Battery-Operated Coffee Maker: Everything You Need To Know
Life moves pretty fast, and sometimes you need your coffee to move right along with it. Battery-operated coffee makers offer the sweet convenience of taking your coffee on the go. They are portable, cost-effective, and guarantee fresh coffee for even the busiest among us.
To discover the best battery-operated coffee maker for you, our expert team used and reviewed as many as we could get our hands on. Ultimately, we put together this carefully curated selection of the top 7 in 2023.
At A Glance:
- OUR TOP PICK: Makita DCM501Z Coffee Maker
- BUDGET PICK: RoadPro
- BEST PORTABLE: Outin Mini
6 Best Battery Operated Coffee Makers In The UK
Home Grounds has taken the time and effort to comb through and uncover the seven best battery operated coffee makers in 2023 so you don’t have to. We’ll review each in turn and then walk you through the main points to consider when choosing the best battery-powered coffee maker. If you’re ready, read on.
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Makita DCM501Z |
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Outin Mini Portable Battery Espresso Machine |
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CONQUECO |
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RoadPro |
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Kopipresso |
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PRIPEY |
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1. Makita DCM501Z – Best Overall
Type Of Machine: Drip Coffee Machine
- Type Of Battery: 12V/18V Lithium Ion
- Capacity: 240 ml
- Dimensions: 28.4 x 19.8 x 26.2 cm
- Brews With: Ground Coffee & K-Cup Pods
Our top pick for the best battery-operated coffee maker this year is the one-of-a-kind Makita DCM501Z Coffee Maker. The Makita battery-operated coffee maker is a dream for any coffee lover working in the trades who relies on Makita tools daily. You don’t need hot water, and you’ll save money on paper filters. Slide a 12V or 18V lithium-ion battery out of your Makita drill, pop it into your coffee maker, and enjoy a fresh brew without having to leave the job site!
Its cordless nature and durable lightweight design make it a convenient travelling coffee companion to tuck into your car or carry around with you. It brews a single serving at a time, but can brew three coffees on a single battery charge. All you need to start is to pack in some coffee grounds or slot in your single-serve K-cup pod before pressing one button. Then you’re free to walk away. It’ll heat itself, and you’ll come back to a fresh hot coffee with the machine automatically turned off.
This characteristic teal Makita coffee maker has a niche Makita-centered demographic because the batteries aren’t included. Once you sip a cup of your favourite coffee in its stainless steel dual wall mug, you’ll want in on the fun.
For those of you asking, “Is there a 12-volt Keurig?” technically, there isn’t. But the Makita is compatible with a 12V battery and brews K-cups, so it’s basically the same thing.
2. Outin Mini Portable Battery Espresso Machine – Best Portable
Type Of Machine: Espresso Maker
- Type Of Battery: 7500 mAh, 12V and 24V car compatible
- Capacity: 80 ml
- Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.9 x 22.4 cm
- Brews With: Ground coffee, Nespresso and other pods
For espresso on the go, the Outin is the best portable option. With just the right combination of stainless steel and BPA-free plastic, this rechargeable coffee maker retains its durability while weighing just over 600 grams. It comes in a travel bag for hikers, campers, and all-around travellers.
It has a built-in heating function, so all you need is cold water and some coffee grounds or your favourite coffee pod. In 3-4 minutes, you’ll have a finely extracted brew with a rich aroma and a richer taste, thanks to its 20 bars of pressure. This upgraded model no longer requires you to hold down the button during the extraction process, so once you switch it on, it’s a hands-free operation.
What’s great about this coffee maker is that it can be used with a range of capsules, including Nespresso, Illy, Lavazza and L’Or.
The charging options are also flexible as the battery is compatible with most USB chargers over 10W and 12V / 24V car chargers. From a full battery, you’ll be able to extract four 50 ml shots, or two 80 ml double shots with cold water. If you happen to have hot water on hand, you can get 100+ espressos out of a charge.
3. CONQUECO – Best For Espresso
Type Of Machine: Espresso Maker
- Type Of Battery: 12V Lithium Ion
- Capacity: 40 ml
- Dimensions: 8.2 x 7.7 x 25.2 cm
- Brews With: Nespresso Pods
The CONQUECO makes espresso brewing look easy. This fully automatic espresso maker just needs water and a pod, and its compact design fits right in the palm of your hand.
