We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
Updated Jun 28, 2023 7:13 PM
Getting your caffeine fix while camping or backpacking is easy with the best camping coffee makers. The options on this list can produce American coffee, espresso style, and espresso. The taste varies with your bean choice, ground size, and even water, but when loaded properly, all of the camping coffee makers on this list will produce a quality cup of black coffee. The brew method, size, and time varies, so read on to determine which is the best camping coffee maker for your kit.
How I Chose the Best Camping Coffee Makers
Caffeine is a great spurt of energy when backpacking or hiking and a rich cup of joe can only enhance a stunning vista or sunrise. So whether you’re sitting around camp for a slow morning or prepping your to-go cup, there’s a camping coffee maker for you. To qualify as a camping specific coffee maker, products had to meet the following criteria: no electricity necessary, relatively compact build, and easy to clean in the field.
Best Camping Coffee Makers: Reviews & Recommendations
Best for Espresso: Wacaco Nanopresso
Key Features
- Weight: 11.9 ounces
- Max Pressure: 18 bar
- Ground Capacity: 8 grams
- Water Capacity: 2.7 ounces
- One year warranty
Pros
- Tasty espresso
- Built-in cup, scoop, and brush included
- Comes in a variety of colors and designs
Cons
- Only makes two shots of espresso
- Not dishwasher safe
- The smaller parts are hard to keep track of like the brush and scoop (which I already lost)
The Nanopresso produces a tasty double shot of espresso wherever you are. For best results, Nanopresso recommends running a cycle of hot water first to preheat the mechanism. If time or water is short, simply add your preferred coffee grounds and hot water to the device and give it a few slow pumps. Don’t force the pump. The first eight strokes will build pressure; then the correct tempo is one pump per second. Sometimes this can take 30 seconds, but the resulting shot is so worth it.
Even without instructions, I was able to figure out the Nanopresso. The number of moving parts is a little intimidating at first, but it all makes logical sense once you lay it out. I happily drank my espresso straight though you can add milk, water, and sugar to the drinkers liking. This is a two at a time process, so if you’re camping with a group you’ll have to take turns. Or you can purchase the Barista Kit to double your espresso output.
Best Lightweight: Sea to Summit X-Drip
Key Features
- Weight: 2.9 ounces
- Capacity: 16 ounces
- Reusable stainless-steel double 180-micron mesh filter
Pros
- Fits inside X-Pot Kettle with an X-Mug
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
The coffee from the Sea to Summit X-Drip tastes great and it is super simple to make even if you’re barely awake in the morning. Sea to Summit is known for their lightweight, collapsible bowls, pots, and more for backpackers. The X-Drip is a food-grade silicone collapsible drip with a stainless steel mesh filter. At just under 3 ounces and 2 centimeters thick when collapsed, this is ideal for backpacking.
If you’re already Sea to Summit savvy, then you’ll be pleased to know that the X-Drip fits inside the X-Pot Kettle with the X-Mug for the ultimate compact coffee kit. The only issue I have is that it isn’t the easiest to clean. The grounds stick to the filter and sides so they have to be scraped out and thoroughly rinsed.
Best French Press: Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press
Key Features
- Weight: 17.6 ounces
- Capacity: 16 ounces
- Lifetime warranty
Pros
- Double-wall vacuum insulation
- Travel mug with integrated coffee press
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Coffee continues to get stronger as you sip (Could also be a pro for true javaphiles)
The french press is a simple way to make coffee, and Stanley incorporated it into a double-wall vacuum insulated thermos for brewing on the go. Simply pour your coffee grounds and hot water into the thermos; then place the filter basket inside and plunge it slowly down to trap the grounds at the bottom. You can add cream directly to the mug and enjoy.
However, your grounds are sitting at the bottom of your cup so if you don’t drink your coffee in a reasonable amount of time it could get too strong and a little bitter. I think the convenience factor outweighs the time constraint. And if you do find yourself with a mega-strong half a thermos, adding additional hot water can extend the life of your drink.
Best for Large Groups: GSI Outdoors Moka Pot
Key Features
- Weight: 32 ounces
- Capacity: 16 ounces
- Reusable stainless-steel filter
Pros
- Stainless-steel
- Easy to postpone cleaning
- 16 ounces of espresso style coffee
Cons
Moka pots make great espresso-adjacent coffee fairly easily. This GSI model is made of stainless steel and features a stowable handle for a durable and compact brew solution for a group. Fill the 16-ounce reservoir with filtered water and pack fine coffee grounds into the filter before heating on the stove. You can make cups for everyone in your group by adding hot water for a round of Americanos.
After you’re done, the grounds are safely screwed into the bottom of the pot, so if you’re not planning to make any more coffee that trip, it’s easy to stow and go; then clean at home. If your car camping kit needs a coffee pot, this is my pick.
Best Portable: AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Maker
Key Features
- Weight: 12 ounces
- Capacity: 8 ounces
- Includes compostable paper micro-filters
Pros
- Makes three shots of espresso style coffee
- Mug included
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- A lot of parts
- Must experiment with grind size and brew time to get true espresso-style coffee
The AeroPress makes a spectacular cup of American coffee and cleans up easy. Put a paper filter in the cap then fill the chamber with coffee grounds and boiling water. Stand the chamber on the included mug, then use the stirring instrument to stir the hot water and grounds for 10 seconds. Insert the plunger to push out your morning coffee, pausing when you feel resistance. The best part is when you unscrew the cap and pop the puck of used grounds and filter out, leaving minimal cleanup. The plunger has pushed all grounds and residue out so a quick rinse is all you need.
