We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Thanks for the support! 👍
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.
- Brewing Method: Immersion
- Brew Capacity: 8 ounces
- Weight: 11.2 ounces
- Dimensions: 5.3" High by 3.9" Wide by 3.9" Deep
- Extremely easy to use
- Very portable
- Easy to put in a bag when not in use
- Makes fantastic, high quality coffee
- Doesn't make a large cup of coffee
- Brewing Method: Immersion
- Brew Capacity: 8 ounces
- Weight: Unknown
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Makes a great cup of coffee
- Easy to use while on-the-go
- No coffee maker needed
- High price per-cup
- 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
- Awesome for on-the-go espresso
- Works with your own coffee grounds
- Not great for every day usage
- High price tag
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.
- Brewing Method: Immersion
- Brew Capacity: 51 ounces
- Weight: 32.96 ounces (Campstove)
- Dimensions: 10.2" High by 5.2" Radius (Kettle Pot)
- Has everything you need to make coffee, including a way to heat water
- Campstove 2 also comes with phone charging, lighting, grill, etc.
- Very expensive
- Brewing Method: Pressure
- Brew Capacity: 30 ounces
- Weight: 22.56 ounces
- Dimensions: 7.48" High by 6.34" Wide by 4.06" Deep
- Makes espresso-like coffee
- Extremely durable
- Inexpensive
- Can be challenging to learn
- Can have a metallic flavor
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.
- Brewing Method: Immersion
- Brew Capacity: 60 ounces
- Weight: 26.3 ounces
- Dimensions: 10.2" High 8.7" Wide by 7" Deep
- 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
- You can get coffee grounds in your coffee
- Not the most refined cup of coffee
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.
- Brewing Method: Instant
- Brew Capacity: 8 ounces
- Weight: Unknown
- Dimensions: Unknown
- No coffee maker needed
- Difficult to mess up
- Easy to transport and use anywhere
- High price per cup
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.
