Whether you want to warm up after a wild swim somewhere beautiful, or you're the first one awake on a campsite by a crackling fire, a cup of fresh coffee can revive both mind and soul. Here at BBC Countryfile Magazine, we put a number of portable coffee makers to the test, so you can fuel up on the go.
All of the tested portable coffee makers below work with ground coffee, but it's important to check whether you'll need a separate stove or kettle if you're camping overnight.
What to consider when buying a portable coffee maker
- Brewing method - are you a French press, pour-over, or espresso fan? As well as taste preference, there's capacity to consider too. You may find a French press is more suitable for large camping groups, whereas a pour-over could do the trick for solo trips.
- Size and weight - if you're on a multi-day hike, you'll want a lightweight option you can effortlessly fit into a pack between your rolled up T-shirts and extra layers.
- Ease of cleaning - give yourself an effortless cleaning routine whilst away from home, so look for a coffee maker that's easy to rinse.
Best portable coffee makers at a glance:
- Best lightweight option for camping, work and everyday use: AeroPress Go
- Best for espresso enthusiasts: WACACO Nanopresso
- Best for multi-day hikes: MSR Windburner Stove
Best portable coffee makers reviewed
AeroPress Go
Best lightweight option for camping, work and everyday use
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- Weight: 333g
- Makes: 1 - 3 cups
- RRP: £44.99
AeroPress is a huge name in the portable coffee making game. We tested the brand's most travel-friendly version, the AeroPress Go, and found the nifty device lived up to the brand's rave reviews and highly-regarded reputation.
The gadget's packability and simplicity makes it a super campsite addition. The chamber, plunger, stirrer, filters and scoop all pack away into a portable mug and lid to make for a rather satisfyingly neat travel package.
Easy to use; a breeze to clean (just twist off the cap and empty the filter and coffee grounds before rinsing) and incredibly lightweight. Fast too — minus water boiling times, the process takes around a minute. And yes, the coffee really is as smooth as promised.
We’d say the £44.99 price tag is reasonable. You can use this portable coffee maker at home; in the office, as well as on a multi-day hike, so you’re sure to get your money’s worth.
Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, makes deliciously smooth coffee
Cons: Travel cup and chamber don’t fit securely (didn’t cause any issues, just something to be wary of)
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Reviewed by Rachel Howatson
WACACO Nanopresso
Best for espresso enthusiasts
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- Weight: 345g
- Makes: One espresso
- RRP: £59.90
Another neat portable coffee maker worth considering is the WACACO Nanopresso. The hand-held device turns into a pump, and makes a tasty espresso using ground coffee.
The instructions and images were welcomed, but we’d recommend having a read through and trial before heading out into the wilderness to make sure you’ve really got the hang of it. Our first go was a messy affair which resulted in a kitchen bench covered in ground coffee.
It took us around 2 minutes and 20 seconds to make our coffee, and we were delighted with the crema on top of the espresso. Feels lovely and decadent for a camping trip.
You’ll want even ground as you have to pour hot water into a lightweight travel cup, so be careful if you’re on grass. The device feels heavy due to its dense package, but it’s not much heavier than the AeroPress Go, so it’s still a great choice for day hikers and campers.
Pros: Barista-style crema, fun to use, no plastic pods
Cons: Not the lightest, can be messy
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Reviewed by Rachel Howatson
MSR Windburner Stove and Coffee Press Kit
Best for multi-day hikes and groups
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- Weight: 515g (1L pot)
- Makes: 1L and 1.8L available
- RRP: £200 (stove), £26 (coffee press)
The MSR Windburner Stove System doubles as a cafetière when paired with the brand's French Press Kit. This makes it a great backpacking option, as you can use the stove in the evening for your rice and pasta, and in the morning, you've got yourself a cafetière.
The stove screws onto a gas canister, and on use, we found the device a bit wobbly, so be sure to find a flat surface. The safety grip is a welcomed addition.
We were impressed with the efficiency of the stove — we had boiling water in under five minutes on test. It wasn’t the easiest to check on the water’s progress however as the pot has a cover.
On review, we found the 1L stove was large enough to make four decent cups of coffee — perfect for a group breakfast by the campfire.
Overall, this is a high-quality and well-thought-out piece of gear and if you're a regular backpacker who prioritises a nice cup of coffee whilst in the great outdoors, we'd say it's a worthwhile investment.
