Every dedicated traveler knows how important a nice cup of coffee can be at the right time. Another thing that dedicated travelers can relate to is the difficulty of getting a cup of coffee when you’re on the road, not to mention the poor-quality coffee you’ll be forced to drink if you do manage to find any.
A delicious cup of coffee will most likely be expensive, especially if you’re not traveling alone. Plus, the added stress of having to make a detour every time you need a coffee can get really annoying quickly. Traveling often means you’ll find yourself in very unfamiliar environments. Getting coffee is hard enough in your local Starbucks. Imagine how hard it would be to find good coffee when you’re on the road?
This is exactly why you need an RV coffee maker. Most RVs have a kitchen area, so when you consider all the above-mentioned points, you should be able to see how crucial it is to own an RV coffee maker.
Best Portable RV Coffee Maker
A crowd favorite, the Aeropress Go is perfect for those looking to keep things minimal in their RV or camper while not spending a lot of cash.
Check Amazon PriceAeroPress Go is a press-style coffee maker that works by utilizing a plunger mechanism, similar to a large syringe, to force water ahead of a pocket of air through coffee grounds, producing low-acidity coffee that can be used to make several types of coffee drinks.
AeroPress Go is just as easy to set up, use, and clean as the original, yet is even more compact, lighter weight, and portable. It brews a remarkably good tasting cup of coffee.
Simplicity and durability are two of AeroPress Go’s great features: there just aren’t that many parts to fumble around with, the parts fit together easily, and all components are very stout and well made. Since I’ve been using AeroPress Go, I’ve found that I actually like it even better than the original AeroPress, which I was very impressed with.
Best RV Drip Coffee Maker
A very basic but reliable drip coffee maker at an excellent price point.
Check Amazon PriceThe KRUPS Simply Brew 5 Cup Coffee Maker is designed to make your morning routine a breeze. It features an easy to fill the water tank and a sturdy 5-cup glass coffee pot with a no-drip spout that saves every drop for your cup. The Pause & Serve system allows you to pour a hot cup of coffee while brewing without the mess, which is especially helpful in an RV.
This coffee maker also has an automatic “Keep Warm” function that keeps your coffee at an ideal temperature for 30 minutes after brewing. Its elegant stainless-steel design will seamlessly fit into your kitchen.
This product features:
- Plastic construction
- One-button operation
- Automatic Keep Warm function
- Reusable mesh filter
- Automatic brew-pause when the carafe is removed.
The Krups is known to be one of the best 5-cup coffee makers. This model comes with a quality glass carafe that will keep your coffee warm and fresh.
The Krups has an automatic pause function. This means you can take the carafe out during the brewing process, and it will stop automatically. It’s a great option for hasty mornings when you are in a hurry to get your caffeine fix.
This model also comes with a reusable mesh filter and a handy scoop.
he water reservoir is placed on top and has a wide opening for convenient filling. There’s no auto-shutoff, so you’ll have to turn the heating plate off on your own.
Best Single Cup Machine
An excellent choice for those looking for zero cleanup coffee from a trusted brand.
Check Amazon PriceThe K-Mini Single Cup Coffee Maker features a new sleek design, and at less than 5” wide, is the perfect size for an RV or camper with limited storage space.
The brewer is effortlessly simple to use, add fresh water to the reservoir, pop in your favorite pod, press the brew button and enjoy fresh-brewed, delicious coffee in minutes.
With a single cup reservoir and cord storage, the coffee maker is the portable brewer that makes anywhere perfect for great coffee.
Best RV French Press
An extremely well priced device for those trying to keep things minimal in their RV.
Check Amazon PriceBodum’s Brazil 8-cup French Press offers superior quality, easy dishwasher cleanup and affordability. With a 34-ounce capacity, you’ll be able to brew enough coffee for 2 or 4 people at a time, depending on cup size.
Bodum uses a durable carafe that features heat-resistant borosilicate glass and a BPA-free base and handles. Ensuring the utmost in quality, this model also uses a 3-part stainless steel filter to extract every last coffee ground thoroughly.
