There are a number of things to consider when deciding how you’ll make coffee in your boat’s galley. No one system is right for everyone.
The only method that I don’t recommend is trying to use a 12 volt coffeemaker. Everyone I’ve ever known who has tried one, and every review I’ve ever read, says that they take way too long to brew a pot of coffee. One friend said that when she switched from a 12 volt to a 110 volt coffeemaker with an inverter, she actually used less power since it went so much more quickly.
Considerations in Making Boat Coffee
Before looking at the various possibilities for making coffee on a boat, let’s first ask a few questions. The answers to these will help determine which system is best for your situation.
How much coffee do you need to make at a time? A typical ceramic mug or insulated cup holds 12 to 16 ounces, while most coffee pots are labeled in 6-ounce cups (a few consider 4 ounces to be “one cup”). So if there are two coffee drinkers on board, and each wants two mugs of coffee in the morning, that’s equivalent to 8 to 10 “cups.”
Are you a fanatic about coffee made one particular way? Some people are hard-core French press fans, others want drip coffee and still others think perked coffee is best. If you have a strong preference, you’re going to want to stay with that system.
How much space is available – both for storing coffee making equipment and for making it? Some methods take much more space than others.
Is electricity available and are you willing to use it for coffee? Electric coffeemakers typically draw 800 watts (more on initial start up) and so won’t run off the small inverters that you plug into a cigarette lighter. You need at least a 1000 watt inverter, a generator or access to shore power in order to have an electric coffeemaker.
Will you primarily be making coffee at a dock, at anchor or while underway? Some methods will make coffee in almost any conditions, while others are best only in calm waters.
Are you willing to have a glass pot? If so, you’ll have to protect it from breakage whenever underway or in a rolly anchorage.
How often will you be making coffee? There are some methods that you might be willing to use occasionally (say if you spend one weekend a month on the boat, or a backup method that you use when underway) and others that you’d want if you’re living aboard full-time.
Do you want a hands-off operation or are you willing to be more active in making your coffee? Some methods require constant attention, others require timing, and others can be started and left.
How long are you going to want to keep your coffee hot? Will you have a cup or two in the morning and that’s it, or will you want to have another cup hours later, perhaps in the middle of a watch?
How Do Various Boat Coffee Systems Stack Up?
There is no one method of making boat coffee that’s right for everyone. In the following articles, I discuss how ten systems stack up on each of these considerations, and show recommended models for a boat galley.
No Electricity Needed:
- Instant Coffee
- Manual Drip Cone
- French Press
- Stovetop Percolator
- Aeropress
- American Press
One safety issue: with any of the stovetop methods, you really need a gimbaled stove and pot restraints to boil water if the boat is moving at all – the dangers of a pot of boiling water tipping or sloshing are just too great. And for the same reason, I prefer to use a tea kettle or my 4th Burner Multi Pot instead of a saucepan – water doesn’t slosh and it’s easier to pour accurately.
Using Electricity:
- Electric Percolator
- Electric Drip Coffee Maker with glass pot
- Electric Drip Coffee Maker with stainless carafe
- Keurig Brewers
Espresso drinker? I’m not, but several readers are. Check out the espresso makers they like!
Want some help with that tiny refrigerator? Check out our step-by-step how-to:
Rick Hall says
You are forgetting one of the best, richest tasting ways of brewing coffee. Stovetop espresso makers, then adding water to make an “americano”. This coffee is arguable more rich tasting with less bitterness than regular coffee. I’ve been doing this for many years and constantly get compliments on the coffee…
Try one of these espresso makes on the stove:
Bialetti 06800 Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thanks for the information! I love it when others share their recommendations . . . here’s the link:
Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Makers — it comes in 5 sizes from 1 cup to 12 cups.
Also, another reader sent me an e-mail to recommend the AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker — it makes one cup at a time and is all-plastic so it won’t break.
Carsten says
I’m a big fan of the moka pot, to take it a step farther I might suggest a hand coffee grinder. I use one similar to:
https://amzn.to/41Eshkg
Looking for those ceramic stones!
