I wouldn’t be the first person to admit that I sometimes spend a little too much money (and time) stopping for coffee on my way to work. But as much as I love cold brew and other types of coffee, I don’t always leave enough time to make it at home with a coffee maker or espresso machine. If this sounds like you, then you may consider investing in a good travel-friendly coffee maker.
Unlike pour-over, French press or a programmable coffee machine, travel coffee makers offer the same bold taste sans the bulkiness of a large appliance. Plus, their portability makes them easy to take on work trips, vacations or camping trips.
I spoke with coffee experts for their guidance on the best way to shop for these portable coffee machines and rounded up a list of their recommendations, as well as products that are highly rated on Amazon and other major retailers.
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The best travel-friendly coffee makers
All of the products below are either direct recommendations for our experts or editors and/or have at least a four-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon or at least 100 reviews at another retailer.
Best travel-friendly coffee maker overall
The Aeropress Go Travel Coffee Press is perfect for making freshly brewed espresso or pour-over coffee while traveling and/or outdoors. It comes with a travel mug, lid, scoop for coffee grounds, a stirrer and paper filters and it has a three-step process that works in just a few minutes.
You pour water through the top, mix the grounds with the water and then press down on the grounds as you would with a French press — then the coffee filters through. It filters directly to the mug which you can drink from or cover with the lid and take with you. Shoppers also mention that the coffee makers work well with fine espresso powder.
Best electric travel-friendly coffee maker
OutIn Nano is an electric travel-friendly espresso maker that heats up around 2 ounces of warm water to almost 200 degrees Fahrenheit in around three minutes, according to the brand. It comes with a capsule adapter, a coffee scoop, coffee filter basket, a shower screen, and a cable to charge it. It has 20-bar pressure to help get the most flavor out of your coffee grounds and it helps produce crema (foam) for shots of espresso. It comes with three lithium batteries and since it comes with a USB-C cable you can charge it in your car.
Best temperature-retaining travel-friendly coffee maker
The Espro P1 is a French press-style portable coffee maker that resembles an insulated travel mug or tumbler. It has two lids: one is connected to a fine-mesh filter that sits above another filter to make sure it gets out all of the residual grounds and then the second lid twists onto the top, which is where you press on the coffee grounds.
It retains the temperature of your coffee for hours, including hot and cold coffee, according to Espro. Also, its size makes it easy to fit in a bottle holder in your car, bag or bicycle.
Best compact travel-friendly coffee maker
This compact travel coffee maker from Corkcicle is like a miniature French press that also makes espresso. The coffee maker holds the hot water and coffee grounds and, as the name implies, you use your palm to press on the top so that the coffee filters through to your mug. Shoppers mention that the device is great for camping trips and that it’s easy to clean.
Best travel-friendly coffee maker for camping
This coffee maker from Oxo works similarly to the Aeropress travel coffee press. It comes with a tamper, pump, water chamber, coffee basket and a carafe, all of which stack on top of one another to filter the coffee through the stainless filter. You add the coffee, use the tamper to balance out the grounds, add hot or cold water and allow it to sit for a few minutes before pressing it and filtering it through to the carafe.
To make hot coffee, the brand recommends waiting at least two minutes to brew and five minutes for iced coffee.The carafe, filter and water chamber are also dishwasher safe.
How I picked the best travel-friendly coffee makers
Below are the factors I considered when making the list of products above. I also used guidance from our experts to select the best travel-friendly coffee makers.
Type: There are a few different types of travel-friendly coffee makers to choose from, many of which resemble French presses or use a similar technique, according to Peter Giuliano, senior advisor of scientific communication and engagement strategy for the Specialty Coffee Association. “French press-style brewers requiring coarse coffee are the easiest and most forgiving, technique wise,” he says. “Plunger-style coffee brewers with paper filters (requiring a medium grind) are also easy to use and give great results.” Most of the travel-friendly coffee makers above use some sort of French press-style technique for brewing and filtering coffee into a carafe. The OutIn coffee maker however, uses electricity to heat up water and filter the coffee.
