To brew a delicious cup of coffee, it is crucial to have the right coffee maker. But with so many…
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Best Portable Coffee Makers
Written by Jordan
Reading time 6 minNothing beats the pleasure of sipping a delightful coffee while soaking in a scenic view. Lucky for us, with portable coffee makers, brewing coffee on the go becomes a breeze. In this round up, we’ll share our top picks, and provide an overview of all the different types out there. You’ll walk away eager to begin your next adventure (if only for the delicious tasting brew!).
What are portable coffee makers?
Portable coffee makers allow you to enjoy a quality cup of coffee wherever you are. You’ll find a lot of different types of portable brewers out there, whether relatively modern machines that rely on batteries and USB chargers, etc., or others that have been staples of everyday life for a long time e.g. pour-over appliances. But they all have one thing in common: they are the perfect companion to your nomad lifestyle.
Increasingly popular, they are indeed great for mobile lifestyles and outdoor enthusiasts swear by them. Long gone are the days when the camper’s only available drink was instant coffee. Now they get to choose between various appliances, catering to different preferences and brewing methods. These appliances are also a great option for the busy go-getter who wants to enjoy a nice cup of coffee during their daily commute or when travelling.
Why use a portable coffee maker?
Portable coffee makers have many advantages. Designed with mobility in mind, they allow coffee lovers to enjoy a freshly brewed cup anywhere whether travelling, camping, or commuting. These appliances are lightweight and don’t take up much space which makes them the perfect travel companion and great for small kitchens.
With your trusted nomad brewer in hand, there’s no longer any need for that Starbucks run, saving you money and time. An added benefit: now that you don’t have to buy coffee in cafes you can say goodbye to disposable cups for a greener lifestyle and guilt-free drink! Most of them don’t require much besides hot water and coffee beans, making them eco-friendly and simple to shop for.
Cafetieres, travel mugs, Aeropress, drip coffee: the various types of portable coffee makers offer different brewing methods and results so you can choose what best suits your needs and taste buds. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular options available.
Types of portable coffee makers
Cafetiere Travel Mugs
These combine a French press and a travel mug, allowing you to brew coffee directly in the mug. They are great for travellers and commuters. All you need is ground coffee and hot water for a great cup of rich and full-bodied coffee.
This type of brewer is very hands-on as you’ll need to measure the ingredients yourself, grind the coffee, pour in the water and time the brewing process. Pre-ground coffee usually doesn’t suit this type of appliance as it tends to slip through the filter, so you might want to ground your beans before leaving or use a manual grinder if you know you won’t have access to electricity.
Portable Espresso Makers
If you simply can’t do without your crema, manual espresso makers like the Handpresso or Nanopresso are perfect for you. They use hand-pumping or manual pressure to brew espresso on the go and only require ground coffee and hot water. You can use any type of roast with these machines, depending on your preferences.
AeroPress
The aeropress is a versatile, compact coffee maker that uses air pressure to brew coffee. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and can make a variety of coffee styles, from espresso-like shots to filter coffee which is perfect for those of us who like variety! It only takes 30 seconds to make a cup of coffee which makes this appliance the fastest on our list. Due to how fast the brewing process is, the coffee produced is far less bitter than with our other options.
Drip Coffee Makers
Drip coffee makers allow you to brew coffee by pouring hot water over ground coffee beans. You can find travel-friendly versions of traditional drip coffee makers that feature collapsible or foldable designs. These compact and lightweight options are perfect for camping trips and travels.
Single Serve Pour-Over Appliances
Similarly, this type of manual coffee brewer requires you pour hot water over coffee grounds. Pour-over are simple to use and consist of a cone or dripper placed over a cup. All you need is coffee grounds, paper filters and hot water. Popular appliances include the Hario V60, Chemex and various other cone-shaped brewers. The brewing time is the longest on our list and the result is an even, clean taste and subtle coffee.
Battery-Powered Coffee Makers
Last but not least, in this category you will find modern appliances powered by batteries or USB which is great if you’re looking to automate brewing even when you don’t have access to electricity. Some of them can be plugged into cars and trains. They are fairly lightweight and small so you can take them anywhere.
Best Portable Coffee Makers
IF YOU PREFER TO USE GROUND COFFEE, HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST APPLIANCES FOR NOMADS:
AeroPress Aerobie Go Travel Coffee Maker
Designed in Silicon Valley, this unique appliance brews Americano, espresso, and cold brew style coffee. Its very short brewing time produces coffee with no acidity or grit. The microwaveable mug and lid that doubles as a travelling case are included.
Available now
Portable coffee maker – Clear – Aeropress
– Capacity: 25 cl / 2 cups
– Aeropress paper filters included
– BPA- and phthalate-free
MiiR Pourigami™ Dripper
This award-winning brewer is the smallest, most durable and most portable travel coffee dripper. Made of three stainless steel panels it can easily fit in your pocket. All you need is a filter, a cup and some hot water for a delicious hot coffee.
Available now
Portable coffee kit – Dripper mug and filters – Miir
– Foldable stainless steel dripper
– 100 conical paper filters
– 41 cl Isothermal mug
Wacaco Picopresso Portable Coffee Maker with Case
This is the brand’s most compact portable coffee maker. Not the easiest to use on our list, it is well worth the trouble as it produces an authentic espresso that will rival any expensive high-end coffee machine!
Available now
Portable coffee maker – Picopresso – Wacaco
– Compact: 10.5 cm high
– No batteries or electricity required
– Single filter of 52 mm for 18 g of coffee
IF YOU PREFER COFFEE PODS, HERE ARE COMPATIBLE PORTABLE MACHINES:
Handcoffee Auto 12V Travel Coffee Maker for Senseo® Pods
Compatible with Senseo Pods, this brewer can be plugged into your car and can make both long and short creamy delicious coffee.
Available now
Coffee maker – Handcoffee Auto 12volts – Handpresso
– Cigarette plug 12v
– Quick and easy to use
– Senseo soft pods compatible
Wacaco Minipresso NS Portable Coffee Maker Compatible With Nespresso® Pods
The Wacaco Minipresso is a manual brewer compatible with Nespresso pods. All you need to do is add hot water, unlock the piston and pump a few strokes to pressurise and extract your espresso.
Available now
Portable coffee maker – Minipresso – Wacaco
– Nespresso® capsules compatible
– Nomad and compact
– No electricity needed
So there you have it. You’re now ready to embrace the travelling lifestyle, with top-notch coffee always just a few moments away. No matter which type of portable coffee maker you choose, you can be sure of a premium brew worthy of your best adventures. Made your decision? Check our website to browse our appliances and/or accessories.
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