Travel Coffee Makers: Best Portable Coffee Makers (For Nomads)
Finding a good cup of coffee can be a struggle when travelling. If you need your coffee just the way you like it, why not make it yourself? There are plenty of convenient ways to make your morning coffee on the road.
With so many options, choosing the best travel coffee maker might seem difficult. Bear with me and you’ll be sure to find the perfect one!
The Aeropress
Due to its versatility and ability to make strong, tasty coffee on-the-go, the AeroPress is our top pick for the best travel coffee maker. It’s convenient to carry and has an affordable price tag. You can’t go wrong with the classic!
The Importance Of Choosing The Right Travel Coffee Maker
You only want the best when choosing a coffee maker for your home. And the same rule applies to your road trip coffee maker. To make sure you’re getting a coffee maker that suits your needs, ask yourself a few questions first. Be honest.
What Type Of Coffee Do I Prefer?
If you could only choose one type of coffee to have for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Your coffee preference is the starting point of your search for the perfect portable coffee maker.
How Much Space Do I Have?
Lack of space is a common reality among travellers, especially frequent flyers. Even the most hardcore coffee lovers would prioritize a change of clothes over Kalita Wave accessories.
Weight is also something to consider. If you’re looking for something to take with you on flights or camping trips, you want to make sure it’s light enough to carry.
Power Or Powerless?
Are you an urban traveller, or will you be making coffee on a campsite under the open skies? Some coffee makers, like these drip coffee makers, require electricity; others don’t. Are you going to take a camper van? If that’s the case, here are some nice RV coffee makers to choose from. Or if you don’t mind a weaker cup of joe, then a battery-powered gear like the Makita cordless coffee maker can help you with that. Discover more best battery-operated coffee makers here.
What Else Will I Need?
How many accessories are required to produce a satisfying cup of coffee using your brewing method? Coffee filters, coffee beans, grinders, measuring cups and the like add weight and cost. Do you want something simpler, or does everything have to be just like at home? The coffee maker will be just one part of your travel coffee kit.
What You Need To Brew Coffee On The Go
Given the large range of portable coffee makers on the market, you might also need some other coffee gear. Whatever coffee maker you choose, you’ll need at least three very basic things. Let’s consider them:
A Way To Grind Coffee Beans
Many coffee drinkers prefer grinding their coffee beans right before brewing, and that’s doable on the go, as well. No, you don’t need to bring an electric grinder with you, a hand grinder works best for portability. With a light hand grinder like the Hario Mini Mill, you don’t need to settle for stale grounds just because you’re travelling.
Of course, pre-ground beans can also be a practical option. However, it is important to make sure you’re storing your grounds properly.
Boiled Water
Although most travel coffee makers require no electricity, you need a way to boil water. For urban travellers, light travel kettles on Amazon are a practical option. On more outdoorsy adventures, you can boil water on an open fire as long as you have a vessel.
A Travel Mug
Once you’ve brewed your coffee, you need a way to keep it nice and hot! A good travel mug is an essential part of any traveller’s coffee kit. There are plenty to choose from, but these are the current favourites.
Make sure to watch our amazing video on brewing coffee while traveling:
The 6 Best Travel Coffee Makers Of 2023
Now that you’ve narrowed down your preferences, it should be straightforward enough to find a portable coffee maker you’ll be happy with. To make the choice even easier, I’ve compiled a list of the best options on the market.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
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Aeropress Coffee Maker |
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Coffee Gator Pour Over Coffee Maker |
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The Presto Single Cup Coffee Maker |
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Bodum Travel Press |
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Primula Single Serve Coffee Brew Buddy |
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GSI Collapsible Java Drip |
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Primus Coffee Press Add-On |
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1. Aeropress Coffee Maker – Best Overall
Specifications
Brewing style: Immersion press
- Capacity: 295 ml
- Dimensions: 14 x 11 x 10 cm
- Weight: 226 g
Since its creation in 2005, the AeroPress has become one of the most popular brewers. What’s especially great: it’s well suited for using both at home and when travelling. It also makes an amazing single-serve coffee maker (more of those here).
Check any camping coffee-lover’s backpack, and you’re likely to see an AeroPress inside..
The AeroPress is versatile. It’s fast, taking about a minute to brew (1). You can also use the inverted AeroPress method, which is slightly slower but produces a better cup, according to many connoisseurs. Although it’s easy to tweak the strength of your AeroPress brew according to your preferences, it’s especially well suited for making strong, espresso-like coffee. You can even make cold brew with it.
The AeroPress also scores high in portability, as it weighs very little and is quick to clean. It is often sold together with a tote bag on Amazon, so it’s instantly ready to travel the world with you.
Read our review of the Aeropress coffee maker here.
WHAT ELSE YOU’LL NEED: Aeropress microfilters (but you can get these from most coffee shops).
2. Coffee Gator Pour Over Coffee Maker – Best Value for Money
Specifications
Brewing style: Pour over
- Capacity: 585 m
- Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.4 x 17.5 cm
- Weight: 472 g
Pour over brewers are inherently great for travel. They’re small, light, and durable. They’re easy to use and don’t require electricity. So it makes perfect sense to combine one with a travel mug for the ultimate on-the-go brew kit. That’s what you’ll get with this set from Coffee Gator.
This affordable all-in-one brewer has three parts: a 585 ml double-wall stainless steel mug, a leak-proof lid, and a stainless steel mesh filter cone. The filter is sized to fit perfectly in the opening of the mug for brewing. If you prefer a cleaner cup, you can add a paper filter, but it isn’t necessary. Adding coffee grounds directly to the fine metal filter yields a full-bodied and sediment-free cup.
