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How to Make Great Coffee While Traveling

Written by Dan

Updated on April 26th, 2024

Traveling with coffee? You need tips for how to make coffee on the road and on the go. Here’s how to make coffee on a vacation and how to create a coffee travel kit.

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Table of contents

• What you’ll need to make great coffee while traveling
• Tips for making the best AeroPress coffee
• Other ways to make coffee while traveling
• What are the benefits of making your own coffee while traveling?
• Other helpful tips to know through your coffee journey

While you are planning a trip, you’re probably focused on your experiences, booking your accommodations and packing.

But have you thought about coffee?

If you’re anything like me, most of your mornings (and sometimes afternoons) start with coffee.

In my kitchen, I have all of the brewing methods, like a Chemex , V60 pourover , French press and AeroPress .

They all serve a purpose and I enjoy using them all.

But when I travel, I am at a loss. Sometimes I’ll drink the bad hotel coffee in the room or in the lobby. Maybe I’ll skip a day of drinking coffee completely. Or, maybe I’ll pay $5 for Starbucks.

When we’ve traveled in the past, we enjoy visiting local cafes (like in Mexico City! ), and we like working remotely from inside the coffee shops in a travel destination.

Now that times have changed a little bit, we’ve shifted our preferences, and now we like to make coffee at home.

We also take it very seriously.

It’s our morning ritual, we find it satisfying and on weekends we drink coffee together on the couch or at our dining table.

When we travel now, we like to keep that tradition of finding ways to make coffee everywhere .

Come find out how we make coffee while we travel!

What you’ll need to make great coffee while traveling

I’ve put together a lightweight coffee travel kit that you can check out.

Below I’ll go into more detail about how to use all the coffee products, and we’ll let you know if you need some of the specific items in the travel coffee product kit.

Here’s everything mentioned below

Coffee grinder

• Portable travel kettle
• Coffee mugs
• Coffee tumbler

The AeroPress will be your primary source for brewing coffee. It’s small, packs well and it’s great for daily use even when you’re not traveling. We use ours at home as a treat.

Coffee beans

Head over to a cool local cafe or check out the supermarket in a new city for a type of coffee that’s sourced or roasted locally. You’re in a new location so trying the local coffee is something fun and exciting to do.

We recommend cafes in Taipei , Brooklyn, New York and the Dominican Republic , to name a few.

You’ll need some way to grind your coffee ! Depending on how long you’re traveling for, you might be able to get away with having a coffee shop grind your coffee for you.

Immersion Heater

If you don’t have a way to heat up water, having a Portable travel kettle will be your best bet. Be careful, as these things can get dangerously hot, really fast.

If you want to make coffee to help you enjoy your morning, having a great non-breakable travel coffee mug will help your overall experience. Check out this set of two stainless steel coffee mugs you can pack in your bag.

Travel coffee thermos

If you are more of a coffee-on-the-go type of person, then an insulated thermos is what you need. The travel coffee tumbler from YETI is great because it has a double-wall engineered build, so it keeps things hot and cold for a long period of time. It’s also dishwasher safe.

I like YETI a lot, and I swear by their 26-oz. travel water bottle .

Tips for making the best AeroPress coffee

AeroPress is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make coffee. It’s easy to get started, but does have a bit of an intimidating element to it.

Experiment with your AeroPress before you travel

You now have a new coffee making product! Use it and practice, before you need to use it.

At home, I have my water temperature, grind size and roast type all dialed in during my coffee-making procedure.

When I travel with an AeroPress, or when I have to make coffee in a different environment other than my own home, I use the opportunity to experiment and try different brewing methods every morning.

If I don’t have a hot water kettle with a thermometer, I’ll experiment with getting the water to boil and waiting a certain amount of time before pouring the water in, when brewing.

I’ll experiment with different roasts and grind sizes to really dial in to how I prefer to drink my coffee.

Cleaning up your coffee-making station

One of the best benefits of using an AeroPress when traveling is minimal clean up. After your coffee is brewed, unscrew the coffee filter lid and plunge the grinds into the trash, or compost.

It’s really easy, all being said and done. After the grinds are separated from the AeroPress, you can do a quick rinse and then dry it off.

I find this to be one of the most minimalistic coffee-making methods, and everything is non-breakable when you use an AeroPress , which is a huge plus.

Don’t fret the details

Don’t have a gooseneck kettle? No problem.

Don’t have a thermometer? That’s okay, too!

Don’t have a scale to measure out coffee? You got this.

Whichever types of issues arise, you’ll figure it out. You can always make a second cup and try again tomorrow. To learn even more about AeroPress, check out the video to get started.

Other ways to make coffee while traveling

There are other creative and interesting ways to make some coffee while you’re on a trip away from home. Check out these ideas and see if any of these coffee methods will work for your taste.

Reusable Keurig cups

Some hotels and places where you stay may have a Keurig. I’ve never been a huge fan of them because they produce a lot of waste. Most coffee seems to be a bit too watery and in my head I know that it came from a pod.

The coffee with a Keurig never really tastes pure. That could be the age of the device or something else. I’m not sure!

A reusable K-cup would be a great option if you pick up some local coffee and don’t mind using the Keurig machine.

French press

There are a few single-serving French press options that would work well for travel.

Because a French press has two components, the lid and the beaker, it’s easy to pack (if you have a non-breakable plastic French press , as I would not recommend traveling with a glass French press, ever).

The lid of a French press breaks down very small and can fit into a lot of small areas of your pack.

You can fill the beaker with other items, like shirts or other soft items that you’re packing if you need to condense items in your luggage.

A French press is also a great way to enjoy coffee.

For daily use, I don’t like French press because the clean up can get sort of messy; however, a lot of people swear by the taste of French press coffee, and I respect that.

Making cold brew with a French press is a perfect option for you if you don’t have any hot water source or power.

This is an amazing coffee hack for when you’re on the road, and you either have a fridge where you’re staying, or some mildly cold outdoor temperatures (like the trunk of a car at night on a road trip!).

All you need is time (8-10 hours is suggested for brewing cold brew if you’re pressed for time, and between 16-24 hours is considered ideal).

To make cold brew while you’re traveling with a French press , mix your coffee (ground) and water into the beaker and don’t press down on the lid yet.

Right before you are about to serve your coffee, the next morning (most likely), strain the grinds by pressing down on the lid and plunger.

It’s that easy! You’ll be serving cold brew to some very impressed travel buddies in no time.

The JoGo Brew Straw for Coffee

What is the JoGo Brew Straw ? Well, if you’ve ever had “mate” in Argentina , you may be familiar with this metal straw contraption that has a coffee filter at the base. The JoGo has made it into an updated, special and patent-pending version specialized for your coffee .

What does this mean? It means that this new product allows you to travel without a coffee-making contraption, and all you’d have to do is put your coffee grinds into a mug, add water and then sip.

The JoGo is a sustainable and waste-free way to have a cup of coffee while on the road, camping or in an Airbnb anywhere in the world! It can also be used for tea.

We also have the Silicone Tip Color Pack , which are the BPA-free silicone straw tips designed for the JoGo’s flow control, and if you want an a la carte filter , you can order it on its own.

Cowboy coffee 🤠

If you don’t want to travel with any type of coffee-making device or coffee equipment, you can make “cowboy coffee.”

To make it, start with a coarse grind.

Next, boil your coffee and water together for a few minutes. The grinds should sink to the bottom.

Pour out the brewed coffee into a mug, and cup and that’s it. You’re a cowboy coffee pro, and now you see why any ole cowboy can do this while on the road.

Concentrated cold brew

Most stores sell concentrated cold brew nowadays.

If you were once a cold brew newbie and you drank a full cup of concentrated cold brew, you’re familiar with the onset of a caffeine headache and feeling a true overload of intense buzz. That’s because cold brew concentrate should ALWAYS be watered down in its intended ratios.

Concentrated cold brew coffee is generally a good option if you want to save money during travel and not be buying coffee every day.

Cold brew concentrate is also ideal if you have no desire (or time) to make cold brew coffee by yourself, on your trip.

The concentrated cold brew should last you a few days if you buy a bottle, but it does depend on the size of the bottle you buy.

Funny story: I went to a brunch at a friend’s house and poured some store-bought cold brew into my cup and didn’t realize it was concentrated.

I drank probably the equivalent of three or four cups worth of coffee in one sitting. Big oops. Depending on your weight or body mass, this can be sort of dangerous!

My advice is to watch out and read labels when it comes to cold brew. Look for that word ‘concentrate’ on the label, and you’ll be fine.

Coffee tea bags

One thing I can say is that I’ve experimented with making my own coffee tea bags and it didn’t work out too well.

