Top 7 Best Camping Coffee Makers in 2023

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Going camping doesn’t have to mean you can’t have an awesome cup of coffee anymore. As coffee has progressed in the USA over the years, so have the coffee makers (and other alternative ways to make coffee) that make your favorite cup of Joe as well. These new coffee makers make it so you can easily make coffee on campfires, camp stoves, or anywhere you can get hot water.

In this article, we are going to go over all of my favorite camping coffee makers (and alternative ways to make coffee at the campsite) on the market today. Some of these I have used extensively, even as my daily coffee maker.

I tried my best to include plenty of different ways of making coffee so that you can find the style that fits your lifestyle and the way you enjoy coffee.

Best Overall Camping Coffee Maker
1. Aeropress Go Portable Coffee Press
5.0
$39.95
I have used my Aeropress Go hundreds of times over the years, and it stands out as my favorite manual coffee maker overall, and in turn, also makes it the best camping coffee maker as well. The coffee tastes great, the coffee maker is easy to clean, and it all folds up into a cup, which can be thrown into a backpack, floorboards of your car, or into your cupboard at home. This easy-to-learn coffee maker is awesome for anyone that wants to use it at the campsite or wants to be more involved in the coffee maker process at home.
Specifications:
  • Brewing Method: Immersion
  • Brew Capacity: 8 ounces
  • Weight: 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions: 5.3" High by 3.9" Wide by 3.9" Deep
Pros:
  • Extremely easy to use
  • Very portable
  • Easy to put in a bag when not in use
  • Makes fantastic, high quality coffee
Cons:
  • Doesn't make a large cup of coffee
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03/12/2024 12:38 am GMT
Best No Coffee Maker Needed
2. Wildland Coffee in a Tea Bag
4.5
I was skeptical the first time that I tried a tea bag-style coffee brew method. However, after the first cup, I knew that it was a new favorite brew method for me. All you need is some hot water, and allow the bag of coffee to steep (just like tea). You can easily adjust how long you let the coffee steep to change how strong or weak you prefer your coffee. If you are minimalist camping, all you need is this coffee tea bag, and some hot water to enjoy your coffee in the morning.
Specifications:
  • Brewing Method: Immersion
  • Brew Capacity: 8 ounces
  • Weight: Unknown
  • Dimensions: Unknown
Pros:
  • Makes a great cup of coffee
  • Easy to use while on-the-go
  • No coffee maker needed
Cons:
  • High price per-cup
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Best For Espresso
3. Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
3.5
$69.90
I have used my Wacaco Nanopresso GR so many times now! While I found it to be a bit of a pain to use and clean on a daily bases (ended up with a standard espresso maker), I do think this is a fantastic way to make espresso on the go, such as when you are camping. All you need is your own finely ground coffee, and some hot water to get some great espresso (it is real espresso) out of this little coffee maker. That said, it only makes about one shot at a time, so use it wisely.
Specifications:
  • Brewing Method: Pressure (Espresso)
  • Brew Capacity: 2.7 ounces
  • Weight: 11.84 ounces
  • Dimensions: 6.14" High by 2.8" Wide by 2.44" Deep
Pros:
  • Awesome for on-the-go espresso
  • Works with your own coffee grounds
Cons:
  • Not great for every day usage
  • High price tag
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03/12/2024 04:28 am GMT

What are some great ways to heat up water without electricity? One of the biggest downsides to making coffee at your campsite comes down to heating up the water. When you don’t have electricity, it becomes more difficult to get your water up to the temperature needed for extracting coffee from the grounds. The best ways will be to utilize a camp fire, however camp stoves are also a great option to bring your coffee’s water up to temp.

Best All-In-One
4. BioLite CampStove Complete Kit with Campstove and Coffee Press
4.5
$249.95 $224.36
Heating the water at your campsite can be a bit of a pain, so instead, you should get a full kit like this one. The Campstove 2 in this kit not only is a a
Specifications:
  • Brewing Method: Immersion
  • Brew Capacity: 51 ounces
  • Weight: 32.96 ounces (Campstove)
  • Dimensions: 10.2" High by 5.2" Radius (Kettle Pot)
Pros:
  • Has everything you need to make coffee, including a way to heat water
  • Campstove 2 also comes with phone charging, lighting, grill, etc.
Cons:
  • Very expensive
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03/12/2024 04:01 pm GMT
Best High Capacity Espresso (like)
5. Primula Moka Pot
3.5
$19.99 $15.70
I am not the biggest fan of the Moka Pot in general, however, you can't argue that it is ideal for the campsite. While it may be easy to use, it can be challenging to perfect (without giving a metallic taste to it). When you aren't at home and may have limited ways to heat water, this can get you an awesome expresso-like cup of coffee in minutes, while being able to heat your water in the same unit. It is also very difficult to damage and can be thrown around your vehicle without having to worry about it.
Specifications:
  • Brewing Method: Pressure
  • Brew Capacity: 30 ounces
  • Weight: 22.56 ounces
  • Dimensions: 7.48" High by 6.34" Wide by 4.06" Deep
Pros:
  • Makes espresso-like coffee
  • Extremely durable
  • Inexpensive
Cons:
  • Can be challenging to learn
  • Can have a metallic flavor
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03/12/2024 04:54 am GMT

What is the best camping coffee mug? If you are on the hunt for an awesome coffee mug to go along with your coffee maker, we have an awesome article right here, where we detail all of our favorites in one place.

