Traveling can be an amazing experience; travelers get to see and immerse themselves in the culture of other countries, eat the food of different nations, learn about historical events, and so much more. The travel itself, however, can be tiring and stressful. Flights, trains, driving, and all the walking in between can leave one exhausted. Not to mention the jetlag if you fly into a different timezone. Coffee is a known ailment for tiredness, but in a new city you may not know the right cafe to get your cup of joe. On top of that, if you’re buying coffee at cafes consistently while you travel, it can add up over time and seep into your budget like a leak in your plumbing that leaves you with a hefty water bill. The best way to avoid bad coffee and stay under budget is to get a travel coffee maker.
A travel coffee maker is a portable machine that makes the sweet caffeine nectar that we all crave. Well, coffee isn’t exactly sweet, but coffee is to humans as nectar is to bees, for most. Portable coffee makers should be small, easy to clean, and most importantly, they should make good coffee. To find the travel coffee maker that’s right for you, consider the following: the size of the machine, your budget, the kind of coffee you’ll need to haul around on your travels, and ease of use.
Size is an important factor to address when talking about coffee machines, especially travel coffee makers. It’s simple: the smaller the coffee maker, the easier it is to travel with. The coffee maker should make your journey easier. It shouldn’t be hard to use or hard to clean. The coffee maker should also be a reasonable price as you’ll probably like to allocate your money towards dining and sightseeing instead of spending it all on a coffee maker.
We’ll go through a selection of excellent-quality, well-reviewed, portable coffee makers to see which one suits you best.
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Table of Contents
5 Best Travel Coffee Makers
Bodum french press
Last update on 2024-01-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Bodum french press is one of the most simple coffee makers on the market that produces some of the best coffee. With this travel press, you can enjoy coffee anywhere at any time. This handy tool combines all the best things about a French press brewing system with the convenience of a travel mug. Unlike a traditional 3-cup French press, this 15oz coffee maker is made with BPA-free plastic and uses a built-in silicone and mesh plunger. The combination mug and coffee maker is double-walled to keep your coffee hot, and the silicone sleeve keeps your hand safe from that hot coffee. Versatility is at the center of this French press; you can make coffee with it, or you can opt to fill it up with coffee you made in your hotel room. If you’re looking for something more relaxed, you can even use it to brew tea. It’ll clear airport security, it makes a good cup of coffee on the go, and it will fit perfectly into your backpack – setting you up for any kind of travel day. Keep in mind that the travel French press may spill if tipped over. The lid is spill-resistant, but not completely leakproof.
FAQs
Does it have two lids?
Yes, it has one lid for brewing and another lid for sipping.
Can you add cream and sugar to the coffee after it is pressed?
Yes, just be careful when unscrewing the cap because it will be very hot. Do not pull the plunger out more than an inch or so, just enough to add the cream and sugar.
AeroPress Go Portable Coffee Maker
Last update on 2024-01-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The AeroPress is wildly popular for its great tasting coffee and minimalist design. AeroPress added a new coffee maker to its lineup that’s perfect for travelers; the AeroPress Go Portable Coffee Maker. The AeroPress Go produces the same results in a smaller, more travel-friendly package. Just like the AeroPress, the Go version can brew americano, espresso, or cold brew coffee that can be combined with steamed milk for lattes and more or enjoyed on its own. It’s optimized for travel as it can easily fit in your luggage and can be taken anywhere. Its simplicity is great for traveling – it’s easy to use and has a quick cleanup so you can get a great coffee quickly and easy. The unique brewing method of an AeroPress is hailed by many because it’s completely customizable to one’s taste. You can experiment with coffee, water and pressure until you find what suits you. Don’t worry, if you aren’t big on experiments, you can follow the recommended process from AeroPress. It makes great tasting coffee so you won’t have to force yourself to drink your hotel’s attempt at a coffee. All you have to do is stir in the coffee, pour some hot water, plunge, and you’ve got a hot cup of coffee to wake you up.
FAQs
How much coffee can the AeroPress Go make with one pressing?
