Topic: The Best Camping Coffee Makers of 2023 (Read 57 times)
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The coffee from the Sea to Summit X-Drip tastes great and it is super simple to make even if you’re barely awake in the morning. Sea to Summit is known for their lightweight, collapsible bowls, pots, and more for backpackers. The X-Drip is a food-grade silicone collapsible drip with a stainless steel mesh filter. At just under 3 ounces and 2 centimeters thick when collapsed, this is ideal for backpacking.
If you’re already Sea to Summit savvy, then you’ll be pleased to know that the X-Drip fits inside the X-Pot Kettle with the X-Mug for the ultimate co*pact coffee kit. The only issue I have is that it isn’t the easiest to clean. The grounds stick to the filter and sides so they have to be scraped out and thoroughly rinsed.
The french press is a simple way to make coffee, and Stanley incorporated it into a double-wall vacuum insulated thermos for brewing on the go. Simply pour your coffee grounds and hot water into the thermos; then place the filter basket inside and plunge it slowly down to trap the grounds at the bottom. You can add cream directly to the mug and enjoy.
However, your grounds are sitting at the bottom of your cup so if you don’t drink your coffee in a reasonable amount of time it could get too strong and a little bitter. I think the convenience factor outweighs the time constraint. And if you do find yourself with a mega-strong half a thermos, adding additional hot water can extend the life of your drink.
Moka pots make great espresso-adjacent coffee fairly easily. This GSI model is made of stainless steel and features a stowable handle for a durable and co*pact brew solution for a group. Fill the 16-ounce reservoir with filtered water and pack fine coffee grounds into the filter before heating on the stove. You can make cups for everyone in your group by adding hot water for a round of Americanos.
After you’re done, the grounds are safely screwed into the bottom of the pot, so if you’re not planning to make any more coffee that trip, it’s easy to stow and go; then clean at home. If your car camping kit needs a coffee pot, this is my pick.
The AeroPress makes a spectacular cup of American coffee and cleans up easy. Put a paper filter in the cap then fill the chamber with coffee grounds and boiling water. Stand the chamber on the included mug, then use the stirring instrument to stir the hot water and grounds for 10 seconds. Insert the plunger to push out your morning coffee, pausing when you feel resistance. The best part is when you unscrew the cap and pop the puck of used grounds and filter out, leaving minimal cleanup. The plunger has pushed all grounds and residue out so a quick rinse is all you need.
While the Nanopresso felt self-explanatory, to operate the AeroPress I needed to watch a video. There are a lot of different parts for a simple coffee maker. AeroPress claims that it produces espresso style coffee, but I wasn’t initially able to achieve the intensity or flavor that a moka pot produces. You’ll need to fine tune your grind size and brew time, but it is possible to make great espresso-like coffee. If you’re willing to learn the intricacies of the AeroPress, it’s the ideal portable coffee maker. You get a generous capacity that all packs away into its own (albeit oddly shaped) mug.
The Classic Pour Over is an incredibly easy and delicious way to brew coffee while camping. The perk of using a pour over means you can adjust how much coffee you want to make, unlike the moka pot where you have to fill it up co*pletely each time. The Stanley mug and pour over co*bo is not exactly co*pact, but there aren’t any moving parts so you can simply chuck both into your camping bin, worry free.
The double-wall vacuum insulation of the Classic camp mug keeps beverages hot for 1.5 hours and cold for 3 hours, perfect for sipping. There’s also an included mug lid to minimize spil*s if you have to carry your cup to the perfect viewpoint.
While the best camping coffee makers produce everything from American to espresso style to true espresso, keep in mind that they’re all black. If you prefer lattes or cream, refrigeration, steam, and frothing are extra steps and supplies you’ll need to pack in and out. When backpacking, it could be worth picking up a box of tiny shelf-stable half and half creamer singles or powdered milk.
Your choice of grounds or beans and grind size will largely affect the taste of your coffee. When camping you might not have the cream, cinnamon, or frothing abilities you’re used to at home. While the best camping coffee makers are delicious, they might co*e in second to the espresso machine or Italian moka pot at home, so splurge on your camping coffee to ensure you’ll actually savor your backcountry brew.
In my opinion, dishes are the worst chore when camping or backpacking. Think about how easy your coffee maker is to clean before taking it into the backcountry. The AeroPress and Nanopresso are simple to quickly rinse clean. A french press or moka pot will be slightly more difficult, but mostly alright if you have plenty of rinsing water.
According to Leave No Trace you should pack out all waste when backpacking or primitive camping, even co*postable waste. Coffee grounds take three to four months to deco*pose and caffeine is toxic to some wildlife. So it is important to pack out your grounds to prevent animals from eating them. Cocaine Bear has already been done; caffeine bear can be avoided.
Try to match your camping coffee maker to how you like your coffee at home. If you typically use a moka pot, one of the stovetop espresso methods like the GSI Miniespresso or GSI Moka pot will taste great. The Stanley Travel Mug is a good way to enjoy french press coffee at camp. You might not bring your Nespresso machine backpacking, but you can bring the Wacaco Nanopress; you can even purchase an NS Adapter to plug in your favorite Nespresso pods. Try the Sea to Summit or Stanley Pour-Over for drip coffee.
You can make stovetop espresso on a camper stove, no problem. The other methods on this list simply need boiling water which you can prepare in one of the best camping kettles on one of the best camping stoves.
An easy-to-clean, portable coffee maker is best for traveling. An included mug can also add convenience. The Sea to Summit X-Drip is a very portable method for brewing on the go. The Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press and AeroPress both include mugs. If you can’t go without espresso, the Nanopresso is extremely packable and has an included cup.
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The best camping coffee makers are diverse and versatile, but they all make quality coffee with camping-friendly features. If you’re looking for a cup of joe on the go, the Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press is great for finding the best place to watch the sunrise. If you’re backpacking, the Sea to Summit X-Drip is co*pact and efficient. When you’re with a group, the GSI Outdoors Moka Pot brews 16 ounces of stellar espresso-like coffee. Find the best coffee maker for your camping style below:
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