Best camping coffee makers 2022: invigorate mornings outdoors

Having the best camping coffee maker means you’ll be able to efficiently brew up an invigorating hot drink in the campsite or on the trail. Smells are just more vivid in the outdoors and few are as enticing as a waft of freshly made coffee in the morning. It’s enough to get you out of your cozy sleeping bag on even the most miserable of weather days.

Our selection of the best camping coffee makers all pack down small, enabling you to stash them away for backpacking missions or giving you more space in the car for your other camping essentials. They’re also simple to use, easy to clean and, of course, make delicious brews.

Paired with your best camping stove, these coffee makers mean you can enjoy coffee anywhere. We’d also recommend getting hold of an insulated drinks bottle so that you can keep your brews warm while out on the trail.

Regardless of whether you’re a short, sharp espresso kind of person, or you like to luxuriate in a long coffee, our guide to the best camping coffee makers has you covered. There’s everything from portable dippers you can use with your camping mug to models that fit right in with a glamping setup.

The best camping coffee makers

AeroPress

Brew five-star coffee at camp

Weight: 13oz / 369g (inc accessories)
Brew capacity: 10oz / 355ml
Materials: BPA-free polypropylene

+ Brews four types of coffee
+ Easy to clean
+ Press time only 20 seconds
- Several parts and no case

This coffee maker is part-pour over and part-press, with three main components: a chamber that sits on top of your cup, a filter cap that screws into it and a plunger. Simply place a paper filter into the filter cap, screw it on the chamber and place it on top of your camping coffee cup. Add coffee and water and gently press the plunger down and you’ll be wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of joe in 20 seconds. You can modify your approach for American, espresso, latte style and even makes a fine cold brew. If you’re going with espresso, you can brew about three shots at a time.

Our rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Wacaco Nanopresso

Crema-topped espresso in moments

Weight: 0.74 lb / 336 g
Brew capacity: 2.5oz / 71ml
Materials: plastic

+ Consistently excellent expresso
+ No batteries or charging
+ Quick and easy to use
- Requires boiling water

This compact, cylindrical espresso machine can be held in one hand and, by pumping it using your thumb, can reach up to 18 bars of pressure to pour you a delicious shot whether you’re camping, at home or even at the office. Simply unscrew one end to add the coffee grounds to the basket, then unscrew the other end to add boiling water. Screw everything back together and pump it over your mug eight times to build pressure, then a few more for a shot of delicious, crema-topped espresso.

Our rating: 5 out of 5 stars

GSI Outdoors MiniEspresso

Portable campsite espresso maker

Weight: 11oz / 311g
Brew capacity: 2.5oz / 74ml
Materials: Stainless steel

+ Compact and lightweight
+ Comes with carry case
+ No disposable filters
- Cup handle gets hot

This compact, stainless steel set comes with three simple components (base, filter and funnel) which easily screw together, plus an adorable little espresso cup, and it all works quite like a Moka Pot. It all comes neatly packed in its own carrying case that keeps it protected in transit and makes it extremely packable. When you’re ready for a morning buzz, simply add a predetermined amount of coffee grounds and water, place the whole set up on your camping stove or grill, then sit back in your camping chair and watch it brew in under three minutes.

Our rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Aeropress Go

Filter coffee, espresso, and cold brew

Weight: 11.5oz / 326g
Brew capacity: 8oz / 237ml
Materials: Plastic

+ Brews three types of coffee
+ Easy to keep clean
+ Includes cup
- Costs more than basic model

The Aeropress GO takes all the advantages of its larger predecessor and packs them into a compact package that’s around the size of a travel mug and can be taken on the road, even fitting in a backpack for those unwilling to sacrifice coffee for trail time. Like the larger model, this coffee maker is part pour over and part press. It comes with some extras like a coffee scoop, stirrer and mug, but you can easily leave those at home if you’re traveling light and just use your favorite camping mug. You’ll love this coffee maker for backpacking, car camping and any time you have to travel somewhere that great coffee isn’t guaranteed.