Susanna says
I also scrolled down to mention that your No Electricity Needed section is missing the stovetop espresso maker. We use this (ours is the stainless Cuisinox) on a daily basis. (Breaking all rules, we do also have an Aeropress as well as an insulated stainless French press, the latter for when we have company and need to pour more cups).
Mike says
My wife bought this for me. I’ve been using it more than a year and it works great. It’s plastic so no metal/glass and cheap.
GSI Outdoors 30 fl. oz. Java Press
https://gsioutdoors.com/30-fl-oz-javapress.html
Dave says
Well I use an aeropress, its plastic (so wont break), manual (so no extra power used)and makes from 1 to 4 shots of coffee at once. Boil water in the morning, make coffee, fill thermos with excess, and have a good coffee anytime during the day with no effort.
And as a bonus the clean up is really easy.
Carolyn Shearlock says
That’s a second vote for the Aeropress. Thanks for the link to the manufacturer’s site — lots of good pictures and information. They also have a listing of places that sell the Aeropress, as they don’t sell them directly. I took a look at several of the online retailers listed on the site, and Amazon again seems to have the best price . . . and sells the filters as well.
Amazon: AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
Steve O says
Another vote for AeroPress. I use it at home and on the boat. Makes some of the best coffee I have ever had
Katrina Drahos says
Another alternative would be coffee Bags. I am a tea drinker, therefore use teabags and a tea kettle aboard for convenience. My husband has been quite happy using Folgers coffee bags. He usually drinks freshly ground coffee beans, but when offshore and traveling has found the convenience of the bags a great alternative. They come in a foil pouch that I keep in a plastic sealed container and we can make a cup or a full thermos as desired for the day.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thanks for the idea! I don’t think I’ve ever seen those outside the US, but in the US they’d be great . . . or take some in your luggage.
If you’re not familiar with these, they’re called “Folger’s Coffee Singles” (clicking on that will take you to an Amazon page where you can see them). They also come in decaf.
They’re available in most grocery stores — if you can’t find them at yours, you can buy them at Amazon in a “6-pack” of 19 bags per pack (114 bags total) through the link above.
Louis Bullard says
I’ve seen a similar product at Starbucks.
Drip Coffee Machine says
Thermal carafes work great at keeping your coffee hotter longer. I bought one from Amazon and it works amazingly well. I highly recommend one 🙂
James Almond on Facebook says
The first time I tried french pressed coffee was like having coffee for the very first time again! I am now spoiled and will not drink coffee any other way if I have a choice.
Anyway, I would like to suggest this ALL stainless steel, insulated model by Frieling. All parts are SS and the whole thing is very well made. It is expensive but it should last a very long time. The handle is a little wonky when you think about it in boaty terms but it actually worked out well for me. I made a little cubby for it which the handle sticks out of serving as a place to hang stuff. Most importantly, it make awesome coffee!
http://amzn.to/2zI4e5j
The Boat Galley on Facebook says
Hi Jim — thanks for the recommendation!
S/V Passage on Facebook says
We are actually looking at a toddy cold-brew system (no power needed, not even to heat the water…who wants a hot beverage in the tropics?!) but don’t know anyone who has tried it…any thoughts from you or your readers?
The Boat Galley on Facebook says
S/V Passage – I haven’t even heard of this, but I’d be happy to post the question to see if anyone else has any experience (if you post it, it doesn’t go to everyone). Do you have a link to the product so we be sure to get comments on the right thing?
The Boat Galley on Facebook says
Is this it — just want to make sure: http://www.amazon.com/Toddy-T2N-Cold-Brew-System/dp/B0006H0JVW/?tag=theboagal0a-20
Mike Sytsma says
The coffee brewing system on our boat is the simplest, I think, and I have a story behind it. I had just bought a new 10-cup SS percolator for one of my first 2-week trips on my Catalina 22. However, I didn’t quite understand how the innards worked, and I lost the screens overboard while cleaning on the first day! What to do when faced with weeks without coffee? I learned very fast that coffee grains sink after being boiled about a minute, no strainer is actually required. You let most of them sink, then pour a cup and drink carefully, discarding the dregs. After that I was hooked, and I’ve been making coffee this way for 6 years, now on a Hunter 31. So keep in mind, if all your other coffeemaking devices fail, just boil some grounds in water and wait for them to sink.
