Several Hiking Lady readers have asked for recommendations of what to look for in coffee makers they can bring along on car camping trips. While I am more of a tea drinker than a coffee drinker, I have plenty of hiking friends who enjoy a nice strong cup of joe on car camping and backpacking trips.

For a car camping coffee maker, features I recommend you look for:

• Portability. This is pretty obvious. You want something that you can easily take with you and that doesn’t require an electric outlet to operate!
• No paper filters required. There are plenty of coffee makers that don’t need them, so why bother with the extra trash.
• BPA free plastics. Since most portable coffee makers are constructed of plastic, just double check that it is BPA free.
• Spillage potential. Some coffee makers have better sealing lids than others.
• Durability. I look for rubberized handles, rubberized bottoms, and plastic vs. glass.

Some of the Bodum brand coffee makers are excellent for camping, and there are several models including an individual sized French Press that I have seen several campers using in the early morning hours!

Happy trails!