There’s nothing quite like a fresh cup of coffee first thing in the morning when you’re enjoying the beauty of nature but having the right equipment isn’t always easy. There are hundreds of different coffee makers out there to choose from and most just aren’t suited to life on the road.
If you want to find a French Press for your next camping adventure, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve tested the options that are on the market today and selected our absolute favorites. Read ahead to find out what they are!
Stanley: The Classic Travel Mug French Press – Our Top Choice
Stanley Highlights
If you’re looking for something portable, durable, and high-quality, then it doesn’t get better than the Stanley French Press Travel Mug. The company has an excellent and well-deserved reputation for creating stylish and sustainable products, and their French Press travel mug is the perfect way to brew on the go.
We love how straightforward the mug is to use, how easy it is to clean, and how it keeps your brew warm for hours. It ticks all of the most important boxes that you want to be covered as a camper, and the price tag is very reasonable too.
Features
- Integrated French Press within the travel mug
- Leakproof
- Double-wall vacuum insulation
- Easy-clean filter
- Dishwasher safe
What We Like About The Stanley
First and foremost, we loved how simple this French Press really is. Although there are a lot of convenient coffee makers on the market today (some of which we’ll mention a little later), there aren’t any that are better suited to the challenges of camping than this one.
Not only does the Stanley allow you to simply brew and press your coffee directly into the travel mug but the mug itself is highly durable, easy to pack, completely leakproof, and thermally insulated to keep your drink hot for hours. If you’re crawling out of a sleeping bag in a chilly tent, it takes just moments to get your morning pick-me-up ready to go.
When you do get around to cleaning your mug, it couldn’t be easier. The Stanley can even go through the dishwasher (although you would be lucky to have that option on the road!). It can also take a real beating, which is definitely a major plus when you’re camping. You can drop this thing a hundred times before you even make a dent.
What We Don’t Like About The Stanley
There are a couple of downsides to the Stanley that you might not be so fond of, though they are mostly a matter of personal preference. Perhaps the most important negative is the slightly awkward closing mechanism. It does a very good job of stopping spills, but you have to wrestle with two separate screw-on lids, hinges, loops, and the handle to get it closed.
Additionally, it’s perhaps not the most attractive coffee maker that we’ve found, as it is clearly designed with a very practical appeal. It looks at home on a campsite, for sure, but it doesn’t gain any points for style – and it is only available in green.
Another thing to note is that the Stanley only comes in one size: 16oz. It works great for a single cup, but it’s not exactly possible to pour or share.
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Secura French Press Coffee Maker
Secura Highlights
If you want a French Press that is a little more traditional but still suitable for a more adventurous environment, then the Secura is a great option for you. It’s made from highly robust stainless steel, well insulated, and has a very sophisticated filter.
With this kind of French Press, you get the option of leaving your brew out and pouring multiple individual cups, which is very useful for couples or families.
Features
- 18/10 stainless steel interior and exterior
- 3-layered stainless steel filter
- Multiple size options
- Double-wall thermal insulation
What We Like About The Secura
Although it might not be quite as portable as the Stanley, this coffee maker is certainly hardy and convenient in all the right ways. We like how easy it is to disassemble and clean, and how effective the filter system is – even allowing you to stack multiple screens for a finer brew.
Another major benefit to this particular coffee maker is that it comes in a variety of different sizes. You can choose an easy-to-pack miniature 12oz option for making just one cup at a time, all the way up to a gigantic 50oz for the entire family.
What We Don’t Like About The Secura
Of course, it’s always going to be a bit of a trade-off when you’re choosing a dedicated coffee maker over a combined two-in-one travel mug. It does take up more room than something like the Stanley, and it has more components inside that can be awkward as well.
Additionally, we found that, while the handle and top are designed to stay cool, the pot itself gets very hot and stays that way for a long time. It does also make a slightly irritating scratching noise when you’re plunging – but we are really nitpicking there!
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Betterbrew Travel French Press
Betterbrew Highlights
The Betterbrew travel French Press is another very convenient and rather stylish way to make coffee on the go. It is easy to use, looks great, and stores your coffee safely throughout the day.
It has a very neat design that makes it about the smallest and most portable option on our list, and it has a nice silicone grip as well. It’s a pleasure to use, a pleasure to hold, and minimizes the hassle and mess that often comes with making a fresh cup of coffee.
