Best Portable Coffee Makers 2023

Fresh-brewed coffee doesn't have to stay in one location. Take a portable coffee maker along with you for a pick-me-up anywhere you are.

With a portable coffee machine, you can enjoy fresh brews on a picnic, in the office, or when dining in a canteen with limited drink options. Students can stay sharp when studying in libraries, while salespeople can easily slip one into a bag or the back seat of a car when on the go.

Whether you seek a pour-over, a press, or an espresso machine, here are the best portable coffee makers available today.

A Lightweight and Compact Machine for Espresso Lovers

The Nespresso Pixie Original Espresso Machine is a compact and portable coffee maker. It offers a full range of espresso options, one-touch operation, customizable settings, and a fast-heat system, making it ideal for espresso lovers seeking convenience without compromising on flavor.

Espresso lovers who prioritize portability should consider the Nespresso Pixie Original Espresso Machine. It has compact dimensions of 9.3 inches in height and 12.8 inches in depth while being very slim at just 4.4 inches wide. It easily fits into any small kitchen or office, while students, RV enthusiasts, and commuters can use the practical carry handle for easy portability to the library, awning area, or workplace.

Despite its practical size, you get a full range of espresso options, including regular espresso and lungo brews. Backlit buttons offer simple operation while you can easily adjust coffee volume, ensuring work or study flow is virtually uninterrupted. You can also customize processes to suit your taste, while the machine has a fast-heat system that reaches the optimum brewing temperature in seconds.

While this machine is designed to work exclusively with Nespresso coffee pods, its 19-bar high-pressure pump is the optimum level for extracting flavors and aromas. The company offers many convenient ordering options, such as the Nespresso website or app, over the phone, or you can also visit one of its many boutiques.

An Easily Portable Press Kit

The Aeropress Go Coffee Press Kit is a portable and compact coffee maker that utilizes total immersion brewing to deliver a rich and smooth cup of coffee. With its travel mug and lid, it's the perfect companion for coffee lovers who crave quality wherever they wander.

The Aeropress Go is even smaller and more compact than the Aeropress Original, making it an even better option for on-the-go coffee lovers. It's the perfect device for travelers, campers, sailors, and commuters, as its slimline dimensions ensure it slips into any bag or compartment with ease.

This practical and portable press kit uses a total immersion process to brew mild, smooth coffee without small gritty particles. The difference in flavor from a regular French press is evident, and it makes a fine cup of joe just as quickly. You can choose from several styles, including Americano, espresso-style, or even a delicious cold brew.

You get up to three servings of aromatic espresso-style shots or a full cup of hot coffee, and the brewing process is simple. All you need to do is add the coffee and water, stir it, and allow the hot water to extract the flavor and aroma. It features a nifty mug and lid that double as a travel case, and the package also includes a plunger, filter cap, scoop, stirrer, paper micro-filters, and a filter holder.

A Speedy Cold Brew Maker

The Instant Pot Cold Brew Coffee Maker uses FlasheXtract Technology to create authentic cold brew coffee in just 20 minutes. With its versatile functionality, user-friendly interface, and 32oz glass pitcher, it offers a convenient and customizable cold brew experience.

By eliminating heat from the process, the Instant Pot Cold Brew Electric Coffee Maker preserves flavors and considerably reduces bitterness. However, novices to the cold-brewing world may need a few attempts to get that impeccable taste. Avoiding coarse grinds, getting coffee measures just right, and ensuring adequate tamping go a long way to making the perfect cup.

It's a convenient and portable machine that allows cold-brew lovers to have their taste buds delighted anytime and anywhere. Iced tea lovers are not left out, either. This machine also lets you brew using loose tea leaves and comes with a 32oz glass pitcher. It features a simple interface to control brewing time and strength for personalized taste, too.

A Lightweight Manual Machine for High-Quality Espressos

The Wacaco Nanopresso is a compact and manual espresso machine that provides exceptional coffee extraction with up to 18 bars of pressure. It offers easy operation and portability, making it a convenient choice for espresso lovers on the go.

Any espresso lover seeking a portable solution for enjoying short, black coffee shots on the go ought to consider the Wacaco Nanopresso. It's a lightweight, manual machine that features a patented pumping system that can achieve up to 18 bars of hand-pumped pressure. It makes satisfying crema-rich espresso shots from ground beans, while the sold-separately NS adapter enables compatibility with Nespresso capsules.

The rich-tasting espressos this unassuming machine delivers are comparable to premium espresso machines. Operation is a cinch; just fill the tank with hot water, add the grounds to the basket, and tamp. Next, unlock the piston and slowly pump to extract the coffee. You can detach each component of the portafilter with ease for simple cleaning. And, if you like a double shot, you can add the Barista Kit accessory for that extra caffeine kick.

Whether you're hard at work, studying in the library, or hiking through the wilderness, bold and aromatic espressos are only a few minutes away with this affordable yet premium-quality espresso machine.

A Lightweight, Portable Coffee Maker With Grinder

The Klassic by Cafflano is a top choice for a portable all-in-one pour-over coffee maker. It features an adjustable burr grinder, pouring kettle, filter dripper, insulated tumbler, and lid. Having won multiple awards, this lightweight and compact machine delivers rich, aromatic coffee wherever you go.

