Some of the best coffee you’ll ever taste is brewed over a campfire, whether you’re at a nearby state park or deep in the wilderness. While the fresh air and sense of adventure certainly enhance the experience, upgrading your cowboy coffee requires one key tool – a high-quality portable coffee maker.
With a focus on performance, durability, and portability, these purpose-built gadgets let you enjoy a French press, pour-over, or espresso brew that’s just as refined as what you’d make at home. Portable coffee makers come in various styles, so choosing the right one depends on your brewing preference and how many people you’ll be serving. Join the National Park Shops team to explore the best options on Amazon to make the right choice!
Contents
- 1 Best Overall: AeroPress Go Portable Coffee Maker ($47.33 on Amazon)
- 2 Best for Espresso: GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso Set ($39.95 on Amazon)
- 3 Best for Camping: nCamp Café Portable Coffee Maker ($49 on Amazon)
- 4 Best for Small: Hydro Flask French Press ($50.46 on Amazon)
- 5 Best for Capsules: Wacaco Minipresso NS2 Portable Espresso Machine ($59.90 on Amazon)
- 6 Best with Grinder: Cafflano All-in-One Portable Coffee Maker ($59.99 on Amazon)
- 7 Stanley Pour Over Coffee Set ($45 on Amazon)
- 8 Best Minimalist: JoGo Coffee and Tea Brewing Straw ($27.95 on Amazon)
- 9 GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Coffee Percolator with Silicone Handle ($27.95 – $59.99 on Amazon)
- 10 Testing Process
- 11 Conclusion
Best Overall: AeroPress Go Portable Coffee Maker ($47.33 on Amazon)
- Product Dimensions: 4.2″D x 4.2″W x 7.3″H
- Special Feature: Portable
- Coffee Maker Type: French Press
The AeroPress has earned its reputation as one of the best portable coffee makers out there for a reason: it brews an exceptional cup of coffee. The AeroPress Go delivers the same impressive results but in a smaller, travel-friendly design. It’s barely larger than a coffee mug, incredibly lightweight, and completely self-contained – all you need to bring is your coffee.
Part of what makes the AeroPress so popular is how customizable the brewing process is. With just three elements – coffee, water, and pressure – you can experiment endlessly until you land on the flavor that suits you best. There’s no wrong way to brew with an AeroPress. It’s a good idea to start with the instructions provided in the box, but once you’ve mastered that, feel free to explore.
Another reason this portable coffee maker stands out is its forgiving nature, it’s nearly impossible to brew a bad cup. There’s no need for complicated steps. On a chilly morning during a late-season camping trip, just toss in some grounds, stir, press, and enjoy a steaming cup of coffee to warm you right up.
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Best for Espresso: GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso Set ($39.95 on Amazon)
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Weight: 11.04 ounces
- Coffee Maker Type: Espresso
The GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso Set lets you brew a perfect double shot no matter where your adventures take you. Made from durable stainless steel and housed in a protective foam carry case, it’s built to handle the bumps and scrapes of camp life. Compact and weighing just 11 ounces, it’s incredibly portable for coffee on the go. We found the setup straightforward, with clear instructions to guide us through the process. This portable coffee maker worked just as well at home as it did in the great outdoors.
Once the coffee maker was prepped, it took around three to five minutes to brew a rich, high-quality double-shot espresso, completely free of grounds at the bottom of the cup. The double-walled mug kept the coffee at the perfect temperature, even when we had to set it aside for a quick camp chore. While the device does get quite hot (we used a towel to handle it), it was simple to clean by hand. Best of all, considering the quality of its construction and the delicious coffee it produces, this set is surprisingly affordable.
