Sponsored by Wildland Coffee
How To Make Great Coffee Without The RV Coffee Maker
I hate my RV coffee maker. Mind you, I love what comes out of it. In fact 66% of Americans agree…we love coffee. We love the way it smells, the way it tastes, and the way it clears a foggy head in the morning. Come evening time, we love the way it brings us together for conversation, or takes that over-sweet edge off your favorite slice of cheesecake. But that RV coffee maker…ugh!
The problem with an RV coffee maker
A coffee maker is a wonderful device when you are at home. For RVers, there are a few issues that aren’t quite so easy to deal with, often leading them to find alternatives.
Space
With RVers, everything is about space. Even in my big diesel pusher, counter space can’t be taken for granted. Sure, I have plenty of room for an RV coffee maker…until I want to cook. When mealtime comes and I have to fire up the induction cooktop, I have to ‘Tetris’ my way around the counter top, moving the Keurig around and rearranging everything so I can open the cooktop cover.
I can’t imagine how folks with smaller campers manage to find a fulltime space for their coffee maker. If you store it, then you can of course bring it out when needed, which can be a bit of a pain for those quick overnight stays enroute to your favorite destination. Of equal concern for RVs of all sizes is the rattling and bouncing that occur when traveling. You can vibrate that coffee machine right off the counter, or easily break the carafe.
Power
Blowing fuses or tripping breakers is part of the RV life. Invariably, it’s not just the RV coffee maker that does it, though that can happen. Usually it’s using the coffee maker while using something else, such as a microwave, an electric tire pump, or the dreaded hair dryer.
The smaller the rig, the less available power, and anything with a heating element becomes a candidate for a fuse-blowing episode. With so many devices moving to 12-volt or less, the coffee maker remains one of the final holdouts to low-power camping.
Convenience
Electric coffee makers are convenient…until they aren’t. When they stop working, there is usually very little you can do. Worse, most of your coffee resources aren’t viable in any other use case. Your K-cups are useless without the Keurig, believe me I know because I tried. A drip coffee maker’s grounds and filters are difficult to manifest in any other way when the dripper breaks…I have tried that too.
About now, the percolator folks are smiling smugly, no doubt forgetting about the cleanup that ensues. In fact all of these RV coffee maker types require varied forms of cleaning and descaling. At home, with all the conveniences of unlimited water and perhaps a dishwasher, cleanup is a fair trade for an enjoyable cup of coffee. In an RV however, it can be a greater nuisance.
Any tea drinkers that might have chosen to read this article are probably laughing. Their only technical hurdle is to boil water. There are plenty of ways to do that, and there is virtually no cleanup. Their decision to choose leaves over beans seems well justified.
Laugh no more tea drinkers…Wildland Coffee has come to the rescue of RVers looking for a better alternative to the RV coffee maker.
What is Wildland Coffee?
Wildland Coffee comes in a fresh coffee pouch, similar to a tea bag. Simply drop the bag in your cup, pour some hot water in, and let it soak for 5-minutes or so, depending on how strong you like it.
When you are ready to drink, pull the bag out by the string, toss it in the trash, and enjoy. No cleanup, no plastic k-cups, no messy grounds and filters…and the Wildland bag and coffee are compostable, and the wrapper is recyclable.
What makes Wildland Coffee so good?
Wildland Coffee roasts specialty grade coffee beans from Brazil, grinds them and packages them all within 4 days. They nitro-flush each pouch so the coffee stays fresh for at least 12 months.
Nitro-flushing is a way to help keep coffee fresh for longer by replacing the oxygen in the container with nitrogen. Just like oxygen, nitrogen is one of the gases in the air that we breathe every day. However, while oxygen will react quickly with the surface molecules of coffee and cause it to go stale in a few days through a process called oxidation, nitrogen is an inert gas and does not lead to oxidation. Nitro-flushing each coffee pouch ensures that the coffee stays fresh for much longer – at least a year!
“Most of our customers tell us it tastes just like their french press or drip coffee. If you think about it, those other coffee methods take ground coffee and run them through hot water, which is exactly what the tea bag does! We use great beans and have an amazing roasting process so we think you’ll love it too.”
Zach Frantz – CEO, Wildland Coffee
RV LIFE Readers Save 15%
Even if you aren’t having problems with your RV coffee maker, and power, space, and cleanup aren’t a problem…give Wildland Coffee a try. It’s super convenient to store, and travels well. Most of all, it’s great coffee. Visit WildlandCoffee.co (no M) today and give it a try for your next great RV trip. RV LIFE readers can save 15% off of their purchase by using the discount code: RVLIFE15
All around RV industry enthusiast who has been RVing for 8 years and enjoys trips with his wife and dogs in their diesel pusher.