For a portable all-in-one pour-over coffee maker, the Klassic by Cafflano is among the best choices you can find. It has a range of features, including an adjustable burr grinder with an innovative fold-away handle, a pouring kettle, a filter dripper, an insulated tumbler, and the all-important lid; everything you need for a fantastic cup of coffee when on the go. It's perfect for travelers from road-trippers to commuters or simply for home use. It's lightweight and compact at 16oz and just over 7.5 inches in height, ensuring portability and fresh coffee anywhere you are.

With several awards under its belt, you can rely on this coffee maker to deliver the results you expect with ease. Add 15–20 grams of beans to the ceramic burr hand mill and grind. Then, use the specially-designed drip kettle to pour hot water over the grounds. Allow the coffee to infuse and drip through into the tumbler via the filter.

The tumbler is double-insulated and keeps your coffee hot for extended periods of time. It can hold up to 450ml of fresh coffee, ensuring you get two to three cups per brew, and it also acts as a container for your beans during the transportation process. However, the lid is primarily designed to retain heat and prevent spills during stationary use rather than during transportation; you will need to drink it before you are on the move again.

A Durable and Cordless Coffee Maker for Outdoor Workers

The Makita DCM501Z is a cordless and compact coffee maker designed for outdoor work. It offers the flexibility to choose between 18V LXT and 12V max CXT batteries for up to three 5oz cups of coffee and easy swapping for continuous brewing. It accommodates ground coffee or 60mm Senseo pods for a convenient brewing experience.

The Makita DCM501Z is a cordless and compact coffee maker ideal for those who work outdoors. Whether you work in construction, agriculture, forestry, or any other job that involves working outside, this coffee maker will serve your needs. With a slim and lightweight yet durable construction, builders, farmers, and loggers can all enjoy freshly brewed coffee on the job.

While this coffee maker comes without a battery, it offers the flexibility to choose the one that suits your needs. You are free to select either the 18V LXT or 12V max CXT, and there are slots on the machine for either. The LXT battery has different options. You can brew up to three 5oz cups using an 18V LXT 5.0Ah battery, while the 4.0Ah and 3.0Ah offer 2.5 and two cups, respectively. The 12V max CXT battery is slimmer, more lightweight, and offers two 5oz cups on a single charge. With two batteries and a charger, you can swap them out and have continuous fresh coffee throughout the day.

Brewing is easy; simply fill the water tank, add the coffee, and wait for around five minutes while it brews the perfect cup. It works with ground coffee and 60mm Senseo pods and comes with a stainless-steel mug, a measuring spoon, and a reusable filter.

The Ideal Coffee Maker for Small Rooms and Spaces

The Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker is a compact and versatile brewing solution. It's designed for small spaces, easily fitting into tight kitchens, RVs, and work desks. It's a single-serve machine with a 12oz water tank and the additional capacity to hold up to nine K-Cup pods.

The Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker is a top choice for small spaces, offering a slimline design perfect for compact kitchens, RVs, and work desks. It's just 4.5 inches in width and can accommodate travel mugs up to seven inches in height. With its 12oz water tank, it's a single-serve coffee maker. But it can also store up to nine K-Cup coffee pods and has a convenient winding cord storage feature, enhancing its space-saving and portability traits.

Not only is the Keurig K-Mini Plus efficient, but it's also considerate in its design. It operates quietly, making it an excellent option for office settings. Additionally, this coffee maker is low-maintenance. Although not dishwasher safe, it features a removable drip tray and water reservoir, allowing you to easily clean the machine with minimal disruption to your busy schedule.

While it does lack a timer, it has a strong-brew button for more control over your coffee's kick and flavor. It delivers a full mug of satisfying coffee in around five minutes and is available in a wide range of attractive colors.

Selecting the right portable coffee maker depends on the reason you want one. Perhaps you live or travel in an RV, or maybe the coffee machine in the office serves up unsatisfying brews. First and foremost, you have to consider the quality of the coffee. If the coffee maker doesn't produce rich and aromatic beverages every time, what purpose does it serve? You could get yourself a generic cup from the canteen machine, right?

However, you also need a machine that makes the kind of coffee you like. If you seek simple pressed coffee, the Aeropress Go Coffee Press Kit delivers excellent results exceeding those of a traditional French press. Cold-brew lovers will want to opt for a machine designed for their favorite refreshment. On this point, the Instant Pot Cold Brew Electric Coffee Maker delivers excellent results.

However, the Nespresso Pixie Original Espresso Machine is the best overall. Although it targets espresso lovers only, it does offer excellent portability and easy operation. If you’re an espresso lover, you’ll love the bold, crema-rich shots it produces. With access to hot water, you can also top your brew up for a gratifying full mug of morning pleasure.

A Lightweight and Compact Machine for Espresso Lovers

The Nespresso Pixie Original Espresso Machine is a compact and portable coffee maker. It offers a full range of espresso options, one-touch operation, customizable settings, and a fast-heat system, making it ideal for espresso lovers seeking convenience without compromising on flavor.

Barry has had a passion for all things tech-related ever since he was given a Commodore Plus/4 computer as a child. Having spent most of his adult life traveling, teaching, and writing—often combining all three—Barry considers himself a "digital nomad." His current passion is travel gadgets, and he has been writing buying guides for around a year.