Amos says
Same thing happened to me and like you, I found the coffee boiled in the pot to be every bit as good if not better than the fancy coffee makers with nothing to break. If you are very fussy about the grounds, you can use a cone filter as you pour it into your cup but I never bother.
Rose says
I agree with the first gentleman….stovetop coffee with the stainless steel Bialetti …. 60$ from the Bay, but it won’t break and makes great coffee and is small which is a plus for storage for small boats…ours is a Catalina 34 MK 2 so not big by any standards! Thanks for all the great tips…we also have the nesting pots you suggest and have only used them occaisionally as we are weekend cruisers, but they are great, store easily in the oven, and seem incredibly tough ( we have the stainless version – as I am a bit paranoid of non stick surfaces. )
Laura Zechin on Facebook says
Love boat coffee!
Brent says
Hi.
I am not a fan of filters or coffee that has sat for a while keeping luke warm, so I would recommend an electic capsual system for Espresso or Cappuccino/Latte. Very fast and easy to use with no mess (no powder or grinding to deal with). Each pod is vacume sealed for one shot of espresso and is pretty much impossible to tell the difference between freshly ground and a good brand pod.
We use the Nespresso Essenza C101 machine in our office. Fast warmup (1 minute) and double shot espresso in about 40 seconds. Team this with the Nespresso 3194 Aeroccino (milk heater) and you can make a good cappuccino very fast, hassel free and no mess. This system would work well on any boat with generator or shore power.
At home I use the Illy X7.1 Machine. I prefer the Illy coffee over the Nespresso and the styling of the machine is awesome, but this machine would only work well in a larger galley in calm waters.
Cheers, Brent
Premium Nautical on Facebook says
Espresso Lovers should read the suggestions I just posted at the bottom. Cheers
Chip Mefford on Facebook says
This:
http://www.rei.com/product/792857/rei-double-shot-press-mug
Plus this:
https://amzn.to/2MgfvRQ
Norm Pettett on Facebook says
Black and thick!
Kenneth Arnold on Facebook says
Coffee Press, boiling water, coarse ground Coffee!
Steven K. Roberts on Facebook says
I lived with an Aeropress and Hario hand grinder for a couple of years, then switched to a Breville “Barista Express” espresso machine. Sounds crazy, but there’s nothing like a nice fluffy nauticalatté, and the power budget is not too insane… I did some data logging with a Kill-a-Watt meter and I’m averaging 75WH per mug (including warm-up, grinding, espresso extraction, steaming, and letting it sit powered on in anticipation of the second cup). A bit of an indulgence, I know, but worth it! I do keep the other stuff around in anticipation of tight power budgets, however…
Ann Snider on Facebook says
A good hot cup of coffee!! We use the Farberware stove top perculator and a good thermos. The thermos is a year-round thing and we have another Farberware stove top perculator at home but we use the Grind and Brew to make the daily coffee. The stove top one is for when we lose power.
Hilary Helkenn on Facebook says
I was French Press purist til they put a Keurig in at work. Holy cow I converted fast. Cost is a consideration but I fill my own and it’s cheaper and greener. Unfortunately messier too. I had wondered how much electricity the small Keurig used…as its now hard to imagine not having one.
Chris Bart on Facebook says
I love my aeropress.
Lori Jones on Facebook says
We simply boil water and then pour it into the coffee maker.
Chip Mefford on Facebook says
Lol @Hilary, yeah, those Keurigs are pure sin.
Debi Shaimas on Facebook says
Coffee press for fresh brew topped with frothed milk and cinnamon. Battery operated frothier is cheap, works great on whole boxed milk and makes the morning brew something special.
Sam Steele on Facebook says
I like my coffee hot and strong and lots of it, with a llittle cream and sugar thank you very much, as I usually have other coffee drinkers on board. For simplicity’s sake the French press for me,… Boiling water, coffee grounds, press…although it never seems to make enough and I wish it were insulated as it cools off fast once you start draining it. So a big, (10-12 cup) insulated French press would seem to be the ticket!