The coffee ratio that I tried wasn’t quite right and it wasn’t my favorite method. It also kind of reminded me of tea, but it was overly very convenient and stress-free in terms of coffee-making methods while on the road.

If this sounds like something that you want to get into, check out Steeped Coffee , or, from the makers of the Big Island Coffee Roasters Espresso Bites comes the travel-friendly Hawaiian Coffee Singles. These coffee-bag sachets just have to be steeped in hot water and then you have a cup of pretty darn good coffee.

Drink tea instead of coffee

I know this is a coffee article, but tea is pretty good.

Tea is also very easy to travel with, and a few tea bags will have that caffeine kick if you’re in a pinch!

Becca has done a lot of research into the caffeine levels of tea (mostly because she’s a caffeine addict). If you want to nearly mimic a caffeine kick with tea in case there’s no coffee around, try these:

• Yerba mate (popular in Argentina )
• Black tea (it comes from Sri Lanka a lot of the time!)
• Green tea (most popular in East Asia, and welcomed around the world)

Instant coffee

Lastly, there’s instant coffee.

Some people actually enjoy instant coffee. During our trip to Merida, Mexico , our first Airbnb had a coffee maker, but no filters, and no good coffee.

We didn’t want to buy a nice bag of ground beans that might go to waste, because we were also planning on being at our coworking space nearby most days, and there was unlimited coffee there.

So, for the days on which we didn’t attend the workspace, we drank instant. First, we got bad instant coffee, from a convenience store, and it was terrible. We then got a bottle of Nescafe instant coffee at Walmart, and used half of it. One of us tolerates instant coffee better than the other (we won’t tell you who).

If you “tolerate” instant coffee, it’s not a terrible backup plan if your accommodation has a way to heat up water, or a hot plate with a pot.

What are the benefits of making your own coffee while traveling?

If you want to save money while traveling, but you love coffee oh-so-much, check out the benefits of making your own coffee while traveling. We guarantee you’ll be enthused to try making your own coffee in your hotel room, Airbnb, hostel or RV.

Did you ever think about how much people spend drinking coffee and going out to cafes?

Don’t get us wrong, because we absolutely love trying new cafes, especially all over the world.

The catch is that this stuff really adds up, between the cost of coffee, and then add-ons like syrups, non-dairy milks, getting a bigger size, and then adding tax and tip, and you could be in for $5-6 in some parts of the world.

On one of our most recent trips to Montauk, in the Hamptons we drank complimentary hotel coffee in the morning instead of going out to chic cafes nearby. If you consider this like a save of $10 between two people per day, you could save $70 from a week-long trip just by drinking coffee in the hotel.

Try local coffee

For making your own local coffee while traveling, try buying roasts and blends from sources nearby.

This is one of our most favorite parts of traveling in coffee regions like Colombia and Mexico. In fact, when we went to Mexico, we found out that Mexico has a robust and growing coffee trade.

We never would’ve known that if we hadn’t started our coffee tour of Mexico City at a cafe like BUNA , where we saw locally-sourced cafes from regions like Chiapas, and the same goes for cool cafes like Quentin .

Our advice here is to support local cafes by buying a bag of coffee, whether beans or ground, and if you’re traveling somewhere in which the language is not English, learn how to say these words in the local lingo. For example, to say ‘ground’ in Spanish is ‘molido.’

Support local businesses

Hand in hand with the above, when you buy locally-sourced coffees, you’re supporting local businesses.

What we really liked in Bogota, Colombia, at cafes like Azahar was that you can learn all about the coffee shops’ relationships with local farmers and coffee-growing families who are supported by the coffee you can buy there.

If you’re heading to a city in a ‘coffee country’ like Bogota, Colombia, check out more photos of local coffee shops and experience a cafe like Colo Cafe .

Have coffee on your own timeline

Let’s say you’re jetlagged and wake up at 4:00am. Wide awake. Cafes don’t open for another four hours and you really want to get your day started.

Good thing you brought your mini coffee-making kit because this way, you’re good to go!

When you travel with coffee-making supplies, you can make coffee whenever and wherever you want.

Other helpful tips to know through your coffee journey

Drinking good coffee is one thing, and making it well is another. It’s why we’re open to experiences like learning about coffee in a coffee brewing class to get better at the art of coffee.

It’s even a third thing to travel well with coffee. Here are some more tips to consider for your coffee logistics during travel.

How to pack your coffee making kit

If your coffee kit is breakable, we don’t recommend traveling with any of it. That’s why we recommend a non-breakable plastic French press and the AeroPress we talked about, above.

Be prepared to declare any international coffee you buy

Upon re-entering your home country, or upon entering a second country on your trip, you may be asked to declare items that were near farms, agriculture, animals and the like.

Keep in mind that if you buy coffee on a coffee farm or if you pick it and roast it yourself or what have you, this might qualify as a good that must be declared. If you wish to err on the side of caution, you can ship coffee home from destinations on your trip, or order them by mail when you get home.

Have a lightweight resealable bag where you can transport your open coffee

No one likes a mess when they open their bag after a flight or train ride! In fact, it’s one of the most disappointing things to realize you didn’t close your shampoo correctly and now it’s all over your clothes in your suitcase.

Traveling with coffee can yield the same type of challenge.

We recommend traveling with a resealable food storage bag , in which even if your coffee bag rips or spills, it’s contained within a sturdy and thick bag that won’t let the smell or the grinds leak onto your clothes or valuables.

Donate your leftover coffee to a local hostel or another traveler

We like hostels and communal spaces where travelers get to share things. One of the perks of a hostel kitchen is that people leave behind food items they can’t take with them, and the newcomers get to benefit. We’ve been on both ends of the occasion!

We stayed at the guest house of a couple of friends, and knew that they had a visitor coming a week after us, so we left our half-used ground coffee in a cabinet for that person. It feels good to pass on the love of coffee, don’t you agree?

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10 Best Travel Coffee Makers in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

There are countless travel and portable coffee makers on the market, but we’ve handpicked the best ones to make your life easier. You may prefer a particular coffee-brewing method, and just because you are traveling doesn’t mean you should have to sacrifice coffee made the way you like it. No matter what you’re looking for in a travel coffee maker, from espresso machines to French presses, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our list of the 10 best.

• A Quick Summary of Our Favorites in 2024

The 10 Best Travel Coffee Makers

• 1. AeroPress Portable Coffee Maker – Best Overall

The AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker is everything you want in a travel coffee maker. It’s extremely lightweight (only 13 ounces) and compact, so it won’t take up much space in your bag. It makes coffee fast, with less than two minutes to brew a cup, which is perfect for when you’re on the go. It’s easy to use and easy to clean. Best of all, it’s completely manual. It doesn’t require electricity, so you only need access to hot water. This makes it ideal for any travel situation: hotels, beach houses, your friend’s house, or even camping and backpacking .

The only issue is that it can only make one cup of coffee at a time. If you want more than one cup, or if you want to impress your friends with your coffee-brewing skills, you have to go through the process all over again.

All in all, we think this is the best travel coffee maker of the year.

By the way… you can read our full review of the AeroPress coffee maker here !

• Very lightweight
• Makes coffee fast
• Inexpensive
• Easy to use
• Easy cleanup
• No electricity needed
• Only makes a single cup of coffee at a time
• 2. Bodum TravelPress – Best French Press Coffee Maker for Travel

We chose the Bodum Travel Press as the best french press coffee maker for travel, as it’s incredibly convenient. The travel cup comes with a plunger and filter, so you brew your coffee right in your travel cup. This means you don’t have to pack a separate coffee maker or paper filters, saving valuable space in your luggage. It’s made of a stainless steel double-wall design that keeps coffee piping hot, so be careful! It’s quick and easy to use, which is great for travel. It even comes in a few bold color choices.

On the negative side, this isn’t the best cup for daily use. That’s fine if you plan to use it just for travel, but the durability is questionable. The filter breaks down over time, and the lid tends to be flimsy.

To conclude, we think this is the best portable French press coffee maker. Take it on your next trip and see what you think!

RELATED READ:  There’s a new French press in town.. and it’s solar-powered!

• Brews in a travel cup
• Insulated stainless steel cup keeps coffee hot
• Available in various colors
• Quick and easy to use
• Not as durable; breaks down over time
• 3. Black+Decker Portable Single Serve Coffee Maker – Best Value

The Black + Decker Single Serve is another great portable coffee maker that brews right in the travel cup. It’s an auto-drip maker, but its compact design makes it ideal for travel and small spaces ( like a dorm room ). A permanent filter is included, so you don’t have to worry about disposing of or buying paper filters. It’s also very inexpensive.

It does have a couple of problems, however. It comes with a plastic travel cup, which won’t keep your coffee hot for long. You can upgrade to any 16-ounce travel mug, but that’s an added expense. It’s also not very durable and shouldn’t be used for daily use.