The vacuum-insulated mug is a great product all on its own. It keeps coffee hot for 6 hours thanks to a heat-retaining copper coating. Or it will keep a cold drink cold for over 20 hours. Note that the lid of the tumbler is leak-proof, not watertight. It’s great for walking or driving, but don’t toss it in your bag like a thermos.
3. The Presto Single Cup Coffee Maker – Best for Keurig Lovers
Specifications
Brewing style: Capsule
- Capacity: 1 cup
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.5 x 22.9 cm
- Weight: 397 g
The Presto Myjo is basically the little brother of larger Keurigs. The coffee maker is made for people who use single-cup machines like Keurig while being more portable and affordable. You can also use the included MyJo cup, a reusable K-cup which you can fill with your favourite ground coffee (2).
WHAT ELSE YOU’LL NEED: ESE pods, although you can also use regular espresso grounds
4. Bodum Travel Press – Best French Press
Specifications
Brewing style: Immersion press
- Capacity: 350 ml
- Dimensions: 8 x 9 x 18.5 cm
- Weight: 399 g
The Bodum Travel Press is basically a portable French press. It is constructed from double-walled, insulated stainless steel, scoring high for both durability and heat retention.
You can use the Bodum travel press for both preparing and storing your coffee. First, you just brew the coffee as you would with a regular French press coffee maker (3). After pressing the plunger down, screw on the lid and you’re all set! The lid is slightly leaky though, so don’t keep it in your bag with other stuff.
The Bodum travel press is a neat option for cafetière fans. And you can make cold brew coffee in it. The only downsides are that it’s hard to avoid grounds in your coffee, and it can turn bitter if not drunk soon after brewing.
5. Primula Single Serve Coffee Brew Buddy – Most Compact
Specifications
Brewing style: Pour over
- Capacity: n/a
- Dimensions: 10.7 x 10.7 x 4.1 cm
- Weight: 27 g
The Primula is yet another easy way to brew coffee on the go. Just fill the mesh basket with your favorite coffee, add hot water, and wait for a few minutes.
With the Primula, you’re basically brewing coffee as you make tea with a teabag. It produces a consistent cup of coffee – not the most amazing in flavour, but much better than instant.
While you might not be getting as much out of your beans as you would with an Aeropress or a Kalita Wave, it doesn’t get much easier than this.
6. GSI Collapsible Java Drip – Best Pour Over
Specifications
Brewing style: Pour over
- Capacity: 240 ml
- Dimensions: 2.5 x 14 cm (collapsed)
- Weight: 163 g
The GSI Outdoors Collapsible Java drip is only rivalled by the Primula in terms of lightness. Weighing less than 200 g, the GSI Java drip is a good option for backpackers or air travelers with limited space. Made from silicone, it’s also very affordable.
It’s easy to brew with the GSI Java drip: fill the filter with coffee, place over a coffee mug and pour hot water over it. It’s like an ultra-light, outdoorsy version of the V60.
On the downside, it doesn’t produce the deepest flavour. It’s a cheap and cheerful option, but does lose out to top competitors. Sure beats instant coffee, though!
7. Primus Coffee Press Add-On – Best for Camping
Specifications
Brewing style: Immersion
- Capacity: n/a
- Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.2 x 2.5 cm
- Weight: 186 g
The Primus Coffee Press Add-On is great if you already own Primus camping gear or plan to add a Primus pot to your back country set-up. The add-on consists of a filter plunger and lid, essentially turning your camping pot into a French press. If there is one thing backpackers love, it’s multipurpose devices. The lid even has a hole so you can drink directly from the pot.
If you’re on an adventure where every bit of space and weight in your pack is valuable, owning the Primus Coffee Press Add-On condenses three items (pot, French press, mug) into one! It weighs only 40 grams, and you can use it to make coffee or tea.
Make sure you own the appropriate piece of Primus gear before you buy. This add-on fits with the Primus Eta Express, Eta Power Pot 1L, and LiTech Trek Kettle 1L.
THE VERDICT: What’s The Best Travel Coffee Maker?
The AeroPress scores high for its versatility – you can use it to make strong, espresso-like coffee and a more mellow cup.
It has clearly been designed with portability in mind and is convenient to carry, use and clean. It is also an affordable and durable choice.
FAQS
How you make coffee while travelling depends on where, and how, you’re going (and staying). If you’re in a hotel and can’t bear the thought of using a stale, prepackaged packet of beans of unknown origin, you can brew coffee as long as you have some way of heating water – even if it’s the hotel room’s coffee maker. If your room has a kitchenette with a stove, you have more options. If you’re camping or backpacking, it’s tough to go wrong with our top pick – AeroPress.
You can make good coffee in a hotel room in one of two ways. First, brew in the hotel room’s coffee machine, but provide your own ground coffee and paper filters. (If you do, be sure to clean the coffee maker thoroughly, especially the filter basket, which is probably heavily layered with burned-on coffee residue. Nobody wants to drink that.)
Second, use the hotel coffee pot to heat water and then make coffee in your own travel brewer. This works with a travel coffee press or pour over brewer. Either way, you can find great coffee and brew it up in minutes. (Don’t miss out on exploring local coffee options when you travel!)
The best way to travel with coffee is to be prepared. Get yourself a small, portable coffee maker that does not require electricity. You will also need a coffee storage container, and a way to boil water. Depending on your coffee maker you may also need a filter.
References
- Brew with AeroPress. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/pages/brew-guide-aeropress
- Here’s how to get the most out of your reusable K-Cup. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/249127/Why+is+it+spitting+coffee-grounds+from+top
- r/Coffee – Question about my new Bodum travel press… (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/nz6h6/question_about_my_new_bodum_travel_press/
- Seattle Coffee Gear. Kalita Wave Pour Over. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZk85JXx-OE