Nancy Fournier on Facebook says
I lile my percolator!
Martin Henry on Facebook says
French Press and Nescafé as a backup
Jim Allen on Facebook says
I make tea 🙂
Sarah Wright on Facebook says
Hand grinder; fresh ground is a must in the French Press.
Roland Falkenstein on Facebook says
I have GIRD, and coffee really set it off, until I fould cold brewed coffee. I make a quart of coffee syrup, thrn mix it as I need it with boiling water. I think it taste great and is very easy! Last me about a month.
Christine Warren on Facebook says
On the boat I microwave the water and use a starbucks instant pack.
Ed Starboard on Facebook says
we found the french press to be a good idea…except it required a lot of water to clean up. fine at home but not on a boat with limited water supply. The Aeropress uses MUCH less water for clean up. We save nut cans and pop the little puck of used coffee into the can, small rinse and done. works great. makes 4 cups
Amber Amodei on Facebook says
I use http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=gAHMPJfkrS4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DgAHMPJfkrS4
Susan Ford on Facebook says
We use a Farberware electric coffee.
Nick Beck on Facebook says
One of these (http://amzn.to/2CiKGda) with coarse ground coffee (lots of). It’s hardy (our has been flying several times) keeps the coffee hot for hours (not that it normally takes hours for me to drink it all) and holds 5-6 mugs… If we have the full 8 on then we make the coffee extra strong and water it down with another kettle full of boiled water… Excellent product that has more than paid for itself in savings from broken glass ones…
Paul Bryan on Facebook says
I don’t always drink coffee, but when I do I prefer the French press. Stay jittery my friends.
Papa Hari says
We have tried may onboard brewing methods. Instant, just add hot water, has won us over. Here is an interesting coffee tasting web page:
http://www.coffeereview.com/article.cfm?ID=181
Shane Bartus says
My French press broke last fall after getting knocked around at a rough anchorage and I replaced it with an Aeropress (all plastic). I now understand what all the fuss is about…love it! Cleanup is so much easier as well!
Shane Bartus says
How timely: http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_37/features/Brewing-Coffee-in-the-Galley_11296-1.html
The Boat Galley says
I just saw that and was coming here to put a note about it . . . hmmm, great minds . . . 🙂
Gloria Dawn Turek says
We prefer our percolator from West Marine. It is stainless steel. I use paper filter by punching hole in center. Best smell to wake up crew.
Carolyn Risch Folk says
Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill (absolutely worth EVERY penny), good beans, hot water, and french press.
Lupari Sue says
Wow that article got some comments! We love our stovetop espresso machine and our Bodum plunger depending on what we feel like. Usually a heart starter of good quality instant(Moccona)first thing and then later savor the aroma and taste of real coffee. We are cery lucky to have the storage for both.
The Boat Galley says
I like that concept: “heart starter”!
Skylar Walker says
We have the stainless French press from Ikea – makes excellent coffee and I can’t break it 🙂
Val Truch says
this is what we use (used…. until my hubby broke first le handle, and just now the glass pot 🙁 )
http://www.amazon.com/Medelco-Cup-Glass-Stovetop-Percolator/dp/B000V5VCPG/?tag=theboagal0a-20
But it worked great for us who drink 2 big cups in the morning
Anne Marie Nielson says
Our Bellman stove top espresso and milk frothier is amazing. The pressure gauge is worth the expense.
Tim Sheahan says
We picked up a nice Faberware ss percolator works great
Steve Barry says
The question is – how will I make my Tea???
Anne says
File under non-electric: I like the Clever- it’s like pourover, but without the tall stacking of brewer-on-cup. I find that under way I can put the cone in the sink while it immersion-brews (like french press) but it makes a cleaner cup (like pourover or aeropress). See a video: https://prima-coffee.com/equipment/abid/clever
Paul Alcock says
We have used French Press, Instant, and Percolator on our Catalina 34.
One of my issues is with the clean up and disposal.
We only make enough coffee that we’ll drink, if there is left over, we’ll make iced coffee with it.
But the coffee grounds are difficult to get rid off. I refuse to dump them overboard no matter where we are. So I’m curious how others deal with the clean up and disposal of the remnants of the coffee.