Best for Camping: nCamp Café Portable Coffee Maker ($49 on Amazon)
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 340 Milliliters
- Special Feature: Removable Tank
Espresso enthusiasts will appreciate the nCamp Café Portable Coffee Maker for its simple yet high-quality design. With minimal setup and clear instructions, it’s easy to use both outdoors and on a glass stovetop at home. Inspired by the traditional Italian moka pot, this coffee maker features a lower chamber, a funnel, an upper chamber, and a 13-ounce drinking cup. What stands out is how all the components pack neatly into a compact unit, about the size of a standard water bottle, making it easy to stash in the side pocket of a backpack.
Built from durable stainless steel, the coffee maker held up flawlessly through multiple uses without showing any wear. It heats water quickly, and we brewed coffee in under seven minutes. Once we figured out the right amount of grounds (less is more!), the result was a rich, smooth, and full-bodied cup of coffee with no grounds left behind.
>> Read More: The 7 Best Camping Utensils, Tested: Ready for Any Weather
Best for Small: Hydro Flask French Press ($50.46 on Amazon)
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 1 Fluid Ounces
- Special Feature: Vacuum Insulated
- Voltage: 240 Volts
The Hydro Flask French Press offers a classic design that feels instantly familiar. All you need to brew a great cup of coffee is some ground coffee and hot water (you’ll need to boil the water separately in a camping kettle or pot). It took us less than 10 minutes to brew three to four cups, and the results were consistently satisfying. We found that the number of grounds in the cup was no more than you’d expect from any French press, and it was easy to control the brew strength by adjusting the amount of coffee used.
Thanks to its double-wall vacuum insulation, the coffee stays hot for hours. The press-in lid allows for non-directional pouring, which is a nice convenience. We especially appreciated the comfortable silicone handle and the non-slip base. Unlike traditional glass French presses, this one is made from professional-grade stainless steel. Just be sure to assemble it properly to avoid any accidental burns. It’s lightweight, easy to pack and clean, and durable enough to toss into your camping gear without worrying about damage.
Best for Capsules: Wacaco Minipresso NS2 Portable Espresso Machine ($59.90 on Amazon)
- Material: PA66, Biomass PP stainless steel, Silicone
- Capacity: 80 Milliliters
- Special Feature: Compatible with Ns original capsules and compatibles, Portable, Manual
- Human Interface Input: Buttons
When portability is key, a capsule espresso maker offers unbeatable convenience. Wacaco’s Minipresso NS2 is a recent addition to their collection, designed to be compatible with original Nespresso capsules.
Measuring just five inches in length and weighing only 10 ounces, this portable coffee maker is highly portable. It’s hand-powered, lightweight, and designed to be compact for ultimate convenience. We appreciate that it comes with a protective carrying pouch, making it easy to slip into a purse or backpack pocket. The machine remains cool to the touch during brewing and is simple to clean afterward, just rinse and wipe down. Another bonus is the black interior, which conceals any coffee stains and helps the product maintain its fresh, new appearance for a longer time.
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Best with Grinder: Cafflano All-in-One Portable Coffee Maker ($59.99 on Amazon)
- Material: Stainless Steel, Polypropylene, Stoneware, Silicone
- Capacity: 450 Milliliters
- Wattage: 800 watts
- Coffee Maker Type: Pour Over
For true coffee enthusiasts, freshly ground beans are a must, but carrying a separate grinder for your portable coffee maker can be a hassle.
That’s why we like the Cafflano option, which comes with a built-in adjustable grinder and a clever foldable handle for easy storage. It also includes a reusable stainless-steel microfilter and features a hole in the cover for slowly pouring water over the grounds.
Once you’ve brewed, the double-walled tumbler is ready to hold your coffee, though it’s worth noting that it doesn’t come with a sipping lid, which can be seen as a downside.
Stanley Pour Over Coffee Set ($45 on Amazon)
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Size: 20oz/12oz
- Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4.5 x 8.9 inches
- Coffee Maker Type: Pour Over
The Stanley Pour Over Set combines a durable stainless steel filter with a camp mug, making it both lightweight and rugged enough to withstand rough handling. We were so impressed with this portable coffee maker that we used it daily during our testing period, even at home, and it’s still free from dents and stains. It’s equally easy to use outdoors as it is indoors, brewing flavorful pour-over coffee that can be adjusted for strength by varying the amount of coffee grounds. The BPA-free construction ensures there’s no flavor transfer, allowing you to enjoy a pure taste each time.