• Compact design
• Permanent filter
• Plastic travel cup
• Not very durable

NOTE:  You can see a breakdown of the best travel-friendly ESPRESSO makers here

• 4. Keurig K-Mini – Best Travel K-Cup Coffee Maker

Keurig is the manufacturer of popular K-Cup makers , so it makes sense to include their most travel-friendly model on this list. The Keurig K-Mini is extremely compact and lightweight; it’s only 4.5 inches wide, and it weighs a little less than five pounds. It comes in a variety of colors, and it has a compartment for K-Cup storage. For more potent cups of coffee, it has a strong brew option.

If you’re the type of person who likes more than one cup of coffee in the morning, then this design might get a little tedious, since the water reservoir can only hold up to 12 ounces. Other than the strong brew option and a couple of size options, this brewer doesn’t have any extra features.

Read our full review of the Keurig Mini here!

• Extremely compact and lightweight
• Available in several colors
• Strong brew option
• Only enough water for one cup of coffee
• No extra features
• 5. GSI Portable Portable Pour-Over Coffee Brewer

The GSI Outdoors Java Drip is a great option for backpacking, camping, or boating. It collapses almost completely flat and is made of durable silicone. Fewer parts mean easy cleanup, and it’s easy to use. Just insert a paper filter, place the silicone disc over your mug or travel cup, and use the pour-over coffee-making method with hot water. It’s big enough to use a regular-size coffee filter, so it can handle up to twelve cups of coffee.

Even though the silicone makes it durable and easy to clean, it has a detectable smell, especially right out of the box. This can affect the taste of your coffee. You’ll also need paper filters, which are another thing to purchase, take up space in your bag, and dispose of.

• Collapsible, lightweight design
• Easy to clean and use
• Brews 1-12 cups of coffee
• Silicone can affect the taste of coffee
• Paper filters needed
• 6. Wacaco Minipresso Portable Travel Espresso Maker

If you can’t live without espresso while you’re traveling, especially in situations where you won’t have access to electricity, the Wacaco Minipresso is a great choice. All of its parts stack together into one unit, so it’s very compact. It comes in at 0.8 lbs, which is very light. It’s entirely manually operated via a pumping mechanism, so you don’t have to worry about batteries or finding an outlet.

However, with eight BARs of pressure, it’s just under the nine BARs needed for espresso. This means that the grounds are a bit under-extracted. Quite a bit of hand strength is needed for the pump, and even though the company’s video shows it being operated with only one hand, many people will need to use both. All those parts also mean it’s harder to clean, and some will require air-drying.

Read our full review of the Wacaco Minipresso here! (We loved it).

• Compact and lightweight
• Manually operated
• Harder to clean
• Espresso is under-extracted
• Hand strength required
• 7. Coffee Gator Travel Pour-Over Coffee Brewer Mug

The Coffee Gator Pour Over Brewer Mug is another option for pour-over brewing, where you can brew directly into the included travel mug. It’s made of vacuum-insulated stainless steel, and it has a copper lining to keep your coffee hotter longer. The metal filter means you don’t have to buy paper filters or have them take up space in your luggage. It comes in a range of colors, and it’s easy to use.

There are a few things that keep it from the top of the list, however. It has a flimsy lid, so the durability is questionable. The lid also has a few small parts, making it difficult to clean. This wouldn’t be a good choice for daily use, as the filter appeared to break down over time.

• Brews right in the travel mug
• Made of quality materials to keep coffee hot
• Metal filter
• Available in a variety of colors
• Difficult to clean
• Questionable durability
• Filter breaks down over time
• 8. Bialetti Portable Stovetop Coffee Maker

This is the compact, travel-friendly version of the Bialetti Moka pot you love. It’s extremely portable because it’s entirely self-contained. Just add ground coffee and water. The brew time is fast at under five minutes, and it’s easy to clean.

One major issue, however, is that you’ll need access to a stovetop or campfire. That’s not a problem if you’re staying in a hotel suite with a kitchen or traveling in an RV , but it wouldn’t be the best travel coffee maker choice for a regular hotel room, for example. It’s also a bit heavier than some of the other options, at a little more than a pound. It only makes one small cup, so it’s a bit of a pain if you want multiple cups of coffee.

• Entirely self-contained
• Easy to clean
• Fast brew time
• Requires access to a stovetop or fire
• On the heavier side
• Only makes one small cup
• 9. Presto MyJo Single Cup Travel Coffee-Maker

The Presto MyJo is another good choice for camping, backpacking, or other traveling activity where you don’t have access to electricity. If you love the convenience of a K-Cup brewer, this is the travel coffee maker for you. It uses K-Cups, but it also comes with a reusable coffee filter that you can fill with your own ground coffee. The design is extremely compact, and it weighs less than a pound.

Unfortunately, the reusable filter is also pretty delicate, and it’s custom-made by Presto, so you have to order it from the company. The MyJo isn’t very durable, and the gasket leaks easily if you don’t have it properly sealed. It may also be convenient that no electricity is needed, but it requires a lot of force to pump the water through.

• Extremely compact design
• K-Cup compatible
• Reusable coffee filter included
• Reusable coffee filter is delicate
• Tends to leak
• Takes a lot of force to pump water
• 10. Takeya Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker

Can’t live without your iced coffee , even when traveling? Then the Takeya Cold Brew is the coffee maker for you. It’s easy to use; you only need coffee grounds and cold water. This design is especially compact and lightweight, at just under 10 ounces.

However, the handle is flimsy, and the lid tends to leak if you aren’t careful. The filter also never forms a perfect seal, so grounds always manage to escape into the coffee. Because of this, the overall design doesn’t seem very durable. It’s fine for occasional travel use, but it wouldn’t be a good choice for daily use.

• Lightweight
• Filter allows coffee grounds to escape
• Tends to be flimsy
• Prone to leaks
• Final Thoughts – Finding the Best Travel Coffee Maker

We think Aeropress is the best travel coffee maker of the year. It’s lightweight and compact enough for air travel, and the fact that it doesn’t require electricity makes it ideal for camping. It makes both American-style coffee and espresso, so it can suit the tastes of almost everyone.

If you can’t leave home without your French press, then the Bodum Travel Press is the best for travel. The fact that it brews directly in the travel mug makes it great for travel, and it won’t take up much space in your luggage.

If you’re on a budget, Black + Decker’s Single-Serve Coffeemaker is inexpensive and also brews right in the travel mug. This is an auto-drip model that’s easy to use and familiar to just about everyone.

For those who love the convenience and efficiency of a K-Cup coffee maker, the Keurig K-Mini is perfect to take along. Its compact design ensures it won’t take up much space, while still giving you the speed and efficiency you’ve come to expect from a single-serve coffee maker.

Whether you prefer a cup of espresso or love the convenience of a K-Cup, we hope our reviews helped you find the travel coffee maker to suit your needs. We truly hope that our guide helps you find the best portable coffee maker for your tastebuds. Happy brewing!

WORTH READING:

• Can you bring coffee beans on a plane?
• Airplane Coffee Guide: What Kind of Coffee Do Airlines Serve?

Table of Contents

Kate MacDonnell

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The 13 Best Portable Travel Coffee Makers [2023]

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

779 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

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Why Buy a Portable Coffee Maker?

The different types of coffee makers, things to consider with a travel coffee maker, 1. big tasting coffee from a tiny device, 2. a travel mug for coffee enthusiasts, 3. perfect espresso wherever you go, 4. easy expresso at the push of a button, 1. affordable, portable, pour-over coffee maker, 2. a quirky little gadget that delivers great coffee, 3. an all-in-one brew method for great coffee on the go, 4. a durable coffee maker for every kind of adventure, 1. share great coffee with your significant other, 2. big-brand beverages from bodum, 3. a beautiful italian standard both at home and away, 4. single-serve packs with flavor, 5. unique coffee brewing from a world leader, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Whether you are looking for something to perk up your morning commute or want to sip a hot cup of joe on a mountain top in the middle of nowhere, a portable coffee maker is an absolute game-changer.

From single cup heaters to coffee makers you can share with friends, a portable coffee maker is a travel must-have for those who never want to miss a coffee fix, wherever they are headed.

Sure, you could nip into the nearest Starbucks (or other coffee shops available) and grab a paper cup on the go. But being able to brew your favorite hot beverage is far more satisfying and much more cost-effective.

Portable coffee makers are, among other things:

An automatic coffee maker can brew up a cup at the touch of a button. Your morning cup can be just as tasty as it is at home, even on the road.

Fancy lattes and other brews can be expensive. Nice for the occasional treat, but buying 1 every day can soon add up. Making your own will save you money from the get-go.

