Have you ever gone out camping, and everything was perfect except one thing! You had no way to make that awesome cup of coffee while sitting by the camp fire. Your drip coffee maker at home obviously wasn’t an option, and you had no other choice but to go without that nice cup of coffee in the morning.
So what can you do about not having a coffee maker for camping? You can take a look at one of these options on this list, that range from disposable coffee makers, all the way to being able to offer a full out espresso. All of them are portable, easy to use, and something you can easily make next to that camp fire.
1. Aeropress Go
Not only is this by far, my favorite coffee maker for home, it also is on the list for best coffee makers while camping as well!
I have been using an Aeropress Go as my daily coffee maker for months at this point, and it quickly has become my favorite coffee maker! It is extremely versatile (especially when you buy this add-on), and allows you to be able to make coffee on the go, even while camping.
When you get the Go version of the Aeropress, everything you need collapses into your to go mug, meaning it is extremely compact.
What I like the most about this for camping, is that you are able to know you can make just as good of coffee while camping, that you can make while at home. Since you likely will replace your home coffee maker if you get one of these.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Makes awesome coffee
- Just as usable at home
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Has a lot of components
2. Coffee Tea Bags
These coffee bags that basically are in a tea bag have quickly topped this list for me! I recently had a chance to try one out (you can read about it here), and have found it just might be the best way to have a cup of coffee while camping!
All you have to do is steep it like a tea bag, meaning the only other thing you need other than the small packet these come in, is hot water!
The packet I tried makes some extremely good coffee that is incredibly clean.
Pros
- Extremely portable
- Easy to brew
- Nothing else needed to brew
- Tastes great
Cons
- No real flexibility to the brew process
3. Free coffee box
This option is actually much like the coffee tea bags, where it is a disposable, and extremely portable coffee brewer. However, instead of steeping coffee, the free coffee box maker is actually a disposable pour over coffee maker.
If you really like what you get from a pour over coffee maker, but need to go camping, this is an awesome options!
Pros
- Very portable
- You don’t need a true coffee maker
Cons
- Expensive
Other Reading:
- Ways You Can Make Your Cheap Coffee Taste Better
- Top 10 Best Portable Travel Coffee Makers
- Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee: Yes, they are different
4. GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Steel 14-Cup Percolator
Ahh yes, no camping coffee list is complete without a good ole percolator! Fun fact, my family used a percolator coffee maker for most of my childhood, and I used one up until I moved out. So I am extremely familiar with this being my daily coffee maker.
While also being known as Cowboy Coffee, you essentially boil coffee and water for a while, and once done you sprinkle a little bit of cold water on top to get the grounds to settle at the bottom.
Once done, you serve and drink!
I’ll be honest, there isn’t a ton of science behind it, and it definitely won’t create the most amazing cup of coffee in the world, as you are definitely going to end up with some grounds in your cup.
If I were to compare it to any other method for taste, the percolator makes a very similar cup to a french press… just with a few more coffee grounds.
However don’t let me tell you not to buy one of these, these coffee makers are what true camping is all about.
Pros
- Is the classic camping coffee maker
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
Cons
- You can easily get grounds in your cup of coffee
- Not much control over the brew
5. BioLite CampStove 2 Coffee Press Bundle
I discovered BioLite a while back when I reviewed their headlamp, however have continued to keep an eye on their offering! They are extremely design first, and have a lot of really cool products.
One of my new favorites is this CampStove 2 Coffee Press Bundle. It by no means is cheap, but the CampStove 2 portion of the bundle can double as a ton of different things (a grill, a light, campfire, etc) outside of just coffee.
However with the coffee bundle you get their KettlePot that is able to boil water, and the CoffeePress which turns the KettlePot into a french press.
It’s an expensive way of doing this, however if you don’t already have a portable campfire, a grill, or a way to boil water while camping, this would also achieve that while getting you your morning coffee.
Pros
- Can double as a bunch of other things, including a heat source
- Comes with everything you need
- French Press style coffee
Cons
- Very expensive
6. Wacaco Nanopresso
If you are an espresso person, and just have to have it in the morning, this Wacaco Nanopresso is actually a really cool contraption. After you put in the coffee grounds, and your hot water, you pump it up and build up pressure.
Once the needed pressure is achieved it brews and releases espresso!
It is really cool, looks like a lot of fun, and should be a great conversation starter around the campfire.
Pros
- Really portable
- Fun to use
- Conversation starter
- Makes espresso
Cons
- Only makes one serving of coffee
7. Instant Coffee
Are all of the other options on this list just too difficult, and time consuming to use? Well, instant coffee might just be for you then!
As the name suggests, instant coffee is just as instant as making hot apple cider, or hot chocolate. It also is relatively inexpensive.
Now, just make sure to not tell a coffee afficionado you are drinking instant coffee though… as you might be shunned. I won’t judge though!
Thankfully coffee companies have been making huge strides, so instant coffee is starting to actually taste really good (supposedly, as I haven’t really tried it recently)!
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Extremely portable
- Very easy to make coffee
Cons
- Generally speaking, doesn’t taste as good as other options
8. Moka Pots
Moka Pots make an awesome coffee maker, very similarly to the percolater we talked about earlier! This is mainly because they are extremely sturdy, and probably could be thrown across a room if needed (not sure why you would need to though).
They also make a delicious espresso-like coffee, and is a simple coffee experience, as long as you learn how to use it before you go camping (learn how here).
These are also incredibly inexpensive, and easy to find.
Pros
- Classic way of making coffee
- Makes espresso-like drinks
- Fun to use
- Inexpensive
Cons
- If you aren’t experienced in using it, you can mess up the brew easily.
9. GSI Outdoors Java Press [French Press]
A french press in its own right is not a great camping coffee maker, they are generally made of glass, are extremely breakable, and just not something that you can take on the go.
However, the GSI Outdoors Java Press is something very different! This is a double walled, french press with a really cooler outer layer that keeps the coffee maker from being damaged.
With its large capacity, it is a perfect coffee maker if there are multiple people needing their morning coffee on the retreat.
Pros
- French press coffee tastes awesome
- Durable for a french press
- Can make large amounts of coffee
Cons
10. GSI Espresso Maker
I mainly added this to the list, because it is so incredibly unique and cool! Unlike the Minipresso we talked about earlier in this article, this espresso maker carries over the experience of making espresso from a normal machine.
It is able to offer 4 shots of espresso within a couple minutes, and just requires a good place to heat up the water.
As a bonus, it even includes a cup to make, and serve the espresso in!
Pros
- Makes legit espresso
- Unique design
Cons
- Not exactly practical for camping
Other Recommended Gear
Many of the coffee makers on this list do need some other gear to be able to work! Most specifically, you are going to need a great mug, and a way to heat the water you will be making the coffee with.
Here are my recommendations for that gear!
Coffee Mugs
Water kettles
Conclusion
If you are looking to go camping, but don’t want to go without your cup of coffee in the morning, I hope one of these ways to make coffee is the perfect solution for what you are looking for!