If we take a closer look at coffee, a world full of flavor explosions opens up. There is a lot to discover and taste, the rabbit hole is deep. One of the more unpleasant side effects of the hobby is that we quickly become sick of run-of-the-mill coffee. This is particularly annoying when we are travelling. Although there are now very good coffee in more and more places, it is by no means everywhere. This is especially true for destinations that are not particularly touristy or for countries where eating and drinking are not particularly important. So what should we do?
The answer is of course: take your favorite coffee with you! The only question that remains is how to prepare it. Fortunately, there are now a variety of options that make preparing coffee easier when traveling. Let's take a look at some of them.
AeroPress: Compact coffee maker for filter fans
The AeroPress has become a classic among coffee connoisseurs in recent years. It is compact, lightweight, easy to use and one or two cups of coffee can be prepared quickly. Perfect for traveling, provided you have filter paper or a reusable filter and ground coffee on hand. We always recommend grinding coffee freshly just before preparing it. That's why we always take a coffee grinder with us when we're on the go. There are now a number of compact hand grinders that can be conveniently transported in the Aeropress and therefore don't take up any extra space, such as the Timemore Chestnut Slim or the Knock Aergrind.
Advantages of Aeropress for Travel
- Light and compact
- Quick preparation (approx. 5 minutes with grinding)
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages of Aeropress for Travel
- Requires disposable or reusable filters
Instant Coffee: The Minimalism Solution
Instant coffee is the easiest and quickest way to make coffee on the go, but what about the taste ? A lot has happened here in recent years. More and more coffee roasters for specialty coffee are offering instant coffee that really tastes good. We at Günter Coffee Roasters have already had four different filter coffees processed into instant coffee. The preparation is extremely simple: all we need is water. We pour this over the powder, stir once, wait a moment and enjoy our coffee. In many cases, the water doesn't even have to be hot.
Benefits of Instant Coffee for Travel
- It couldn't be easier
- Usually works with cold and hot water
- Extremely light and space-saving
- We only need water and coffee
- No cleaning necessary
Disadvantages of instant coffee for travel
- Often not comparable in taste to freshly brewed coffee
- Limited selection of high-quality variants
- More expensive in the long run than other preparation methods
French Press: Stamped while traveling
The French Press, also known as a French press, also makes it very easy to make coffee when travelling. The classic models are made of glass and metal and are therefore not particularly suitable for transport, but there are also models made of plastic or more robust stainless steel. Coffee nerds often turn up their noses at this method of preparation because it does not offer much room for experimentation, but the French Press has everything we need. The sieve is integrated, there is enough space inside for a hand coffee grinder, so all we need is hot water.
Advantages of French Press for Travel
- Ideal for fans of strong coffee taste
- All we need is hot water and coffee…
- … because the filter is integrated
- Can also be used for making tea
Disadvantages of French Press for Travel
- Glass models are fragile
- Cleaning can be a bit cumbersome on the go
- Precision in preparation leaves nothing to be desired
Pour Over: The hand filter is for purists
Hand filter baskets are usually relatively compact and are therefore also suitable for making coffee when travelling. Foldable models in particular can be stored very space-savingly. Filter paper or a reusable filter and a drinking vessel as well as hot water are enough to brew the most complex of all coffees. All you need is a filter, ground coffee and hot water.
Benefits of Pour Over for Travel
- Lightweight and space-saving
- Good taste with clear aromas
- Extremely precise preparation possible
Disadvantages of Pour Over for Travel
- Requires filter paper or a reusable filter
- Requires comparatively much time, care and leisure
- For precise preparation, a kettle with a gooseneck is necessary
Espresso maker: strong coffee on the go
The espresso maker, also known as a mocha pot, is a classic method of preparing a strong coffee. It comes in all sizes, from absurdly large to compact models that fit perfectly in a backpack. Unlike the other preparation methods, we do n't need a pot or kettle for the stovetop pot because it is heated directly in the pot. In hotels and the like, however, kettles are much more common than a hotplate. Things are usually different when camping, except that the hotplate here is more likely to be a gas cooker.
Advantages of espresso makers for travel
- Strong coffee similar to espresso
- Robust construction
- Various sizes available
Disadvantages of espresso makers for travel
- Requires a cooking facility (e.g. camping stove)
- Cleaning can be time-consuming
- Little influence on the brewing process
Coffee bags aka drip bags: Like tea bags, but for coffee
Coffee bags, so-called drip bags, are a practical and simple method of preparing coffee. They work in a similar way to tea bags - simply hang them in hot water and let them brew, remove the bag and the coffee is ready.
Benefits of Coffee Bags for Travel
- Very light and space-saving
- No additional equipment required
Disadvantages of coffee bags for travel
- Often less intense in taste
- environmental impact of disposable materials
Cold Brew: The Refreshing Alternative
Cold brew is an excellent solution if you have no way of heating water. The proverbial cold coffee may have a bad reputation, but anyone who has ever drunk cold brew made with high-quality coffee beans will quickly see things differently. Cold coffee can taste very good ! With cold brew, the coffee is steeped in cold water for several hours and can be kept in a bottle for about a week, provided we keep it cool. This works wonderfully in hotels or holiday apartments, for example. We sell a useful cold brew maker in the shop.
Benefits of Cold Brew for Travel
- Can be prepared in advance
- Can be kept refrigerated for about a week
- We only need one bottle
Disadvantages of Cold Brew for Travel
- We need a cooling option
- Rather unsuitable for long journeys
Which method do you choose?
Choosing the ideal coffee brewing method for our trip depends largely on our personal preferences, the space available in our luggage and the type and duration of the trip. Different methods are suitable for camping than for a hotel vacation. The same applies to traveling to one place versus many, for short trips or long stays. While the AeroPress and hand filter are ideal for connoisseurs, instant coffee and coffee bags offer unbeatable simplicity. We always take our AeroPress with us when we travel and are constantly on the lookout for the best specialty coffee shops on sites like European Coffee Trip.
If you are still unsure which method is best for your trip, just try out our suggestions. This way you will find the one that best suits your taste and travel habits. Because we know one thing for sure: with the right preparation, we don't have to miss out on the perfect coffee experience while on the road.
