Last Updated on March 31, 2024 by Jessica Lauren Vine
Waking up to a delicious cup of Joe made by the best coffee maker for RV dwellers. Now, that’s the life.
If you aren’t a human until you wake up and have your coffee, everyone on your camping trip wants to make sure you get your daily dose. The only problem is that it can be hard to make that happen in a really small space—which we learned when living in an 18 foot RV with 6 people, a dog, and a cat.
Instead of lugging a big coffee pot along, you can try some other options that are small and mighty coffee helpers. Continue reading, and we’ll go over some good options, but first, I’ll drop my top pick here so you don’t have to wade through everything to get through it.
This is the best coffee maker for RV enthusiasts because of its condensed size and its ability to deliver delicious coffee with ground coffee or k-cups.
K-cups can get pretty pricey so it's nice to have the option to use coffee grounds as well.
When we were in our smallest RV, we got rid of our bulky Keurig for a smaller model right away.
- Compact size
- Self-cleaning
- Brew strength control
- Easy to use
- No leaks
- Doesn't make a pot of coffee
This Kingtoo single-serving coffee maker will make your life so much easier when it comes to finding the best coffee maker for RV when you’re living big in a small space. If you’re a little nervous about going from a coffee pot to a single-serve model—remain calm. As fast as this machine makes the single cup, you likely won’t even notice any slow down in your coffee-making process.
When we had the big, bulky coffee maker, we put it away after every use because it was hard to cook otherwise due to lack of counter space. With the smaller coffee maker for RVs, we could leave it out, and it would tuck in the corner out of the way.
If you want to have coffee multiple times throughout the day, then this will be really helpful for you.
You can also get fancy and get the milk frother with it—but we have no need for that.
What to Look for In the Best Coffee Maker for RV (2-in-1)
So, with RV life, you really need to have as many options as possible. Even if you don’t like one coffee method or the other, what if a friend does? Maybe they want to bring their own k-cup with them.
For that reason, we believe the best coffee maker for RV life is a 2-in-1. Below, we will go over some more options, but for now, let’s look at some things you should look for when you’re making your buying decision.
Do You Value Customization?
I’m a pretty simple lady, so I don’t need a lot of customization, but some people can’t live without it. Before you try to purchase the best coffee maker for RV, you need to know whether you need all the bells and whistles or not.
Some machines allow you to adjust the strength of the coffee, froth, and do other things. If that’s something you must have, then confirm the model you choose does those things.
How Much Space Do You Have?
Of course, you want to make sure you don’t take up too much space in the RV, but how much is too much?
If you have a decent-sized counter, then you might not need a mini version like we wanted. On the other hand, if you’re in a tiny space, every half inch counts.
Keep Your Budget In Mind
Even small coffee makers for RVs can come with a high price tag. Figure out how much you’re willing to pay before opening up the magic world of coffee makers.
Our goal was to keep it under $100 whenever we bought it, and that was fine for us. However, we didn’t need anything fancy like some people enjoy.
Our List of Top Coffee Makers for RVs
- Gives you a lot of control over your coffee
- Auto brew within a 24-hour period
- Pause to pour feature
- 12 cups
- Easy to clean
- Simple to use
- Great value
- Carafe side isn't the best
Now, this little number is pretty fancy, and the Keurig K-Duo Plus comes with the price tag to prove how awesome it is.
I do like that it has a thermal carafe, so you can still brew a pot of coffee if you want to. In fact, you can choose whether you want to brew a 6, 8, 10, or 12 cup carafe and/or a 6, 8, 10, or 12-ounce cup.
One thing that makes this coffee maker RV-friendly is that it has a multi-position 60-ounce water reservoir. You can put it to the right, left, or on the back of the machine—wherever you have space.
Another fancy feature of this Keurig is that you can automatically program your coffee maker to brew a carafe within the next 24 hours. You can also pour your coffee without having to worry about spills because it will pause for 20 seconds while you pour a cup of coffee.
It’s a pretty fancy machine and gives you a lot of control over the process.
- Single serve with 30 oz detachable reservoir
- Removable tank
- Convenient
- Fits into small spaces
- Might go on the blink after you use it for a lot but it comes back
Even though it isn’t pricey, it’s well-made and not like some of the flimsy pieces of junk you might come across. You can make coffee in 5 cup sizes—6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 ounces.
It has a 30-ounce removable water tank, so you can use it multiple times. It’s clearly marked so you can see how much water you have in there, as well.
You don’t have to worry about it taking up a lot of room, but it definitely can do the job of getting you that must-have morning coffee. And since it has a three-tier mounting slot, you won’t have to worry about splashing when brewing since you can put it up as high as you need to, depending on your cup size.
Keep in mind that if you have a low cabinet, it might not fit under it when the lid is open. With our RV set up, that wasn’t something we had to worry about.
- Advanced auto shut off function
- Lightweight
- Safe
- Eco-friendly
- Some users complained it doesn't make an entire cup
Mixpresso coffee makers are at it again, making their way into the best coffee maker for RV list due to their portability and lightweight design. This personal drip coffee brewer and tumbler has an advanced shut-off function, and you can reuse the filter as well.
