How to choose the perfect campervan coffee makers and best buys for a perfect cuppa wherever you are.
There is nothing quite like early morning in your campervan.
Whether you are in a new location while on a cross-country adventure or relaxing at a pretty campsite, watching the world waking up from your cozy quarters before the madness of the day begins is a small yet magical moment.
There is no doubt, however, that the magic quickly fades should this moment be accompanied by bad coffee!
Thankfully, long gone are the days when campervans and good coffee were an impossible match.
While a campervan coffee maker may not have the size and full capabilities of a professional machine, there are great coffee makers for campervans on the market that can give you coffee just as you like it.
Finding the perfect campervan coffee maker requires a bit of time and research and this is why we are here to help.
In this buying guide the camper van coffee makers, you will find all you need to know for the perfect buy.
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Best Coffee Makers For Campers
If you are planning your next camper or RV trip, we’ve put together a list of the most convenient campervan coffee maker options you can bring with you on the road.
Read on for important features to look out for and the detailed features of each:
Product | Make | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp Coffee Maker | Drip Coffee Maker 14 cups programmable | $$$ - check here | |
Mr. Coffee 2129512 5-Cup Mini Brew Switch Coffee Maker | Drip Coffee Maker 5 cups | $ - check here | |
Keurig K-Mini Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer | K-cup pods Single Serve 6-12oz Takes tall travel cups | $$ - check here | |
Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer with 12 Ounce Reservoir | Capsule & Grounds Single serve 5-12oz | $ - check here | |
Chefman InstaCoffee Single Serve Coffee Maker | K-cup holder + coffee grinds or loose leaf tea | $ - check here | |
Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Carafe | 4-cup carafe dripless pour spout | $ - check here | |
BOSCARE Small Drip Coffee Maker Machine | Small Drip Coffee Maker 5-cups | $ - check here | |
OXO Brew 8 Cup Coffee Maker | Single Brew or up to 8 Cup Carafe Pour Over Coffee Maker | $$$ - check here |
Pricing guide: $ – under $50USD; $$ – under $80USD; $$$ – over $80USD
Factors to Consider While Buying a Campervan Coffee Maker
How do you choose the right campervan coffee maker for your vehicle when you’re out on the roads?
The following features are crucial for choosing the right coffee maker for your van:
Power Source:
The first thing you need to consider when buying a coffee machine for a campervan is your power source.
Some portable travel coffee makers operate on batteries. However, many of the best portable coffee machines want electricity
Battery-operated coffee machines may seem the most convenient for campervan kitchens but they are not always as space-efficient as they may seem!
Depending on your setup, you may want an energy-efficient electric coffee machine or a stove top one.
Countertop Space:
No matter how big your living quarters may be, you need a campervan coffee machine that can work with the countertop space you have.
For many, the best coffee maker for van life is tiny. However, be careful about what the campervan coffee maker promises to do!
Some are tiny but require boiling water in a different container so they take counter space for little return!
Others may seem bigger but also do more, returning a better return on your investment, both in terms of cost and space!
When it comes to campervan coffee makers, we found that the two opposite ends of the spectrum often work well: an all-in-one coffee machine if you have the space or the opposite: a tiny one you can use with the kettle you already have.
Cleaning Process:
Regular usage means regular mess, and the coffee maker must be cleaned often. The last thing you want when in your campervan is a fiddly or time-consuming cleaning process: find a coffee maker that has an easy-clean or auto-clean mode.
User-Friendly:
Your time in the campervan is not the right opportunity to act like a barista. It’s best to choose coffee makers that can operate with just one touch.
Quality:
No one likes coffee that tastes burnt or watered down. So don’t skimp on the price too much, or you’ll end up with a poor-quality brewer that will spoil your drink.
Quantity:
Will you have several coffee drinkers in your camping crew or will it only be coffee for one? You can save a lot of campervan space by buying a single-serve coffee maker.
Types of Camping Coffee Makers
There are various types of coffee makers.
The best option for a coffee maker for you depends on what kind of coffee you want to drink, how you want to brew it, if you wish to use freshly ground coffee or go for ready-to-use pods. Let’s take a look:
Drip Coffee Maker
This is a popular type of coffee maker in which water is heated in the reservoir producing steam. The steam condenses into hot water, which drips onto the ground coffee, passing through it to give you your freshly brewed coffee.
