Basic or older RVs and trailers may not have a hot water heater. However, campers still want hot or warm water for washing dishes or hands. Enter the vacuum pot—sometimes called an Air Pot.
These hot beverage dispensers are used in restaurants, job sites, gas stations, and cafés. You’ll often find them on the back table at a conference or special event.
Vacuum pot, also known as an Air Pot. Photo via Youtube
They keep coffee and tea hot for up six to eight hours and can hold several quarts of liquid. Hot water or beverages are dispensed via a vacuum by pumping a lever or a button at the top of the pot.
Vacuum pots are both lightweight and portable and can be placed on a picnic table or inside a camper for dispensing hot water on demand. You just have to heat up water on the stove in the morning and pour it into the pot for use during the day.
The pots come in both non-electric and electric versions. If you are plugged into an external source and have 120 V AC power, you can keep the water in the pot hot for even longer with an electrically powered model. However, just like with any camping product, a better quality and higher priced product will keep water hot longer than a cheaper version.
Non-Electric Vacuum Pots
The Zojirushi dispenser—find it on Amazon here
Most non-electric air pots can hold around three quarts of hot liquid and are usually made of stainless steel. They have an insulated glass or steel water container, additional layers of insulation, and a handle for easy transportation.
They are also easy to open and clean. A nice feature of these non-electric air pots is that the water is dispensed from the top of the pot rather than from the bottom. This allows for easier access to the water and less spills.
Electric Vacuum Pots
Aroma vacuum pot—get it on Amazon here
Electric vacuum pots can also hold around three quarts of water, but are different in that they can bring the water to a boil for you and then keep the water warm throughout the day. They usually come with an automatic shutoff as well as a temperature gauge.
So whether you want to keep it low-tech and simple or give your campsite a little more comfort, a portable vacuum pot can offer a lot more than just hot coffee.
Brilliant!