One of our favorite features is that this set eliminates the need for disposable paper filters, making it both eco-friendly and convenient, especially when camping in remote areas where you must pack out all litter. Assembling the portable coffee maker set is a breeze, and it’s just as easy to disassemble and clean. We typically rinsed it at camp and then gave it a thorough clean in the dishwasher back home. Since the set doesn’t get hot, it’s perfect for camping with small children, though the mug isn’t leakproof.
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Best Minimalist: JoGo Coffee and Tea Brewing Straw ($27.95 on Amazon)
- Material: Food Grade Stainless Steel and BPA Free Silicone
- Size: 1 ounce
- Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches
- Coffee Maker Type: French press
If you’re a minimalist camper, the JoGo Brewing Straw is a game-changer. This pencil-sized stainless steel brewer uses a micron metal filter to keep out any particles, allowing you to drink directly from a cup of coffee grounds and boiling water. You’ll experience the full, rich flavor of traditional French press coffee without the mess, waste, or need for extra gear. Despite our mug being full of coffee grounds, every sip through the straw was smooth and flavorful, with no grounds slipping through.
The straw’s subtle curve lets you drink comfortably, and the BPA-free silicone tip helps diffuse the temperature for an easy sip. The JoGo Straw works equally well with loose-leaf tea or yerba mate, and the filter can be removed for use as a regular reusable straw. It’s simple to clean, whether by rinsing it at camp or in the dishwasher. Each straw comes with a cleaning brush and a cloth pouch, though we found a travel toothbrush holder that gave it extra protection.
GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Coffee Percolator with Silicone Handle ($27.95 – $59.99 on Amazon)
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 12.8 ounces
- Wattage: 800 watts
- Coffee Maker Type: Percolator
The GSI Glacier Stainless Coffee Percolator is a timeless three-piece coffee maker designed for use on both stovetops and campfires. Available in 3, 6, 9, or 12-cup sizes, it’s the perfect choice for brewing for a group. Constructed from heavy-gauge stainless steel, it’s resistant to both corrosion and impact, surviving being thrown into the sink and packed away without any noticeable damage.
Although we initially thought percolators could be difficult to use, this one came with simple, easy-to-follow instructions. We were able to brew coffee that was rich, smooth, and steaming hot, with no burnt taste or grounds in our cup. A transparent resin knob on the lid lets you monitor the brewing process, while the hinged lid ensures you won’t lose it. Despite being exposed to direct flames, the silicone handle stayed cool, so we never had to worry about burns.
Testing Process
We evaluated all 15 portable coffee makers using a consistent testing process. After unpacking each coffee maker, we examined its components and assessed the overall material quality and weight. We followed the manufacturer’s instructions to set it up and brewed at least two cups of coffee, noting how straightforward the setup was, if any extra equipment or supplies were needed, and whether the strength of the coffee could be adjusted. We also paid attention to the pouring process, as well as the coffee’s taste, quality, and temperature.
Next, we disassembled and cleaned each component before testing the coffee maker outdoors. We brewed another two cups of coffee and compared its performance when used outdoors to its efficiency at home. After the second round of testing, we checked for any wear or damage. We documented our findings on usability, performance, durability, portability, ease of cleaning, and value to identify our top picks.
Conclusion
Portable coffee makers are a must-have for any coffee lover on the go. Whether you’re camping, traveling, or simply need your morning brew on your commute, these compact devices offer the convenience of enjoying fresh coffee wherever you are. With so many options available, you’re sure to find the perfect portable coffee maker to suit your needs and lifestyle. So go ahead, elevate your coffee experience, and enjoy your favorite cup of coffee anytime, anywhere!
