For those who like coffee, a day does not just start with a good cup of hot coffee, it seems almost impossible without it. It’s not just the amount of caffeine that works, although it does help.
It is also the ritual surrounding it-smell, sound, and even waiting are all part of how coffee starts the day.
Everyone who loves coffee has his own favorite brewing method, without it, it is easy to get lost.
To save you from the grief at the gas station, or worse, no coffee at all, we have compiled some of our favorite coffee brewing methods during the trip.
Some of these options are also very useful for people who are not working from home because the office kitchen is likely to be closed.
10 Best Portable Coffee Maker Reviews
AeroPress Go Portable Travel Coffee Press
Aeropress is one of the most popular coffee brewers on the market. The reason is that it can produce delicious, high-quality coffee.
The company recently added Aeropress Go to its product lineup, which produced the same excellent results but in smaller, travel-friendly packaging.
Go is hardly bigger than a coffee cup, extremely light, and completely independent. All you need to add is coffee.
Part of the reason for Aeropress’s success is that the brewing method can be infinitely customized to your taste.
Choose three ingredients (coffee, water, and pressure), and then start the experiment until you find the food that suits your taste. There is no wrong way to brew coffee with Aeropress.
I do recommend starting with the method approved by the company, which you will find in the box, but once you master the method, there are many other ways to do it. (Try all the winning recipes in the Aeropress annual competition.)
Aeropress is also very forgiving. A bad cup of coffee is almost hard. You don’t have to use some of the procedures involved.
On those cold mornings during the winter camp trip in late October, you can put something, stir, slam, and drink a big cup of hot Joe to warm your bones.
Although we like the compact all-in-one design of the Aeropress Go, the original Aeropress ($30) is still very light and you can consider your choice.
Cafflano Klassic- Portable All-In-One Pour Over Coffee Maker
Cafflano Klassic is everything you need to brew in a compact, relatively lightweight package.
It combines a manual grinder, drip irrigation water bottle and metal dump filter, and a vacuum flask in a tumbler-shaped package. You can grind beans, brew, and drink coffee without boiling water.
The resulting brewed coffee is the best pour coffee I have ever brewed. Getting the right grind is the key, but the adjustable grind allows you to experiment until you find something you like.
If even Klassic’s compact design is too much, you can do what I have been doing while traveling: just bring a dump filter. It is made of hard plastic and metal and has so far kept well in my carry-on bag.
Delter Coffee Press
Delta News is similar to Aeropress, but it adds something to the equation: pressure. Delter Press is not an espresso producer, but in my experience, its brewing ability is stronger than Aeropress.
I also found that the intensity (in terms of taste) can be controlled to an almost unlimited extent by changing the degree of grinding, the amount of coffee, and the amount of water.
One thing I like about Delter better is the ability to add more water without starting a new brew, which Aeropress cannot do.
Delter recommends grind from medium to fine, but even with very fine espresso grinds, you can get pleasant results. For me, this is the best part of Delter-it offers multiple brewing possibilities and can easily customize the results to your personal taste.
ESPRO P0 Ultralight Double Walled Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Travel Coffee French Press
The Espro ultralight press is the simplest and lightest French press I have tested. It also produces the least amount of sediment, which is a common problem in French press brewing, leaving a firm taste every time you drink it.
This did not happen with Ultralight Press. It is double-layered and vacuums insulated, which means it will keep your hot and iced coffee cold (in my test, hot coffee is about 3 hours and cold coffee is about 5 hours).
One of my favorite Espro parts is that after a quick rinse, you can use it as a bottle of water when you run out of coffee.
Wacaco Pipamoka Portable Coffee Maker
In all the tests I completed, this newbie from Wacaco used the most unusual brewing method. This is a vacuum pressure beer machine that works by rotating.
You fill the coffee brewing chamber with water, fill the heat-preserving container with water, and then drop the coffee chamber into the water to allow it to settle to the bottom.
After the bubbles disappear, you can start to rotate the brewing device upwards to free it from the cup part (the cup part will double to keep the coffee hot for several hours).
I strongly recommend watching the video to better understand how it works. Although this may be strange, it works well. I find that it works particularly well with mild coffee, as it absorbs the subtle effects of lighter roasting.
GSI Outdoors Java Drip Collapsible Pourover Coffee Maker
When you want to be ultra-lightweight and want to brew high-quality coffee, GSI’s foldable pouring coffee machine is your best choice. It weighs only 5 ounces and can collapse to about the size of an old coffee can lid. It is also made of durable silicone.
After expansion, it is approximately at the height of the standard trickling cone filter. Technically, it requires the use of the #4 filter, but in a pinch, you can use almost any filter (you need to be extra careful when using smaller filters).
With a series of rings at the bottom, it means that GSI can maintain a good balance on any container, including wide-mouth water bottles, Jet-Boil pots, standard cheap insulated camping cups, and even my favorite drip-free and leak-free Contigo Cup ($15).