You did not mention individual small drip coffee makers. It sits on your cup, a filter is placed in it , your coffee goes into the filter followed by boiling water. Instant, great coffee (often called the best way to brew coffee) small and cheap!
Coffee maker??? No!!!
Folgers makes Coffee Singles. Just like a tea bag. I have used them for years.
No coffee maker to deal with. No grounds to deal with.
Love the convenience.
Thank you for an alternative. Might be nice on the morning of a travel day, but I am happy with my coffee maker. Moving it when necessary is no biggie
Bagged coffee is not new. Forgers has made it available for at least ten years, maybe more.That being said,it is a great way to enjoy the taste of great coffee regardless of the brand,
Folgers. I hate spell check!
Try a 6 inch strainer, with a napkin liner. Put spoonful of coffee in the bottom, and pour hot water inside, little at a time. Keep it over the cup.
This is not a problem, for me at least. I use an electric percolator; I do NOT mind “the mess,” which, for crying out loud, is MINIMAL. I also bought a counter top dishwasher and permanently installed it, so…it’s out of my way. I stagger my use of appliances, ones that produce heat in particular. I love coffee and I HATE washing dishes…where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Stop complaining, U use velcro on all my on counter appliances,, if your out if space,, make a hidden cabinet and mount the coffee maker to it, cushion glass pot in transport. Be happy and don’t worry. RV life is Off the Grid living, self sufficient.
AeroPress and done. No need for a lot of equipment, just boil water !
If you’re worried about breaking the carafe, try the Hamilton Beach brew station 12 cup percolator. Just push your cup against the bar and it fills your cup.
We use one in the 5th wheel and at home.
Nice, convenient idea but they need different flavors. There was a similar product available years ago but they weren’t very good. I have my Kuerig mounted in a previously unused cubbyhole by the kitchen were it doesn’t take any counter space. It can’t move so I don’t have to put it away each time we move. Just once a year I have to bring it inside so it doesn’t freeze. I buy variety packs, flavored & unflavored, so I have something different to drink every day. And I always make sure I spend less than $0.50/K-cup. I also carry an Aeropress if I want brewed coffee but rarely use it. That reminds me – I guess I had better put some ground coffee in the MH in case I want to use the Aeropress.
This article gives me a great idea.
How about if I keep my Keurig and grab a few of these teabag things for emergencies only?
I figure 10 should be enough to get us back home or to the nearest Costco for a new Keurig.
I have a simpler, and likely less expensive way. Second best coffee I have ever found (and considerably less expensive than the best) is Folgers. I get instant Folgers, put a measured amount in a cup (how much depends on how strong I want it, add creamer, heat water then pour it in the cup. No muss, no fuss, and an excellent cup of coffee every time. At times I alternate with tea, but usually using a teabag, but sometimes instant tea, using basically the same process. Been doing this for hear. I’m retired Army so may rinse my cup, but never wash it because it would lose the flavor then. I have a 32 or 34 ounce cup with a top, can’t recall which. I normally use about 1/2 the amount most people would use for a regular cut, 3 creamers, and fill it with hot water. Looks like coffee, smells like coffee, tastes like coffee, except is the equivalent of about half a cup of regular coffee. So I can drink 4 Bubba Mugs full and am only drinking the equivalent of 2 regular cups of coffee. The mug runs about $10, or you can get a 52 ounce version for around $15.
What’s even easier, cheaper, and can be found anywhere is a jar of Taster’s Choice Columbian instant coffee.
I wake to the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee every morning from our thermal stainless steel French Press! My hubby makes the coffee and I clean the mess! It works beautifully, we enjoy variety, and no more broken carafes! Our electric teapot boils the water for whatever our mood, tea, coffee or hot chocolate!
Lot of others things to be concerned about rather than a silly coffee maker. If you are a true coffee lover, then nothing in a bag is going to take the place of a freshly ground brewed cup of coffee. Everyone knows that. Besides that, if having to slide over a coffee machine to make a little more room to cook your dinner is that big of an issue, then perhaps RV’ing is not your best plan in life.
We use our stainless steel.French press for great coffee with or without hookups. A quick rinse, and the 100% biodegradable grounds can nourish the soil.
You still have to heat water and this is the thing that blows BREAKERS – not 12v fuses – you can’t effectively heat water with 12v for a pot of coffee. Of course you can heat water with propane but thats a lot more expensive. If you want to make coffee with a hot water kettle that might use less power – then you need a coffee press and coffee ground medium. If you’re gonna make coffee then don’t use a blow dryer at the same time – not hard to manage.
We make lattes on our stove when camping. A Bialetti, carafe for the milk and battery frother makes a great latte. Easy to carry in our small trailer.
I make my own coffee bags – regular filter, 3 or 4 scoops of coffee, tie the top with string and drop it in your hot water. Makes several cups instead of just one, and a whole lot cheaper.
Get a French press, boil some water and you’re good to go