If you are, like me, a lover of great coffee, then you will know the struggle of finding great coffee while traveling. I’ve often found myself drinking a mediocre cup in a hotel lobby, or even going without.
Fortunately, it is now easy to make great coffee while on the move, you just need to make sure that you have the right tools for it. To make a coffee on the go, you need a brewer, drinking water, an immersion heater (or similar), and a grinder. While this would be simple at home, when traveling, you also need to consider how much space and weight each of these things will take up. We all know how hard it can be to reduce your luggage to the essentials before packing for a trip.
Here, I will show you the best toolkit for making great coffee while traveling. There are many gadgets on the market, so it can be hard to choose one over the other. To help you out, I have chosen the best brewer and will offer you some guidance on the other items.
Brewing with an Aeropress
One of the most popular methods of brewing coffee while traveling is the Aeropress. Though this brewer may not seem like much, it has gained a cult following within the coffee world. It is an incredibly versatile brewer, combining a chamber that can be used like a french press, a paper filter similar to a pour-over, and a plunger that imitates an espresso machine.
Despite all these comparisons, it has its own style of coffee brewing, and the cup of coffee it produces is great. In my experience, no two people have the same recipe when using an Aeropress, and that adds to the fun of it.
Due to its light plastic materials and small size, the Aeropress is the perfect choice for brewing great coffee while on the go. While it is only big enough to brew one cup, you have the option to make a double-strength brew that you can then dilute to share with a companion.
Grinding on the go
While it is true that you could take pre-ground coffee with you on your travels, if you are making the effort to brew your own coffee, then it is worth investing in a good coffee grinder to take with you.
Though they are perfect at home, electric grinders are impractical when traveling. They are often large and bulky, and they require a power source. A more practical option would be a hand grinder — they are perfect for producing small amounts of coffee grounds while on-the-go, and can easily be stored in your luggage. While hand grinders do require a small workout, they are generally compact and light, making them the best option for grinding coffee while traveling.
There are several brands that produce coffee grinders, and most do a good job. They come in a range of materials and prices — metal ones are particularly sturdy, but they also add more weight, so be mindful of that. Some hand grinders are specifically designed for traveling, so it is worth checking those out first.
What water should you use?
An important thing to consider when traveling is the water you drink – this extends to coffee brewing. With around 98% of a cup of coffee being water, it is worth getting good water to brew your coffee.
The quality and hardness of water can vary a lot between locations. If you are in a hotel or hostel, there is often filtered drinking water that is suitable. Alternatively, if you aren’t certain of the quality of water, buying bottled water is a must. You are much more likely to have good results.
Heating your water
To make great coffee, it is important to get your water to the optimum temperature. To do this, I recommend you use an immersion heater such as a kettle.
While most holiday accommodation will come with a kettle, it is always worth taking your own with you. Most of the major brands produce kettles for traveling. These are designed to be compact and light, and they can easily be plugged in wherever you are to provide instant hot water. If you are short of space while traveling, you can always store your coffee or other items inside the kettle. If you have decided to go camping or trekking, you may want to look into kettles for stove tops or simply using a pan to boil water. In essence, you will need something that can brew water to just below boiling to brew great coffee.
Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve looked at the best toolkit for making great coffee while traveling. If you stick to these gadgets, you will certainly be able to make a great coffee wherever you go. Alternatively, it is always worth remembering that whilst traveling abroad, most towns and cities have local cafes and coffee shops. I would highly recommend trying these out as there are lots of gems waiting to be discovered.
