Whether you are a seasoned hiker, or just taking a quick weekend trip to the mountains, how you start your adventure matters. That is why it is important to find the perfect coffee maker, one that can move just as quick as you do.
With so many styles, sizes, and methods of brew to choose from, it can become quite overwhelming to find the perfect coffee maker for you. This guide is a list of some of the best camping coffee makers, that also happen to be portable, sure to make you one happy camper.
Table Of Contents
Things to Consider While Shopping the Best Camping Coffee Makers
In short, while browsing the camping coffee maker market, there are important factors you should continue to keep in mind.
Durability
How will your coffee maker hold up in the wilderness? With every step, bump, or even drop, will the maker remain intact in your backpack? Luckily, the coffee makers I mentioned below are sure to be as tough and adventurous as you!
Size
Sure, you want a maker that is compact and light-weight, however, how many people are included in your travel fleet? If you know you will be traveling in a considerably sized pack, a larger camping coffee maker may be the ultimate time saver. If you typically fly solo, the Primula Coffee Brew Buddy would make a fantastic travel companion. But, if you are with a crowd, the Coleman 9-Cup Coffee Percolator just may be your best bet!
Method of Brew
Lastly, the style of brew matters. Each of these methods require a heat source for hot water, which is also important to keep in mind. But what is your favorite style of coffee? What brew do you find the easiest to perfect every time? Be sure to read over each of the brewing processes above carefully, before making a final decision.
Top 9 Best Camping Coffee Makers
Image | Product | Details | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Primula Coffee Brew Buddy |
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![]() | GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip |
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![]() | Hario Plastic Coffee Dripper, Size 02 |
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![]() | Kalita Wave Pour Over Coffee Dripper, Size 18 |
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![]() | AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker |
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![]() | GSI Outdoors JavaPress |
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![]() | Espro Travel Press |
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![]() | Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker |
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![]() | Coleman 9 Cup Coffee Percolator |
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Best Camping Coffee Makers: Pour-Over
The pour-over style coffee refers to one of the most basic ways of brewing your coffee. The process is manual, and quite simple, involving a filter, coffee grounds, and hot water. You begin by placing your filter, whether paper or a reusable mesh, over your chosen container or cup. You then add your favorite coffee blend into the filter and pour the hot water over to start the brewing process.
In addition to its simplicity, another benefit of pour-over is the ability to really customize your brew. The temperature of the water and the amount of time you allow to steep will affect how strong or weak your coffee will be.
Overall, a pour-over brew style coffee maker is a great choice to bring on your next camping trip. Below are a couple of the current best, as well as budget-friendly, ones on the market.
1. Primula Coffee Brew Buddy
The Primula Coffee Brew Buddy is the perfect, budget-friendly pour-over style coffee maker for the solo camper on-the-go. Its light-weight design makes it easy to brew a great cup of coffee, from anywhere. The product includes an easy to clean reusable, nylon filter, weighing about 1.6 oz, making it easy to throw into a backpack. Simply place the Brew Buddy over your desired mug, throw in your favorite coffee grinds or tea into the mesh filter, and add hot water to brew. In 30 seconds, your perfect cup of coffee is ready!
2. GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip
The GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip is another coffee maker that allows you to brew from anywhere. It’s sturdy design features a nylon coffee filter, with plastic legs that attach to any coffee mug with ease (cup sold separately). Begin brewing by clipping the filter onto your mug, pour in your coffee blend and add hot water into the filter. Its compact design makes it the perfect morning companion that can be slipped in and out of your bag with ease!
3. Hario Plastic Coffee Dripper, Size 02
The Hario Plastic Coffee Drip, Size 02, is made up of plastic that is heat resistant up to 100 degrees. The maker brews with the pour-over method and its ribbed design allows for maximum coffee grind expansion in the filter. Start by placing a coffee filter into the plastic coffee drip and add coffee grinds. Following the pour over method, bring water to a boil and pour into the filter.
The Hario Plastic Drip, Size 02 is able to make up to 4 cups of coffee in one brew, making it great for a group coffee maker!