While the Nanopresso felt self-explanatory, to operate the AeroPress I needed to watch a video. There are a lot of different parts for a simple coffee maker. AeroPress claims that it produces espresso style coffee, but I wasn’t initially able to achieve the intensity or flavor that a moka pot produces. You’ll need to fine tune your grind size and brew time, but it is possible to make great espresso-like coffee. If you’re willing to learn the intricacies of the AeroPress, it’s the ideal portable coffee maker. You get a generous capacity that all packs away into its own (albeit oddly shaped) mug.
Best Pour Over: Stanley Classic Perfect-Brew Pour Over Set
Key Features
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
- Capacity: 20 ounces
- Reusable stainless steel filter
- Lifetime warranty
Pros
- Includes matching mug
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
The Classic Pour Over is an incredibly easy and delicious way to brew coffee while camping. The perk of using a pour over means you can adjust how much coffee you want to make, unlike the moka pot where you have to fill it up completely each time. The Stanley mug and pour over combo is not exactly compact, but there aren’t any moving parts so you can simply chuck both into your camping bin, worry free.
The double-wall vacuum insulation of the Classic camp mug keeps beverages hot for 1.5 hours and cold for 3 hours, perfect for sipping. There’s also an included mug lid to minimize spills if you have to carry your cup to the perfect viewpoint.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Camping Coffee Maker
How You Like Your Coffee
While the best camping coffee makers produce everything from American to espresso style to true espresso, keep in mind that they’re all black. If you prefer lattes or cream, refrigeration, steam, and frothing are extra steps and supplies you’ll need to pack in and out. When backpacking, it could be worth picking up a box of tiny shelf-stable half and half creamer singles or powdered milk.
Beans and Grind
Your choice of grounds or beans and grind size will largely affect the taste of your coffee. When camping you might not have the cream, cinnamon, or frothing abilities you’re used to at home. While the best camping coffee makers are delicious, they might come in second to the espresso machine or Italian moka pot at home, so splurge on your camping coffee to ensure you’ll actually savor your backcountry brew.
Clean Up
In my opinion, dishes are the worst chore when camping or backpacking. Think about how easy your coffee maker is to clean before taking it into the backcountry. The AeroPress and Nanopresso are simple to quickly rinse clean. A french press or moka pot will be slightly more difficult, but mostly alright if you have plenty of rinsing water.
According to Leave No Trace you should pack out all waste when backpacking or primitive camping, even compostable waste. Coffee grounds take three to four months to decompose and caffeine is toxic to some wildlife. So it is important to pack out your grounds to prevent animals from eating them. Cocaine Bear has already been done; caffeine bear can be avoided.
FAQs
Q: How do I make good coffee while camping?
Try to match your camping coffee maker to how you like your coffee at home. If you typically use a moka pot, one of the stovetop espresso methods like the GSI Miniespresso or GSI Moka pot will taste great. The Stanley Travel Mug is a good way to enjoy french press coffee at camp. You might not bring your Nespresso machine backpacking, but you can bring the Wacaco Nanopress; you can even purchase an NS Adapter to plug in your favorite Nespresso pods. Try the Sea to Summit or Stanley Pour-Over for drip coffee.
Q: How do I make coffee on a camper stove?
You can make stovetop espresso on a camper stove, no problem. The other methods on this list simply need boiling water which you can prepare in one of the best camping kettles on one of the best camping stoves.
Q: What is the best coffee maker for traveling?
An easy-to-clean, portable coffee maker is best for traveling. An included mug can also add convenience. The Sea to Summit X-Drip is a very portable method for brewing on the go. The Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press and AeroPress both include mugs. If you can’t go without espresso, the Nanopresso is extremely packable and has an included cup.
Why Trust Outdoor Life?
Since 1898, OL has been a leading authority in testing and reviewing hunting gear, fishing tackle, guns and shooting equipment, and much more. We have more than a century-long history of evaluating products, and we’re now bringing that expertise to online reviews. Our editors are experienced outdoorsmen and women, and most importantly, we’re trained journalists. We prioritize field testing and objective data when reviewing products. We conduct interviews with gear manufacturers and engineers as well as outdoor experts so that our readers have an understanding of how and why a product works—or doesn’t.
Advertising does not influence our gear reviews and it never will. While we always focus our coverage on standout products—because we want our readers to be aware of the latest and greatest gear—we also cover the flaws and quirks of any given product.
Final Thoughts
The best camping coffee makers are diverse and versatile, but they all make quality coffee with camping-friendly features. If you’re looking for a cup of joe on the go, the Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press is great for finding the best place to watch the sunrise. If you’re backpacking, the Sea to Summit X-Drip is compact and efficient. When you’re with a group, the GSI Outdoors Moka Pot brews 16 ounces of stellar espresso-like coffee. Find the best coffee maker for your camping style below:
