There are a couple different types of portable coffeemakers. There are electric, propane, and stove top or direct heat types, even solar power. The type you choose depends a lot on your personality. The type isn't as important as having one.

Reason Number 1: Camping. This is the most obvious and the easiest, so, I thought I would get it out of the way first. When you're going camping there's no reason to do without a good quality cup of coffee in the morning. There's no law that says, just because you're roughing it in the Great Outdoors, that you have to forsake all modern comfort. There are numerous style and quality of coffeemakers out on the market that range in features from the most basic to downright high tech. Find a model that fits your budget and works well for you and take it with you. Be sure to find a rugged model and one that doesn't take up too much space in your backpack. But, what if you're not a camper? Then on to reason number two.

Reason Number 2: Emergency. Emergencies take many forms and range in severity from natural disasters to local power outages. I live in a hurricane prone state and some seasons are more active than others. Depending on what part of the country you live in, maybe you experience tornados or earthquakes. Or, maybe you've experienced a situation where your local municipalities' water supply was contaminated due to a broken pipe. In times of pending emergency there may be enough warning to stock up on clean, safe drinking water. But, in those instances where there is little or no warning you will need a way to boil any available water. This is especially important in circumstances where you may lose power for an extended period of time. This is where a portable coffeemaker comes in handy. Much like camping, you will want a model that is lightweight and easy to pack.

Reason Number 3: Going Green. Believe it or not, there are solar powered coffee/tea makers on the market. This reason for going green could be altruistic or it could just be for the wow-factor. Having a solar powered coffeemaker is pretty cool. On the practical side, it can help save the planet and some money (think electric bill). I'm going to focus on the practical side of the argument for this final reason. Going green in one's life takes a certain level of commitment. You have to give up some time and convenience when going green and a solar powered coffeemaker is no different. A solar powered model can take up to 3 or 4 times as long as a conventional coffeemaker. This reason isn't going to appeal to everyone, but for those environmentally minded individuals, kudos to you.

My first two reasons listed are going to have the widest appeal and for those you really need to consider which style of coffeemaker you will use. I keep a couple propane models on hand for camping and I even have one tucked away in my hurricane kit. I prefer the propane version over the electric or stove top models because there are fewer moving parts. With the propane versions you pretty much have a fire and brewer; less likely to break.

The biggest reason for keeping a portable coffeemaker (maybe two or three) on hand is emergencies. We don't always know when a disaster will hit but when it does everyone needs to be prepared. In Florida, where I live, I have personally experienced bad storms that caused power outages for a day or more and then seen boil water notices go out. If you have an electric range or stove, it's pretty hard to boil water.