Let’s face it, camping just isn’t the same without a hot cup of coffee in the morning with your breakfast. And that’s especially if you didn’t have the best night’s shut-eye sleeping on the ground! Coffee isn’t just caffeine, it’s a ritual that helps us get started on the right foot, so it’s important to have the right camping coffee maker at hand.
Keep reading to learn about the best camping coffee makers for your next outdoor trip!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Stanley Adventure All-In-One Boil + Brew French Press
Best Budget Option
Primula Brew Buddy Portable Pour Over
Best Lightweight Option
GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip Coffee Maker
Best Camping Coffee Maker Overall
Stanley Adventure All-In-One Boil + Brew French Press
If you’re looking for a versatile and tough camping coffee maker, the Stanley Adventure French Press is the choice for you. You can place the 32-ounce coffee maker pot directly onto a stove or campfire (don’t worry, it’s stainless steel and BPA-free!) to get the water boiling, and then add the ground coffee beans before letting it steep and pressing it with the plunger.
And voila, coffee is ready to serve! The process is quick and easy, and you can even use the camping coffee maker pot to heat up soup! The “All-in-One” is literally in the name! Though its shape isn’t the slimmest, the handle is foldable to make it easier to pack with your other camping gear, and you can even store things inside of it while you’re on the go.
Stanley has been making their products since 1913, so you can depend on them for quality food and drinkware!
Pros
- Easy to use
- Versatile
- Tough and durable design with a lifetime warranty
Cons
- A little bulky
Best Camping Coffee Maker on a Budget
Primula Brew Buddy Portable Pour Over
If you’re on a budget both in terms of money and space, then the Primula Brew Buddy Portable Pour Over is the best camping coffee maker for you. This coffee maker is essentially a slim, reusable filter that can be popped onto any mug to make drip-style coffee in as little as thirty seconds.
Primula’s brewing technology is actually patented to give you the best-tasting and easiest-to-make camping coffee out there. It fits most regular, camping, and travel mugs out there, and the extra-fine mesh makes sure your grounds don’t end up in your coffee! Plus, you can use it to make tea, and it’s great for the environment because the filter is reusable. Say goodbye to one-time-use coffee filters!
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Slim and lightweight makes, it great for backpacking
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a container
- Best for personal use
Best Lightweight
GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip Coffee Maker
If you’re looking to maintain your coffee ritual during your next backpacking trip, then the GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip Coffee Maker is the best camping coffee maker for you! “Lightweight” is literally in the name, which means you’ll have to sacrifice minimal weight to get your daily dose of caffeine: less than half an ounce!
But this camping coffee maker is a great option for other types of camping, too! The nylon filter has three flexible clips that can latch onto most mugs (and even some wider-mouthed water bottles!) and then folds neatly inwards to make it easier to store. The compact and colorful design of the drip coffee maker for camping is your next favorite travel hack.
Plus, GSI Outdoors provides a lifetime warranty for the original owner of its camping coffee maker. You can’t go wrong with this product! And as if that wasn’t convincing enough, the reusable filter means you can say goodbye to one-time-use coffee filters, which are so much better for the environment.
Pros
- Super lightweight and small
- Reusable
- Adapts to different liquid containers
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a container
- Best for personal use
Bestargot Titanium Camping French Press
If you’re looking for a sturdy, multifunctional, and high-quality camping coffee maker, look no further than the Bestargot Titanium Camping French Press. Made with TA1 premium titanium and high-quality stainless steel, this camping coffee maker can make 25.3 ounces of delicious French Press coffee.
Easy to use on a camping stovetop or hanging over a campfire, this camping coffee maker will be the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning during your next camping trip. Weighing in at just 220 grams, it’s perfect for car camping, RV camping, and even a nice picnic day. It might be a bit bulky for backpacking, but it’s foldable handles and ultra-light wooden knob make it the perfect fit for your average camping trip.
Plus, it even has measurements etched into the outside of the container, making it easy for you to measure out your coffee.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable
- Resistant to very high and very low temperatures
- Good for group camping
Cons
- A bit bulky
- A little on the expensive side
Bialetti Musa
Though the Bialetti Musa isn’t technically a coffee maker for camping, the jug-shaped structure is small enough to bring on car or RV camping trips. And if you’re an espresso drinker, it’s certainly a must! Usable on various different heat sources (like campfires, stove tops, and gas/electric/induction burners!), it can brew six portions of espresso at a time.
If you want to talk about taste, if you use high-quality ground coffee (like an Illy blend to stay on the Italian kick), you’re guaranteed to have delicious espresso. After all, this coffee maker (which turns out to be a great camping coffee maker, too) is the traditional way to make coffee in Italy, where it’s called moka.