What’s there to say about a French Press? There are no fancy electronics, but there are a few design features that ensure you’ll have a full-bodied cup of coffee after each brew:
- 34-ounce coffee capacity
- 2 – 3 persons serving
- 4- and 8-cup coffee measurements
- 3-part stainless steel mesh filter
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Glass carafe
It doesn’t get any easier than this. Fill the carafe with water, put in your coffee, and put on the lid while it all brews to perfection. The real magic behind Bodum’s brewing process starts with the fine mesh filter.
This filter extracts every last bit of flavor out of your coffee to ensure the richest, most flavorful cup of coffee.
Using BPA-free parts, you’ll never have to worry about tasting plastic when you brew a cup of coffee.
The safety lid also uses a patented technology that seals the lid tight to eliminate coffee spills and splash.
As for the time it takes to brew a cup, this is really dependent on your taste. If you like a lighter taste, all you need is 5 minutes before your coffee is made. If you want a very strong taste, brew for 15+ minutes.
There are no filters or electronic parts to worry about. The entire coffee press is dishwasher-safe, so simply take out the plunger and put the whole thing into your dishwasher.
If you don’t prefer the dishwasher, you can always use a cleaning brush to get inside of the carafe or use a sponge. The filters should be rinsed to ensure that no coffee grounds accumulate inside.
The only issue is that grounds are a little difficult to dump out after brewing.With a glass carafe, and plastic handle and top, there’s not much of a concern with longevity or durability. The only issue some users have is that the top doesn’t secure into place properly, but this has never happened to me personally.
Best RV Coffee Percolator
An old school cool coffee maker (with a modern twist) for those looking to keep things stylish in their RV or camper.
Check Amazon PriceMoss and Stone make some great value cook and kitchenware, and this coffee percolator is no exception. This electric-powered percolator requires no stovetop, also making it fully portable for caravans, motorhomes and home offices. It has a convenient ready to serve indicator light and an automatic “keep warm” function, perfect for real coffee addicts.
- Cool-touch handle
- LED indicator
- Automatic keep-warm
- 10 cups max
The main body features quality stainless steel with a copper finish, has a generous 10-cup capacity and a cool-touch plastic handle. The internal percolation basket and perk-tube are stainless steel, therefore making it free from toxic plastics.
The percolator has all features and functions that help you brew coffee with ease. It features a ready-to-serve LED indicator light and an automatic keep-warm function. The handle stays cool for you to move the pot and serve the brew, and the clear knob makes coffee percolating fun as you can watch the process.
The basket filter and the stem come apart straightforwardly for you to hand wash the whole pot.
This unit is a great coffee companion. It was made from quality materials. This unit is robust in design and is free from any toxic materials that could permeate your fresh brew. Above all, being electronic means the unit is independent in operation, offering a strong, rich, hot cuppa from anywhere there is a power outlet.
Although the main body of the unit is attached to the sealed electric heating elements meaning the unit is not dishwasher friendly and must be cleaned by hand. The other disadvantage of an electric percolator is if you have no power, then you have no coffee.
Best Battery Powered Coffee Maker
This is for those truly separating from technology - great for RVers who love dry camping.
Check Amazon PriceThis coffee maker can brew a large 5-ounce cup of coffee in minutes. It is powered by a large lithium-ion battery, allowing you to brew up to three, 5-ounce cups of coffee on a single charge.
There are no paper filters needed — the Makita coffee maker is designed with a permanent drip filter. You’re able to use single-serve packs or your favorite ground-up coffee beans.
This battery-powered coffee maker is similar to a full-blown coffee maker. It’s the best battery-operated coffee maker for those who need several cups in the morning to get their day going.
It is robustly made, with a handle on top for easy transport. It is still compactly designed, standing at about 8-9/16″ with a clearance that will fit a cup up to 3-1/2″ inches tall. This coffee maker is part of Makita’s expanding LXT systems, which are deemed as one of the more powerful portable coffee makers out there. Its ability to make several cups of coffee per charge makes it the best battery-operated coffee maker for coffee enthusiasts.