Pour Over Coffee Maker
This is similar to drip coffee makers, as hot water is poured over coffee in a filter. The water seeps through and drops into the mug below. It is portable and easy to use but needs you to heat the water separately.
Espresso Machines
This type of coffee machine makes coffee by passing near-boiling water at high pressure through a tamped coffee serving – usually called pods or cups. This gives you a dark brew that’s strongly caffeinated.
Although normally associated with larger countertop make-at-home espresso machines, you can go for portable espresso makers for your van for ultra-compact convenience.
Percolator
Percolators are a favorite for many campers, often choose this one-pot coffee maker with a straw for its portability and ease of use. In a percolator, hot water passes up this straw and splashes on the coffee to drip through it for your drink.
French Press Coffee Maker
This type of coffee maker is a manual device that makes coffee quickly, though you still need a way to boil your hot water first – meaning you’ll need some sort of electricity or gas stove.
A cylindrical carafe, it contains a plunger and a built-in filter that percolates the coffee.
Coffee grounds are steeped in water for some 4 to 5 minutes then, the metal filter of the machine is used to separate the grounds from the beverage.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker
If you are a lover of cold coffee then a cold brew campervan coffee maker can be a great choice! Cold brews tend to have rich flavour yet less bitterness than hot brews and machines that make them do not require electricity.
8 Best Campervan Coffee Makers
Best Coffee Maker for RV’s & Big Families: Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp Coffee Maker
if you have good counter space in your van, one of the best coffee makers for campers is Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp Coffee Maker.
The device can stir up sufficient coffee to fill 14 cups making it ideal for when you’re travelling with a crew. It’s engineered to make your beverage as hot as you want without affecting the taste.
This programmable coffee maker allows you to choose any flavor profile or strength.
The LCD is easy to read and is equipped with a ready tone and indicator light to warn you when you need to decalcify. It’s the perfect coffee-maker to set up in your RV – even program it ready for wake up time!
What We Love:
- Sleek design and multiple color options
- Programmable device for multiple strength and heat options
- Easy self-cleaning option to make maintenance hassle-free
What Could Be Better:
- Plastic taste in the first few pots observed by some users
- Carafe challenging to clean, as noted by some users
- It does take up a fair bit of counter space compared to other more portable models
Best camper coffee maker for couples: Mr. Coffee 2129512 5-Cup Mini Brew Switch Coffee Maker
If you’re looking for one of the cheapest and most efficient RV coffee makers for the price, you can’t go past Mr. Coffee Mini Brew Switch Coffee Maker.
It’s compactly designed to fit into any small space, which is why it is a favorite among travelers who own trailers.
Using it is extremely easy, and the ergonomic design of the carafe, along with the ounce markings, makes coffee-making really convenient – you can easily fill two 12oz cups. It’s also easy to clean up this coffee maker, thanks to the lift & clean filter basket. It’s the perfect device for two people.
What We Love:
- Indicator lights to remind you to shut the device off
- Auto-pause mode to get a cup before the brewing process is done
- Easy to check water level through the water window
What Could Be Better:
- Spillage caused by the pot while pouring as reported by some users
- Difficult to clean and dry the insides, according to some users
Best campervan coffee maker for single serves: Keurig K-Mini Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer
Light, compact, and stylish, Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker is the ideal portable coffee maker when you are out camping.
You’ll be surprised to know that it’s less than 5 inches wide! It is a single-serve coffee maker that makes you the perfect amount of your favorite beverage without taking up too much space.
As your personal coffee maker, this device can brew the perfect amount of coffee for a single person. You can brew yourself a cup of 6-12 oz just by adjusting the water level. It is an energy-efficient coffee maker, that is going to suit your vanlife perfectly.
What We Love:
- Small and sleek design that fits anywhere
- Range of matte-finish color options to choose from
- Accommodates large 7 inch tall travel mugs
- Auto-turnoff after 90 sec from the last use to save energy
- Handy travel cord packs away inside the coffee machine
What Could Be Better
- Takes time to warm up, compared to other devices
- Only takes K-Cup pods; Not compatible with popular K-Carafe, K-Mug, Vue, and Rivo pods
Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer
Do you want a single-serve coffee maker for your van when you are traveling? Then Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer might be the right option for you. The device has a unique vintage look with bright shades, as well as black and gray models – perfect if you want something to fit in with your van’s décor.