The design is very compact, and with the tumbler, you can keep your coffee warm for a long time. The rubber grip will keep your hand from slipping, so you don’t lose an ounce of your precious liquid.
If you often leave your coffee maker on, you don’t have to worry. It has an auto shut-off, so you can rest easy when you go out.
With this one, keep in mind that you can only use it with ground coffee, which is different than my other picks.
- 49974
- Pod Packs and Grounds
- Use k-cups (or not)
- Easy to use
- Fits a variety of mugs
- Missed opportunity to allow for taller mugs
Hamilton Beach is a brand almost everyone recognizes, and they have a good reputation. It’s a single-serve coffee maker that you can use with or without pods. The pod holder and grounds basket are included, so you don’t have to hunt for those.
All you have to do is lower the lid and brew away. When you’re done brewing, the coffee maker will automatically shut off.
This is a great coffee maker for small RV kitchens, and it fits different mugs. They accommodate different mugs because of the adjustable cup rest. It has a capsule coffee filter.
It’s easy to clean because the pod-piercing needle comes off. This prevents clogging that might take place if you use it a lot.
It’s only about 3 minutes, and you’ll have a strong cup of coffee in your hands. Flex brew only heats the water when you’re ready to brew, unlike many other coffee makers.
Things to Consider Before Buying an RV Coffee Maker for RV
Before you buy a coffee maker for RV, it’s important to consider a few things because otherwise, you might just throw your money out the door on something that doesn’t work for you.
Type of Coffee Makers for RVs
There are different types of coffee makers for RVs and one might suit you better than another. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best for me and the same goes for what I like. I can only tell you to the best of my ability. And here are some things below to think about when it comes to the type of coffee maker for RV that you want.
Single Serve Coffee Machines
Single serve coffee machines are honestly my favorite. Whether I want a cup of coffee or my husband wants one or we both want one, it just seems like the easiest way to go about making a cup of coffee.
You can do the preprepared pods or you can do ground coffee in them, so it doesn’t limit you. Keep in mind that these are usually a little bit on the pricier side of things depending on the type of single service coffee maker you buy.
Drip Coffee Makers
A drip coffee maker is probably a kind that you’re familiar with already. You put the ground in the coffee filter and the hot water pours through and gets the coffee out of the grounds. You’ll see a hot plate under the carafe keeping it warm but if you’re not careful, that can make it taste a little bitter.
These types of coffee makers are usually pretty inexpensive. And they often come with cool features like timers you can set so your coffee can get to brewing before you get out of bed.
If you want a really tasty coffee though, I wouldn’t recommend this type.
Percolators
Percolators basically rely on boiling water rising to the acceptable filled with grounds. You aren’t likely to break these sturdy boys and they are really inexpensive. You might even be able to put them on your campfire grate if you so choose.
The high temperatures it gets to can be a problem though. It really knocks out the possibility of a delicious cup of coffee.
Pour-Over Coffee Machines
When you really want to maximize your coffee flavor, you buy a pour-over coffee machine for your RV. They are designed to give you the best flavor and are for those of you that don’t mind a little extra work making your coffee.
Personally, I don’t think it’s the best coffee maker for RV life since it’s so much work. We are trying to relax, right?
Power Usage
If you use a percolator then it’s not too important to think about power usage, but most coffee makers are going to need some electricity to brew water.
The wattage demand can be a little high, depending on the type of RV coffee maker you decided to buy. If you’re in a 30 amp RV, you need to watch where every little bit of juice is going. If you aren’t running anything else, you’re more than safe with just about any type of coffee maker.
Glass or Stainless Steel Carafe
Most sticks and bricks homeowners use glass carafes but if you’re in an RV, you might consider the stainless steel option when looking at the best coffee maker for RV living.
If you have your glass carafe in your cabinet and you hit a bump in the road too hard, you might be picking up the pieces when you get to your destination. On the other hand, if you use a stainless steel carafe, you won’t have to worry about it.
Stainless steel carafes can also have double insullated walls that keep your coffee warm without burning your coffee like a hot plate would.
How Long Will Coffee Makers for RVs Last?
I have to say that there isn’t really an “RV coffee maker for RV.” Honestly, these coffee makers are usually just small coffee makers. There aren’t any coffee makers that are made specifically for RV though.
Cheaply made coffee makers are usually going to last three years or less while well made and great material coffee makers could last five years or even longer.
Best Coffee Maker for RV Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some commonly asked questions about RV coffee makers.
Will a small coffee maker do a good job?
It’s not the size of the coffee maker that matters. Be willing to wait for single servings and make more when you need it, and you will still get a good cup of coffee.
How much money should I budget for an RV coffee maker?
You can find some really good deals, but if you want a quality coffee maker, I’d go close to $100.
What are some of the best RV coffee maker brands?
Coleman, Keurig, Black + Decker, Hamilton Beach & Cuisinart are great RV coffee maker brands.
Choosing the Perfect Coffee Maker for RV Life
Now that I’ve gone over these great coffee makers, you can figure out which one is the best coffee maker for RV living for you. My pick is the Kingtoo coffee maker, so make sure to check it out.
When Jessica was older and had a family, she took her crew on the road for 2.5 years. They lived in 2 different RVs during that time. One 18 foot long and one 28 foot long. Both pull-behind RVs.
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