Simply unscrew the water cup and place your desired Nespresso-compatible coffee pod into the chamber while the coffee maker is upside down. Then flip it right side up and add boiled or room temperature water. If you’re using cold water, start it in heating mode. If you add boiled water, you can start the extraction immediately.
The wonderful aroma of a perfectly extracted espresso will fill the air soon enough. Admire the crema as you delicately sip a sensational shot. It only makes one, but you’ll only need one.
The self-cleaning auto wash feature makes travelling with espresso that much easier. Just rinse the coffee cup and run the machine without a pod by pressing the button for 5 seconds. This espresso maker conveniently slots right into your car cupholder or your backpack bottle holder.
Do not use the CONQUECO during its charging time, which runs about two and a half hours. Otherwise, it will disrupt the brewing process and malfunction.
4. RoadPro – Budget Pick
Type Of Machine: Drip Coffee Machine
- Type Of Battery: 12V Car-Compatible
- Capacity: 590 ml
- Dimensions: 15.2 x 21.8 x 26.7 cm
- Brews With: Ground Coffee
The RoadPro is the ultimate affordable on-the-road coffee maker go-to. It brews coffee as a sizeable drip coffee maker that plugs into car, truck, or another vehicle of your choice. It is even a suitable coffee maker you can fit in an RV.
You’ll get your money’s worth out of this budget-friendly pick. You could either buy 4 to 5 coffees in a standard drive-through, or use this handy machine twice for the same price. Plus, the coffee maker will long outlast those drive-through brews.
A pot of coffee from this coffee maker takes 20 minutes to brew in a 590 ml dishwasher-safe glass carafe. So you can enjoy one large mug or divide it between two tired and thirsty travellers.
The battery-operated coffee maker comes with a scoop and a mounting bracket to permanently affix it wherever you need it. The best part? Enjoy a great-tasting cup of coffee anytime, even while the coffee maker is brewing, without interruptions to the brewing process.
5. Kopipresso – Best USB-Powered Brewer
Type Of Machine: Espresso Machine
- Type Of Battery: USB
- Capacity: 350 ml
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.5 x 22.1 cm
- Brews With: Ground Coffee & K-Cup Pods
The Kopipresso technically isn’t a battery-operated coffee maker, but it provides more flexibility than your average plug-in coffee maker with its USB power. You can easily plug it into a battery-operated device like a laptop for coffee anywhere, anytime.
The Kopipresso comes with a USB cable that plugs into any USB device, including power banks, laptops, outlets, and cars. With a tapered and portable compact design, it fits right in your palm, in your car’s cupholder, and in your bag’s pocket. It disassembles for easy cleaning.
It needs hot water as it doesn’t have a heating system. But it will keep your brew warm for up to 6 hours with its insulated stainless steel build. It gets the most flavour and aroma out of your coffee grounds or K-cups with its Circular Extraction Brewing technology. For a more intense-tasting brew, run the Kopipresso brewing cycle again. It’ll give you the kick you need. It may not be a battery operated 12V K-Cup Coffee Maker, but it’s as close as it gets and still gives you K-cup coffee on the move.
6. PRIPEY – Best Aesthetics
Type Of Machine: Espresso Machine
- Type Of Battery: Car-Compatible or Two AAAs
- Capacity: 177 ml
- Dimensions: 7.4 x 7.4 x 23.4 cm
- Brews With: Ground Coffee & K-Cup Pods & Tea & Etc.
Think PRIPEY the next time you’re shopping for a coffee and espresso-drinking loved one. It is designed to be gifted with a beautiful white, modern aesthetic. Travel in style as good taste radiates from its design – and from its delicious brews.
PRIPEY is versatile in its type of battery and brew compatibility. It is operable with two triple-A batteries, a portable charger, or a USB cable, handy for whatever you have lying around. Add boiling water and brew coffee from grounds or K-Cups, or tea, hot chocolate, and more. It works with one button, and it is dishwasher-safe to clean except for the casing that holds its motor.