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

GSI Outdoors Java Press

French press and travel mug hybrid

Weight: 12.5oz / 353g (inc accessories)
Brew capacity: 14.3oz / 406ml
Materials: Stainless steel, polypropylene

This simple design features a BPA-free plastic inner chamber and filter that fits inside the stainless steel mug. When you need a jolt of caffeine, just add coffee and hot water to the mug, screw the lid onto the chamber and sit it at the waterline for four minutes, then gently press down. No need to pour your coffee into a separate cup – just sip directly. The vacuum-insulated design keeps your coffee warm for about three hours, which is great because it can hold up to 14oz at a time. If you’re packing up and heading out on the road, it fits easily in your cup holder and you can enjoy it on the drive.

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Hario 360 Dripper

Classic, lightweight pour over coffee

Weight: 2.95oz / 83.6g
Brew capacity: N/A
Materials: Plastic

+ Very lightweight
+ Works with any mug
+ Affordably priced
- Requires paper filters

Hario’s V60 coffee dripper is the preferred pour over used by baristas around the world due it’s reliably great coffee, and the plastic version is light enough that you can take it backpacking. Place the dripper on top of your coffee mug, line it with a paper filter, add coffee and pour hot water in a spiral motion. If you’re not a barista, chances are you’ll need a few rehearsals to hone your technique, but the dripper comes with a manual. It fits on any size of mug and makes one cup of coffee, but it comes in bigger models too.

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Comparison table

How we test camping coffee makers

These coffee makers were tested by people who are serious about their coffee on car camping and backpacking trips in Scotland and California during a variety of weather conditions.

For more details, see how Advnture tests products.

How to choose a camping coffee maker

Needless to say, a good cup of coffee is a very subjective experience and you'll want to put some thought into what you really want out of your camping coffee maker. What you should never do is sacrifice the quality of the coffee, but fortunately camping coffee makers have come a long way. It's a good idea to start with the type of coffee you love – espresso, cold brew or pour over – and then consider what type of camping you'll be doing.

Naturally, if you're going backpacking you're going to want a camping coffee brand that's as packable and lightweight as possible, and while you may have to sacrifice a few frills, you can still ensure a great cup for coffee. However, if you're more a fan of car camping or glamping, you can probably afford the extra weight and splurge on something versatile and a little more high tech. The following are a few areas you'll want to consider when choosing the best camping coffee maker for you.

You can also check out our guide to making coffee while camping.

Coffee

We all have different ideas about what makes a good cup of coffee, but make sure yours brews the type of coffee you like and consider one that uses a predetermined amount of water and coffee so that you know you can depend on getting the same quality of coffee every time. If yours doesn't come with pre-set measurements, make sure you experiment with it at home before you head to camp to figure out your perfect recipe.

Ease of use

A great camping coffee maker is easy to use and doesn't require you to carry the user manual on every trip. Not only should it be easy to operate, but you want one with easy clean up too – requiring nothing more than a quick rinse or wipe.

Durability

Some camping coffee makers are more intricate than others, and when there are small parts, you want to make sure yours is robust. Look for coffee makers made using stainless steel or hard plastic and make sure to pack them away correctly. Some coffee makers even come with their own protective carrying case.

Portability

Naturally, you don't want your best camping coffee maker to take up too much space on your trip and fortunately they're generally pretty packable. For backpacking adventures, look for something extremely lightweight that might even clip onto the outside of your backpack. For car camping, look for one that packs up inside itself or a carrying case so you can easily fit it in your storage bin and don't lose track of smaller parts in transit.

Brew capacity

Another thing to consider is how much coffee you want in the morning. If you're happy with a single shot of espresso, you can definitely size down, but if you like a few shots or you're brewing for a group, you'll need one meant for larger quantities, or one that cools off quickly so it can be handled again straight away.

Value

The question of value somewhat depends on how much you value your coffee in the first place, but you might be willing to pay more for a coffee maker that offers multiple functions or makes specialty coffee like espresso. Another thing to consider is whether your coffee maker requires paper filters  – a coffee maker that seems really affordable might actually become more expensive over time if you're buying paper filters every year.

• Camping kitchen setup ideas: 9 tips for fuss-free cooking