A great way to enjoy your mornings while camping is by having a cup of fresh, delicious coffee. It boosts your energy and swipes the drowsiness away. The smell of fresh coffee, along with the aroma of nature, creates a warm feeling inside of you that relaxes your body.
In this review and buying guide, we offer you the 5 best backpacking coffee makers that will surely let you have that excellent quality coffee you’ve always had.
As backpackers, you cannot bring everything you want on your trip. You have to ensure that all your items are portable and lightweight so that you can travel easily.
If you’re a backpacker who needs to get that daily dose of coffee in your system, you must find a convenient and easy coffee maker without sacrificing the taste that it brings.
Things to Consider Before Buying
With so many selections for sale, it can be daunting to find the right coffee maker for you. So, we’ve compiled a list of some of the features that you should consider before buying.
Portability
This is the most crucial consideration you have to make in choosing your coffee maker. As a backpacker, you only have your backpack and maybe a small pouch to bring with you. You cannot be bothered to carry a huge coffee maker on your trips.
Therefore, you must purchase one that will fit inside your bag and not take up a lot of space inside. Apart from the portability, get a lightweight one, so you won’t have difficulty carrying it.
Filter Mesh
Be very particular and keen about all the parts of your coffee maker. In terms of a French press, the filter mesh that comes with it must be observed very well. A good mesh will not let coffee ground particles swim in your coffee. It has to have firm edges and have a durable spring support system.
Capacity
Capacity is not a significant consideration if you’re backpacking by yourself or with two people. But, if you’re in a group of coffee lovers, then the capacity of your coffee maker should be taken into consideration. We suggest you purchase a coffee maker with a 6-8 cups capacity for the perfect portability and lightweight feature.
Durability
When you are camping in the wilderness, unexpected things will happen. All the materials you have packed in your backpack need to be durable and long-lasting.
Why so? You won’t find a random convenience store or shopping mall to purchase your coffee maker when it gets broken. A durable coffee maker also saves you a lot of money instead of buying a new one often.
Editor’s Recommendation: Top 5 Backpacking Coffee Maker
5 Best Backpacking Coffee Maker Reviews
You only deserve the best. So, you have to opt for the most excellent coffee makers in the market. Don’t worry; we made a list just for you. Here are some of the best products out there:
1. Primula Brew Buddy
Everyone enjoys a cup of good coffee in the morning, even backpackers. The Primula coffee maker can help you prepare the perfect cup in just 30 seconds. It is slim and portable, making it leave more space inside your backpack for other essentials.
The brand ensures that its portable coffee maker is one of a kind product available in the market today. They patented their innovative brewing technology that brings you creamy and smooth coffee experience.
You will be amazed by the extra-fine mesh filter; it works exceptionally well, guaranteeing you that no coffee grounds swim around in your cup.
With this, you can effortlessly make your favorite coffee just by setting the coffee maker on top of your mug/cup, drop in your coffee blend, then pour in hot water and let it brew to your desired strength of coffee.
After you’ve enjoyed your morning coffee, easily dispose of the remaining coffee grinds inside, then rinse the coffee maker. This brew buddy gets rid of the need to use paper filters, carafes, or coffee pods. With this, you can save money and avoid excess waste.
- No coffee filter needed
- Portable
- Lightweight
- No coffee grinds end up inside your cup
- Ease of disposal
- Can only make one cup at a time
- Over steeping can happen when you don’t take it out after the required time
2. Veken Double-Wall French Press
Veken upgraded their coffee maker with customer satisfaction in mind. Every feedback they receive for this is taken into account. The upgrade starts with the new 10mm deep beveled lid. This secures the heat and aroma of your coffee to stay inside.
Some people drink their coffee slowly and steadily. The concern this brings is that coffee inside their pot isn’t hot as they want them after a while. Luckily, it is double-walled, which means that the coffee inside will stay for a longer time. This is one of the best coffee makers for backpacking.
