Which Portable Coffee Maker Fits Your Situation
Coffee to go is a must. Even with a coffee shop on every corner, you might want to save a few bucks, drink your own roast, or you’re camping and the nearest barista is 40 miles away.
Every situation needs a different portable coffee maker. Ask yourself three questions: Do you have power? Do you have hot water? How many people are drinking?
| Best for | Our pick | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Travel and backpacking | AeroPress GoManual press. No power, packs into its own mug. | Check Price on Amazon |
| Espresso, no power | Wacaco NanopressoPortable espresso. Hand pump, up to 18 bar. | Check Price on Amazon |
| Car and road trips | OutIn NanoPortable espresso. Heats its own water. | Check Price on Amazon |
| Hotel room, dorm or RV | Keurig K-MiniPod machine. Under 5 inches wide. | Check Price on Amazon |
| Job site | Makita cordless coffee makerDrip machine. Runs on Makita tool batteries. | Check Price on Amazon |
| Camping with a group | Coleman propane coffee makerDrip machine. 10 cups on propane. | Check Price on Amazon |
| Fresh-ground coffee anywhere | Cafflano KlassicGrind and brew. Grinder, kettle and mug in one. | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Portable Coffee Maker for Travel: AeroPress Go
AeroPress Go
The best portable coffee maker. Compact enough to take anywhere, no electricity, super easy to clean, and some of the best tasting coffee you can brew.
- Brews
- 8oz
- Packed weight
- 11.4 oz
- Mug
- 15 oz
- Power
- None
Pros
- Everything packs inside the mug
- Cleans up in seconds
- Shatterproof, survives a backpack
- Use your own coffee grounds
Cons
- Needs hot water from somewhere
- Uses its own filters
- Slight learning curve for a consistent cup
The AeroPress is the staple device that should be in everyone’s arsenal. The Go is the travel version.
It makes a smooth cup of Joe using contained pressure and a short steep. The paper micro-filter holds back the grit and most of the oils, which cuts the bitterness.
The press, scoop, stirrer and a stack of filters all fit inside the 15 oz mug. AeroPress includes 100 paper filters, and the filter holder carries up to 20 of them.
Already own the regular AeroPress? It travels fine too, it just doesn’t come with the mug. Our AeroPress tips and award winning recipe will get you a better cup either way, and we also put it up against the Delter coffee press.
Best Manual Portable Espresso Maker: Wacaco Nanopresso
Wacaco Nanopresso
A fan favorite. You pump the pressure by hand, so it makes real espresso with no battery and no outlet.
- Pressure
- 18bar
- Water tank
- 80 ml
- Weight
- 336 g
- Power
- Hand pump
Pros
- Small and feels well built
- Easy to clean
- Makes a real crema
Cons
- Needs hot water
- One shot at a time without the Barista Kit
- Capsules need the NS adapter
- Learning curve
The Nanopresso gets up to 18 bars of pressure (9 is all you need for espresso). Once you practice enough, you can dial in the grind and water temperature for a decent shot.
It takes about 8 g of finely ground coffee, tamped hard. Add hot water and you can turn it into an Americano.
Want capsules or a double shot? That takes the add-ons in the parts section below. Our full Wacaco Nanopresso review covers how it pulls a shot.
Best Portable Espresso Maker for the Car: OutIn Nano
OutIn Nano
A battery espresso maker that heats its own water. The one to pick when you have no way to boil water.
- Pressure
- 20bar
- Heat-up
- 200 sec
- Shots per charge
- Up to 5
- Charging
- USB-C or car
Pros
- Heats cold water, no kettle needed
- Takes Nespresso capsules or ground coffee
- Charges from a 12V or 24V car charger
Cons
- Cannot brew while charging
- Only about 5 shots per charge from room-temperature water
- Costs more than manual brewers
Heating anything to about 198°F eats a lot of energy. Think how fast a phone battery dies when it’s hot.
That’s why battery coffee makers are rare, and why many of the ones touted a few years ago are gone. The Nano is one that stuck around.
OutIn rates it at up to 5 shots per charge from room-temperature water. Pour in hot water and one charge covers 200+ shots, because the battery only has to pump.