The Makita battery received rave reviews from people that purchased from Amazon, and it should be noted that this battery and charger can do more than help you brew coffee; it can charge up to 2 USP compatible electronic devices where AC power is not available.
Best Multifunction RV Coffee Maker
This is a great option for those who currently don't have other appliances and want a compact 3 in 1 addition to their RV.
Check Amazon PriceThe NOSTALGIA family-size multi-function breakfast station comes with complete kitchen equipment to cook breakfast for a large family. It comes with a multi-function toaster with a 30-minute timer and glass door which can fit four slices of bread.
On the left are a 3-cup coffee maker and a large-non-stick griddle on top with a glass cover to cook sausages, eggs, hotdogs, and bacon.
It saves you space, it’s easy to clean, and you can choose from different settings, including grill, toast, bake, warm, heat, or oven.
The NOSTALGIA family-size multi-function breakfast station is your complete breakfast hub with a griddle, oven toaster, and coffee maker. It has a compact design that saves you space. It is easy to use as it can make coffee and cook automatically.
You can do other things and prepare for your day as your food is cooked. It may be the multi-function cooker, breakfast station for you.
Best RV Cold Brew Maker
This is perfect for those who love cold brew and already have a refrigerator in their RV.
Check Amazon PriceThis coffee maker may not win any prizes for sophisticated design, but when it comes to using it, it is ideal for making 2 cups of cold brew coffee, simply and easily.
While its 2-cup capacity means it is not really suitable for making enough coffee for larger families or groups, it is perfect for singles or couples.
The materials used to make it are durable and BPA-free, so you can be assured it is safe and should also last well, not least because it is shatterproof, which will be good news should it ever be dropped. The main material will also resist stains and odors, but should it need a thorough cleaning. It is dishwasher safe.
The handle feels strong when carrying the coffee maker, and it is also non-slip, thanks to it being made from silicone.
Brewing is very easy, with your only requirements being to add the appropriate amount of coffee grounds, which is normally around 15 tablespoons worth, followed by around 2 pints of water.
You then lower the infuser into the water, close the lid, and shake. Your cold brew coffee should be ready within 12 to 24 hours.
This coffee maker is leak-proof thanks to its airtight lid, so you should not experience any spillages when shaking or pouring.
With all its great features, it is very disappointing that the capacity of this coffee maker, of just two full cups, is so limited. If you have a larger family that drinks coffee, this may not be the best cold brew coffee system for your situation.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Coffee Maker for an RV
Ease of Use
The last thing you want is to buy a coffee maker that is difficult to use while you’re on the road. Waking up all groggy and having to deal with a complicated coffee maker is as awful as it sounds. So, one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a coffee maker for your RV is the ease of use. You need a coffee maker that will make you good quality coffee without any stress.
The coffee maker has to be portable and simple to use. You should avoid coffee machines that require a lot of set up. The less complicated a coffee maker is to set up and use, the better it is for you. A good way to tell if a coffee machine is easy to use is to skip the product description and head straight to the customer review section. Reading the experiences of other customers will give you a pretty good idea about the product’s ease of use. No matter how good a product’s other features are, if it happens to be difficult to use, people will undoubtedly complain about it.
Features
Temperature
It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of temperature when it comes to brewing coffee. If you reach the boiling point, you will burn your coffee, and if you use water that isn’t hot, the coffee won’t be well done. So, make sure you get a coffee machine that can brew your coffee properly while still giving you the freedom to adjust the temperature to suit your taste.
Speed
Making the time to clean the coffee maker, grind beans, steam milk, press coffee, clean again etc. is not what you want to do first thing in the morning, on the road. A quick cup of coffee will likely be what you’re looking for, probably even be why you bought the machine in the first place. So, you should look out for coffee makers that won’t have you spending all morning just to brew a pot.
Ease of Cleaning
A good RV coffee maker should be easy to clean. Some features you should look out for when scouting for a good, easy to clean coffee maker should include a self-cleaning function as well as removable and dishwasher-safe parts.
