There’s something wonderful about the smell of coffee brewing in the morning. But the smell of coffee brewing in the morning while camping is magical! Electricity or not, coffee is vital for many people, especially on a cool morning when camped in the middle of nowhere. Start your morning right with your hands wrapped around a steaming hot cup of coffee made perfectly with a camping coffee maker. Let’s take a look at the best options.
How Do You Make Coffee Without Electricity?
Contrary to popular belief, you can make an exceptional cup of coffee without electricity. Long before we could plug things into walls, that morning cup of coffee was part of many people’s morning routines, as it is today.
There’s no need for electricity with camping coffee makers from propane-powered cookstove coffee makers to pour over coffee filters to fancy French presses. You just need coffee and hot water. You might not even need a filter.
How to Responsibly Dispose of Coffee Grounds When Camping
But without a filter, what do you do with the grounds?
Generally, when you dispose of used coffee grounds, you throw away the used filter. When camping with or without a coffee filter, you’ll do the same and throw the used grounds from the coffee maker in the trash. Or, better yet, toss them into your compost bin if you have one.
However, don’t throw them on the ground. You might think coffee grounds are organic and good for the environment, but they’re not. While the grounds may not be harmful to most animals, caffeine can harm some plants, animals, and insects.
If you remember, the Leave No Trace principle states, “Pack it in; Pack it Out.” This means all trash, including coffee grounds.
So, play it safe and throw them in the trash.
Pro Tip: Ditch the coffee machine and instead use this guide on The Art of Making Campfire Coffee: A Step-by-Step Guide to get the perfect morning cup of Joe.
The 5 Best Ways to Make Coffee While Camping
Technology is a continual whirlwind of products, including camping coffee makers. Gone are the days of gritty cowboy coffee boiled in an old metal coffee pot over the fire.
Check out these five best camping coffee makers. They’ll make life easier and your camping trip much more enjoyable.
1. AeroPress Go
This camping coffee maker brews coffee and espresso in less than two minutes. Slow brewing methods can leave your coffee with an unwanted bitter taste. The AeroPress Go makes your morning coffee in one minute, eliminating the bitterness. With a traveling case that also becomes a mug and a lid, this is a genius way of making coffee anywhere you go.
- An Amazing Cup, Now On The Go: Take the AeroPress Go with you and...
- All About Taste & Practicality: The AeroPress Go travel coffee...
- Be Your Own Barista: The AeroPress Go is a new way of brewing...
Cleanup is a breeze, thanks to the disposable filters. It comes with 350 of them, or you can purchase a reusable one.
2. GSI Outdoors Drip Coffee Maker
This pour-over style of a camping coffee maker can brew up to 50 ounces, making for happy fellow campers! The pour-over section is silicone and conveniently locks to the lid to prevent spills. Made with a double-walled, insulated cover, not only will there be no spills, but your coffee will remain hot for hours.
- Stay Caffeinated: Coffee? Always! The Java drip makes your...
- No Spills, No Problem: The Java Drip’s unique silicone drip...
- Designed for Durability: Measuring 6. 2 by 4. 8 by 9 inches, The...
The package comes with a reusable mesh filter for your convenience, but if disposable filters are your thing, those work, too. It’s great for camping with a group of friends. However, if you want to bring it backpacking, it might be a bit large.
3. GSI Outdoors 6-Cup Percolator
Filtering the coffee from the bottom, this unique stainless steel camping coffee maker brews espresso or coffee quite nicely. It’s rust-proof and fire-proof, making it ideal for almost any cooking surface. The pot handles fold flat, and its lightweight stainless steel material makes for a perfect companion on any camping trip.
- STAY CAFFEINATED: Espresso? Always! The Glacier Stainless Moka...
- EASY TO USE: Simply fill the lower part of the espresso maker...
- DURABLE: Made from ultra-rugged Glacier Stainless construction,...
The attached filter is a part of the design, meaning you’ll have to clean out the used grounds when done. Although cleanup could be a bit of a hassle, the joy of sharing espresso on a cold morning makes it worthwhile.
4. ESPRO Insulated French Press
This travel French Press and no-leak mug make this camping coffee maker a travel companion portable and small enough to stick in your backpack. Love hot coffee? This press’s insulated double-walled stainless steel construction keeps your coffee hot and fresh no matter how cold it is outside.
- Become a savvy coffee traveler with the ESPRO P1 travel press and...
- Two Filters Are Better Than One - The patented double micro-mesh...
- No More Bitterness – The P1’s silicone lip and dual...
It’s easy to use in five simple steps: Place the coffee grounds in the mug, pour in hot water, stir, wait four minutes, and press.
It brews 10 ounces of coffee, but you could use it solely as a travel mug without brewing. In this capacity, it holds 14 ounces. This single-serve coffee maker gives you that perfect coffee shop cup to start your day, whether it’s in the car or on the trail.
5. Primula Portable Pour Over
In as little as 30 seconds, you could enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of coffee no matter where you are. With no additional equipment needed, except maybe a camping thermos, this pour-over coffee maker is made for coffee anywhere.
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently...
- COFFEE ON THE GO - Anytime, anywhere. Easy and convenient...
- INNOVATIVE DESIGN - Patented brewing technology for a smooth and...
The pour-over features a reusable fine mesh filter. It simply fits inside almost any mug, preventing spills common with traditional pour-over systems. Place ground coffee in the filter, pour over hot water, and brew to your flavor palate. Intense or mild, you control the strength with how long you let it steep.
When done, empty the used grounds into the trash and rinse the filter. Need a better clean? Place it in your RV dishwasher. With less waste, less mess, and fewer grounds in your coffee, is there anything better?
With a good coffee maker, your camping experience could be elevated to the next level. We hope our suggestions have been helpful to your search!
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STM
Thursday 20th of May 2021
If you are boondocking or doing some remote camping, check out the very odd but portable Bripe! https://briping.com/ It's a little weird, but great for people who like a strong shot of espresso in the morning, and/or midday or whenever.
Mortons on the Move
Friday 21st of May 2021
Thanks for the suggestion!
Marc Stauffer
Thursday 20th of May 2021
This ol' cowboy still uses an old hand coffee bean grinder and a well seasoned enamelware coffee boiler. If you do it right and pour a cup of cold water in after boiling and give it a few minutes to settle the grounds, you don't get any in your cup of coffee. I use a fine mesh strainer when pouring into a thermos. When I want to get fancy I have a stainless french press. Thanks for all your articles. You folks are fun to follow and I have learned a lot from y'all.