, you must be wondering how to select the best portable coffee maker for your outdoor trips and where to buy one.
Don’t worry; we have made the perfect guide for you, comprising everything you need to know about a portable coffee maker as well as the 10 best coffee makers for hiking, camping, and backpacking. Keep reading to find out the most suitable one for you.
Table of Contents
Variations in camping coffee makers
Coffee makers for camping or backpacking are usually available in three different variations. They are:
Press type:
In a press coffee maker, coffee grounds are allowed to sit in hot water for around 5 minutes. Then, the plunger is used to separate the grounds from the liquid.
Usually, the plunger is pressed down so that the grounds settle in the bottom, leaving the coffee at the top. Other kinds of presses work by pressing the liquid out through the grounds.
Pour-over type:
A pour-over type of coffee maker is similar to the classic drip type; the only difference is that you need to pour hot water over the coffee grounds gradually by yourself. They are among the simplest designs available and are very easy to clean and maintain.
Percolator type:
As the name suggests, you need to sit a percolator on a stovetop to get coffee. The boiling forces the water through the grounds by generating pressure.
One advantage of a percolator type is the fact that you don’t have to boil water in a separate pot, which makes it quite convenient.
What you should consider
Before you decide to buy a camping or traveling coffee maker, you need to check for a few important factors mentioned below:
Size:
When you’re out backpacking or camping, it is important that you choose a coffee maker that is small and quite compact in size and can easily fit in your luggage.
Most camping coffee makers can brew single servings from one and three cups at a time. Hence depending upon the number of people, you can accordingly get a coffee maker that has small or large brew options.
If you’re camping with a very large group, you can opt for percolators, drip coffee makers, or Moka pots that can brew up to 12 cups of coffee at a time.
The material used:
During camping or hiking, you should watch out for the type of environment, and climatic conditions around and select a coffee maker made of durable materials like plastic, stainless steel, and aluminum, etc.
Try to stay from breakable materials like glass or materials prone to rust and damage. At the same time, in order to travel light, make sure that the material isn’t heavy and is easy to carry around.
Portability:
No matter if you are using a manual or electric coffee maker, ensure that it is easy for you to carry without any hassle. Most camping coffee makers are designed to be compact, small in size, and lightweight.
But some are also bulky and complex. Hence, depending upon your traveling plan and the amenities available to you, look for a coffee maker that is easily portable.
Manual or electric:
Most of the camping coffee makers are non-electric and come in compact sizes. So, in order to use these, you need to heat up water separately in another vessel, and it calls for extra work and time.
The electric models, however, eliminate the need of heating the water separately and even have large capacities. But, they are not entirely suitable for camping or traveling as they are heavy, require space and a power source too.
So unless you are traveling in an RV or a car, it is not possible to carry an electric coffee maker. Other than this, you need to have pre-ground coffee with you or a grinder to enjoy the freshest cup of coffee.
Now that you are aware of the criteria you need to keep in mind while purchasing a coffee maker, let’s take a look at the 10 best coffee makers for hiking, camping, and backpacking available in the market:
AEROPRESS Coffee and Espresso Maker
Features highlight;
- Weight – 7.98 oz
- Brew type – Pour Over
- Material – Polypropylene
- Capacity – 3 cups
The AEROPRESS Coffee and Espresso Maker is known as the most versatile coffee maker. You can use it at home and can even carry it out easily during your travels to make a perfect cup of coffee on the go.
It is loved by most people because of how quick it is and, at the same time, the ease of use and portability. The Aeropress coffee maker is designed to be compact, and it is also lightweight, which can be attributed to the high-quality plastic material used.
You can easily carry it wherever you go and get the most aromatic cup of coffee. It has a paper microfilter that
prevents grittiness in the apparatus and makes it easy to clean. You can make any kind of coffee with it, up to 3 cups at a time.
Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper
Features highlight;
- Weight – 3 oz
- Brew type – Drip
- Material – Plastic
- Capacity – 1 cup
The Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper is a single-piece apparatus, making it among the most portable coffee makers on this list.
It is suitable for camping and backpacking for its compact size and is also affordable at the same time. Pour-over coffee makers are underrated, and they give a nice edge to your coffee.
The dripper makes it simple to use and gives you a level of control during the process. The spiral ribs on this coffee maker provide maximum coffee expansion.
The dripper provides you with optimum coffee quality as compared to other mesh pour-over coffee makers that are designed for hikers. It is equipped with paper filters that are easy to carry, and they let you make coffee anywhere with ease.
Primula Coffee Brew Buddy
Features highlight;
- Weight – 3.52 oz
- Brew type – Drip
- Material – Plastic
- Capacity – 1 cup
The Primula Coffee Brew Buddy is another great lightweight coffee maker designed for utmost portability. It is constructed using a single piece of mesh that is held intact by a plastic ring that fits over the coffee cup.
The advantage with this mesh filter is that you can rinse the mesh out after each use, and hence you don’t need to change filters.
It won’t give you the best brew as compared to other pour-over coffee makers, but what sets this machine apart is the ease of use which makes it quite suitable for camping and hiking.
The apparatus sits within the cup, making the coffee steep in rather than dripping like in other pour-over coffee makers.
GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip
Features highlight;
- Weight – 0.32 oz
- Brew type – Pour-over
- Material – Nylon, Clear Polypropylene
- Capacity – 1 cup
The GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip is another good option for hikers and campers who have a constraint of space. The pour-over coffee maker has a mesh filter and is extremely lightweight and collapsible at the same time.