Using the coffee maker is an easy one touch, 3.5 bar pressure and you’ll have your hot cup of coffee within a matter of just 3 minutes or less.
It can fit on any countertop and features an auto-shut-off option to save energy and prevent the machine from overheating. It is compatible with 1.0 and 2.0 coffee capsules but can also be used with ground coffee.
What We Love:
- Compact design to fit in small spaces – just 4.3″ wide
- Can double as a water boiler for tea drinkers too
- Wide range of color options available
- Removable drip tray allows you to fit taller travel mugs up to 5.3″
What Could Be Better
- No option to select mug size
- Needs deep cleaning frequently
Chefman InstaCoffee Single Serve Coffee Maker
For coffee lovers who love to travel in campervans, Chefman InstaCoffee Single Serve Coffee Maker is an excellent choice for a quick cup of hot, fresh brew. It is a favorite among van owners because of its sleek, slim design so you can easily stow it away or keep it on your countertop.
This coffee is compatible with both coffee K-Cup pods and coffee grounds. Using the device is like child’s play, and you can get sufficient coffee for 14-oz travel mugs in a single go. The self-cleaning feature prevents mineral build-up so that the device lasts for a long time.
What We Love:
- Quick coffee maker that brews coffee in 30 seconds
- Can fit extra tall travel mugs – 7.6″ tall and up to 14oz fill
- Single-touch operation for easy brewing
- Only 4.25″ wide for ease of storage
- Comes with a reusable filter for coffee grounds and tea leaves
What Could Be Better
- Splatters noticed by users while using shorter cups
- Difficulty in filling water tank reported by some users
Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Carafe
Are you looking for a camper coffee pot for your trips to make you small amounts of fresh brew in a jiffy? Then Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffeemaker is an excellent option for you. Its compact design and quick performance make it one of the best camping coffee maker options.
The device can make you four cups of coffee at a time. It comes with the features of a coffee maker that everyone loves, such as Pause to grab a cup in before the cycle is complete and Auto-Shutoff to prevent power loss. The steel carafe is easy to handle.
What We Love:
- Small brewer, ideal for reduced countertop space
- Steel carafe with ergonomic handle and dripless sprout
- Automatic shutoff after 30 minutes
What Could Be Better:
- May experience spill-over if the button is not pushed properly
- May clog after several uses if not cleaned
BOSCARE Small Drip Coffee Maker Machine
BOSCARE Small Drip Coffee Maker Machine is one of the best coffee maker options for travelers who love the classic charm of manual brewing. This drip coffee maker allows you to make a quick cup of coffee within 5 to 8 minutes to fill your cup or the entire carafe.
It is extremely easy to use, thanks to the one-touch brewing function and gives you the authentic feel of drip coffee every time. The camping coffee maker brews up to 5 cups of coffee at a time, which means that your small travel party will be sorted on the coffee front every time!
What We Like:
- Electronic drip coffee for a convenient way to make good coffee
- Single On/Off button to start brewing instantly
- Non-stick hot plate to keep the beverage warm for an hour
What Could Be Better:
- Slight “burnt” smell noticed by some connoisseurs
- Better to use paper filters as coffee grounds stick to the permanent filter
OXO Brew 8 Cup Coffee Maker
A fabulous coffee maker that comes with a thermal carafe, OXO Brew 8 Cup Coffee Maker is an excellent camper coffee maker giving you the choice between single brew or carafe for a crowd. It is designed for convenient usage and cleaning and at only 7 inches wide is a great compact model for it’s capacity.
It is the ideal device for gold-standard coffee every time – with optimized flavor. The device is engineered to let you control brew cycles and temperature using “BetterBrew” technology. Plus, the showerhead offers a “rainmaker” style of distributing water to reach coffee grounds evenly.
What We Like:
- Comes with a convenient easy-clean option
- Thermal carafe to make and store the brew, can keep warm for several hours
- Single serve option to prevent wastage – can fit up to a 20oz mug
What Could Be Better:
- Gets too hot too quickly, as noted by those who don’t like excessively hot coffee
- Difficulty on opening and closing the top threaded piece by some users
We hope you enjoyed this selection of the best campervan coffee makers available online and it helped you find one that is perfect for you. Happy shopping – and happy sipping!
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