4. Kalita Wave Pour Over Coffee Dripper, Size 18
The Kalita Wave Pour Over Coffee Dripper is a great choice for coffee drinkers who are new to the pour-over brewing process. Its flat bottom design allows for a consistent brew, packed with rich, quality flavor. There is no need to worry about an exact technique or measurements, allowing you to make a delicious cup of coffee, even in the middle of the woods.
Best Camping Coffee Makers: French Press
The French Press style brew allows for a more rich and decadent cup of coffee. The process of a French press brew typically involves a metal, mesh filter that is plunged into a mixture of hot water and coffee grinds.
To begin the brew, take hot water and fill the coffee maker half way. Add your coffee grounds, the larger the better, and then fill the rest of the device with more hot water. Stir the mixture and allow time for the coffee and water to steep. Finally, carefully plunge the metal filter into the mixture, slowly to ensure all the coffee grounds are pressed to the bottom. You now have a fresh brew, with rich flavor and texture!
The following coffee makers are the top ranked French press devices, great for travel or any one on-the-go!
5. AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
The AeroPress is a French press reimagined. Its patented design allows for an easy rapid press, speeding up the brewing process while still making a quality coffee. The Aeropress is perfect for small groups, as it is able to brew 1 to 3 cups of coffee at once. The maker is equipped with everything you will need, aside from the coffee filters. Included with purchase are the press, funnel, a scoop, a stirrer and a filter holder. Weighing 6.4 ounces, the Aeropress is lightweight, durable and ready for your next adventure!
6. GSI Outdoors JavaPress
The GSI Outdoors JavaPress allows for quality brew, no matter where you are. The French press design has a double-wall insulation along with a copolyester cover, that keeps in the heat, allowing your coffee to remain hot. Simply add coffee grinds, pour in the hot water and allow a couple minutes to step. Plunge the metal filter into the maker to compress the grinds and your brew is ready to enjoy!
The JavaPress is able to hold up to 30 fluid ounces and weighs 10.3 ounces.
7. Espro Travel Press
The Espro Travel Press is another great option for a French press coffee maker. Its double filter feature makes it easy to create a consistent, smooth brew in minutes. The insulated stainless-steel mug allows coffee to keep its heat longer. With its leak-free design, this press is perfect for travel.
The Espro Travel Press brews 10 ounces of coffee.
8. Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
No matter how far from home you are, the Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso maker allows you to make cafe-worthy espresso from anywhere you explore. The maker is completely manual and requires minimal experience to make a quality espresso. Simply add in fine coffee grinds and hot water, then start pumping to create the perfect shot of espresso. The built-in water tank holds 80 ml of water.
Best Camping Coffee Makers: Percolators
The percolator brewing process is one of the oldest ways of brewing coffee. It is also one of the simplest and most inexpensive, making it quite fitting for your next camping trip. Percolators do need a direct heat source, so be sure to have a fire or coal stove ready to begin brewing.
The percolator is made up of two chambers: the pot where the coffee will be brewed and a small compartment at the bottom that will be in direct heat. Connecting these two sections is a tube, which runs from bottom to top. To start the brewing process, first add water to the bottom compartment, where the water will eventually come to a boil. Next, pour coffee grounds into the top pot of the percolator. When the water comes to a boil, the water will start traveling up the tube, to the top chamber where the coffee grounds were added. The water will seep into the coffee grounds, then travel back down the tube as brewed coffee.
This cycle repeats until the spurting sounds comes to an end, meaning your fresh cup of coffee is ready to be enjoyed!
The following is a list of the current best percolators in the market.
9. Coleman 9 Cup Coffee Percolator
The Coleman 9-Cup Coffee Percolator is an old-school design reinvented. This maker is the perfect option for a larger group, capable of brewing 9 cups of coffee at once. The percolator is made up of rust-proof aluminum, making it easy to clean. This maker is also light-weight, yet durable, allowing you to take it anywhere you would like to brew.
The Coleman Percolator comes geared with everything you need to brew coffee on-the-go. Included is the base, tube, basket as well as the basket lid. The handle is also a nice touch, for easy pouring.
Conclusion
Now that you know everything about achieving quality coffee on-the-go, you can confidently browse the best camping coffee makers in the market and discover the best one for you. Now, for the remaining question: Where to next?