It works with Nespresso Original capsules (sorry K-Cup lovers) or 6 to 8 g of your own grounds. Charge it from USB-C or a car charger rated 15W or more.
Best Portable Coffee Maker for a Hotel Room: Keurig K-Mini
Keurig K-Mini
One of the most compact Keurigs. If you really need a Keurig at the hotel or in the camper, this is it.
- Width
- Under 5inches
- Brew size
- 6 to 12 oz
- Reservoir
- One cup
- Power
- 120V outlet
Pros
- Brews fast
- Keurig simplicity
- Cord storage for packing
- Fits travel mugs up to 7 inches tall
Cons
- Needs to be plugged in
- Fill the water every cup
- Standard Keurig reliability issues
The K-Mini is less than 5 inches wide and brews any size from 6 to 12 oz. It shuts itself off 90 seconds after the last brew.
It has no tank. You pour in fresh water for each cup, which is fine for one person and annoying for two.
Want something even cheaper? The Chulux single serve coffee maker does the same job at a lower price. For more small counter machines, see our best small coffee makers.
Best Cordless Coffee Maker for the Job Site: Makita
Makita 18V LXT / 12V max CXT Cordless Coffee Maker
A heavy-duty, fully cordless coffee maker that runs on the same batteries as your drill.
- Per battery
- Up to 3cups (5 oz, 5.0Ah)
- Brew time
- 5 min
- Filter
- Permanent
- Batteries
- 18V LXT or 12V CXT
Pros
- Fully cordless
- Uses ground coffee or single-serve packs
- No paper filters
- Built like a Makita tool
Cons
- Battery and charger sold separately
- Only 5 oz per cup
- Pricey if you do not already own Makita batteries
Makita makes plenty of heavy duty products that are well received by its users. This one is a wireless coffee maker you can take fishhh… I mean to the job site.
It brews one 5 oz cup in about 5 minutes on an 18V battery. A 5.0Ah battery covers up to three cups.
It ships tool only, with a cup and lid but no battery. Crews that already run Makita tools get the best deal. Use any kind of ground coffee (find out what coffee is best for you).
Best Portable Coffee Maker for Camping: Coleman Propane Coffee Maker
Coleman 10-Cup Portable Propane Coffeemaker
A real drip coffee maker that runs on a 16.4 oz propane cylinder. The pick for a campsite full of coffee drinkers.
- Capacity
- 10cups
- Brew time
- About 18 min
- Fuel
- Propane
- Run time
- Up to 4.5 hr per cylinder
Pros
- Brews a full pot for a group
- Push-button ignition, no matches
- Pause and serve mid-brew
- Dishwasher-safe filter basket
Cons
- Takes about 18 minutes
- Bigger than everything else here
- Now sold mostly by resellers, so the price has climbed
The ideal use for this one is camping or working outdoors. Coleman rates it at up to 4.5 hours on high from a single 16.4 oz cylinder, and it carries a 3-year warranty.
The major issue is time. Expect about 18 minutes for a pot, even with a hot start.
Users report the 10 cups are small cups, so plan on less coffee than the number suggests.
Best All-in-One Portable Coffee Maker With a Grinder: Cafflano Klassic
Cafflano Klassic
The Swiss Army knife of portable coffee makers. It grinds, it pours, it keeps your coffee warm.
- Grinder
- Ceramicburr
- Kettle
- 270 ml
- Tumbler
- 450 ml
- Filter
- Stainless steel
Pros
- Adjustable grind size
- No paper filters
- Bean level markers, no scale needed
- Solidly built
Cons
- Needs hot water
- Watch a video first to learn it
- Forces you to pour slow
If you’re a stickler for freshly ground coffee on the go, this is your best bet. The hand grinder, drip kettle, stainless filter and a double-wall tumbler all stack into one cylinder.
Fill beans to the 10 to 30 g marks, grind, then pour. It needs no paper filters, so there’s nothing to restock.
Prefer plain pour-over with less to carry? Read our Pourigami review.
Drawbacks of Portable Coffee Makers
You can’t have the best of all worlds.
- Small means less power. Battery brewers make a few shots, then need a charge. High altitude and cold weather make it worse.
