The 2025 camping season is under way. 

Fortunately for those like myself who appreciate both the fresh air and the luxury of a personalized home coffee setup, coffee gear is becoming more durable and outdoor-friendly. From coffee tumblers, portable grinders, and brewers, we can now enjoy an unending list of tools designed to make brewing delicious coffee easier than ever, even while trekking through the Rockies. 

Curious how to impress your friends with café-worthy coffee while camping? Just follow this guide:  

Step 1: The Grind 

After the beans, great coffee starts with the grind. From my experience camping in the middle of nowhere, without the convenience of a kitchen, having a compact yet powerful portable grinder is essential. 

The Millab E01 is the latest answer to coffee enthusiasts’ call for an electric coffee grinder that is just as high-end as it is transportable. But before diving in, it’s worth getting to know the team behind it: Millab. 

Millab was formed from within Timemore, a trusted brand that has been manufacturing generations of electric and manual coffee grinders for over a decade. As an independent group, their mission is to continue refining the art of coffee grinding with an emphasis on professionalism. 

Enter the Millab E01 Portable Electric Grinder. Right away, I’m impressed that a grinder that looks and feels so luxurious is also built with enough durability to tag along camping. Beyond its sleek and portable design, the Millab E01 incorporates Timemore’s patented burr system and “Spike-to-Cut” Technique. It’s the perfect tool for any method, from classic pour-overs to rich and velvety espresso. 

Because the Millab E01 is entirely electric, activated by only the press of a button, you can conserve your energy for early-morning hikes.  

Step 2: The Brew 

Who needs power outlets? Thanks to the ingenuity of brands like Wacaco and VSSL, I’ve recently discovered the joy of properly brewed, barista-quality coffee regardless of where adventure takes me. 

Let’s start with espresso. To achieve a well-extracted espresso shot with crema, you’ll need 9 bars of pressure, something which was practically unreachable with handheld methods. 

Wacaco Nanopresso is a portable espresso maker that, seemingly with magic, delivers all 9 bars of pressure into a body small enough to fit in your pocket. All you need is finely ground coffee (see Step 1) and hot water, and the Nanopresso does all the work of a group head and portafilter! 

If, like me, you’re a pour-over coffee aficionado, the VSSL Nest Pourover Kit is all you’ll need for peaceful mornings by the campfire. It’s designed to pack a camping coffee mug, pour-over dripper, and storage container into a multipurpose travel tumbler. Plus, the kit includes a reusable cloth pour-over filter to keep waste down to a minimum. 

Regardless of whether I’m in the mood for espresso or a classic pour-over coffee, the Wacaco Nanopresso and the VSSL Nest Pourover Kit are my go-to brewing companions of this year.  

Step 3: The Adventure

A big part of camping is adventure, and more often than not, I’m on the move after breakfast. After going through the effort of brewing premium coffee, choosing the right travel tumbler made from high-quality materials is essential. 

Two of my top picks are the KINTO Travel Tumbler and the MiiR Flip Tumbler: both are crafted from 18-8 stainless steel, designed to be leak-resistant, and can keep beverages hot or cold for hours. Which should you choose? It really depends on your style! 

I’ve always loved KINTO products for their sleek, minimalist aesthetic and dependable Japanese craftsmanship. The KINTO Travel Coffee Tumbler is no exception, with a matte exterior available in a variety of earthy tones to compliment the outdoorsy vibe. 

The Flip is MiiR’s classic travel coffee tumbler, featuring a convenient, removable mouthpiece for easy sipping on the go. When closed, you can toss it in your camping backpack with peace of mind (no more coffee-stained sleeping bags). And with its angled, cup holder-friendly shape, the MiiR Flip tumblr just looks like it’s built for adventure. 

With plenty of time left this camping season and a wide selection of tools to take your specialty coffee setup on the go, get out there and start brewing!