The overall exterior, except for the lid and handle, is from thick stainless steel material. This makes the French press durable and reliable. Do you know that most French presses are from glass materials, which is more vulnerable, especially for someone who backpacks?
This double-walled french press is bulkier than the Primula, but it can make more than one coffee cup. It keeps your coffee warmer too. The extra space it needs is worth it to bring to your backpacking activities.
- Keeps your coffee warmer
- Can make more than one cup of coffee
- Durable
- Extremely reliable for backpacking
- Rust-proof stainless steel built
- Contains a lot of parts, making it bulky to carry around
- The filter gets rusty after a couple of uses
3. ESPRO P1 Double-Walled French Press
Bringing coffee on the go has one difficulty that is its ability to spill inside your bag. Usually, to solve this, you’d carry your container in your hand. This way is such a hassle, but with the ESPRO P1, this problem is eliminated.
One of the notable features is its leak-proof property; whether you’re jogging or running, the bottle will never spill inside your bag.
If you’re not a fan of bitter coffee, you should consider this French press to make your perfect blend. You can press the filter to stop the extraction process immediately. From the first sip up to the last, no matter how long you take to finish your cup, the taste will remain the same.
As the name suggests, this French press is double-walled. It will keep your coffee hot for quite a long time. Also, this will not break easily, no matter how hot your coffee is. The durability of this French press has been tested and proven to last you a couple of years, as long as you take care of it.
ESPRO P1 is good to make 10 ounces of coffee. It can’t make more than 2 cups, so if you’re backpacking with more than two people, you might have to get more than one machine.
- Double-walled
- Stops your coffee from going bitter
- Durable
- Leak-proof
- Sleek-design
- Can only make a 10-ounce coffee
4. Farberware 50124 Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator
Imagine making 8 cups of coffee in one go. Well, if you are at home, then it isn’t as impressive as it sounds. But, whenever you are backpacking, especially camping in the woods, making eight cups of coffee sounds unbelievable. Well, Farberware has made the impossible job possible with its stainless steel coffee percolator.
In some coffee makers, they need a filter to steep the coffee properly. Coffee filters are a mess to deal with, and you have difficulty throwing them away when you’re camping in the woods. Farberware has created a solution for this with its no-mess feature. It has a built-in filter basket that you just need to clean after every use.
Stainless steel is an excellent material to ensure durability. That is why most backpacking coffee makers use this type of material. Many unexpected things happen when you’re out backpacking, but you will never have a problem with this coffee maker getting broken easily.
You need to be careful with this coffee maker, though. It has overall stainless steel built, so the surface is quite hot. Only the handle is made with a protective covering. The overall built is also quite bulky to carry in your backpack.
- Can make 8 to 12 cups of coffee
- Made with heavy-duty stainless steel
- Permanent filter basket
- Ensures longevity and durability
- Affordable
- Bulky
- Not convenient for storing coffee on the go
5. Bialetti Express Moka Pot
In terms of Moka pots, Bialetti is the most famous one that people even start to call Moka pots as Bialetti pots. If you know what a stovetop percolator is, then you will have an idea as to what this pot is.
The way a Moka pot works is by heating it on a stovetop; then, the water is forced through the ground coffee with the use of pressure. This makes the pot function more like a professional espresso machine, but with a regular coffee maker’s price.
Without a doubt, it makes the best strong black coffee. Since it is designed to work as an espresso machine, coffee will also taste like premium espresso. This Moka pot is easy to use with only three components.
You just need to fill the bottommost compartment with water, next is the coffee, and let the pot do its work with brewing.
There are sizes to choose from, whether you prefer only to make one cup of coffee or 12 cups. What’s a hassle with the Bialetti is the stovetop that comes with it.
For a backpacker, you’d want to carry as much important stuff as you need. This product will take in a lot of space in your bag, so if you’re going to have it, you must be prepared to let it accommodate an ample space.