Pros: Efficient, decent capacity
Cons: Extra kit (gas and stove) makes it an expensive purchase
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Reviewed by Rachel Howatson
Grind Cold Brew Bottle
Best for summer and home use
- Buy now from Grind (£30.00)
- Weight: 563g
- Makes: 4-5 cups
- RRP: £30
As well as hiking-friendly portable options, we also put Grind's Cold Brew Bottle to the test, for those hot summer days spent in the garden.
This is a stylish-looking product, with a smart glass bottle, and white silicone lid and cork — all dishwasher safe. It’s pretty big and you can’t lay it down as it’s not leakproof, so we had to shift our middle fridge shelf up just to fit it on the lower one.
The central pod takes a lot of coffee, so you get through grounds pretty quickly, and with added water the bottle makes up to five cups in one go. Grind says to brew for 8-24 hours, so you need to plan ahead, depending on your preferred strength and drinking time.
We found a 15-hour brew fairly weak, while the full 24 hours gave punchy flavour, even with milk added. The bottle and inner pod are easy to put together after a couple of practises.
Ultimately, some might say it’s more convenient to simply chill an espresso shot - or pour it over milk and ice for a quick fix. But if your household gets through four or five cups a day and you’re organised with your brewing, this could be the choice for you.
Pros: sleek product, large capacity
Cons: bulky, requires forward planning
Reviewed by Alice Tuffery
Also consider...
Not found what you're looking for? As well as our tested portable coffee makers above, we've put together a list of other buying options below.
Bialetti Moka Express Hob Espresso Maker
- Type of coffee: Espresso
- How it works: Add water and ground coffee, attach sections, heat Moka
- Powered by: Stove or other heat source
The famously Italian Moka Express was invented in 1933 as a stove-top espresso maker that allowed people to brew coffees in their own home - a luxury that, until then, had mostly stayed exclusive to cafes and restaurants.
The Bialetti Moka Express can bring this experience into your home. Once you're familiar with the different sections and how to use them, it can be a relatively straightforward way to use your stove to produce a warming cup of espresso.
Cafe Du Chateau Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Type of coffee: Cold Brew
- How it works: Add coffee, pour water, push filter then refrigerate
- Powered by: Hand-powered & refrigerate
Cold brew is a popular choice among coffee drinkers thanks to its natural flavours that are less bitter and acidic than hot coffee. Even compared to iced coffee, it's a smoother, more flavourful taste with a higher caffeine count that's supposedly easier on the stomach.
The Cafe Du Chateau coffee maker contains airtight silicone seals to keep the coffee fresh for up to 10 days. Pushing the filter should be an easy enough process and, with a maximum capacity of 1000ml, this should provide you with more than enough cold brew.
Barista & Co Twist Press Espresso Coffee Maker
- Buy now from Barista and Co Coffee (£33.99)
- Type of coffee: Espresso
- How it works: Twist to press coffee into the cup
- Powered by: Hand-powered
Producing a single, espresso-style shot of coffee - this coffee maker should be one of the easiest-to-use choices out there. Once the filter is in place and the chamber is filled with coffee, leave it to brew for your desired time then twist and press the handles to produce a coffee shot within.
The 100 filters included are said to create a clean coffee that's free from sediments. It should be easy to rinse through and it's also dishwasher-safe!
BODUM Home & To-Go Double-Walled French Press Coffee Maker
- Type of coffee: Americano & Cold Brew
- How it works: French Press
- Powered by: Hand-powered
This nifty coffee maker is a French press and a travel mug all in one. The French press can be used to make a load of different beverages - tea, coffee, cold brew and even infused water - that you can drink straight from it.
The mug is said to be spill-proof thanks to its closable lid, but make sure it stays upright as it isn't fully leak-proof.
Cafflano Klassic All-in-One Coffee Maker
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- Type of coffee: Espresso, Americano
- How it works: Grind your own coffee beans to infuse with water for a coffee of your choice
- Powered by: Hand-powered grinder and drip filter
The Cafflano Klassic started as a Kickstarter project to create an all-in-one coffee maker that's fully portable. What's included is a coffee grinder, a rare feature for a portable maker, as well as a drip filter tray to make espresso coffee. Plus, it doubles up as a sealable travel mug, so you really can take it anywhere.
There are quantity markers inside so you can easily measure how many coffee beans you're putting in. It produces an espresso-style shot of coffee that can be topped up with water for a milder taste.
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Looking for decaf coffee? Read the best decaf coffee: 8 popular brands reviewed.
