The Best Camp Coffee Makers of 2024: Tested

The union of wilderness and well-brewed coffee might seem like a tall order, but with the right tools and a bit of knowledge, it's an achievable luxury. From the robust simplicity of a French press to the delicate nuances of a pour-over coffee or the bold intensity of an espresso, there's a brewing style to pair with every palate—and every campsite. And as an added boost, we've also compiled some quick tips for brewing better coffee.Our 24 testers brewed and sipped more than 200 cups of coffee (not all at the same time, don't worry) to arrive at this list of the six best caffeine-delivery systems sold at REI.Test ResultsFind our quick recommendations here or read on for in-depth reviews.Best Overall Coffee Maker & Editors' Choice Award Winner: AeroPress Go Travel Coffee PressBest Coffee Maker for Backpacking: GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip Coffee MakerBest Coffee Press: OXO Campgrounds French Press 2.0Best Indestructible Camp Coffee Maker: Stanley Pour Over SetBest Coffee Maker for Car Camping: GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso SetOther Top PerformersGSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Steel 6-Cup PercolatorOther Top PerformersShop All Coffee MakersBrewing AdviceRegardless of how or where you brew, making a delicious cup of coffee requires balancing three variables: coffee-to-water ratio, grind size and water. When you get that balance right, making a good cuppa can be a magical part of the camping ritual.Coffee-to-Water RatioIf coffee and water are your ingredients, then the coffee-to-water ratio is your recipe, the key to your brew's strength and flavor. Use a lot of coffee relative to the amount of water and your brew will be strong. Less coffee will give you a milder cup. Coffee professionals generally recommend a ratio of somewhere between 15 to 18 parts water to every one part coffee (in other words, one gram of coffee for every 15 to 18 grams of water). For camping, one tablespoon yields roughly five to seven grams of coffee. As a starting point, try two tablespoons of coffee grounds for every six ounces of brewing water. This basic ratio can help you create a balanced cup with sweetness and nuanced flavor.Grind SizeThe next most critical variable to tweak for your perfect brew is the grind size, or how coarse or fine the grounds are. Let's use a cooking metaphor to demonstrate the importance of grind size. Consider how you cut your ingredients when you're preparing a meal: Bigger pieces of potato cook slower than smaller ones.Similarly, coarser-ground coffee tends to brew slower than finer-ground coffee, as the particle size determines how quickly hot water can extract coffee flavor during the process. That's why a finer grind is used for quick-brewing espresso; a medium grind is ideal for drip coffee makers' moderate brew times (both electric and pour-over); and a coarse grind is best for longer brew methods like French press or cold brew.If your finished coffee tastes too bitter, it might be over-extracted. This is the result of the water spending too much time absorbing flavors from the grounds, which can happen if your grind is too fine. If the coffee tastes somewhat sour, on the other hand, it's likely under-extracted, which can be caused by water passing quickly through grounds that are too coarse. Adjusting the size of the grind can help you dial in the perfect extraction and achieve the right balance of acidity, sweetness and pleasant bitterness.To ensure the best taste, before you go camping, think about the method you'll be using, and perhaps even brew a few cups before you hit the trail. Most roasters recommend a grind size to get you started, but you may need to make some small adjustments to get it just right. If you pack a portable coffee grinder, you can change your grind size on the fly. If you're bringing pre-ground coffee, grind more than you need (just in case) and store it in an airtight container.WaterWater makes up more than 98% of your coffee, so its quality greatly affects the final flavor. Clean, good-tasting water means a better-tasting cup of coffee, plain and simple. Note that any impurities or minerals in your water can interfere with the coffee's extraction and aromatic compounds. If you're packing your own for drinking and brewing, bring more than you think you'll need. If you plan to find water sources near camp, bring a water filter or purifier. (Related reading: How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier and How to Treat Water in the Backcountry)Water temperature is also key for quality brewing. According to the Specialty Coffee Association, the optimal temperature for brewing coffee is between 200°F and 210°F (90°C-96°C). You'll likely travel without a temperature-controlled kettle, but the good news is you can still aim for the right brewing temperature at camp. When boiling water over a campfire or with a camp stove, allowing the water to rest away from the heat for about 30 seconds will typically drop it into range. (Related reading: How to Choose a Backpacking Stove)Quick tip: Water boils at a lower temperature at higher elevations, which can lead to a sour-tasting under-extraction. If this happens, consider grinding a bit finer or letting the coffee steep a little longer.Buying AdviceMany coffee drinkers already have a preferred brew method, and if that's the case, consider sticking with what you know. Others, however, love to experiment with new techniques and flavors as a way of making camp meals particularly special. If you're choosing a new coffee maker for your outdoor explorations, you'll want to consider how portable and durable it is, how much volume you'll want to brew and what other tools might be necessary to pack. The type of adventure you have planned and what you have access to while you're at camp are also considerations.Here are a few factors to account for when planning out your camp coffee routine.PortabilityThere's a pretty big range in portability of the coffee devices in this guide. If you're hauling all your gear on your back, opt for lightweight coffee makers that are easy to pack. Collapsible pour-over devices like the GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip are ideal for situations where space and weight matter.Options like the AeroPress Go, OXO Campgrounds French Press 2.0 and Stanley Pour Over Set are slightly bulkier and heavier, although some hikers will choose to carry a little extra weight in order to achieve their perfect cup of coffee.If you're car camping and have the space, anything goes—but the GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso Set is the ultimate clutch move.Group SizeBrewing for one or two? A single-serving device like the AeroPress GO Travel and GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip are ideal. The Stanley Pour Over Set is a great solo option if you don't mind the extra weight or bulk. If you have more space in your pack or are car camping, treat yourself to espresso from the GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso Set. With a group, these coffee makers will be time consuming, because you have to brew and then clean up for each cup.The OXO Campgrounds French Press 2.0 and the GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless-Steel 6-Cup Percolator brew anywhere from 3 to 6 cups at a time, so both are great options if you're trying to satisfy several coffee drinkers.Other Camp Kitchen SuppliesWhat camp kitchen supplies will you have access to? Does your device require a stovetop, like the GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso Set and GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless-Steel 6-Cup Percolator, or can you get away with a small backpacking stove to just boil water?Some devices like the AeroPress Go and Stanley Pour Over Set have included or built-in mugs so you don't need to carry a separate mug. In contrast, all other devices in this article require you to pack along something to pour your coffee into.Also, consider how much water you'll need to clean up and rinse your coffee maker. Drip coffee makers like the GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip are great if you have minimal kitchen supplies because you just remove or dump out the filter. (With any device, make sure to pack out your coffee grinds.)Video: All the Ways to Make Coffee While CampingLeave No TraceWhether you're enjoying a fresh mug of French press, a cup of pour over or a rich espresso in the great outdoors, the nuances of brewing only add to the adventure. Let's ensure our coffee rituals don't spoil the landscape we cherish.Adhere to the Leave No Trace principles and dispose of used grounds responsibly by packing them out with other food waste. Always store your coffee and other perishables in sealed containers to avoid attracting bears.MethodologyOur dedicated team of 24 testers have forfeited their normal coffee routines to evaluate more than 14 different coffee brewers sold at REI. Blind taste tests, ultralight backpacking trips, quiet car-camping mornings, backyard breakfasts and a few destination coffee hikes provided the ideal settings to evaluate each device on coffee quality, ease of use, portability and cleanup.Our testers included casual coffee drinkers, former baristas and coffee professionals, and Seattle-born coffee snobs based in Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.