It is specially designed to be extremely portable. The mesh filter clips onto the cup, all you need to do is pour hot water over the coffee grounds in order to get the perfect cup of coffee.
The mesh can be cleaned after each use, and hence there is no need for extra filters. Like usual mesh filters, it doesn’t give you the best brew compared to standard coffee makers but is worth it for campers and hikers.
ESPRO P1 French Press
Features highlight;
- Weight – 12.3 oz
- Brew type – Press
- Material – Stainless Steel
- Capacity – 1 cup
ESPRO P1 French Press is the best option when it comes to a press-type coffee machine. It is designed to be compact and is vacuum-insulated at the same time.
It is ideal for camping and hiking as it is made of stainless steel, which is very durable and unbreakable compared to other materials commonly used.
This Espro coffee maker is multifunctional, and apart from preparing your coffee, you can also use it as a travel mug and drink directly from it.
It is equipped with a distinct filtering system that prevents grittiness and keeps the coffee from getting bitter once separated.
This press is BPA, BPS, and phthalate-free and can hold up to 10 ounces of coffee and 14 ounces as a travel mug. If you like this product’s awesome features then make sure to read the full review.
WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
Features highlight;
- Weight – 11.84 oz
- Brew type – Press
- Material – Plastic
- Capacity – 1 Cup
Wacaco Nanopresso makes it possible to get barista-like coffee anywhere. It can be stated as a good alternative to an espresso machine due to its high-quality coffee.
This machine has the capacity to generate around 18 bars of pressure just with manual power to brew a perfect, dense, and creamy shot of espresso just with a cup of hot water.
It is kind of expensive compared to the other coffee makers but worth every penny when it comes to the quality it delivers.
This machine even comes with a protective S-Case which is made of EVA material and smooth fabric interior lining, making it durable and resistant to scratches, bumps, and dust.
Farberware Classic Yosemite Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator
Features highlight;
- Weight – 1 lb 11.5 oz
- Brew type – Percolator
- Material – Stainless steel
- Capacity – 8 cups
Farberware Classic Yosemite Stainless Steel is the best percolator type of coffee maker available in the market.
This is a conventional, old-fashioned percolator that lets you brew an aromatic cup of coffee when you decide to go anywhere such as camping, hiking, and even the classroom.
Made up of stainless steel, this percolator is ultra-durable and can be sustained for a long time. It is a classic coffee maker that gives you the option of brewing your coffee conventionally over the fire or stove; you just need to be careful with the handling.
This Farberware coffee maker is available both in 8-cup and 12-cup variations to meet the needs of a single person as well as a large group.
Snow Peak – Titanium French Press
Features highlight;
- Weight – 6.4 oz
- Brew type – Press
- Material – Stainless Steel, Plastic
- Capacity – 24 fl oz
Titanium French Press Coffee Maker comes from the renowned brand Snow Peak and is innovative and offers an optimum coffee experience no matter you are at home or are out camping.
It gives you your desired cup of perfectly brewed coffee with ease. Made up of a single-wall titanium layer, it can be directly set over a stove for operation.
This coffee maker is lightweight, compact, durable, and is completely compatible with a traveler’s or a camper’s needs. It also comes with foldable handles that make it easy to store. The only downside is the expensive price of the coffee maker.
Bialetti – Moka Express
Features highlight;
- Weight – 16.8 oz
- Brew type – Espresso
- Material – Stainless steel
- Capacity – 8 cups
We all know that a good Moka pot can give you aromatic and superior tasting, espresso-like coffee with minimal effort. Bialetti Moka Express stands as the best Moka pot option in the market. Made up of aluminum, this coffee maker is designed uniquely to fit the needs of campers and hikers.
All you need to have is some access to a camp stove or fire, and you can make a perfect cup of coffee with no hassle or extra filters and gadgets. The Moka Express goes up to 12 cups in capacity when it comes to brewing coffee in a single time and hence is a good option for large groups as well.
Spardar 12V Car Kettle
Features highlight;
- Weight – 23.2 oz
- Brew type – Espresso
- Material – Stainless steel
- Capacity – 1 cup
This Spardar car kettle is not exactly a coffee maker, but it can heat 12 ounces of water with a 12v power outlet making it suitable for people camping in a car.
In absence of a fire or stove, you can easily use this electric kettle to make instant coffee or to use hot water over another french press.
You also get more control over your brew with temperature options in the kettle, and hence you can make your beverage accordingly.
It takes around 15 – 20 minutes for the water to reach boiling point. This is a must-have device if you are someone who needs coffee daily but traveling out on the wheels. If you like this product then make sure to read the full review.
FAQs
How many different coffee makers are there?
They are of three types: press type, percolator type, and pour-over type. They all work differently, as mentioned above.
Can you carry a coffee maker for camping?
Yes, there are multiple coffee makers available in the market specially designed to meet the needs of those who go camping and hiking. The best camping coffee makers are mentioned in the article.
How to get hot water while camping?
There are various ways to obtain hot water for making coffee. You can either use a kettle and boil water in it on the stove or above the campfire, or you can use an electric kettle which is very easy to operate but needs a power source.
Conclusion
There are multiple camping coffee makers available in the market. As mentioned above, you need to analyze your needs as a camper or hiker and then select a coffee maker accordingly that caters to all your interests.
Having a coffee maker on your trip can elevate the experience altogether and give you the required energy through a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
Now that you are aware of all the premium options available for purchase and what all factors you need to look out for, you will be able to buy the best portable coffee maker in no time.
