Overview
It can be hard to find good ultralight coffee makers. There’s nothing better than a fresh cup of coffee to start off a long hiking day and when you’re in the middle of the woods, you need to be able to rely on your equipment to not leave you in the cold! We’ve taken a hard look at the most popular ultralight coffee makers on Amazon so you can pick the best one for your next trip!
Ultralight Java Drip | SlickDrip | Collapsable Java Drip | Titanium French Press | Commuter Javapress | Java Drip Portable | |
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Best Ultralight Drip Coffee Maker | Best Value Backpacking Coffee Maker | Drip Coffee Maker with a Cap | Camping French Press Upgrade Pick | Best Travel French Press | Most Portable Drip Coffee Maker | |
Manufacturer | GSI Outdoors | Duissential | GSI Outdoors | Snow Peak | GSI Outdoors | GSI Outdoors |
Type | Drip Coffee | Drip Coffee | Drip Coffee | French Press | French Press | Drip Coffee |
Weight | < 0.5 oz | 4.8 oz | 5 oz | 6.4 oz | 9.5 oz | 14 oz |
What to Consider When Purchasing an Ultralight Coffee Maker
Weight
As with any ultralight or backpacking gear, weight is going to a critical factor – and is a big reason why the GSI Outdoor Java Drip is our number one pick for picking gear to make ultralight coffee! There is almost a full pound of difference between the Java Drip and the Java Drip Portable. If the durability isn’t worth the extra weight, you might be tossing your equipment in the trash halfway through the trip to try and lighten the load. That said, there are probably far better options to reduce your weight first than the one-pound max this can take!
Brew Method
While all of the brewers on this list will require a hot water supply, the brew methods themselves vary. The majority of these ultralight coffee makers are designed for traditional drip coffee. The drip coffee method has fewer moving parts and is typically easier to clean than the alternative. There are also french press coffee makers which will allow more control over your brew but may be more difficult to clean or fix if the screen gets torn.
Material
The ultralight coffee makers on this list are primarily made of one of three materials – (1) Plastic, (2) Silicone, or (3) Metal. Silicone drip coffee makers are easy to clean, light, and very durable. The Plastic ultralight coffee makers are going to feel higher quality, also are easy to clean, and are not likely to tear as silicone materials can. The metal french press is specifically designed for cold weather and/or high altitude situations but should work just fine in normal temperatures and heights as well.
1. GSI Java Drip
Best Ultralight Drip Coffee Maker
The ultralight GSI Java Drip likely the best for most peoples looking for an ultralight coffee maker. With a highly simple nylon bag and leg design, you can either clip this tiny coffee maker to the included plastic mug or clip on to your favorite mug!
The Java Drip will make enough coffee for one (at a time at least) but only weighs half an ounce. You’ll barely know it’s there! Just insert a paper filter into the nylon and enjoy your favorite ground coffee!
2. Kuissential SlickDrip
Best Value Backpacking Coffee Maker
The SlickDrip is a silicone drip coffee maker that gives you the ability to make drip coffee anywhere! The thick silicone design should hold up for hundreds of miles and the collapsible design means that it shouldn’t take up almost any room in your backpack. Just pop in a paper filter, some coffee grounds, and pour the hot water over top to have a cup of coffee almost ready to go!
3. GSI Collapsible Java Drip
Drip Coffee Maker with a Cap
The GSI Collapsible Java Drip is effectively a plastic version of the SlickDrip, but it also includes a protective cap to keep the coffee maker clean when stowed. Weighing in at a third of a pound, you’ll barely notice this little device throughout your trip until you need to make some pour-over coffee!
4. Snow Peak Titanium French Press
Camping French Press Upgrade Pick
The Snow Peak french press is a high-quality coffee maker built with Japanese titanium that can even be used to boil water directly over the stove or other heat source. While it’s a little more expensive than the other selections on this list, the metal design will last you significantly longer than any plastic or silicone pour-over cone could. All that durability only costs about six and a half ounces of weight, making it a worthy competitor against even our top ultralight coffee picks.
5. GSI Commuter JavaPress
Best Travel French Press
For a french press suited for the office and the trail, check out the GSI Commuter JavaPress. Pick from either black, green, orange, or red sleeved glass and use the unique cup in cup filtering design on coffee, loose leaf tea, or any other items you need to strain! Weighing 9.4 ounces, this french press ‘presses’ the limit on ultralight gear given the simplicity of our higher-ranked ultralight coffee selections. That said, this has the most versatility for a french press that you can use in any situation and could even be used for some specific meal types if you get creative.
6. Java Drip Portable
Largest & Most Portable Drip Coffee Maker
With 30 and 50 ounce capacities, this is a sturdy portable drip coffee maker that comes with an integrated cup and insulation sleeve. While the grooves are a bit more difficult to clean, this coffee maker will last you for years with its durable design. If you already have a cup you’d prefer to use, cut down the weight by popping off the hard plastic pour over top and leave the insulated cup behind! Check this out below for a more unique ultralight coffee maker!
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it all depends on if you want to save the most weight possible and go for the GSI ultralight coffee maker, or if you want something with a bit more versatility that you can bring on the train or use in the office when you return from your trip. Let us know if we’ve missed your favorite ultralight coffee maker or check out our favorite open fire kettles to get that water boiling!