This compact and cordless coffee and espresso maker comes in a uniquely-designed gift box that matches its pretty aesthetic. With no technical assembly required nor any prerequisites in terms of skills or experience, PRIPEY is great to look at and beginner-friendly to use and enjoy.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the seven best battery-operated coffee makers listed above, we have four more below as our Honorable Mentions. Though their descriptions are not as detailed, these are a few options worthy of your consideration if you haven’t found exactly what you’re looking for.
- Dewalt Coffee Maker – The Dewalt Brew ‘N Go is a travel mug-sized thermal stainless steel coffee maker that brews up to 445 ml of coffee from grounds or pods. Its power cord tucks in the back, and most of its pieces are dishwasher safe. The LCD display and button controls are the biggest appeal in its easy-to-navigate, user-friendly design. Like Makita, Dewalt has expanded into the coffee world. Only time will tell if other tool companies will have their own comparable offerings, like a Milwaukee Coffee Machine.
- MobiBrewer Portable Coffee Maker – The original MobiBrewer was updated in April 2022 and is now the new-and-improved MobiBrewer 2.0. It comes with a 12V vehicle adapter and its own internal heating element. Charge this fully automatic lightweight portable coffee maker on the go in your car and enjoy a fresh brew made from coffee grounds or your favourite K-Cup.
- Ryobi Coffee Maker – The Ryobi Cordless Barista 18V brews a single cup of coffee made from ground coffee or pods in under 5 minutes. The charger and battery are sold separately, but it comes with LatteGo that froths milk to a smooth silk-like consistency.
- Coleman Camping Coffee Maker – There is no Coleman battery-operated coffee maker, but if you want to enjoy coffee at your campsite, this is a wonderful option. It is an enormous beast of a brewer, so it’s not an option for trekking adventures. The heavy, stainless steel build is designed to sit directly on your campfire or a gas burner. It can brew up to 10 cups at a time, an easy way to make new friends at the camp ground.
How To Choose The Best Battery Operated Coffee Maker
As with any treasured coffee-related equipment, you want to be sure that you’re spending your hard-earned money on the best battery powered coffee maker for you. You deserve the best coffee, convenience, and value for your dollars. And not everyone will have the same demands. Let’s take a look at some key considerations.
What Type Of Coffee Do You Enjoy?
Let’s start with a softball question: how do you take your coffee?
All these best battery operated coffee makers fall into one of the following machine categories: Moka pot, espresso, and drip coffee. The classifications are somewhat arbitrary in this case, but they give you a rough idea of the coffee you can expect from each product.
Choose an espresso machine or anything compatible with Nespresso pods for a strong but small caffeinated kick. A Moka pot brew is slightly stronger than a drip coffee, as it brews under pressure – though a lower pressure than an espresso machine. Moka pots provide a happy medium for many coffee lovers, says coffee writer Valentina Palange (1).
You can brew high-quality coffee in a moka pot [no matter the origin], all with similar roast profiles to filter coffee.
A typical drip coffee machine makes 12 or more great-tasting cups of coffee with a smooth and mild flavour. Battery operated drip coffee machines are more likely to offer just one or two servings, given the constraints of battery power. Coffee makers that brew with K-Cups produce a similarly mild style of coffee.
How Much Coffee Do You Drink At A Time?
If you’re a coffee fanatic, how many cups do you drink? Is a single espresso shot sufficient, or are you looking to make double espressos, gran lungos, standard coffees, or even a full pot of coffee?
Consider the limitations of each portable pick. If you enjoy slowly savouring a large cup of coffee, an espresso machine won’t offer the same satisfaction.
What Type Of Battery Works For Your Lifestyle?
Car-compatible battery-operated coffee makers plug into your car’s 12V charger to charge and brew on the go. They make sense if you’re planning to brew and drink on the morning commute or a long road trip. Although, hopefully, the car barista and the driver are two different people.
USB-powered coffee machines are a great choice for office workers or freelancers who like to work at coffee shops and restaurants. You still need a USB port, but an electrical socket is optional.
The main battery types to consider are lithium ion and AAA.
A battery-operated coffee machine with lithium ion batteries has a voltage value between 12V to 24V. These batteries are easier to dispose of as they do not contain toxic cadmium. However, they are prone to overheating, may get damaged or worn down with time, and are specific to your coffee maker (2). The Makita drill battery is an obvious exception.