Compact, discreet, and easy to take with you, a portable coffee maker can fit in your carry-on bag and be produced for a brew whenever you need it.

Blendable To Suit Your Tastes

Once you get used to using your coffee maker, you will soon be brewing like a barista as you mix blends and flavors to create your perfect cup.

Because not all coffee makers are the same, they offer varying ways to brew your coffee on the go.

The most common types of coffee makers include:

Pour-over Coffee Makers

Possibly the best option for longer journeys, pour-over coffee makers are compact and light as a feather. Carry just a few grams of your favorite blend and voilà — a perfect coffee on the go. The only downside to these types of coffee makers is that you may have to wait a few minutes for your brew.

French Press

French press coffee makers work by immersing all of the coffee in hot water to capture more of its natural flavor, resulting in a rich, strong cup of coffee. While the coffee may be better, the cleaning processes take longer, and some French press coffee makers are more portable than others.

Espresso Makers

If you like your coffee dark, a portable espresso maker will give you big flavors on the go. As the machine applies pressure to the beans, the maximum flavor and oils spill out, giving the same result as bigger coffee machines, but in a compact and completely portable format. These models are the most expensive but will be a big hit with true coffee connoisseurs.

Hot Tip: Check out our favorite travel mugs to go with your travel coffee maker.

When choosing your perfect portable coffee maker, consider the following:

Portability

One of the most important features of a portable coffee maker is that it needs to be “portable” — the clue is in the title. Some types of coffee makers are far larger and bulkier than others, so look for one that suits your needs.

Whichever type of coffee maker you favor, it needs to be easy to carry and not take up too much space. Otherwise, you may as well leave it back at home.

Hot Tip: Look for lightweight materials like silicone, and consider coffee makers that are complete and without the need for lots of other fancy accessories.

Traveling can take its toll on your possessions, and you need to make sure that you buy appliances and devices that will go the distance. Stay clear of delicate glass coffee makers and opt instead for reinforced materials such as plastic, silicone, or even aluminum for guaranteed durability.

Brewing Time

A portable coffee maker is almost pointless if you have to wait half of your journey time for it to brew. Choose appliances that take between 30 seconds to 5 minutes to brew, and you can enjoy speedy coffee on the go.

Ease of Cleaning

Dirty coffee is not good coffee. Consider where you are headed and how easy the coffee maker will be to clean when you get there. If you are hotel-based or have an apartment, you can enjoy the luxuries of a hot tap and maybe even a dishwasher, but if you are camping in the middle of nowhere, you should choose a coffee maker that is easy to clean, with minimal components.

Coffee for 1? 2? Or maybe more than a few? The size of your coffee maker could determine how grumpy your fellow travelers will be in the morning. You can be the chief coffee maker for as many as you want, but remember that the larger the capacity of the appliance, the bigger and bulkier it is likely to be.

Nearly every appliance or device you take with you will eventually need charging or require some form of power to make it work. Your portable coffee maker will be no different, but you need to be sure how you need to power it before you go.

Those that don’t run on elbow grease alone will run on electricity or batteries. To ensure your charging needs match your destination, read the instructions and reviews before you buy.

The 4 Best Espresso Makers for Travel

There are many different types of portable coffee makers out there to choose from, all of which will brew you a great cup of coffee. Here are some of our favorites.

Wacaco Minipresso GR, Portable Espresso Machine

Claiming to be one of the smallest and lightest handheld espresso machines on the market , the Wacaco Minipresso could be everything you need for your next big adventure.

Hand-operated and easy to use, the Minipresso uses a semi-automatic piston to allow small quantities of water to be injected into the coffee adapter. After a few pushes, the optimal extraction pressure is achieved, creating a wealth of rich and bold espresso flavors.

This impressive-looking bullet-shaped coffee maker comes with all the accessories you need to brew up a great single cup of coffee, as well as a travel case to keep it safe on the go. It is one of the more expensive models on this list, but its innovative design, sleek good looks, and impressive espresso-making capabilities make the price tag well worth it.

What We Like

• Produces perfect crema

What We Don’t Like

• Only makes 1 shot of espresso with cleaning required after each shot

Espro Travel Coffee Press, Stainless Steel

Make 10 ounces of great-tasting coffee with this traditional travel mug-style coffee maker. Super easy to use and carry with you, this travel press creates awesome coffee in an instant.

The leak-free mug lets you enjoy your freshly brewed coffee wherever you may be, and the patented double micro-filter keeps your cup free of grit and sludge, allowing you to drink it upright to the last sip.

The insulated double-walled stainless steel construction will keep your brew hot for hours , and the filter press will keep your coffee from getting bitter. Durable build quality makes this an excellent choice for regular travelers, and the BPA, BPS, and phthalate-free mugs will keep your coffee tasting completely authentic.

• Portable press that stays hot for hours
• The plunger is tight to remove to clean
• STARESSO Portable Espresso Machine

This swanky little coffee maker has everything you need to pour a cup of authentic tasting espresso. Measuring just 8 x 6 inches, this is an incredibly portable little device that weighs next to nothing and is super easy to use.

Compatible with both Nespresso pods and ground coffee , all you need is access to hot water to be brewing like a pro. Intuitive and straightforward to use, the patented pumping system means you can make espresso without the use of any electricity, just by using your elbow grease alone. Once you are done, the modular design makes it easy to clean and pack away the coffee maker until your next craving.

Made from high-quality BPA-free material, with a stainless steel pump and coffee chamber, the Staresso is an attractive, sophisticated, and easy-to-use portable espresso maker for serious coffee lovers.

• Makes espresso and froths milk
• The pump can sometimes get stuck
• CONQUECO Portable Coffee Maker

The CONQUECO Portable Coffee Maker is a clever little device that creates expresso at the touch of a button. Compatible with Nespresso and L’OR coffee pods , you simply pop in a pod, fill with water, and press the button.

Automated pressure builds to 15 bars, and depending on whether you used boiling or cool water, it will produce creamy, rich, and flavorsome espresso instantly, or within 8 to 10 minutes.

It’s easy to charge up using the supplied home or car charger cables, and it even has a super convenient auto wash function, so all you need to worry about is cleaning your cup.

Lightweight and incredibly portable in its small carry case, this coffee maker is a firm favorite with serious coffee lovers who are always on the go.

• Easy to use and wash
• Only creates 3 servings per charge

The 4 Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers   for Travel

• Primula Brew Buddy Portable Pour Over

Create perfect coffee on the go with an easy personal brewing system that works in minutes. Unlike some of the larger portable coffee makers here, this little device is portable, slimline, and incredibly easy to take with you , meaning that you can make the perfect cup every time.

All you need is a cup and some hot water to create a perfect single cup of coffee. Simply place the Brew Buddy over your cup, add your coffee, and sit back and brew before enjoying the rich, smooth taste.

Dishwasher safe at home or easy to rinse through on the road, this little gadget also eliminates the need for reusable paper filters, coffee pods, or K-Cups, and there is no excess waste from paper filters or plastic pods — perfect!

• Small, lightweight, and easy-to-use
• The filter bag sits in your cup, reducing the space for a full cup of coffee

Kuissential SlickDrip – Collapsible Silicone Coffee Dripper

This quirky-looking little gadget will give you truly excellent coffee on the go. Negating the need for bulky or expensive coffee machines or filters , you can brew up delicious flavors in minutes.

Made from high-grade silicone, this device is durable and completely portable. Unlike some other cheaper plastic coffee drippers, it will not absorb odors or leave a chemical taste in your brew.

To use the SlickDrip, simply place it over your mug, set the paper filter, add coffee and boiling water, and wait for the flavors to drip on through. Perfect for camping, commuting, at work, or at play, the unique collapsible design of this little coffee dripper makes it easy to clean and more practical to carry than glass or porcelain alternatives.

• Flattens down completely for portability
• Leaking can occur when using a skinnier travel mug

Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Maker

Popular with both baristas and regular coffee fans alike, this pour-over coffee maker gives you much more from your beans. Designed to make up to 10.5 ounces of coffee , this pour-over coffee dripper comes in a 100% BPA-free carafe and offers awesome coffee flavors on the go.

Offering an all-in-one brew method, this little beauty is just right for single-cup perfection. The detachable stainless steel filter adds body to the coffee and is much more eco-friendly and efficient than having to replace paper filters time and time again.

The compact dimensions make this small enough to be carried anywhere with ease, and the Coffee Gator company offers a satisfaction guarantee. Good looks and great brews from this cute-looking, single-cup coffee maker.

• Very easy to clean
• The glass bottom can be easily broken

Cahlis all-in-one Travel Coffee Maker and Thermal Cup

A personal pour-over brewer with a difference, this travel coffee maker features a stainless steel mesh filter to make your coffee taste great on the go.