Anne says
Easy cleanup is exactly why I’d use a french press or perc. Considering that coffee grounds (and not the filters, obviously) are purely woody plant material that will break down in a matter of a week or so, why not bury those ashore or dispose overboard? Seems the best place. By contrast, your greywater is going overboard and that has cleaners and soaps in it. I can see not putting peels overboard or somesuch that would show up on someone’s beach, but grounds are another matter.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I put them in with my other “food scraps” and dispose of them when back ashore — as I do with all our trash.
Paul Alcock says
We do the same, the issue is the clean up.
Getting the used coffee grounds out of the perc strainer or the french press is a messy job and I keep looking for a way to clean them out without using half a roll of paper towels or getting grounds all over the galley counter top.
We have not found a coffee maker that has the ease of a Kurig type. But at least they are easy to clean up, Toss it in the garbage. But it’s not exactly eco friendly and does (IMHO) not make the best coffee.
Dan Leach says
Aeropress for everyday. Perk on the stove when we need a pot for guests. But I’ll confess we also have a stovetop espresso maker aboard. Stay Jittery.
Peggy Stone says
Aeropress and cone, while cruising and at home. No more bulky, leaky, scaled electric coffeemakers.
Jesse K On Smitty says
Read this while waiting for my coffee to steep in our French press while anchored in Christmas Cove, STT. Thanks for another great article.
Rick Garvin says
Aeropress for two and stovetop percolator for more. I prefer Aeropress, but training guests is a challenge.
Kevin Black says
3 in 1 Nescafe sachets, just add boiling water…. job done!
Cheryl Stanton says
Can’t go past a Robert timms percolated coffee bag and I love my coffee
Terri Zorn says
If we’re plugged in I like percolated coffee, otherwise French press.
Donna Chiappini says
Coffee is critical in my life. We have three coffee makers on board right now. The Keurig for when we are in our slip and have power and two French Press coffee makers for when we don’t have power. The original French Press is good but the grounds are a mess to clean up. I recently found a Keurig French Press on Amazon. Just as good as the brewed. Just need a tea pot for hot water. I use the pre-made pods but have recently purchased the filters you can fill yourself. When we take a long trip, at that point I think the Keurig French Press will be the keeper.
Peter Bould says
The most important part of coffee making is the grind of fresh beans. We could not store a Mazzer on board. They take up too much room. But we have now settled on a very compact Krups GVX2. Stunning grind. It doesn’t matter how we use the ground coffee the result is always brilliant.
Anonymous says
for quite some time now I have been making cold brew coffee no equip. needed
Anonymous says
and no heat
Anonymous says
We use a combo system! Perked or Instant underway , drip dockside !
Anonymous says
I’m waiting for my new stainless steel insulated Rite Press, a no-mess French press that has the bottom screw off. I like our Nambe FP, but cleaning it out isn’t as easy as the Aeropress, and I think this Rite Press may just be the right thing. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/146423791/rite-press-the-no-mess-french-press
Anonymous says
Wow need to ck this out. Just got back, two weeks of good FP coffee in the boat but I bet I still have coffee grounds on me!! 😱
The Boat Galley says
Looks interesting
Anonymous says
Instant coffee
The Boat Galley says
I’ve done that on occasion. Actually, our whole first year of cruising. Then I discovered other ways I liked better.
Anonymous says
Manual espresso maker matched with stove top steamer for frothing milk. It will change your cruising for the better.
Anonymous says
Like it. New addition for Vagan.
Elizabeth says
Please don’t advise Keirugs on your site. They are so, so bad for the environment. The black plastic is not recyclable. Also, since China stopped taking our US plastic recycling in 2018, we only have facilities and technologies to recycle 10% of all plastics sent to recycling. It’s heartbreaking to see people buying Keirug pods by the cart load.
Carolyn Shearlock says
But you can buy the refillable/reusable pods! You don’t have to use the disposable ones.