Features
- All-in-one design
- Stainless steel insulation
- Leakproof silicon seals and silicon grips
- Convenient size
What We Like About The Betterbrew
Of all the different French Press coffee makers that we looked at, this is the one that takes up the least amount of space in your bag. Not only is the entire coffee-making process contained within the convenient travel mug itself, but it’s elegant, slimline, and can practically fit into your pocket.
We also really like the silicone handle and sealing lid, which feel a little nicer than the hard plastic that you get with something like the Stanley or the AeroPress. It also does a great job of keeping your coffee hot and it’s simple to use and clean.
What We Don’t Like About The Betterbrew
The most significant downside of the Betterbrew is also one of its greatest strengths: the size. While it is very convenient, it can only really make around 13oz of coffee at a time, and it does have an extended plunger in order to achieve that. While this is a smart way to get more liquid from your brew, it also squeezes the grounds and adds a little extra bitterness.
We’re also not massive fans of the rubbery carrying handle, which feels a little flimsy and less durable than the rest of it seems to be.
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Honorable Mention: AeroPress Original Coffee Maker
AeroPress Highlights
Okay, we know that it’s not technically a French Press for the purists out there, but you can’t have a conversation about portable, plungeable coffee without mentioning the AeroPress. It is highly beloved by enthusiasts all over the world – and for good reason.
The AeroPress is not only incredibly versatile and lightweight, but it makes coffee like no other. It utilizes an ingenious brewing process to almost replicate a true espresso without all of the complicated machinery.
Features
- Very portable design
- Durable materials
- Espresso-like coffee
What We Like About The AeroPress
The first thing to like about the AeroPress is the coffee itself. While we’ve talked a lot about how easy some portable French Press options can be, they all work in much the same way. The AeroPress, however, actually forces hot water through the compressed grounds to give you a much richer, smoother coffee without the bitterness.
It is also incredibly convenient for traveling. The tube is small, light, and durable. It can fit practically anywhere, and it is very easy to clean. You also place it directly on top of basically anything and can press out your coffee in just one minute, which is a lot quicker than a French Press.
What We Don’t Like About The AeroPress
The main thing to dislike about the AeroPress is that there is a bit of technique involved if you want to get the best results. Unlike with a French Press, the specific quantities and timings that you use – and the way that you stir – can make a big difference.
The other major downside is that it makes your coffee directly into a cup of some kind. While this is convenient, you can’t leave a brew sitting around and it won’t stay hot for long. It also makes around one large cup at a time, so you might find yourself repeating the process over and over again for the whole family.
We also recommend getting your hands on an optional metal filter, otherwise, you will need to keep a constant supply of paper filters with you wherever you are.
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What Should You Look For When Buying A French Press For Camping?
Durability
Obviously, you want your French Press coffee maker to actually survive the bumps and bruises that it is likely to experience on the road. Durability is highly important, which is not something that is often at the top of the list when buying a classic glass French Press.
Size
Size is a difficult one when you’re thinking about making coffee. You want your coffee maker to be big enough to make as much as you need, but it also needs to be easy to pack and convenient to carry around with you as well.
Practicality
It’s also really important to think about the practical aspects of coffee on the go. Many French Press coffee makers might seem straightforward enough, but they can have a lot of awkward working parts and take up a lot of room during the brewing process.
Easy-Clean
You don’t want to forget about the clean-up afterward. If you’re using a campsite tap or a van sink, then you need cleaning to be as quick, simple, and hassle-free as possible.
FINAL VERDICT -THE BEST PRODUCT
Stanley – The Classic Travel Mug French Press
So, what is the best French Press for camping? For our money, it has to be the Stanley Classic travel mug. Not only can you brew up your coffee quickly and easily inside the durable, convenient mug – but it will stay hot for hours afterward. It’s so much easier to clean than most coffee makers on the market too.
The Stanley is everything you want from an on-the-go coffee maker: it is practically indestructible, it takes up very little space, and it makes a hassle-free, stress-free and delicious brew.
If you want to get your hands on a Stanley for yourself, then just follow the link here and you will have a hot cup in your hands in no time!
FAQ
Does the Stanley Travel Mug make strong coffee?
The coffee that you get with the Stanley is certainly strong – as any French Press should be – but it does not become more bitter or intense once the plunger has been pressed.
What is the easiest way to make coffee while camping?
There are many different ways to make coffee easily while camping, but the French Press and AeroPress are a lot simpler and require less equipment than other methods.
Can a 12v battery run a coffee maker?
You can use a 12v battery to run a coffee maker, but it does take a bit of juice and these coffee makers take up a lot of room and time compared to a more convenient French Press.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.