Power Source
This is an essential factor that you cannot afford to overlook. What use is a coffee maker if you can’t get it to work? You have to consider the power source that will be most suitable for a coffee maker in an RV.
Budget
You have to consider how buying a coffee maker would affect your budget. The best bet would be to go for a coffee maker that won’t cost much but will have all the necessary features to make a good cup of coffee in your RV.
Counter Space
RV kitchens typically have limited counter spaces. So, when you buy your coffee maker, do well to consider if it would work with the amount of counter space available to you.
Brew Quality
The whole point of buying a coffee maker for your RV is to avoid having to buy poorly brewed coffee. With this in mind, make sure you buy a coffee maker that can brew your top-quality coffee.
Types of Coffee Makers
Drip Coffee Maker
As mentioned previously, drip coffee machines quickly overtook percolators when they came into being around the 70s. These products took this position thanks to them fixing the main issue that has haunted percolators since their inception: over-extracting coffee and making it bitter.
The using process of this a drip coffee machine is power typically operated through electricity. It consists of a water tank, a carafe, and a filter basket. In other words, it’s most likely what you’re using within your household right now.
We should also note that the carafe is typically created from glass and is dishwasher safe. Given how much residue coffee leaves behind, you could see how beneficial this feature could be to an RV owner.
Pour Over
In the most basic terms, pour-over coffee machines involve pouring water over coffee grounds, which then dispenses those delicious coffee flavors into your cup or mug. This creates a quicker and more efficient brew than you might see with other types.
However, pour-over coffee machines tend to be a little fickle as the pouring on the water can extract more from the coffee grounds than wanted. As a result, you end up with the coffee that tastes a little different than you would like.
With this in mind, the best way to approach using these devices is by pouring one stream of water from the showerhead. In doing so, it’ll result in a brewing process that features a higher temperature than it would with you doing multiple streams.
If you’re looking for an example of one of these products, look no further than the French press.
Single Serve
A single-serve coffee machine is a product that uses a dripping method to serve out one cup every brewing cycle. This process removes your need to do any measuring of things like flavorings, portions, or additives.
These machines also lessen the time it takes to make coffee, which could be an essential quality for someone on the move like an RV owner. Plus, it’s more convenient than other types as you can keep the unused product fresher with this type of machine.
But there’s one significant drawback with the single-serve style: these machines tend to be much more expensive than its competitors. As a result, if you’re looking for a bargain buy, you should probably look at a different kind of model.
French Press
An all-time favorite both in the home and as an outdoor coffee maker, a French press is a great choice for both on and off the grid RV trips.
They are also one of the simplest RV coffee makers – all you need is hot water and French press coffee beans to make a great cup of coffee.
Traditional French press coffee makers are glass, but there are a number of high-quality stainless steel French press options that make the perfect addition to your RV gear.
Alternatively Powered (battery, propane)
Alternatively powered coffee makers aren’t the best option for RV travel. They are typically used for emergency situations but aren’t convenient for daily use and shouldn’t be relied upon as a sole coffee maker. This is because their power source is not reliable.
Percolator
As an older type of coffee machines, percolators were quite popular among the populace until the invention of drip coffee makers in the 70s. However, these devices can be decent options for you bargain buyers out there as they still provide high-quality coffee.
You see, this coffee machine continually cycles the boiling brew through the coffee grounds using the laws of gravity. And they’ll continue this process until the coffee reaches the strength you prefer; it’s a vastly effective method that’s been producing high-quality coffee for decades.
Plus, the using process is simple, with all you need to is fill in the water, add coffee grounds, and heat it up. It also helps that you have a choice regarding if you want an electric or not.
Conclusion
After reading our article, finding the best coffee maker for RV shouldn’t be much of a challenge. You just need to apply the info laid out in this article into your search. This action will lead to making an easy determination about what model fits your needs. As long as it has a power source that is compatible with your RV and it is the type of coffee maker you prefer, then you’re sure to have a great time. Goodbye, expensive, tasteless, poorly brewed coffee.