What is the easiest way to make coffee when camping?

You'll want to look for something that is lightweight, doesn't require many pieces, and is fast brewing. With these requirements, both French press and pour-over are pretty easy.

What is the fastest way to make coffee when camping?

The AeroPress can brew hot coffee in just one minute, so it’s hard to beat for speed.

What size grinds do I need in my camping coffee maker?

“Grind size will vary widely between pour-over, Moka Pot, or other styles of brewing,” says Calatrello. “A portable grinder is your best bet for the best coffee experience on the go.”

The 8 Best Camping Coffee Makers For 2023

Connecting with the outdoors is one of life’s simplest pleasures, and so is a great cup of coffee. Fortunately, the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Thanks to an array of clever tools and camping coffee makers, you can enjoy a fantastic brew in the woods, on top of a mountain, or during a quick break on the trails.

“When it comes to brewing coffee on a camping trip, it’s all about portability, ease of use, and, of course, a great-tasting cup of coffee,” says Heather Calatrello, owner and head roaster at ShedLight Coffee Roasters. “Some opt for the simplest option and use instant coffee while in the wilderness, but we prefer to take the manual brewing route when away from electricity and convenience.”

With Calatrello’s expertise and our own research as coffee-drinking outdoor enthusiasts, we’ve assembled a great lineup of the best camping coffee makers on the market today. Read on to learn more about each of them.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

AeroPress Portable Travel Coffee Press at Amazon

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Best Value:

Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

1Zpresso Manual Coffee Grinder at Amazon

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Best Multi-Purpose:

Stanley Boil and Brew French Press at Amazon

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Best for Espresso:

Wacaco Nanopresso at Amazon

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Best for Groups:

BruTrek Coffee Press at Amazon

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Best Pour-Over:

MiiR Pourigami at Amazon

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Most Lightweight:

GSI Outdoors Java Drip at Amazon

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AeroPress

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Pros: This versatile kit includes everything you need (except coffee).

Cons: Lots of parts could prove pesky on the go.

“You can always opt for the trusty AeroPress,” says Calatrello, and we agree. The AeroPress Go is lightweight, doubles as both brewing vessel and travel mug, and the kit comes with everything from a scoop to paper filters — all at a very reasonable price.

This camping coffee maker has a 10-ounce capacity, meaning you can make between 1-3 servings without a long wait: just one minute for hot coffee or two minutes for cold brew. AeroPress Go is a great all-rounder for travel, camping, hiking, or even a quick afternoon coffee right at your desk.

Price at time of publish: $30

Capacity: 10 ounces
Dimensions: 4.75 x 4.75 x 11.75 inches
Weight: 318 grams / .7 pounds
Brew Type: French press

4.2

Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Size 02

Amazon

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Pros: Inexpensive and super lightweight.

Cons: Not as durable as other options on this list.

For a lightweight, inexpensive camping coffee solution, it’s tough to beat the Hario V60. This plastic pour-over vessel can easily be tossed into a daypack and used with just about any mug you’d like.

The V60 comes in white, red, or translucent, and it’s heat resistant to accommodate exposure to boiling water. This is a no-frills coffee maker and isn’t as durable as a stainless steel dripper (we like the Kalita Wave 185!), but if you’re looking for something cheap and cheerful, well, here it is.

Price at time of publish: $25

Capacity: 10 ounces
Dimensions: 4.33 x 4.8 x 4.92 inches
Weight: 200 grams / .4 pounds
Brew Type: Pour-over

Amazon

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Pros: A portable grinder will provide the freshest possible coffee.

Cons: It’s a little bulky for backpacking.

If you really want to splash out on campground coffee-making, treat yourself to a high-end manual grinder.

“We never recommend buying pre-ground coffee or grinding coffee in advance to bring on a trip,” says Calatrello, who is a staunch believer in drinking coffee that is as fresh as possible. “The best option for camping trips is to bring a manual grinder along for the ride, and the 1Zpresso JX-Pro is our favorite. It’ll grind for any brewing style you like and does so extremely well.”

Yes, it’s an extra piece of equipment to carry, but the JX-Pro has a folding handle for increased portability, and its 200-click settings give you full control over the size of the grind. As a result, this is the perfect companion to any style of camping coffee maker.

Price at time of publish: $170

Capacity: 35 grams
Dimensions: 8.54 x 6.38 x 2.87 inches
Weight: 2.14 pounds
Brew Type: N/A

Stanley Boil and Brew Camping French Press

Amazon

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Pros: A durable, versatile, and flame-safe French press.

Cons: Don’t grab the hot handle with bare hands.

This is a coffee maker truly built for adventure. Instead of heating water in one vessel to pour into another, you can heat directly in the Stanley Adventure All-In-One. The stainless steel construction means it's safe for use right over the campfire, so feel free to use it for coffee, tea, or any other time you need to boil water.

We also appreciate the 32-ounce capacity, which means you can use the Stanley Adventure to make coffee for more than one person. Sure, it’s a little bulky, and you won’t want to grab the handle without a towel or heat-proof gloves if you’ve had it over the flames, but this is definitely a multi-purpose tool you’ll be glad to have on hand.