Drip coffee directly into the cup, and the double-wall stainless steel will trap in the heat for longer while keeping the outside cool to the touch. Perfect for long car rides and trips away, the cup has even been designed to fit nearly all car cup holders for awesome ease of use.

The metal filter sets this coffee maker apart from the competition, as well as being more environmentally friendly and cheaper to maintain. This 1-cup coffee maker uses a manual hand drip method to unlock the flavor of your brew. Measuring in at just 8.34 x 4.1 x 4 inches, this is a great choice for coffee lovers.

• The mug has a non-slip grip area for holding
• The metal filter doesn’t store inside mug when transporting

The 5 Best French Presses for Travel

• AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker

Perfect for making 1 to 3 cups of coffee on your travels, the AeroPress promises to offer a fuller flavor brew than a traditional French press portable coffee maker. Complete with a press, funnel, scoop, stirrer, 350 micro-filters, and a filter holder, this impressive press measures in at 9.5 x 4 x 4 inches — just right for taking with you.

The superfast brewing process promises a full-flavored cup of coffee that is free from bitterness or the acids that can be produced by some lesser appliances. The patented micro-filter helps to eliminate grit and makes this coffee maker super easy to clean in seconds.

Create espresso-style coffee on the go with this lightweight, portable, and compact coffee maker that is perfect for camping trips, days out, morning commutes, and so much more.

• Easy to clean after use
• Only makes 1 cup at a time
• Bodum Travel Press

Made by the big brand coffee enthusiasts at Bodum, this travel coffee maker holds up to 15 ounces of coffee and is an impressive little addition to your travel kit . Designed for you to enjoy a single cup of French press coffee, you can guarantee plunger perfection every time and an excellent cup of joe.

Incredibly easy to use by just adding coarsely ground coffee and hot water, stirring the contents, replacing the lid with plunger up, and off you go. The silicone and mesh filter also helps to reduce sediment to produce a smoother brew.

Made from vacuum-sealed stainless steel with a double-wall design, your coffee will stay hot for longer, and the non-skid rubber base’s non-slip grip makes for perfect, spillproof coffee anywhere you go.

• Keep the coffee incredibly hot
• Filter plunger is stored inside the mug at all times

Bialetti 06799 Express Moka Pot

Made from high-quality, polished aluminum in the classic octagon shape, this is an iconic Italian coffee maker made by an iconic Italian brand . A real statement piece for your kitchen, you can also take this out and about with you.

Just large enough to hold 4.4 ounces of coffee, this coffee maker is just right for 2. From start to finish, the Bialetti only takes 5 minutes to brew the perfect cup, so you and another coffee drinker can enjoy the very best in next to no time at all.

The distinctive 8-sided shape allows the heat to diffuse perfectly to enhance the aroma of your coffee, and the rich, aromatic flavor is as good as anything you will find in a coffee shop, all in the comfort of your own home.

• Can be washed with just water
• Easy to burn yourself as the pot gets very hot

Presto 02835 MyJo Single Cup Coffee Maker

With its compact design, this single cup coffee maker offers many of the benefits of larger coffee makers in a perfectly portable package.

Using single-serve packs, the Presto MyJo offers a portable and affordable way to make great coffee using a K-Cup. By simply compressing the air inside the reservoir to push water through the pack, rich, smooth coffee will drip into your cup, ready to be enjoyed.

Easy to clean, you only need to rinse the base , while the single-serve packs can be disposed of and replaced by a new one when it’s time to brew again. The hot water reservoir is safe and easy to handle, and this type of coffee maker is a good choice for use in hotels and other bases where no coffee machine is present.

• Water can be heated in the reservoir in the microwave
• The rubber seal can fail over time, causing leaks

KOHIPRESS The Original Portable French Press Coffee Maker

As one of the best-selling portable French press coffee makers, there must be something pretty special about this compact little compact coffee maker. Using its patented “Advanced Isolation Mechanism” and a fine mesh filter, coffee lovers can enjoy a rich, flavorsome cup of joe, where the grounds really have separated perfectly from the brew after pressing.

For travelers who appreciate both function and form, the sleek, cylindrical design is sure to impress, and the 3-minute brew time means even quicker coffee.

The insulated double-wall vacuum construction, along with the completely leakproof design, will ensure that your coffee stays hot and tasty wherever you are headed — a really good quality coffee maker for real coffee lovers.

• Coffee grounds stay separated for great tasting coffee
• Coffee doesn’t stay hot for very long

If you can’t get going in the morning without your caffeine fix, a portable coffee maker could be your new best friend. Whether you choose a simple pour-over or a sophisticated espresso maker, the perfect portable beverage is yours for the making.

For smaller budgets, remote locations, and the most intrepid adventurers, invest in a pour-over with easy cleaning capabilities. If you can take your coffee maker home to a dishwasher, or want something that offers a superior brew to better your barista, a French press or espresso maker might be more your thing.

Looking for more travel products? Explore all of our best travel products reviews — all in one place. For coffee junkies, also check out our travel coffee grinders guide to get that perfect cup of coffee on the go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i take a coffee maker in my carry-on.

Coffee makers and espresso makers can be packed in your carry-on. Just make sure that there is no liquid inside.

Can you use a coffee maker without electricity?

There are many portable coffee makers that do not require electricity or even batteries. For example, the STARESSO Portable Espresso Machine runs on elbow grease alone, as does the Wacaco Minipresso.

What is the best travel coffee maker?

There are plenty of great lightweight, affordable, and portable coffee makers that are perfect for travel. Here are a few you should consider:

• Wacaco Minipresso GR
• Espro Travel Coffee Press

Are there battery-operated coffee makers?

Some portable coffee machines are battery-operated, but most have a built-in rechargeable battery. Other coffee machines are hand-operated.

How do you make coffee when traveling?

From single cup heaters to coffee makers you can share with friends, a portable coffee maker is a travel must-have. These range from a French press to an espresso machine and are usually simple to use by adding ground coffee or whole beans.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Guide to Making Coffee While Traveling

Last Updated August 19, 2023 William Tang

You are here: Home » Travel Tips » Guide to Making Coffee While Traveling

If you love coffee and want to make sure you always get the best quality brews while on the road, this is your essential guide for making coffee while traveling.

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In This Article

Making Coffee While Traveling

Portability, packability, a hand grinder: the porlex mini, travel friendly coffee brewers, the aeropress, the kalita wave pour over dripper, the melitta ‘ready set joe’, the handpresso portable espresso maker, accessories that you may or may not need, travel resources for your next trip.

Imagine traveling to Paris, France, the city of lights. You’ve just sat down at a picturesque (and cliché) corner cafe. As you open up your laptop, and gloss over new emails, the waiter comes around, and asks for your order in a manner that seems both slightly familiar and mildly annoyed – a trait unique to Parisians.

Fast forward 15 minutes. Your laptop sits dormant on the minute circular table, and you sit disappointed on the wicker chair. The myth of amazing Parisiahn coffee is just that, a myth that seemingly applies to the whole of the European continent.

What goes in a brewing kit

As an experienced traveler, and coffee fanatic, I never leave my habit to chance. After being let down time and again, I now always carry my own brewing kit. Life on the road (or in the air) requires a different approach to essentials, and a flare for minimalism.

There are three simple things I look for when building my traveling coffee kit: portability, durability, and packability.

For a nomad, mobility and simplicity are key. Although there are portable, electronic brewing options, I prefer to stick with manual brewers. This way I am not dependent on a power source, besides myself.

When the lifespan of your essentials depends on the tenderness of an airport baggage handler, packing fragile items is a poor bet. It is important that your brew gear knows how to take a beating.

Apart from size, coffee brewers and gadgets come in all manner of odd shapes. You should keep in mind how your gear would fit in your baggage, and ditch anything too bulky.

The Coffee Nomads Essential Packing List

Here it is – if you want to have your cake and eat it to – i.e. travel minimally, but travel with the gear so for making coffee while traveling, here’s what you need.

There are many imaginative (and strange) ways to brew coffee, but there only a few ways to grind, so the first item on my packing list is always my grinder.

I bring my own grinder, because store-bought, pre-ground coffee tends to lose its flavor and aroma the longer it sits. Additionally, by changing the size of my grounds, I can control how light or bold my coffee will be.

On my travels, I carry a Porlex Mini stainless steel grinder , a burr grinder with a 20 gram capacity,  which is about six inches long, and less than three inches in diameter. Detaching the handle allows you to adjust the grind settings, and makes the grinder even more compact and easier to pack.

There’s an overwhelming array of ways to brew coffee – but some are not-so travel friendly. I’ve tried most of them – thanks to my coffee and travel obsession – so why don’t you take advantage of my compulsive curiosity and read through my list of favorites below to find which brewer will work best for you.

