Many campervanners want espresso in the morning, but not a fixed 12V machine. They don't want an inverter debate or extra amps drawn from the leisure battery. Coffee in the campervan without a 12V installation works fine. Just choose a battery-powered portable espresso machine that you charge somewhere else and keep in the kitchen drawer.
We have separate articles about the car and about camping in general. This one is about a single thing: how to get your espresso in a campervan or van without a fixed installation and without worrying about power. You don't have to build anything in, and your espresso is still good.
Why fixed 12V often chafes
A fixed campervan espresso setup (think Dometic or Van-X style 12V installations) usually requires:
- wiring or a fixed spot
- enough power reserve or shore power
- space and weight in a kitchen unit
- a purchase you can't just take along to a hotel or picnic
If you share, rent or want to keep things simple, that feels heavy. An inverter for a 230V home machine sounds handy, until you factor in amps, heat and noise. Then you want something that does not need to drink from the campervan battery while brewing.
It also plays on your mind. If you've just kitted out a bus or compact campervan, you don't want an espresso project in your wiring diagram right away. A battery-powered portable machine keeps that choice open.
The alternative: charge elsewhere, brew on battery
The simple model:
- Charge the machine at home, at the campsite (shore power), via USB in the car, or at the office.
- Keep it in a drawer or cupboard.
- Add water, choose capsule or ground, brew on battery while parked.
- Rinse the removable parts in the campervan kitchen.
You're not dependent on a fixed 12V espresso machine. You do depend on charging discipline, just like with a power bank or laptop. Plan to charge on shore power or during a driving break, not only when the craving hits.
What the Nomad does in the campervan
The Rolling Roast Nomad is a compact portable espresso machine that runs on a battery. No suction cup mount, no fixed wiring. Specs that matter in a campervan kitchen:
- ~24.5 cm tall, ~650 g
- water up to 60 ml
- 20 bar
- USB-C charging
- ground coffee up to 8 g
- colors Green, Black, Silver
- current price on the product page
The Nomad works with capsules in Nespresso® format and Dolce Gusto® format (including capsules from brands such as Nespresso, Dolce Gusto or Starbucks in those formats), plus ground coffee.
Many campervanners already have capsules lying around. Because the Nomad works with those formats, you bring what you know. You don't need to buy a second "official" branded machine, and we don't claim it is one. The Nomad isn't a Nespresso machine or a Dolce Gusto machine, but a Rolling Roast with adapters for those formats.
How to brew (no one-touch)
In a cramped kitchen you want steps that are always the same:
- Insert a capsule or ground coffee
- Fill the reservoir
- Press twice (2×) to heat up
- Hold 2 seconds to brew
No one-touch. But it's a ritual that fits into a minute alongside breakfast. Brew while parked, with your cup stable on the countertop or a small board.
Campervan checklist without a 12V build
- Battery charged in advance (USB-C)
- Small water bottle or jerrycan tap within reach
- Capsules or an airtight jar of ground coffee + measuring spoon
- A cloth and a cup that won't tip over on the countertop
- Brew while parked (not while driving)
Does the Nomad fit in the drawer? Yes, in most compact kitchens. Use it as a kitchen tool, not a dashboard gadget. After brewing: rinse the filter or capsule holder, let it dry, back in the drawer. That keeps a small kitchen fresh.
Weekend rhythm vs full-time
Weekend or seasonal: charge on Friday evening at home or on Saturday at the campsite. Brew on battery on Saturday and Sunday morning. Back on the charger on Monday. That covers most Dutch vanlife weekends without rewiring anything.
Full-time or long off-grid stints: plan USB-C top-ups via a power bank, car USB or the occasional shore power. Still no fixed 12V espresso machine needed, just a charging routine you take seriously.
Leave with a charged machine, for example, and top up with a suitable power supply when needed. How long a charge lasts depends on how you use it; we make no promise about that.
When should you consider fixed 12V?
Choose a fixed installation (Dometic/Van-X class) if you:
- live in your campervan full-time
- want several shots a day without a charging plan
- already have a heavy electric kitchen
Choose a battery-powered portable if you:
- travel on weekends or seasonally
- don't want holes in your walls
- also use the same machine outside the campervan (picnic, hotel, office)
That last point is often overlooked: you buy one portable espresso machine and use it in several places. The campervan is the main spot, but the machine isn't fixed to it.
More about coffee at the campsite
Want to read more about coffee outside the fixed kitchen, like your campsite setup, coffee in nature and packing? Then read our guide Coffee at the campsite. This article deliberately sticks to the campervan without fixed 12V.
Espresso without installation worries
You don't need an inverter or a 12V installation. You charge when you can, brew when you want and put the machine back in the drawer afterwards. The Nomad is made for that rhythm, in Silver, Green or Black, with the current price on the product page.
Take it along on your next weekend away. Buy the Nomad: Buy the Nomad
Nespresso® and Dolce Gusto® are trademarks of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. Starbucks® is a trademark of Starbucks Corporation. Rolling Roast is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Nestlé or Starbucks.
Deel:
Hand pump or battery: which portable espresso is right for you?
USB-C espresso charging: power bank, car or laptop