Have you ever wondered why coffee is considered the best drink for travelers? Not only does it give you an awakening effect, but it also can save you from depression. Unpleasant emotions such as tiredness and anxiety are unavoidable, but they mustn’t consume you. Our comprehensive guide will show you the best 12-volt coffee makers and help you choose how to make your journeys tastier, more enjoyable, and more convenient.
We’ve looked at 32 different options to pick the 5 best ones, and the Makita DCM501Z is our Editor’s Choice. The most popular 12-volt coffee makers, connect right to your automobile’s auxiliary power outlet (or an external 12-volt battery) and make a hot cup or carafe of coffee in between five and 20 minutes. You also have the option of drip, single-serve, and espresso brews, so you can customize your drink to your liking.
More features: 18V compatible, individual packs and ground coffee compatible
The new DCM501Z portable coffee maker from Makita is a big improvement from its previous model of the same name. After improving plenty of features to make a better coffee brewing experience, Makita has created one of the best overall 12V coffee makers you can find and earns a spot on our list as the Editor’s Pick.
Built like one of Makita’s portable power tools, this coffee maker is efficient, compact, and lightweight. It can brew a larger cup of coffee than most other portable coffee makers at 5 ounces, and in just 5 minutes. It can brew up to 3 cups of coffee this size in a single charge.
This machine does not come with a battery included, but is compatible with Makita’s own variety of batteries, including 12V and 18V. This does add up the price, but the coffee maker will do a better job the more powerful your battery.
At less than 5 lbs. and less than 9” high, you’ll have no problem taking this device wherever you go, from picnics to camping trips. You can also hold a decent 8 ounces in the water compartment at a time.
This coffee maker is compatible with both single serve packs and pre-ground coffee. No paper cups are needed as the permanent drip filter lets grounds be poured directly into the coffee maker. A standard size coffee mug comes included, though the machine can fit any cup 3 1/2” or less.
More features: 20 bar, comes in 5 colors
The Outin Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine is a game-changer for coffee enthusiasts on the go. This compact device, colored in a serene forest green, is designed to fit seamlessly into your travel gear, ensuring you never have to compromise on your coffee quality, no matter where you are.
Outin’s upgraded design boasts a heightened coffee cup, allowing for hands-free coffee extraction, a feature not seen in many of its competitors. The machine’s efficiency is evident in its fast heat-up time, taking only 3-4 minutes for cold water, and its ability to brew more cups per charge than similar products. With a built-in 7500mAh rechargeable battery, users can enjoy 3-5 cups on a full charge.
The double 2-in-1 feature is another standout, accommodating both ground coffee and popular coffee capsules. Whether you prefer cold or hot brews, the Outin Nano has got you covered. Its IPX6 waterproof rating, combined with a leak-proof and heat-insulated design, ensures safety and durability, making it perfect for outdoor activities like camping and hiking.
However, like all products, it’s not without its flaws. Users need to ensure they use a 5V/3A adapter for charging, and the portafilter requires careful handling to prevent leakage.
More features: 194°F heating temperature, wall adaptor, capsule coffee compatible, 15 bar pressure pump, 2.5 h charging time
If you’re looking to take a fresh cup of coffee with you wherever you go on your own, a single serve portable coffee maker should come in handy for you. More specifically, the best single-serve coffee maker for you would be the CONQUECO portable coffee espresso maker.
One of the most notable things about this coffee maker is its stylish streamlined design that makes it so compact. It can easily fit into a cup holder in a car or a bottle holder of a backpack, making it perfect for travel.
Powered by a 12V lithium ion battery, this coffee maker can be recharged at home or even in your car with a charger for each function that comes included.
This coffee maker can warm up cold water in about 8 to 12 minutes and gets to brewing instantly if the water is already hot.
The controls on this automatic electric device are simple – everything is done for you with the push of a single button.
One feature that makes this a great portable coffee maker is the 15-bar high-pressure pump that allows for a near barista-style coffee serving, both rich and dense with flavor.
To top it all off, the device is low maintenance. The only part that needs cleaning is the cup, and everything else is rinsed by pushing the button for 5 seconds without a capsule in.