Price at time of publish: $24

Capacity: 32 ounces
Dimensions: 4.3 x 4.3 x 7.6 inches
Weight: 421 grams / .9 pounds
Brew Type: French press

4.2

Amazon

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Pros: Produces great espresso — crema and all.

Cons: It’s pricey.

The Wacaco Nanopresso uses pumping action to create the pressure (up to 18 bars) necessary to pull a great shot of espresso. It works best with a fine grind that is firmly tamped, but once you’ve got everything sorted, you’ll be impressed with the quality (and crema) of portable espresso from this clever tool.

Between the price and quantity of yield, this maybe isn’t the most practical camping coffee maker, but it does a good job of living up to its claims and will most certainly be appreciated by discerning coffee drinkers.

Price at time of publish: $70

Capacity: 2.7 ounces
Dimensions: 2.8 x 2.44 x 6.14 inches
Weight: 337 grams / .7 pounds
Brew Type: Espresso

Amazon

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Pros: This is a big, durable French press.

Cons: It’s a big French press.

Whether you’re camping with friends or family, or if you need to caffeinate a crowd, the BruTrek BaseCamp 48-ounce coffee press is ready for action. This double-walled stainless steel press is available in six different colors and will keep coffee hot until the last dregs.

Naturally, a camping coffee maker with a generous volume is going to be bulkier than some other choices, but if you’d prefer to avoid making coffee over and over again from a smaller vessel, the BruTrek has you covered.

Price at time of publish: $70

Capacity: 48 ounces
Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 x 11 inches
Weight: 1088 grams / 2.4 pounds
Brew Type: French press

4.4

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Pros: A clever design that takes up minimal space.

Cons: There’s a bit of a learning curve with the setup.

MiiR’s Pourigami definitely wins coolness points for its clever, flat-folding design. It’s nice and durable since it’s made of stainless steel, and the fact that it folds down when not in use makes it ultra-practical for travel and camping.

Like other pour-over devices, the Pourigami sits atop your chosen mug and utilizes a filter to hold coffee grounds. Some users report that it can be tricky to figure out how to fold and fold the Pourigami, but once you’ve figured it out, again, it’s tough to argue with a fold-flat coffee-making solution.

Price at time of publish: $30

Capacity: Not listed
Dimensions: 5.5 x 2.75 x 0.75 inches
Weight: 114 grams / .25 pounds
Brew Type: Pour-over

GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip Coffee Maker

Amazon

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Pros: It’s so lightweight you will barely feel it in your pack.

Cons: Plastic legs can be finicky.

GSI Outdoors’ Ultralight Java Drip does what it says on the tin, so to speak — this is as lightweight as it gets when it comes to camping coffee makers. At just 11 grams (less than half an ounce) and with a collapsible mesh filter, the Java Drip can be stuffed into any bag or even a pocket without a thought.

Plastic clips allow you to fix the Java Drip to most mugs, though this can be a little more finicky than a standard pour-over filter that rests on top. For the space- and weight-savings, though (not to mention the great price!), you can’t beat this.

Price at time of publish: $10

Capacity: Not listed
Dimensions: 4.2 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
Weight: 11 grams / .02 pounds
Brew Type: Pour-over

Our Favorite

The AeroPress Go Portable Travel Coffee Press Kit is a great all-rounder for value, quality, and portability. For multipurpose flexibility, the Stanley Adventure All-In-One Boil + Brew is a great choice; and for the just-give-me-something-to-make-coffee-with crowd, the GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip comes through with ease.

Factors to Consider

Brew type

This mostly comes down to personal preference, but French press and pour-over brewing are the go-to brew types for on-the-go coffee making.

Size, capacity, and weight

Consider how many people will be drinking coffee, how much available space you have in your kit, and for long you’ll need to carry everything. When it doubt, err on the side of lightweight — you can always brew more than one cup of coffee if need be.

Ease of use

Both French presses and pour-overs are pretty straightforward, though the ability to let a French press sit and do its thing while you tend to other matters might be more appealing than carefully pouring hot water over an open vessel of grounds. Choose accordingly!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to make coffee when camping?

You'll want to look for something that is lightweight, doesn't require many pieces, and is fast brewing. With these requirements, both French press and pour-over are pretty easy.
What is the fastest way to make coffee when camping?

The AeroPress can brew hot coffee in just one minute, so it’s hard to beat for speed.
What size grinds do I need in my camping coffee maker?

“Grind size will vary widely between pour-over, Moka Pot, or other styles of brewing,” says Calatrello. “A portable grinder is your best bet for the best coffee experience on the go.”

Our Expertise

This article was written by Summer Rylander, a food and travel journalist who has written about food, beverage, and cooking tools for Food & Wine, Allrecipes, Serious Eats, and The Kitchn. She made her selections based on in-depth research and conversation with coffee roasting expert Heather Calatrello.