Best Overall Camping Coffee Maker
AeroPress Go Coffee Press Kit
The AeroPress Go is everything you need in a personal coffee maker. With a 10-ounce capacity, you’ll be able to make a big mug of steaming coffee, cold brew or several servings of espresso. The AeroPress Go‘s compact size fits well in a backpack and includes its own travel mug. Plus, users love the taste that results from this quick coffee press. The kit includes the chamber and plunger, filter cap, scoop, stirrer, paper micro-filters, a filter holder and a mug and lid. All you have to do is supply your favorite coffee!
Our Senior Shopping Editor, Daria Smith, says the AeroPress Go produces coffee quality that competes with her Bodum French press. “I have broken three glass French presses in the past year on my camping trips—something about glass and rocks isn’t a good combination. I ordered the AeroPress portable travel coffee press on Amazon. Voilà! Problem solved,” she says.
Pros
- Makes quality-tasting coffee in one minute
- Weighs just over 11 ounces
- Kit includes all accessories, including 350 micro-filters
- Made in the U.S.
Cons
- Has a small 10-ounce capacity
Best Budget Camping Coffee Maker
Sea to Summit X-Brew Collapsible Coffee Dripper
This clever collapsible coffee dripper is made from food-grade BPA-free silicone. Although low-tech, this little dripper makes 2 cups of coffee at once—you just have to add the coffee and hot water. It’s dishwasher safe, and cleanup can be made even easier by using a paper filter with the built-in stainless steel mesh filter. Available in two colors, this best camping coffee maker packs flat and weighs next to nothing. The outdoor lover in your life would love this as a gift.
“I have three other pour-over-style coffee makers, this is by far my favorite! Each of the others were considerably more expensive. And being able to take it hiking and camping is the best,” writes Fred J., a five-star reviewer.
Pros
- Won’t break the bank
- Extremely lightweight
- Compact and collapsable
- Use with or without a paper filter
Cons
- Doesn’t include a mug
Best Camping Coffee Maker for Espresso
Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
Anyone with access to hot water can make an espresso on the go with the Wacaco Nanopress. This compact single-serve espresso machine is about the size of a pint glass and fits perfectly in a backpack. Just add hot water to the grounds and pump it into your cup for a café-worthy brew. Weighing in at just 11.8 ounces with its own carrying case, this tiny espresso machine can fit in your cargo pocket. The Nanopresso comes in five color choices, and over 1,800 five-star Amazon reviewers agree that good things come in small packages. Consider it a unique gift for coffee lovers that they can use just about anywhere.
Pros
- Has a water tank capacity of 2.7 ounces
- Weighs just 11.8 ounces and is 6.14 inches long
- Comes with a case
- Available in five colors
Cons
- Doesn’t include a mug
- On the pricier side
Best Lightweight Camping Coffee Maker
Oxo Brew Venture Travel French Press
Love a cup of freshly pressed coffee? A French press is easy to use and the Oxo Brew is no exception. This lightweight, 8-cup French press is shatter-resistant and made from bisphenol A (BPA)-free plastic. Weighing under 1 pound and measuring in at 9.4 inches tall, this 1-liter coffee press has a user-friendly pouring spout with extra filtration to cut down on grounds in your cup. The dishwasher-safe clear carafe lets you see your coffee brew and, in a matter of minutes of adding coffee grounds and hot water, you’ll be sipping your java in serenity.
“I bought his for my husband for a camping trip. He’s never used a French press before, but I assured him it was very easy to do. He took it with him and he raved about it! He said it was super easy to use and clean, and he said the flavor was good and he thanked me for it,” says Tiffany A. Davis, a verified purchaser. If you want to consider more options, we also love this Stanley French press.
Pros
- Weights less than 1 pound
- Carafe is shatter-resistant
- Has a 1-liter capacity
- Features an easy-pour spout
Cons
- Not ideal for one person
Best Camping Coffee Maker for Multiple People
Coletti Butte Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator
If you’re in charge of making coffee for the crew, choose the Coletti percolator. This best coffee maker can be used on the stovetop or over a campfire. It even comes with a steel wire handle to encourage hanging over an open fire. This coffee pot is available in 9-, 12- and 14-cup options, and the basket can be used with or without a filter. The stainless steel construction is top-of-the-line and built for durability, evident by the Coletti 100% lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Large capacity options
- Comes with a steel wire handle for hanging
- Made of durable stainless steel
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not ideal for one person
What to Look for When Buying a Camping Coffee Maker
When deciding on the best camping coffee maker, keep various factors in mind:
- Portability: Is it lightweight enough that it won’t weigh you down?
- Durability: Can it handle a few drops?
- Capacity: Is it just for you or are you brewing for a group?
- Style: Do you prefer regular coffee, espresso, French press, pour-over coffee or something else?
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend?
- Heat: Do you want to brew in the palm of your hand or over a campfire?
How We Found the Best Camping Coffee Makers
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.