Pros
- Delicious coffee
- Works on various heat sources
- Makes six portions of espresso
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Not especially light or packable
- Plastic handle should be kept away from heat source
MiiR Pourigami
If you’re looking for a unique and useful lightweight coffee maker, then we have just the product for you: introducing the MiiR Pourigami. If it makes you think of origami, you’re not wrong: the medical-grade stainless steel is made up of three interlocking panels that weigh in at 4 ounces and balance over your travel mug to make the perfect single cup of drip coffee. That means it’s perfect for just about any outdoor adventure, but especially your next backpacking trip.
The plus that comes with buying any MiiR product is that the company has communities and the environment at heart. In fact, every purchase comes with a “Give Code” that tracks how Miir is supporting non-profits and giving projects around the world. So you can know you’ve impacted the world for the better while drinking your delicious coffee!
Pros
- Light and foldable
- Compatible with most mugs
- Made from a company with sustainability in mind
Cons
- Doesn’t have a reusable filter
- Doesn’t come with a container
GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Steel 6-Cup Percolator
If espressos are a bit too intense for you, but you like the idea of a percolator, then GSI has another great option for you: the Outdoors Glacier Stainless Steel 6-Cup Percolator. Made out of highly resistant stainless steel and sporting silicone handles to make sure you don’t burn yourself, this heavy-duty camping coffee maker is great for big groups. It’ll brew up 6 cups of coffee in no time at all!
As you might imagine, this is probably not a great option for backpackers, but it’s an amazing choice for people who can afford a bit more room, like car campers and RV campers. Plus, you’ll never lose the lid because it’s attached to the coffee maker with a hinge.
Pros
- Resistant
- Silicon handles protect your hands from getting burned
- Great for groups
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
Things to Consider When Buying a Camping Coffee Maker
Weight
When camping, weight is everything, especially if you’re backpacking. When car or RV camping, weight isn’t as crucial, but it’s still an important consideration because your space is way more limited than when at home.
That’s why when choosing the best camping coffee maker, one of the first parameters you should set is the weight of the product. How much weight can you afford? Is it going to go in your backpack or in the trunk of your car?
Lighter coffee makers for camping are optimal for backpacking, but they are also much simpler and usually don’t involve containers. Heavier camping coffee makers can usually serve bigger groups in one go and include a container.
Shape/Size
The shape and size of your camping coffee maker are more important details to consider. Obviously, the bigger and bulkier it is, the harder it is to include in your week-long backpacking trip. We suggest going with drip coffee filters that can be clipped on or balanced above travel mugs—these are usually the smallest and the lightest on the market.
But maybe shape and size aren’t crucial determining factors because you’re renting a spacious RV with some friends. In that case, you could think about getting a camping coffee maker that serves bigger groups, which makes for a more efficient serving time.
Coffee Type
You might think that getting coffee during a camping trip period is about as good as it gets. But we’re here to prove you wrong! There are many different coffee options depending on your preferred coffee type. In this list alone, we’ve covered French press, drip coffee, and espresso.
Of course, with a travel mug and some hot water, you can even go as basic as instant coffee. The options are endless, so keep in mind what your preference is before you start shopping and resort to something you don’t love.
Materials needed
Different coffee makers for camping come with different components, which means you might need to supply your own additional products before being able to actually make your coffee. For example, the ultra-light camping coffee makers are usually just a filter or frame for drip coffee, which means that you need to have your own travel mug and in some cases, your own coffee filters, as well.
So if you’d rather have the whole coffee experience within a single product, you’re probably looking at a bigger and heavier product that includes a container or pot.
Group size
As you’ve probably realized at this point, some coffee makers for camping are great for groups, and others are perfect for personal serving sizes. This is an important aspect to keep in mind. You don’t want to be stuck making six cups of coffee one at a time, and you also shouldn’t be drinking six cups of coffee all on your own on your next solo camping trip!
Find the Best Camping Coffee Maker!
We hope this post has provided some great suggestions and tools for finding the best camping coffee maker for your next outdoor trip. Whether you’re planning a simple picnic or preparing for a long backpacking trip through the wilderness, there are great coffee makers for camping out there that are sure to satisfy your caffeine needs. Just remember to keep in mind what your priorities are before purchasing anything.
Thinking about what to eat for breakfast along with your coffee while camping? Then check out our camping breakfast recipes for a truly gourmet adventure!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Margherita Bassi is a freelance writer, journalist, and editor. She grew up between the US and Europe, and nurtured her love for nature and the outdoors in both countries.
In the US, she went on dozens of RV trips with her family, scouted out the best restaurants in every city she visited, and learned how to grow herbs and veggies of all kinds by watching her mother.
With an MA in International New Media Journalism, Margherita is also a skilled researcher in a wide range of topics, and has extensive experience interviewing both individuals and experts.