Primula Stainless Steel 6 Cup Espresso Maker
I have tried dozens of different ways of making coffee, and I always go back to the Moka pot. The classic Moka pot is a Bialetti 6 cup model, you can find it in almost every house in Italy, but I prefer this stainless steel version.
The Moka pot is not very strong coffee. The pressure is usually about 2 to 3 bar (to reach the standard for espresso, you need to reach 9 bar), but it requires less work and is easier to clean up.
It is not the most portable way to make coffee, which is why it is not my first choice. In nine out of ten cases, this is still what you will use in your home, campground, or even a hotel room with a portable camping stove. (Yes, I am that person, please do not tell the hotel manager.)
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
Aeropress may be the best French press on the market. I tried it myself and it made a delicious coffee. This is a very popular coffee machine and has received a lot of positive feedback.
It is also very fast; it takes less than a minute to prepare a drink. Due to its excellent design, it reduces the time the coffee is immersed in water, thus reducing the acidity of the beverage.
At the same time, the air pressure generated on the glass helps to extract more natural oils and flavors, thereby producing ultra-smooth, rich coffee.
It actually generates a certain amount of pressure, so the result is somewhat similar to an espresso machine.
It comes with a few accessories, but the process is simple: place the microfilter in the bottom cover of the chamber, and then rotate the cover. Then, you put two spoons of ground coffee you like.
Pour hot water into the room, and then stir the coffee and water for about ten seconds. Finally, insert the plunger into the chamber and press it down. In about 20 to 30 seconds, you will get a cup of exquisite coffee.
Yes, it is larger than the one poured on the coffee machine, but their packaging is very compact. I think this might be a good choice for all kinds of travelers and outdoor enthusiasts.
It is made of durable plastic, so you don’t need to worry about damaging the machine.
Most people rated it as the best travel coffee machine of the year. Moreover, it has an affordable price.
Bodum Travel Press, Stainless Steel Travel Coffee
Bodum French Press is an elegant and practical choice. The French press filters the ground coffee remaining in the room.
The main advantage is that it comes with a suction tube nozzle, so you can drink coffee almost anywhere, even while driving or taking a train – for those addicted coffee lovers who spend a lot of time walking around, this is a great feature.
The container is made of insulated double-layer stainless steel, so the coffee will last longer than other types of coffee. You can make tea and other beverages in the same way. Easy to use and easy to clean.
The downside is that coffee may become acidic and bitter because it will keep in contact with water until you drink it all. If you are looking for a practical tool that can prepare coffee at any time, then this might be a good solution.
On the other hand, if you are looking for the best quality, I think there are better options. Aeropress makes more delicious coffee.
ESPRO P1 Double Walled Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Travel Coffee
Espro Travel may be the best choice for transporting hot coffee. It produces about 300ml of high-quality brewed coffee, which works similarly to Bodum brewed coffee.
The stainless steel flask is vacuum insulated and can heat the beverage for several hours. It can be used in conjunction with a two-stage intercepting microfilter to produce exquisite and delicious coffee.
When closing the sealing cap, you can transport the coffee to any place without leakage. Then, you open it and drink directly from the flask.
After making the coffee, open the flask. It is easy to clean because it does not have many accessories like other models.
Just rinse the cup, separate the microfilter, and put everything underwater. It is light, strong, and compact, weighing only 345 grams, which is lighter than the famous Aeropress.
Brewing secrets
Tips for enjoying quality coffee anytime, anywhere
I will introduce three basic and crucial coffee brewing techniques.
Looking for high-quality fresh coffee beans: Good coffee starts with good coffee beans. High-quality beans can even make cheap brewing equipment shine. High quality means freshness.
Find a local coffee roaster in your area. For testing, I used coffee beans from Jittery Joe’s Roasting Company in Athens, Georgia, especially the Wake-n-Bake blend. (Open: I have worked at Jittery Joe’s for many years, this is my favorite.)
If there is no coffee roaster nearby, you can order coffee beans online from a reputable seller (such as Blue Bottle Coffee), or you can try a variety of coffees through coffee subscription services such as Atlas Coffee Club or my favorite Trade Coffee, which can be direct With local roaster.
I also recently tested Trucup’s low-acid coffee. It is specially made for those who have doubts about the acidity of regular coffee.
Get a quality grinder: Once you have quality fresh baked beans, you need to grind them. You need a burr grinder that can grind the beans evenly instead of shredding like a blade grinder.
I recently upgraded to a Hario Skerton Pro ($65) hand grinder, but if you want to use power tools, I recommend Baratza Encore for $139.
If you are not sure which one is right for you, be sure to read through our guide to the best coffee grinder
Experiment: Choose one of these coffee machines and start experimenting at home. If you want to get reproducible results, make sure to use a weighing scale such as an Apexstone scale with a timer to weigh out beans and water in order to track the pouring speed and take notes.
It may sound nerdy, but after a few days of experimentation, you may find something you like. If you have noted, you will know how to make the perfect cup of coffee every time no matter where you are.