- Manual means hot water. The AeroPress Go, Nanopresso and Cafflano all need water from a kettle, stove or thermos.
- Big means not portable. The Coleman brews for a crowd but takes up half a picnic table.
- Supplies run out. Filters, capsules, batteries and propane are the things you forget. Stock up before the trip.
Ultra portable coffee makers are not ready to be your daily driver. For home, get a regular coffee maker.
Replacement Parts and Supplies
Every portable coffee maker needs something: filters, capsules, batteries or fuel. Here is what each one uses. Buy the bigger packs if you travel a lot or supply a crew.
Replacement AeroPress Go parts
AeroPress paper micro-filters
The Go holds up to 20 filters in its own filter holder, so a 350 pack lasts a long time on the road.
AeroPress Go accessories
AeroPress stainless steel reusable filter
316 stainless steel. Lets more oil through, so the cup has more body. Top-rack dishwasher safe.
Fit from AeroPress US. AeroPress does not print part numbers on its filter pages.
Replacement Nanopresso parts
Wacaco NS adapter for Nanopresso
Lets the Nanopresso brew Nespresso Original capsules instead of ground coffee.
Wacaco Barista Kit for Nanopresso
140 ml water tank and a 16 g basket for a double shot, plus a tamper.
Fit from Wacaco. Wacaco does not publish part numbers for these accessories.
Replacement OutIn Nano parts
Nespresso Original capsules, variety pack
Five flavors, 10 capsules each. Buy the 100-count if you brew every day.
OutIn Nano accessories
OutIn EVA protective case
Capsule fit from OutIn's Nano FAQ. The Nano charges from any USB-C or 12V/24V car charger rated 15W or more.
Replacement K-Mini parts
Keurig descaling solution, 14 oz
Descale sooner with hard water, or when brews start coming out slow.
Replacement Makita parts
Makita 18V LXT 5.0Ah batteryPart # BL1850B
One charge brews up to three 5 oz cups. A crew should buy the 2-pack.
Part number from Makita USA. The coffee maker also runs on 12V max CXT batteries.
Replacement Coleman parts
Coleman 16.4 oz propane cylinders
Buy the case if you camp more than a weekend a year.
Run time from Coleman's spec for the 10-cup propane coffee maker.
Which Portable Coffee Maker Should You Buy
- Most people: the AeroPress Go. It needs no power and brews the best cup here.
- Espresso, with a kettle or thermos: the Wacaco Nanopresso.
- Espresso, no hot water: the OutIn Nano. Charge it in the car.
- Hotel room or RV with an outlet: the Keurig K-Mini.
- Job site crew on Makita batteries: the Makita cordless coffee maker.
- Campsite with a group: the Coleman propane coffee maker.
- Fresh-ground coffee anywhere: the Cafflano Klassic.
Buying for someone else? A portable brewer makes a great gift for coffee lovers.
Common questions
What is the best portable coffee maker for travel?
The AeroPress Go is the best portable coffee maker for travel. It needs no power, brews 8 oz in about two minutes and packs into its own 15 oz mug. The whole kit weighs 11.4 oz, so it fits in a carry-on or a backpack. All you need is hot water.
Are portable coffee makers good?
Portable coffee makers are good if you pick one for your situation. Manual brewers like the AeroPress Go make coffee as good as a home machine but need hot water. Battery espresso makers heat their own water but make only a few shots per charge, so none of them replace a daily home machine.
What is a good coffee maker that can be plugged into my car?
The OutIn Nano is a good coffee maker for the car. It charges from a 12V or 24V car charger rated 15W or more, then heats its own water and pulls a 20-bar espresso. It cannot brew while charging, so charge it while you drive and brew when you stop.
How can I make coffee in my car?
The easiest way to make coffee in your car is a battery espresso maker like the OutIn Nano, which heats cold water in about 200 seconds. With a thermos of hot water, a manual brewer like the AeroPress Go or Nanopresso works too. Never brew while you drive.
What is the best portable coffee maker for camping?
The best portable coffee maker for camping depends on group size. For one or two people, the AeroPress Go packs small and needs only boiled water. For a group, the Coleman propane coffee maker brews 10 cups on a 16.4 oz cylinder, which runs about 4.5 hours on high.