Some find that the CONQUECO makes small portion sizes than preferred and might take a couple of rounds to get an adequate volume if you like larger cups.
More features: 15 bar pressure, rechargeable, self-cleaning, one-button operation
If you enjoy espresso anywhere, the Imons portable espresso maker could be the perfect solution for you. This is a self-heating device that automatically pumps for you. The overall size and design ensure that this portable device can be easily placed in a bottle holder or cup holder, making it ideal for traveling, camping or hiking.
The unit is supplied with two chargers and it does have fast charging potential. You can expect a full charge within 2.5 hours. When you’re using hot water, you can expect a delicious cup of coffee within seconds. However, even if you’re using cold water, with the push of one button, you can be enjoying your coffee in 8 to 12 minutes. The device has up to 15 bar pressure for barista style results and it delivers a volume of approximately 1.5 ounces per cup.
What’s really nice about the Imons portable espresso maker is its functionality and flexibility. It has compatibility with Original Line Nespresso Capsules, so you can enjoy your favorite coffee on the go. It is fully automatic and remarkably easy to clean. You only need to wash the coffee cup and press the button for five seconds without a capsule for an auto wash cycle. This is a remarkable feature when you consider you’re likely to be using this device on the go and will not have the time or facilities for an intensive cleaning process.
More features: automatic temperature controlling system, fault detection and alarm protection
Imagine being able to drink fragrant coffee any place anytime. This car coffee maker must be a dream come-true for most coffee lovers.
The coffee maker has a simple and convenient design. It is made to last with stainless steel and high-quality nylon for optimum durability and first-rate performance. It is powered by 12V cigarette lighter plug of the car. It is remarkably lightweight, coming in at a mere 1.8 pounds, you will always want to have it with you everywhere you go.
You must be worried about accidental spills in your car. Well, the coffee maker’s innovative design has got you covered. It has IP10 sealing protection that effectively prevents spills and keeps your car tidy.
What’s more, your safety came first when the coffee maker was made. It has an automatic temperature control system and boil-dry protection to prevent it from getting damage and also make it safe.
It also has an automatic fault detection and an alarm protection system that would let you know in case something is amiss with it. This increases its longevity and your safety.
12V coffee makers are ideal companions for coffee lovers on the road. This refers to truckers, frequent travelers, daily commuters and anyone else in between. In fact, anyone who spends a great deal of time in their vehicle and loves their coffee can do with taking a 12-volt coffee maker with them. So what should you look for when getting this on-the-go appliance? Here are some things to consider.
Using a coffee maker at home is distinctly different from using one in your vehicle. For instance, coffee machines used at home come with the standard 110/120-volt options, but when you want to use an appliance in your car, truck, RV or boat you need to plug your appliance into a different electrical source. For onboard appliances, you use an adapter that that fits into a 12V socket or a cigarette lighter onboard your vehicle. Instead of having a 110-V plug on the end of a power cable, you use the onboard generator that converts the 120 volts AC down to 12V DC to support power to all 12V appliances and accessories in the RV.
Getting a 12V coffee maker that you can plug into your vehicle’s power supply needs slightly more thought than mere portability to make a good purchase. Of course, you don’t want something that’s not easy to carry, but you also want to look at how much coffee it can brew, how much time it’ll take and the price factor. So with these things in mind, here’s what you need to look for when finding the best 12V coffee maker.
Many of the models in the 12V coffee maker category will be single serve appliances. This means that the machine is capable of preparing one cup of coffee at a time.
These models come in several shapes, sizes and functionalities ranging from fully manual drip coffee makers to completely automatic versions. Single serve machines also offer the benefit of using pre-packaged coffee pods for added convenience.
In addition, single serve coffee makers are compact devices that don’t take up too much space, a factor that is important when traveling in a vehicle.
12V coffee makers feature different capacities with smaller models being capable of holding 1.5 oz to 2 oz. Larger models can hold up to 5 oz.
The Makita DCM501Z has a capacity of 5 oz. with the CONQUECO Portable Coffee Espresso Maker, and the Cosiki Portable Coffee Machine featuring a capacity of 1.7 oz., and 2.1 oz. respectively.