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Makes premium espresso coffee
- Able to make up to 12 cups depending on the size
- Can be compared to a pro espresso machine
- Takes up a lot of space in your bag
Top 5 Best Backpacking Coffee Maker Comparison
Title | Brand | Material | Color | Item Weight | Operation Mode | Rating |
Primula Brew Buddy | Primula | Plastic | Red | 0.06 Pounds | Portable | |
Veken Double-Wall French Press | Veken | Stainless Steel | Black | 2.36 pounds | Manual | |
ESPRO P1 Double-Walled French Press | ESPRO | Stainless Steel | Matte Meteorite Black | 0.76 Pounds | Hand Press | |
Farberware 50124 Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator | Farberware | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | 2.25 pounds | Electric | |
Bialetti Express Moka Pot | Bialetti | Aluminum | Aluminum Silver | 2.2 pounds | Manual |
How to Choose the Best Camping Coffee Maker for Your Needs? [Step by Step Process]
Do you know that choosing a coffee maker for camping requires some stringent steps? Let’s find out what these are:
Step 1: Types of Coffee Maker
There are three common types of camping coffee makers: Press, pour-over, and percolator.
If you prefer an effortless and easy way to make coffee, the pour-over type will suit your need. For a press type, you leave your coffee grounds in boiling water and then plunge the grounds to be at the bottom after leaving the coffee at the top.
A percolator is the bulkiest one since it has a stovetop with it. But, it has the advantage of not requiring a different container to boil water in.
Step 2: Ease of Use
It is difficult to brew a perfect cup of coffee if your camping and your resources are limited. So if you do not have the time and effort to brew coffee that requires more than three steps, then find a coffee maker that is simple and easy to use. Read the labels and instructions before you purchase one.
Step 3: Clean-Up
Cleaning-up your coffee maker is one of the most important things to do. Since you put your coffee maker inside your backpack, you can’t just leave it unwashed; all your clothes and other important stuff will get dirty.
Find a coffee maker that can be effortlessly washed with water and maybe a little bit of soap. Don’t purchase one that has a lot of parts to be cleaned up.
Step 4: Brew Time
Making coffee while camping cannot require more than 10 minutes. If it does, then it’s not a good coffee maker to be used as a backpacker. The perfect coffee maker for camping needs to brew your coffee in five minutes or even less. You have a full day of activities ahead; you can’t just use all your time to make coffee.
Step 5: Taste
Taste is subjective. Some like their coffee strong and some like it light and creamy. Coffee makers have labels in their packaging about the type of coffee it brews. Do not assume that all coffee makers will make the same tasting coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best type of backpacking coffee maker?
This depends on your preference. Do you want a simple way to brew your coffee, or would you like the one that brings in a stronger and richer taste? We have listed various coffee makers with these three types to help you choose what is perfect for you.
- How do you boil water when camping?
If your coffee maker does not come with its stovetop just like a percolator type coffee maker has, then you can use a pan or kettle to boil your water. Remember, do not pour boiling water in your coffee maker. Let it cool down for 30 seconds before you do. The water should be hot, not boiling.
- What is Cowboy coffee?
This is the process of making coffee using a pot, coffee beans, and water. It doesn’t require all the fancy equipment.
- Can you boil water over the campfire?
Yes, you can. This is the most effective method to boil your water. You just settle your pan or kettle above the campfire and wait for it to reach its boiling point.
- How to properly clean a coffee maker?
There are different ways of cleaning your coffee maker, depending on the type of coffee maker you have. Some can be easily cleaned with water and soap, while others have a more tedious process. The makers have instructions and labels on how to properly clean, so you can check on that as you purchase.
Final Words
Coffee is a basic breakfast drink that most people like to have for refreshments. Even if you are out backpacking, you can still have that perfect cup of coffee with the help of a good-quality coffee maker. Hopefully, you can obtain the best backpacking coffee maker according to your needs and preferences.