While coffee is an essential part of the day for many people, choosing the perfect brewing device for camping isn’t nearly as technical, involved, or essential as other outdoor gear purchases. If you pick the wrong camp coffee maker, it won’t result in someone getting lost, hurt, or hypothermic.
However, choosing a backcountry brewing method is of utmost importance for some of us and is not a choice to be taken lightly. If you are reading this, you are probably thrilled that there are so many options for taking your favorite beans into the woods! But how do you choose the perfect brewing device? Read on for insights from our team of backcountry coffee fiends.
All of the products in this review are more portable than a countertop espresso machine and can meet your need for backcountry caffeine. The critical factor is this: can they satisfy your refined palette or coffee-making style? We know that our team of testers would never settle for just any cup of cheap bitter Joe, so we searched out the best and most delicious ways to brew in the great outdoors.
How to Choose?
Read on for some of the critical things to consider when trying to decide on your purchase:
How important is flavor to you?
If this is the most important factor — as it typically is for our review team — then focus on flavor and commit to learning how to brew best with whatever device you choose. Pick a brewer that helps coffee realize its full potential instead of masking or ruining it. Dial in a recipe and system before you head out on a camping or backpacking trip so that you’ll be that much more likely to have the perfect cup every time. Or wing it and perfect your brewing style on the fly with the recognition that your first few rounds might taste a little sub-par.
How many people do you want to be able to serve?
Do you need a coffee maker for solo backpacking trips, or do you tend to go car-camping with a big group? Does it make sense for everyone to use their own separate brewers or to have one that can accommodate everyone easily and efficiently?
How easy is the brewer to use?
Does the brewer come with a ton of fiddly parts to mind? How easy is the brewing process? What filters or other accessories might you need to buy? Is it easy to clean? You can use our review to assess your preferences for managing easy vs. involved recipes, bare-bones brewers vs. those with extra accessories, and whether clean-up is a straightforward or involved process. All of this is key to making sure you’re excited to use your new brewer.
Do you need the lightest possible method?
Are you trying to shave grams for an upcoming backpacking trip? If you’re looking for a brewing device for backpacking or other weight-conscious activities, be sure to pay attention to this and triangulate between the other metrics that are important to you.
Do you need a compact brewer because space is at a premium?
If you’re looking for a brewer that occupies minimal space in your pack or kitchen bin, then take extra note of size and weight. Consider how packable the brewer is and whether it will work with your current setup.