Portability is perhaps the key factor to look for when investing in a 12V coffee maker. The whole point of this appliance is the ability to travel easily with it. As such, look at the capacity, size and weight of the coffee maker. 12V models will typically range between 30 oz to a few lbs. with the largest not exceeding a weight of 5 lbs. The largest model we have today is the Makita DCM501Z weighing 4.6 lbs.
Having a portable appliance onboard should be easy to use. In the case of a coffee maker, you should look at the possibility of spills and drips. In this regard, look for something that comes with a mounting rack. These racks help secure the coffee maker when the vehicle is in motion. Mounting racks come bundled with the coffee maker in some models and where there isn’t one included, consider getting one to keep your coffee maker secure and fixed. Another option to consider is getting a coffee maker with a magnetic base to keep it in place.
Some models feature a detachable drip tray to make performance more mess-free.
In terms of operation, fully automatic features is another consideration. These models will make the coffee for you with the press of a button.
Ease of use also involves easy cleanup, so look for models that come with stainless steel construction for quick cleaning. Also, coffee makers that use pods facilitate the cleanup process even further.
Safety features are always a plus with any appliance. In the case of coffee makers, some models come with an automatic shut feature while others utilize safety features such as food-grade silicone and plastic materials. Coffee makers that have a stainless-steel construction for anti-corrosion and high quality are among some of the most preferred models.
Since 12V coffee makers don’t run on a lot of power, their brewing time will naturally be slower than the kitchen counter versions. Many can take up to 20 minutes to prepare your coffee while others can hasten the task to 15 minutes. Some high-end 12V coffee makers are known to prepare coffee within 5-8 minutes but come with a heftier price tag.
12V coffee makers are pricier than traditional models as they cater to a specific audience. As such, you will want to have some kind of guarantee backing up your investment. High-end, quality brands will offer a 1 to 2-year warranty on their product for customer satisfaction. Even models that fall in the mid-price range should offer a warranty of some sort.
Despite their smaller sizes and lower power consumptions, 12V coffee makers can deliver good tasting coffee. The one downside that customers feel is the comparatively longer brewing time it takes to brew coffee as compared to traditional coffee makers.
That said, some machines offer a Brewstop feature which allows you to stop the brewing process midway and pour yourself a cup of coffee.
The filtration system is a very important aspect to your coffee machine, unless you want coffee grounds floating in your cup. Since these coffee makers are smaller, they will need more attention while you are inspecting them. Not all coffee makers are made with the perfect filtration system.
You want one that can have only water filter through the system, so you get the strongest available taste. You can test the filter beforehand a couple of times to see if only water gets through by placing sugar cubes inside and seeing if any cubes made it into the mix. Clean the filter often and if they are offered, try to get your hands on a spare filter for your model coffee maker.
When considering a 12V coffee maker, look carefully at how durable the appliance is. This is not something that will sit stationary on your kitchen counter but something that will feel the impact of road travel. Looking at the build quality of the coffee maker, consider if its made of plastic parts or has stainless steel components. If it’s plastic, is it high quality plastic and if there are any moving parts? Durability also refers to how consistently the machine performs. A durable machine should be able to deliver consistent results every time.
Having quality coffee on the road is not something everyone gets to enjoy. Most people depend on cafes to provide them with a daily dose of coffee. If you have a coffee maker, then you can take the café with you wherever you go. For this reason, you should be prepared for a price tag that is slightly more extravagant. 12-volt coffee makers can come in between $50 to $100, although it’s not hard to find a quality coffee maker anywhere within this price range.
The best choice out there for 12V coffee makers would have to be the Makita DCM501Z portable coffee maker. Other electric devices of its type hardly compare in terms of efficiency, capacity, and portion sizes. With the 18V compatibility, it further has the upper hand in coffee production size and performance.
Another great choice, more specifically for single-serve users, is the CONQUECO portable coffee espresso maker. Perfect for espresso for one, this compact and portable device not only looks great, but can fit anywhere practical and be taken around with ease. It provides a great tasting result in minutes, so you can enjoy quality espresso on the go.
The IMONS Portable Espresso Maker has a sleek design and great functionality. The unit is fast charging and can produce your coffee within seconds if you’re using hot water, with 15 bar pressure for a barista style finish.