AAA batteries can be either disposable or rechargeable. They are easy to use, and you may get better value for your money as these batteries are usable with many other devices (3). But they are generally less powerful than Li-ion batteries and may need more frequent recharging.
To maintain the lifespan of your batteries, turn off your battery-operated coffee maker when it is not in use, remove the batteries, and store them briefly in the fridge if they ever overheat.
How Much Space Do You Have?
To enjoy a coffee maker on the go, be space-conscious of what you bring. Any good adventurer will tell you the importance of planning smart and travelling light (4).
When you’re on the move, you don’t want to be carrying unnecessary bulk with you, so size and weight become factors.
If you drive a lot and want to make a home for your battery-operated coffee maker in your car, measure the cupholder first and compare it with the dimensions of a portable espresso maker before purchase. If you love hiking or camping, do the same with your backpack’s pockets. Consider if you want a handheld size or if a larger model would be more practical.
Don’t forget to factor in the size of mandatory or optional accessories, like single-serve pods, coffee grinds, filters, or a means to boil water.
The size of the battery-operated coffee maker you pick will invariably impact the water reservoir capacity and the drink yield. If you want to make a lot of espresso for your loved ones or yourself, choosing a bigger model might make more sense even if it takes up a bit more space.
The Verdict
Home Grounds’ top pick as the best battery operated coffee maker is the Makita Cordless Coffee Maker. Compatible with the same batteries as your Makita power tools, the Makita Coffee Maker is a handy tool to have at the job site or on the go. It can be used with ground coffee or K-Cups, and no paper filters are needed. You’ll get an eye-catching pop of teal to look at as you enjoy a great brew in its included mug.
Not a power tool user? One of the other options, plus our four honourable mentions, will meet your needs. The important thing is that you never be without your precious java.
FAQs
No, Keurigs are not battery operated. A battery powered K-Cup coffee maker from the Keurig brand does not exist. Keurigs are electric appliances, but you can find battery operated coffee makers that are compatible with K-Cups or other coffee pods. For a portable and energy-efficient Keurig with an automatic shut-off feature, check out the K-Mini.
Yes, there is a way to use coffee pods without a machine, but you will still need a coffee maker of some sort. Peel the top off of a coffee pod and transfer the grounds from its packaging directly into a French Press, pour over coffee dripper, or another non-electric coffee maker. Put in just one or as many pods as you’d like, and brew as normal.
It is okay to put empty plastic coffee pods in the recycling, depending on the type of pods used and your jurisdiction. For K-Cups, peel off the aluminium foil top to throw in the garbage, compost the coffee grounds, and put the now-empty cup in the recycling bin if your area accepts plastic K-Cups. For Nespresso pods, bring them back to any Nespresso store, and they will take care of them for you (5). Do the same with L’OR pods at any Collect+ store (6).
To make coffee without electricity, you can use a battery-operated coffee maker, a French Press, an AeroPress, a percolator, a pour over brewer, or instant coffee. A coffee bag is a fun tea-like alternative (7). If you don’t have access to hot water, opt for good old-fashioned cold brew by steeping coarse grounds in cold water for 12 to 24 hours.
The difference between 12V and 24V refers to the types of batteries found in battery-operated coffee makers and the amount of battery power they have stored. The V stands for “volts,” a unit of measure for quantifying electrical power. The higher the voltage, the lower the current, which leads to less wasted heating and a more optimized performance.
References
- Otero, M. (2020, November 9). How To Brew Great Coffee With A Moka Pot. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/11/how-to-brew-great-coffee-with-the-moka-pot/
- University of Washington. (n.d.). What is a lithium-ion battery and how does it work? Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.cei.washington.edu/education/science-of-solar/battery-technology/
- Baum, A. (2023, January 17). Reviewing The Best AAA Batteries This Year. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.thestreet.com/review/best-aaa-battery-2/
- Mott, J. (2021, August 24). Enjoying great coffee while you’re travelling. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2021/08/enjoying-great-coffee-while-youre-travelling/
- Nespresso. (n.d.). The Nespresso Recycling Program. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.nespresso.com/ca/en/irecycle
- L’OR. (n.d.). Recycling Coffee Pods With The L’OR Podback Bag. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.lorespresso.com/en_gb/recycling
- Wildland Coffee. (n.d.). The Original No Mess French Press. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.wildlandcoffee.co/