Best Large Capacity
6. Percolator Coffee Pot by GSI Outdoors
3.5
$36.95
If you need to make a lot of coffee, with little effort (both in brewing, clean up, and transportation, and you don't care a ton about the taste of your coffee, then a percolator coffee pot is an awesome choice for you. Not only are they cheap to buy, but you can throw them around at your campsite without any worry. Brewing coffee is as easy as heating hot water to a boil on the campfire, add your grounds, boil, and when done, add a bit of cold water to the top to let the grounds settle to the bottom. Serve, and enjoy!
Specifications:
  • Brewing Method: Immersion
  • Brew Capacity: 60 ounces
  • Weight: 26.3 ounces
  • Dimensions: 10.2" High 8.7" Wide by 7" Deep
Pros:
  • Extremely easy to use
  • You will be hard pressed to damage this unit
  • Can make large amounts of coffee
  • Can be used on a camp fire
Cons:
  • You can get coffee grounds in your coffee
  • Not the most refined cup of coffee
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03/12/2024 03:34 am GMT

What are different brew methods? You probably have noticed through this article that I refer to different brew methods, so what is the difference? Immersion brewing is where you add coffee grounds to the water, and let them extract over time. Pressure brewing is where you push the water through a puck of coffee grounds at anything over 9 bars of pressure. Instant coffee, is essentially dehydrated coffee, and you just have to add water to get a cup of coffee. There are other brew methods, however, these are the most common for camp coffee.

Easiest Cup of Coffee
7. Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee Medium Roast
4.5
$89.64 ($0.93 / Count)
Starbucks may be more well-known for its coffee shops and specialty drinks, however, they also make plenty of great pre-packaged coffee products as well. One of my favorites is their VIA Instant Coffee, and of those, Pike Place is at the top of my list. All you need to make this coffee is some hot water, and a single packet of instant coffee to make a great-tasting cup of Joe. While it may be a bit on the expensive side per cup, its ease of use is well worth it while camping.
Specifications:
  • Brewing Method: Instant
  • Brew Capacity: 8 ounces
  • Weight: Unknown
  • Dimensions: Unknown
Pros:
  • No coffee maker needed
  • Difficult to mess up
  • Easy to transport and use anywhere
Cons:
  • High price per cup
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03/11/2024 06:53 pm GMT

What to look for in a good campsite coffee maker?

1. Makes great coffee

The #1 thing you should be paying attention to when shopping for a great camping coffee maker is the quality of the brew. Even if everything else falls by the wayside, if it makes great coffee, it can be worth it.

There are plenty of different types of brew methods, such as immersion, pressure, steeping, and more that manufacturers use for their camp coffee makers, and it is up to you to test them out and see which is your favorite.

When in doubt, I highly recommend the Aeropress Go at the top of this list, as it is one of the most versatile when it comes to the taste of your coffee brew, and you can adjust your methods easily.

2. Easy to use

Some home coffee makers can cause plenty of issues when they are not in the safety of your kitchen. Instead, when shopping for a camping coffee maker, you should keep ease of use in mind! You generally will want as few components as possible, and as few steps as possible as well. All of the coffee makers on this list fit that for me!

3. Difficult to damage

No one wants their coffee maker to get damaged while at the campsite, not only does that cost you money, but it also could mean no more coffee for the remainder of your stay. Make sure to avoid coffee makers that are made of glass or ceramic materials while at the campsite, and instead you will want to look for ABS plastic or metal as the primary material.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make coffee when car camping?

Making coffee while car camping isn’t much different than normal camping! You will want to get a high quality camping coffee maker, and a great way to heat up water in some way. It really is quite easy once you solve those two problems.

Can a car battery power a coffee machine?

There are plenty of inverters or onboard 12v plugs in vehicles that should be able to run a coffee maker. Just make sure to compare the voltage, and amperage of both your vehicle (see owner’s manual), and the coffee maker you are hoping to use. When in doubt, use a coffee maker that doesn’t use electricity instead!

Conclusion

I always enjoy a great cup of coffee while sitting at the campsite! It’s relaxing, energizing, and an awesome way to wake up in the brisk outdoor air. However, if you don’t have a great coffee maker, that is easy to use, this story might not be the same for you. I hope that this list has helped you out on your journey to making that a reality for you, and your next trip to the campsite.