What's The Best Camping Coffee Maker?

What’s The Best Camping Coffee Maker?

“If it weren’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever.”
– David Letterman

Many of us enjoy a good cup of coffee in the morning, and you can still do so while camping. Finding a good camping coffee maker can make a huge difference in enjoying the mornings of your excursion.

I’m a coffee lover, although I wouldn’t consider myself a connoisseur. I love a good strong latte or mocha, but when I’m camping I don’t want to waste a lot of time on preparation and cleaning. But lets be honest, sometimes coffee on the trail ends up burnt, bitter, or bland.

So what’s the best way to ensure a nice, enjoyable cup of joe out in the wilderness?

Fortunately there are a variety of convenient portable camping coffee makers available, but they can still be a bit cumbersome if you’re working with a limited packing capacity. The easiest solution, of course, is a good instant coffee.

Good Instant Coffee?

I can hear the groans already: “Did he say good instant coffee? That’s an oxymoron!”

I wouldn’t touch instant at home, but in camp or on the trail I’m more concerned about convenience.

Medaglia D’Oro makes an instant espresso that is actually quite good. You can get it in your local grocery store coffee aisle or at JavaCabana.com.

While I’m out camping, I like to mix it with a premium flavored hot cocoa mix like Land O Lakes Cocoa Classics, add hot water, and I’m good to go. (The “poor man’s mocha”.)

If the thought of drinking instant coffee while camping (even instant espresso) is too horrible for you to contemplate, choose a camp coffee maker from the following options.

Camping Coffee Pots

Coleman Camping Coffee Maker

The Coleman Camping Coffee Maker is a stovetop brewer that works well.

Although it’s pretty slow, it makes drip coffee as well as an electric brewer. It can make 10 cups of coffee at a time, it’s easy to use, and it’s easy to clean.

Unfortunately, it has a few design flaws which can make it difficult to use when camping. The pot handle must be turned straight out or it can melt over the stove, and the swing-out basket does not stayed closed well.

Also, it’s heavy (nearly 6 pounds), needs a large burner, and does not keep the coffee warm after it’s been brewed. (Drink it right away or put it in a thermos.)

Bialetti Moka Express

My friend Phil swears by the Bialetti Moka Express stovetop espresso maker.

He uses it at home and on his hunting trips.

He says it makes the best espresso, it’s light (made of aluminum), and it’s durable — he’s been using the same Bialetti pot for years.

Are you passionate about camping with only the best-tasting coffee?

French press camping coffee pots are the way to go. They make the most flavorful brew and and are very simple to use.

Just put your (very coarse) coffee grounds in, add very hot (not boiling) water, let it sit for 3-4 minutes, press the grounds to the bottom, and pour.

Planetary Designs French Press

The Planetary Designs French Press is one of the best French Presses available.

It is durable (stainless steel) and well-designed, with a tight-fitting filter that doesn’t let grounds through and double-wall insulation to keep the coffee hot.

It comes in different sizes and colors to fit your needs, and is a great size for camping.

Personal Camping Coffee Makers

GSI Outdoors Personal Java Press

The GSI Outdoors Personal Java Press is a small, convenient french press perfect for two campers.

The press and its companion mug are tough, fairly light, and have lids and removable insulating sleeves to keep the contents hot.

The mugs nest together for easy packing.

GSI Outdoors H2JO! Percolator

Here’s a simple, very light, and cheap option for making fresh coffee while camping: the GSI Outdoors H2JO! Percolator.

It attaches to any Nalgene-type water bottle. Just fill the bottle with hot water, screw the filter onto the bottle, and add coarsely-ground coffee to the filter. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Only 1.8 ounces, this filter can do double duty as a camping coffee maker and a backpacking coffee maker.

MSR Mugmate Coffee/Tea Filter

The MSR Mugmate Coffee/Tea Filter is even lighter — only 1 oz. It fits a standard 12-oz. mug, with super-fine steel mesh to securely trap the grounds.