Regardless of traveling, the Aeropress is one of my most favorite brewing systems. This hydraulic shaped gadget uses a pressure method to force the flavor out of your beans, which is quick, simple and, unlike other brewers, doesn’t require much nannying.

Assembled and compressed, the Aeropress takes up only a 12x5x5 inch space, and its cylindrical shape makes it easy to slide down the side of your backpack or suitcase. This brewer is best for someone who enjoys the unique taste of a pressure brewer, and also likes to keep work distractions down to a minimum.

If you are someone who is fond of pour-over methods, then I’d suggest checking out the (metal) Kalita Wave . This brewer works just like any other pour-over dripper – set it on your cup, place the filter, pour in the coffee grounds, and intermittently pour (near boiling) water.

Although this process takes a bit of time and devotion, it’s easy enough to do in a your early morning stupor. A gooseneck kettle can make the periodic pouring process easier, but, with a steady hand, you will be fine with any normal kettle.

What makes the metal Kalita Wave stand out from other drippers, is its stainless steel body and its miniscule size. The metal body keeps your coffee hot as it brews, and the 5x5x3 inch size makes it extremely stuffable. If you particularly like the pour-over method, and are in need of something small and durable, then the Kalita Wave is for you.

The standard, the reliable, the Melitta .

This pour-over dripper, is both aesthetically and functionally simple, but whatever points this dripper loses in appearance, it makes up for in cost and dependability for making coffee while traveling.

The Melitta is only a little bigger than the Kalita Wave, but is made from thick, BPA free plastic, which makes it almost as durable. Because it costs less than $10, and its filters can be found in most supermarkets, the Melitta is best for budget-minded travellers.

This brewer is for travelers who enjoys pour-over, but could care less about looks.

Good news for all you travelling espresso enthusiasts, there is a travelling espresso maker, called the Handpresso Pump , which allows you to (literally) pump out a shot of espresso while on the go. It weighs roughly two pounds, and is pretty slim, taking up a little less space than the Aeropress.

Although the Handpresso Pump takes a bit more fiddling than the other systems I’ve mentioned, it is fun to use but still pretty straight-forward. You can also buy special coffee pods for the Pump, which makes the brew process even easier. Check out this cheesy video to see you how it works.

Unfortunately, at $129, this unique gizmo is the most expensive item on the list. I recommend the Handpresso Pump for travelers who prefer espresso and enjoy quirky gadgets, but don’t mind shelling out a little extra cash.

If you are like me – a little meticulous with your coffee – there are a few accessories you should also consider for making coffee while traveling .

I recommend the Coastline Digital Pro Pocket Scale which is durable, compact, comes with 2 handy measuring/weighing trays and seems to work perfectly for pour over coffee.

There’s no need to go overboard when choosing a scale – just choose something that can measure in grams and ounces, and does not have an auto-off feature (having your scale shut off mid brew will ruin your pour over process)

Another item you may want to pack is a coffee storage container. Because I often like to bring my favorite beans along with me, I use the Friis 12oz Coffee Vault , which provides airtight storage, while also filtering out CO2. The 12 oz is 5.5×5.5×8 inches, but, if you have more space allowance, there is also a 16 oz version available.

One final item I include is a mini thermometer. Most people just boil their water, but to get the highest rate of extraction from you beans, you actually want to heat the water to just below the boiling point.

For traveling, I recommend the CDN Digital ProAccurate thermometer, which is inexpensive, easy to use and easy to pack.

Regardless of what you’ve heard about the local coffee in your travel destination, I recommend bringing your own brew kit. There are still some modern cities (I’m looking at you Paris) where it is just hard to find – and expensive to drink – good coffee.

Additionally, if you manage to find some good local brewers, you can brew up that coffee even while working from your hotel room. There are many dangers of traveling, but coffee shouldn’t be one of them.

Let me know what you thought of the article on making coffee while traveling in the comments below, and tell me what you prefer to pack in your traveling coffee kit.

What you should read next

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If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

About William Tang

William Tang is the Chief of Awesome behind the award-winning Going Awesome Places which is focused on outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring photography and videos, and writing detailed itineraries and travel guides. He is a member of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and Travel Massive. He has also been featured in publications such as Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur, Men's Journal, and Haute Living. Make sure to learn more about William Tang to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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Why coffee is the perfect travel companion

Sep 30, 2019 • 7 min read

For the best coffee, you might have to look a little further afield than your hotel © Ekaterina Smirnova / Getty Images

What’s it like to travel as someone who doesn’t drink alcohol? For one thing, it can mean feeling like you’ve missed out on a whole side to a destination. No bar crawls, no searching out the local speakeasy, no making friends with locals and other travelers at some underground nightclub. Booze is, as we all know, a social lubricant, so not partaking can leave us teetotallers feeling left out. But there is a solution.

If you’re anything like me, traveling sober means visiting coffee shops. Lots of coffee shops. Cafes, and the people you meet and talk to while in them, are a valuable resource when travelling – they can give precious local insights, and spending time in coffee shops is a great way to get a feeling for a city’s atmosphere and culture.

As someone who used to work in the speciality coffee industry – as a barista, a coffee roaster, and a marketer – I’m familiar with the urge to visit every coffee shop in a given city. I’ve even planned trips around coffee. But even if you just like the drink (and want to take some Instagrammable photos of latte art) it’s worth contemplating how coffee shops can enhance and improve your trip.

Coffee is a truly universal beverage, and it can now be found in nearly every corner of the world. The growth of high quality speciality coffee over the past decade has been staggering, with most cities now hosting a thriving scene. As a bonus, the caffeine will give you the energy you need to get out into your destination and really explore it.

Here are some tips and ideas on how to use coffee as the ultimate travel guide, companion, and social instigator.

(A quick note before we get going: this article is focusing on speciality, or third wave, independent coffee shops. Think exposed ductwork, lo-fi indie soundtrack, a tousle-haired barista or two, and locally-sourced or otherwise high quality coffee. If you’re looking for your nearest Starbucks, they have  their own cafe locator . Or you could glance twenty feet to your left – there’s probably one right there.)

Coffee guides and trip planners

Once you’ve decided on where you’re going to visit, a good first start for finding coffee shops is your favourite search engine – although be aware that searching 'Los Angeles coffee' will bring up a lot of choices, most of which won’t be worth visiting. Searching Instagram hashtags is another easy place to do some research ( #londoncoffeeshops ,  #tokyocafe ,  #melbournecafes  for example) but can be a rabbit hole of staring at beautiful cafe interiors, so be careful there as well.

Next, there are a few helpful guidebooks, websites, and apps geared solely toward finding the best coffee shops in a given area. In the United Kingdom, the  Independent Coffee Guide  publishes one guidebook per year for the various regions, as well as Ireland.  London  and  New York City  have their own guidebooks, because you'd need good luck navigating their innumerable cafes without one.

Best Coffee  is a website and app that is constantly updated with new cafes chosen by coffee experts, and covers many cities around the world from Auckland to Madrid to Singapore. The app isn’t free, but it’s a great resource if you’re visiting any of the cities it covers. If you’re headed to Australia,  Beanhunter  is the app for you.

Going a bit more in depth, the website  Sprudge has a host of city guides  (disclosure: I’ve written a few of them). These articles go into more detail than most, offering five or more of the best cafes in a given city, with info including what coffee is served and how it is brewed.  Brian’s Coffee Spot  is another good resource, covering Europe, North America and East Asia with in-depth articles, maps, and photo galleries.

Plan your trip around coffee

In the summer of 2016, my wife and I took a road trip from Michigan up to Montréal  via Toronto , down through New York state to Washington, DC, then all the way south to Savannah , Georgia, before heading to Alabama and back home through Tennessee. A good portion of the stops on this trip were coffee-related: Toronto and Montreal both have stellar coffee scenes, for a start, while pretty much every city we stopped in, no matter how small, had something to offer coffee-wise.

Visiting coffee shops and chatting with the baristas who work there is a good way to get to  know a city and get recommendations on where else to visit. For example, we found  Perc Coffee Roasters  in Savannah because a barista at a previous stop raved about it. Inside a big brick warehouse, tucked into a nondescript neighborhood far away from the more popular tourist destinations, we found a crew of people eager to chat and give us additional Savannah-based recommendations – plus a seat at the bar, a refreshing cold brew, and a view of the roasting operation in full swing.