Bill says
Hi Carolyn
A few of us are more extreme in our desire for great coffee. We have a Bezzera BZ10 which is a small commercial coffee machine, and a Mazzer commercial grinder. We are on a cat with plenty of bench space, 1kW of solar panels, and a 3000w inverter. All coffee is stored as whole beans in airtight bags in the freezer. This gives a shelf life of about 6 weeks. Once in the grinder hopper they are good for maybe 4 days.
If we didn’t have this setup, I would use a pod machine. They get 80% of the way to a good coffee. I would still store them in the freezer.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Nice! I want to anchor next to you and be invited over for a morning cuppa! Lots of space and power make it possible.
Leland Parker says
Hi Carolyn. This coffee article sure grew some legs and seems to have practically turned into a forum!
As a long-time camper, backpacker, and RV-er with probably a cumulative year or two roughing it in hotel rooms for professional projects preparing meals with nothing more than a microwave and dorm fridge, I’ve inadvertently been prepping for galley cooking and learned a few Spartan skills. One of those is how to make a great cup of coffee without relying on equipment.
It all started with a comment from a friend of mine. It seems that he had a friend who who worked for a coffee company and was a bit of a rogue-ish rascal . At an annual company meeting, this fellow performed an entertaining skit about the history of coffee that included a group of cowboys sitting around a campfire. He boiled some water over the fire and unceremoniously dumped some coffee grounds from a pouch into the pot. Here’s where it gets interesting…
Right after the skit, there was a coffee brewing contest and our rogue-cum-cowboy entered his campfire coffee (usually called Cowboy Coffee) in the contest AND WON SECOND PLACE!
So how were the dumped grounds able to rival the best efforts of the machinistas, you ask…? The process of making great coffee has just a few essential factors:
1. Good coffee beans and grind: fresh-ground is great, fresh-roasted-and-then-ground is even better. A fine grind also provides more surface area for the aromatics and oils to leach out of the grounds; I now always grind mine to a fine powder. NOTE: you can buy light roast whole beans and darken them up in an air-pop popcorn maker or other roaster of your choice for a nearly fresh-roasted result.
2. The right ratio of water to coffee: this is easily the MOST IMPORTANT factor. A bitter or acrid brew can often be brought into gourmet range by adding a touch of water. A touch more water turns it into an insipid cup of dirty water. It’s amazing what a huge difference a little more or a little less water will make.
3. Water of the correct temperature: the exact optimal temperature depends on the bean, but in general, the bitter compounds come out at higher temperatures. The oils also oxidize at higher temperatures, degrading the coffee before you can serve and enjoy it at peak flavor. Using water that’s slightly below boiling (around 200 degF) brings out the savory flavors and leaves the acrid stuff behind. This article describes the phenomenon in more detail and explains why cold brew coffee is sweeter and smoother (though less complex) than hot-brewed: https://scienceandfooducla.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/coffee-brewing-chemistry-hot-brew-and-cold-brew/
4. The correct steeping time. Two factors are at work here: (1) the bitter compounds have a harder time coming out, so long steeping time gives the bitters more time to leach into the water and (2) the longer the coffee sits at high temperature, the more oxidized and bitter the oils become.
So, inspired by the Coffee Cowboy’s competitive success and after focusing on the four factors above and focusing also on the humble domestic realities of campsites and hotel rooms, I simply began dumping finely powdered grounds in water that had been heated to just under boiling (usually in the microwave). Using regular grounds produces Cowboy Coffee. As it turns out, using fine grounds produces a “cream” of foam atop the brewed java that one can either stir in as I usually do, or scoop off into the serving cup to make…Turkish Coffee! Yes! Rich, delectable, world-famous Turkish coffee is made with no special equipment!! For the record, I make mine in a tupperware container because I’ve worked out the amount of beans to grind and dump into it. How’s that for rudimentary?
P.S. the grounds can be saved and used to add a wonderful roasted nuttiness to stocks (in a sachet) or added to boiling water for gyoza (pot stickers), ravioli, tortellini, and the like. You just need a way to separate the grounds from the food–or drink lots of Turkish Coffee until you’re used to nibbling on the grounds.
This web page covers the process of making Cowboy Coffee in a humorous light; I’ve found that the stir-twice method described there works very well: https://driftaway.coffee/how-do-you-make-cowboy-coffee/