Size, material and durability: Additionally, the size of your coffee maker is important if you plan on using it for activities like camping. It shouldn’t take up too much room in a backpack or duffel bag and the material should be durable enough to withstand extensive travel, according to Marco Suarez, co-founder and CEO of Methodical Coffee. “Materials such as glass are great for home brewing equipment but are too fragile for travel,” he says. “Metal and plastic are far more durable and can function just as well as glass.” All of the travel-friendly coffee makers above are made of a mix of plastic, stainless steel and silicone.
Filter type: Giuliano says you should also consider the filter type of the portable coffee maker, and make sure it’s similar to the one you’d use at home for a traditional programmable coffee maker. “If you use a machine with paper filters at home, and your travel brewer uses a metal filter, you might be displeased with the result,” he says. Additionally, plastic is easy to use and durable, but there are implications of microplastics. Plus, glass is also an option, though it is prone to breaking and is not as durable, according to Giuliano. The coffee makers above include filters made from stainless steel, though some of them, such as the Espro, are compatible with paper filters, according to the brand.
Heat source: Both Giuliano and Suarez recommend considering what type of coffee you enjoy, including hot or cold, because some travel-friendly coffee makers, like the OutIn Nano, use electricity to heat water, but many devices require you to have access to hot or cold water. Additionally, if you prefer hot coffee, you may have to bring a battery-operated water heater to heat the water before putting it in your coffee maker.
How to shop for travel-friendly coffee makers
When you’re ready to shop for a portable coffee maker for your travels, consider the factors above, and then ask yourself the following questions to find the best appliance.
What is the best type of travel-friendly coffee maker?
The best type of travel-friendly coffee maker depends on the type of coffee you enjoy and what type of device you’re willing to use to make it. Most portable coffee makers use a French press method to brew coffee from grounds, including instant types, so if you don’t like French press coffee you need to keep this in mind. Some of them, such as electric devices, do more of the work for you. Decide which best suits your preferences.
What is the best type of coffee to make with a travel-friendly coffee maker?
You can make hot or cold coffee with many travel-friendly coffee makers, though if you prefer hot, you have to be sure you’ll have access to hot water or a heat source. Additionally, you’ll have to be able to chill the coffee (and have access to ice) if you prefer iced coffee. If you’ll be outdoors, then these will often be unavailable, so this is something to keep in mind when deciding on the type of coffee you prefer to make.
Plus, you should decide if you’ll use instant coffee, coffee grounds or fine espresso powder, though instant coffee is great for travel, according to Suarez. “Instant coffee has come a long way and no longer carries the stigma of being inferior coffee. I was recently given a cup of instant coffee and could not tell it was instant,” he says. “And it’s becoming increasingly common for specialty coffee roasters to provide instant sachets or pouches for brewing on the go.”
Frequently asked questions
It’s best and common to use a portable coffee maker when camping because you don’t know if you’ll always have access to electricity for hot water, according to Kaleena Teoh, co-founder of Coffee Project NY. “Having a travel-friendly coffee maker could allow you to start your day with a good cup of coffee,” she says.
You can use a camp stove to heat your water and any of the manual travel coffee makers listed to brew your cup of joe. Teoh says that portable coffee makers are also great for flights and she prefers to use high-quality instant coffee for it.
Meet our coffee experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Peter Giuliano is the senior advisor of scientific communication and engagement strategy for the Specialty Coffee Association.
- Marco Suarez is the co-founder and CEO of Methodical Coffee.
- Kaleena Teoh is the co-founder of Coffee Project NY.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about home and kitchen appliances, including coffee makers. I’ve written about the best espresso and cold brew makers. I’ve also written about how to clean a coffee maker. I interviewed multiple coffee experts for this story, including sources I’ve worked with for previous stories about coffee and coffee-making appliances.
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