Up to three servings of espresso style concentrate. You can enjoy a serving as espresso or add water or milk to create an 8 oz. coffee or latte. Brewing can be done with hot or room temperature water and the drinks can then be enjoyed hot or cold. It should be noted that the way to fill the large AeroPress Go mug is to brew two servings and then add water or milk to make an americano or latte. If you prefer to brew your coffee by pushing all the water through the grounds, you can brew 8 ounces of coffee or cold brew.
Cafflano Klassic
Last update on 2024-01-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Cafflano Klassic boasts that it’s the world’s first portable pour-over coffee maker. It has a compact all-in-one design, with everything you need to make a coffee in a single and somewhat lightweight package. This small machine holds it all. Inside the Cafflano Klassic is a hand-milled grinder, a drip kettle, a metal pour-over filter,and an insulated mug, all packed neatly into a single tumbler-shaped unit. This machine lets you grind your beans, brew your coffee, and drink it. You don’t need any additional tools – just hot water. If you’re a pour-over fan and you like to travel, this is the portable coffee maker for you. It makes a great cup of coffee and it will fit anywhere; tote bag, rucksack, suitcase, you name it. The grinder is fully adjustable so you can experiment with the type of grind you like. The Cafflano Klassic helps you enjoy a coffee from anywhere.
FAQs
Once the coffee is brewed is there a way to seal the mug? I travel for a living and would like to brew in my hotel room and take the coffee to go.
The mug does have a lid, but it’s not totally leakproof.
Presto MyJo® Single Cup Coffee Maker
Last update on 2024-01-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The MyJo Single Cup Coffee Maker brings the convenience of a single cup coffee maker without the high cost. This coffee maker uses a single-serve coffee K-cup to quickly and easily make your morning brew. Its small design and easy process allows you to take it anywhere. Here’s how it works: you can either fill the water reservoir to the desired level with hot water or place the filled reservoir in the microwave and heat it up. Next, you’ll place the pump on the reservoir, insert the single-serve pack in the base, and attach the reservoir. Place your assembled coffee maker on top of your favorite coffee mug or cup and pump water through the base to brew. Plus, it’s easy to clean. Once you have your caffeine fix, all you have to do is toss out the K-cup and rinse out the base.
FAQs
Can I clean my presto MyJo Single Cup Coffee Maker in the Dishwasher?
No, this particular coffee maker is not dishwasher-safe. It is easily cleaned with a quick rinse of its base.
Bialetti Moka Express
Last update on 2024-01-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Bialetti Moka Express uses a much more classic method of making coffee. Originally manufactured in the early 1950s, the Moka express has been helping people enjoy authentic Italian coffee for more than 80 years. The Moka express creates a rich, tasty Italian espresso within minutes. It has a distinct eight-sided shape and an aluminum pot which causes the heat to diffuse perfectly, enhancing the coffee’s aroma. The Moka Express is made of three parts: the lower heating vessel, a stemmed filter chamber for the coffee, and a handled top that collects the coffee as it percolates up through the center. A hot burner will let you make coffee within minutes. The Moka Express seems a tad complicated, but in fact, it’s easy to use and clean. To make your espresso, fill the bottom chamber with water, up until the valve, insert the funnel filter into place, fill to the brim with espresso grinds, and screw on the top. Put your Moka express on the burner and heat. Your coffee is ready when you hear a gurgling sound. To clean it, all you have to do is take off the top and remove the used grounds. If you aren’t able to rinse it with water, you can use a towel to wipe it clean. The Moka express is small and portable, but as it’s made with aluminum, it can be a hefty device to haul around. It’s perfect if you plan to stay in hotels and you don’t plan on backpacking during your travels. The good thing is that the Moka express comes in different sizes, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 cups. The 1 cup size could be a nice portable coffee maker.
FAQs
How much ground coffee does the three cup espresso maker hold?
It holds about 3.5 teaspoons mounded. It should be even across the top, and don’t pack it down like an espresso machine. It acts like a percolator and not a steam driven machine. The three cup maker makes two espresso shots.
Summary
Depending on how you like to travel, any one of these coffee makers could be perfect for you. The Bodum french press is great for a quick single cup of regular coffee, the AeroPress Go for traveling coffee enthusiasts, the Cafflano Klassic for pour-over fanatics, the Presto MyJo® Single Cup Coffee Maker for K-cup fans, and the Bialetti Moka express for those who prefer Italian style coffee.