Likewise, while in Glasgow , Scotland, a barista at one coffee shop told me about a cafe on the south-side of the city that had only just opened and was therefore not yet showing up in search results. The shop is called  It All Started Here , and it turned out to be one of the best coffee experiences I had while in the city. What started life as a pop-up at events around Scotland proved so popular that a brick-and-mortar cafe was quick to follow. Using a multi-roaster model, where coffee from roasters around the country is rotated weekly, It All Started Here approaches the craft with meticulous care and focus, serving coffee and an ever-expanding food menu that sparkle with originality and flavour.

The lesson here: talk to your barista, ask questions, and always, always, tip.

How do I know this coffee shop is good before going?

This is an important question, because there are so many coffee shops in any given city that there’s always a chance the one you’ve chosen might be a letdown. So how can you decide beforehand? Here are some tips: 

What’s their Instagram like?

If you see a lot of artfully-taken photos of latte art and kettles pouring hot water over ground beans, chances are it’s worth visiting. There is definitely an element of self-parody to some of these photos, but if nothing else it’s at least a sign that the company cares enough to put effort into its account.

Has anything been written about them?

Another shameless plug, but the coffee tours of various cities in Sprudge are all visited and vetted before being included (I spent a day in Grand Rapids, Michigan, drinking far too much coffee, while researching  the tour I wrote  for that city). If a coffee shop shows up in one of these articles, then it might be worth visiting.

Who roasts their beans?

If they roast their own, then there’s a better chance of the coffee being decent (or at least fresh). If they’re a multi-roaster, look to see who supplies them – is it big name speciality roasters like  Counter Culture Coffee  (in the US),  Square Mile  (in the UK), or  The Barn  (in Germany)? That’s a good sign. Is it a local micro-roaster whose website features a tattooed arm swirling some roasted beans around in a cooling tray? Even better.

What kind of espresso machine do they use?

This is a massive generalization, but my rule of thumb is that if a cafe I want to visit has a  La Marzocco , then it’ll probably be at least worth a look.

Can’t I just drink the hotel coffee?

Well you can, but it probably won’t be good. Some hotels are starting to take coffee more seriously, and a few even have full-blown cafes in their lobbies, but your best bet if you’re trying to save money is to pack your own beans, a hand grinder, and some kind of transportable brewer (the  AeroPress  is popular among travelers for its quality and robustness). Or, if that seems like too much effort, there are a number of companies producing speciality instant coffee, such as  Voila  and  Sudden .

With options like this, and the growing ubiquity of great coffee all over the world, there’s really no excuse not to drink good coffee while traveling. And if you’re trying to do so sober, coffee shops make for a great alternative to pubs and bars as a way to meet new people and scope out the local culture. Trust me, I’ve been doing it for years.

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Instant Coffee Is Fancy Now: The Best Travel-Friendly Coffees to Take With You

By Maggie Hoffman

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

I woke at dawn, and it took a minute to remember where I was: Crappy airport hotel. Everything’s loaded on the truck. Just catch the flight. My daughter and husband had already headed toward our new home on the East coast, and my last morning in California wasn’t exactly a poetic goodbye. The coffee dispenser in the empty hotel breakfast room was broken. My head was pounding. Just catch the flight.

After a closed-road delay (because the crappy airport hotel wasn't even that close to the airport), I raced to the gate, collapsing sweatily into my airplane seat and trying to shake off the mounting pressure between my temples. It was then that I remembered: I’d bought myself a parting gift at Sightglass , the coffee roaster down the street from our old house. Six packets of their fancy new instant coffee. As the beverage cart (with its urns of acidic roastwater) passed by, I tore one open and mixed the powder with the contents of my water bottle and a cup of ice. I took a sip. I may have said aloud: I’m a genius.

My name is Maggie, and I’m a coffee snob.

The elixir had the punch of espresso and a robust cocoa flavor. I’d been skeptical of the new generation of instant coffees (and other travel-friendly options from high-end roasters around the country) that I’d been hearing about. Who needs instant coffee that costs as much as a cafe cup? But with each lifesaving sip on that cross-country flight, I let go of doubt and vowed to explore all the options.

And now, after spending this fall tasting cup after cup, I know I can bring the good stuff with me wherever I go.

If you’re traveling on planes, trains, or automobiles this winter, you need the coffee situation to be easy, and that’s where dissolving granules of much-better-than-old-school instant coffee come in. Most of these instant coffees are made through a partnership: Your favorite roaster sends their beans to a producer like Swift Cup in Lancaster, PA. Though the precise details are proprietary, they basically grind the coffee and brew it into an intense concentrate, which is then freeze-dried so that you can easily carry around a single-serving pouch. All you need is water to bring the coffee back to life. Swift Cup produces their own instant coffees as well as making the stuff for more than 50 different roasters, including Sightglass and Joe .

As grateful as I was for those granules of coffee on the plane, there are some downsides. The dehydrated coffees I’ve tried reconstitute into a rich, bold cup, with an intensity that I like best on ice. Matt Scottoline of ReAnimator Coffee Roasters in Philadelphia says they’ve noticed that the instant coffees have “lowered acidity and a higher concentration of sugary flavors,” though he notes he’s happy with their clean, sweet character. In a post on their blog, the Counter Culture team explains that they found a molasses note that sometimes veered toward oxidation in some of the dehydrated coffees they sampled from various producers, which is why they chose to go a different way.

That different way is essentially coffee in a tea bag, and it’s not just Counter Culture that went there: the company Steeped produces the bags for 75 different roasters including Victrola and Alabaster Coffee . The bags feel a bit weird to use, but it’s an easy process: You pour hot water over the bag into your cup, lift it up and down for a few seconds, and then let the bag steep for five minutes. What you’re left with has the brightness of pourover and some of the richness of French press. The Steeped tea bag model captures more of the coffee’s high notes: the tart cherry, the lemon rind. I’m into it, and I’ll be taking a few to drink at my inlaws’ house this Thanksgiving. (Love you guys! But hate your coffee!)

True coffee nerds can even take real-ish pourover on the road, and several of the companies making them say they're working toward launching a 100% biodegradable product soon. I felt a little funny jiggering the flimsy cardboard wings of a single-use filter setup over my cup—and several of my office mates stopped to stare—but the Kuju Ethiopian is pretty good. Of these portable pourovers, I liked the setup of DripKit’s offerings best: The sturdy cardboard contraption’s notches slide onto the rim of your cup to make it more stable, and their single origin coffee from Verve is delightfully bright and juicy. Though I’m not sure I’d want to risk knocking it over on a plane. For that, I’ll keep my Sightglass granules handy.

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Lauren Joseph

Liz Clayton

Allison Considine

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15 Best Travel Coffee Makers: The Best Ways to Make Coffee While Traveling, Backpacking, and Camping

Wander the world long enough and you’ll learn that a good cup of coffee or espresso isn’t always easy to come by. Knowing the best travel coffee maker options while backpacking, camping, and wandering, and bringing your own coffee can be an invaluable solution for getting your fix for good coffee while traveling.  In my experience, it’s well worth it to pick up the best backpacking coffee maker available before your travels to make for an enjoyable morning and a guaranteed boost of energy before those pre-sunrise hikes.

You may get lucky in places like Italy and Vietnam, with their robust and amazing coffee culture, but more often than not the “coffee” served in remote parts of the world will more likely resemble caffeinated dirt juice than what you’re used to fueling up on each morning at home.  If you do happen to find a great coffee shop, plan on the price being as high as it would be back home…in a place where a meal costs $1 and a nice hotel costs $20.

Does this mean that traveling the world hunting for adventures and exploring places far from home means sacrificing access to a decent cup of coffee?  Absolutely not. You just have to come prepared.

This article contains affiliate links

Table of Contents for our Best Travel Coffee Options

• Which Type of Travel and Backpacking Coffee Maker is Right for You?

What to Look for in a Good Travel Coffee Maker

• French Press Options for Travelers
• Vietnamese Drip Coffee: Simple & Compact Options for Strong Coffee
• Aeropress: For Espresso on the Road
• Drip and Pour Over Coffee Options for Travelers: Simple & efficient for light coffee
• Infusion Brewing Basket and Bags: The simplest option for coffee
• The Costa Rican Coffee Maker: Chorreador de Café
• Cold Brew: Smooth, highly caffeinated, and simple…if you have the time
• Coffee Grinder, Maker, and Mug Combos: For the freshest coffee in a compact kit

Finding Good Coffee while Wandering the World: The struggle is real…

Somewhere between Italy and Vietnam, I picked up a “healthy” coffee addiction. So, despite the fact that I travel as a minimalist with just a carry on bag, I still have to tote the tools to make sure I have good cup of coffee each morning…anywhere. And no, instant coffee does not qualify as good coffee . 

Lucky for you these coffee cravings led me to find the perfect travel coffee maker options for every type of coffee drinker. As long as you can find hot water and good coffee grounds, these 11 portable coffee maker options will ensure you can have a great cup of Joe no matter where your travels take you.

