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Traveling long-term doesn’t mean you have to give up your daily brew. Whether you’re hopping countries or living out of a backpack, here’s how to make amazing coffee on the go, with one piece of gear that changed the game for me.
Coffee is something I can’t live without. I know, it’s something I shouldn’t be dependent on, but life just isn’t the same without a coffee to get the day going.
When you have a nomadic lifestyle, your morning coffee routine can be thrown out of whack. It’s just not practical to carry around a French Press, and most coffee makers are the same. Bulky, lots of moving parts, and impractical.
Here we’re going to look at how you can make coffee while traveling, and I’ll tell you what I do as a nomad.
The Problem With Coffee on the Road
When you’re traveling for extended periods, you want to be able to make proper coffee at home because you’re not on vacation. If you haven’t done long solo travel trips but you’re also a coffee lover, let me enlighten you to why not having a travel coffee maker is a mistake you want to avoid.
- Cost adds up fast: Going out to buy a coffee sometimes is nice, but if you’re doing it every day, it gets old quickly. Not to mention that the costs add up as a proper coffee usually isn’t so cheap, and depending on where you get it, the coffee can be hit or miss.
- Most places don’t have good setups: While some apartments are equipped with coffee machines, this tends to be the exception, not the norm. Usually, hotel rooms, unless perhaps they’re in the upper range, which most backpackers won’t opt for, won’t have a coffee maker either.
- Instant coffee is gross: Instant coffee is often a go-to for travelers when you’re snug in your apartment and don’t want to go out. But there is a cost. Instant coffee is like a bad hostel roommate. Loud, disappointing, and somehow always there when you’re at your lowest.
But there is one last solution I want to mention here if you don’t have a travel coffee maker. This method is the perfect balance between innovation and desperation. You can always use…
THE SOCK.
It’s ugly, it’s dirty, but it works like a charm (as long as you don’t have a hole in your sock).
What you need to do is find an old, clean sock that you don’t mind getting rid of, because you won’t be able to use it again without your foot smelling like a fresh-brewed cup of coffee every day.
Well… Maybe not fresh-brewed, but you get the point. Simply fill the sock with coffee grounds to create a makeshift coffee filter. Steep the coffee in a pot of boiling water, and voila!
You have a foot-tasting, fungus-infected coffee!
But if you value your socks just as much as the washing machine which loves to sacrifice every odd sock to the sock god, then maybe you can skip this method.
Why You Need a Travel Coffee Maker
When you’re living out of a backpack or constantly on the move, routine becomes one of the few things that keeps you grounded. And for a lot of us, coffee is something that helps us feel a little more human in unfamiliar places.
The problem is, coffee isn’t always easy to come by when you’re traveling long-term. Sure, you can go out every morning to a local café, but that gets expensive fast. Plus, not every town or city has a good coffee scene.
The other issue is equipment. Traditional coffee makers just aren’t practical when you’re trying to travel light. French presses are bulky, moka pots are heavy, and electric coffee machines are a no-go unless you’re staying somewhere long-term with a full kitchen setup.
That’s where a travel coffee maker comes in. It’s small, lightweight, and doesn’t rely on fancy accessories. Just whip it out anywhere you’ve got hot water, and get a proper cup of coffee made in a proper copper coffee pot.
No more settling on that sad cup that looks like it’s never seen the light of day. A solid travel coffee maker gives you freedom, consistency, and honestly… a little sanity.
What I Use: The AeroPress
The most recent trip I started in May 2024, I came prepared with a coffee maker. My brother, knowing that I am a big coffee fan, gifted me an AeroPress, something I was unfamiliar with at the time.
At first, I thought it was a cheap piece of plastic, and I continued to use my French Press. But when it came time to leave, this is when I first realized the value of this little device.
It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with it. Using the Aeropress has become a daily ritual for me, and it’s one of those things you don’t know how you lived without before you had it (or if you truly were alive).
Why the AeroPress Is the Best Travel Coffee Maker
The AeroPress is by far the most convenient travel coffee maker on the market because:
- It compacts tightly and doesn’t take up much space in your bag.
- Only has a few extra bits and pieces, which all wrap up in one tight package.
- It’s made of plastic. Easy to clean and light to carry.
- Most importantly, the coffee it makes is good. Not quite your premium espresso, but it passes the coffee-lover’s taste test.
What You Need to Brew on the Road
The Aeropress is a lifesaver when it comes to travel. I know this article has come out super-salesy, but I write this because I think every traveling coffee enthusiast should have an Aeropress in their toolkit.
For the full set-up so you’re never left disappointed without your morning coffee, you need a bag of coffee grounds (the finer, the better), filters, and of course, hot water.
So, as long as you have a kettle or access to hot water, you’re good to go.
Bonus Tip: Stock Up on Filters
Most AeroPress bundles come with some filters, but I suggest getting a pack of extra filters. I left Australia with about 350 filters (densely compact), on top of my regular 150 filters, so I would never run into an awkward situation where I was filterless.
Keep in mind that many countries don’t have services like Amazon, and finding microfilters abroad can be a challenge.
This trip has been going for over a year, and I still have around 150 filters left. Considering I make several coffees some mornings, stocking up on microfilters was a wise move.
Of course, if you purchase the stainless steel filter bundle here, the problem of running out of filters will be a thing of the past.
Enjoy this travel coffee life-saver, and I’ll see you in the next article!