Read on for the 11 best portable coffee maker options and mugs to make a travel coffee kit that’ll keep you caffeinated, adventure-ready, and mood swing free!

Which Backpacking Coffee Maker Style is Best for You?  Depends on the Coffee you prefer…

The best portable coffee brewer options for a lighter, smoother cup of coffee while traveling and backpacking are:

• Portable French Press Coffee Makers for Travelers : Convenient for a smooth cup of coffee
• Vietnamese Drip Coffee: Lightweight setup for a strong cup of coffee, one step below espresso
• Portable Espresso Makers : Making a great expresso possible anywhere
• Drip and Pour Over Coffee Options for Travelers: Compact, packable, and easy

Single Serve Coffee Sachets

• Portable K-Cup Coffee Makers
• Coffee Grinder, Maker, and Mug Combos: For the freshest coffee possible in a compact kit

Any Starbucks regular can tell you that not all coffee is the same.  Strip your Caramel Macchiato Frappe of the sugary and milky goodness, and even that basic coffee beneath can differ in many ways – light and smooth, robust and bold, thick with a touch of oily froth. 

For coffee drinkers hoping to ensure they always have a hot coffee available to their standards, understanding how you prefer your coffee – strong and quick like espresso, or light and long like French Press coffee – is the first essential step. Ultimately getting it, can make lugging around your own travel-friendly coffee pot a little more worthwhile – as the best travel coffee maker option for you will differ accordingly. 

The major factors in which coffee maker is best for you are generally how strong do you prefer your coffee, and how much you need those sometimes frothy oils naturally in coffee for that travel cup of delicious coffee to satisfy you.

If you prefer your coffee lighter and smoother…

…then life is easier for you, as you’ll have plenty of easy options for a cup of coffee on the road. 

If you like stronger and thicker …

…then life is still easy, but to get a good cup of espresso you’ll need heftier contraptions.  The best options for a strong cup of coffee on the road that’s more akin to espresso are:

• Aeropress Coffee Maker: The best portable espresso maker for coffee on the road and a compact coffee maker overall
• Vietnamese Drip Coffee: A surprisingly easy and lightweight option for a strong cup of coffee

(Click any of the links above to jump to our list of options)

The beauty of the best travel and camping coffee maker options is they work just as well as lightweight camping coffee makers, car camping luxuries, or even taking to work to make a freshly brewed coffee yourself. A fresh, quick, and delicious cup anytime you want. Again, as long you have coffee beans and hot water, you’ll have a great cup of coffee.

When you’re hunting for a travel coffee maker, you shouldn’t necessarily go for the shiniest prettiest thing – aim for the brewer that will make coffee you like and won’t break halfway through your travels.  To get pin down specifically which coffee maker this is, look for these 5 traits in a good travel coffee maker:

• Durability : A fancy coffee maker doesn’t do anyone any good if it’s broken
• Makes your style of coffee : Light and smooth or strong and bold
• Doesn’t require replacing filters : Reusable filters save the trouble of hunting for paper filters
• Compact Size : The lighter your bags are, the more enjoyable your travels will be
• Simplicity : Fewer moving pieces means fewer things to break…or do wrong

Our Full List of the Best Backpacking Coffee Maker Options for Traveling, Camping, and Backpacking

Now that you know what to look for in a travel coffee maker, and you know what kind of coffee you want from it, let’s look at the best brewing options. I recommend checking out these categories of coffee brewers for your travels (click to jump to the respective recommendations).

Best Brew Method Choices for Travel and Backpacking Coffee Makers

• French Press Coffee Makers for Backing
• Vietnamese Drip Coffee
• Aeropress and Portable Espresso Makers
• Drip and Pour Over Coffee Options for Travelers
• Infusion Brewing Basket and Bags
• The Costa Rican Coffee Maker
• Making Cold Brew on the Road
• Coffee Grinder, Maker, and Mug Combos

Full List of Our Recommended Portable Coffee Makers

Scroll down to get the details on all of them…

Best Portable French Presses for Travel

• OXO BREW Venture Travel French Press

Double Wall Insulated Stainless Steel French Press (by Jomo)

• Planetary Design Ovrlndr French Press
• Zyliss Hot Mug Cafetiere (Plastic French Press)

Best Coffee Press Mugs for Travel

The stanley mug french press, the espro travel coffee press.

• Bodum Travel Press

Vietnamese Drip Coffee Makers

Aeropresso Styled Coffee Presses

• AeroPress (Original) + The DISC: FINE Premium Filter for AeroPress Coffee
• Aeropress Go Portable Coffee Maker : The smaller, more travel-friendly aeropress
• Delter Coffee Press

Best Travel Espresso Maker Options for Backpackers

Wacaco nanopresso portable espresso maker.

• Wacaco PicoPresso : As good as the Nanopresso in a more compact size
• Staresso Portable Espresso Machine: Workswithcoffee grounds and Nespresso pods

Best Travel Pour Over Coffee and Drip Options

• Single serving, single use Hanging Filter bags

Reusable Drip Pour Over Coffee Filters

• Foldable Reusable Drip Coffee Filters
• GSI Collapsible Pour Over Coffee Maker
• Primula Reusable (Pour over) Filter
• Kuissential Slick Drip (Pour over filter cone)
• Kalita Wave 185 Dripper
• Drip Kit 10 Pack

Infusion Brewing Basket Coffee While Traveling

Yoassi steel mesh strainer, the finum reusable stainless steel coffee and tea.

Single Serve Coffee Bag Sachets (Tea Bag Style)

Counter Culture Single Serve Coffee Bags

• Wildland Coffee – Coffee in a Tea Bag
• Folgers Coffee Singles

Portable Nespresso Coffee Makers

Conqueco portable espressso maker.

Cold Brew Coffee for Travel (Method I use…)

All-in-One Coffee Maker: Coffee Grinder, Coffee Maker, and Mug Combos

• Coffee Gator
• Cafflano Classic
• Wacaco Pipamoka

Best Portable French Press Coffee Makers and Coffee Press Options

A compact travel coffee press in a portable French Press style is a great, simple option for a light, smooth, and delicious cup of coffee while traveling. 

For these portable French Press style one cup coffee makers, simply find or grind coarse grind coffee, pour in 1-2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water, let the coffee steep for 3-5 minutes, push down the filter separate grinds from coffee, and then serve. 

Simple as that.

Travel coffee presses come in two types:

• Mugs that are a cup and travel coffee press combo
• French presses

Single serve combo mugs are best if you’re a solo traveler.  Travel French presses (normally serving up 32 oz.) are best if you’re traveling with others…or just a friendly character that shares their coffee.

The best portable French Presses suitable for travel are small and compact enough to fit easily into a backpack or luggage, make at least two cups (to over caffeinate on your own or share the love), and are more rugged than your average press to avoid shattering on day 1 of the adventures.  In reality, most travel coffee presses will be around 32 oz., so I only opt for a French Press when I’m consistently traveling with two or more people and don’t need to stay as light.  If you’re traveling solo, save some space and opt for a coffee press mug instead

The best travel French press options are:

The OXO BREW Venture Travel French Press

If you don’t mind sacrificing the space, this French Press has durable stainless steel construction, will definitely keep your coffee hot if you’re a slow drinker (like I am), and makes enough joe for 2 to 3 people.

The Jomo’s size (enough to share, possibly too large to take backpacking the world), ruggedness, and durability make it one of the best camping coffee maker options on our list. Additionally, the double wall insulation may add too much weight and bulk for travel backpacking, but will help keep your remaining cups of your delicious camp coffee warm on cool camping mornings.

More Great French Press Options

• Planetary Design Ovrlndr French Press **
• Zyliss Hot Mug Cafetiere (Plastic French Press) **

As compact as a travel mug, insulated to keep your coffee warm, and no need to track down paper filters.

My favorite Travel Coffee Press and Mug combos are:

An extremely functional mug and coffee press from a name that is known for making rugged coffee gear.  I actually recommend Stanley’s classic flask too which served me well and is currently being passed between backpackers in Europe…with plenty of memories attached.

Simple, straightforward, reliable, and a great coffee maker – the Espro Travel Coffee Press is kinda legendary for on the go coffee.  Count on 10 oz. of coffee per serving.

More Great Portable French Press Mug Options:

• Bodum Travel Press **

The Vietnamese drip coffee maker style is possibly the simplest, most durable, and cheapest coffee solution for travelers that want strong coffee – all for ~$10.

The all-steel makeup allows the natural oils of the coffee to drip through making the Vietnamese coffee more akin to espresso (without the tasty brown espresso foam) than American style drip coffee or pour-overs.  The simple, steel design also makes Vietnamese coffee makers durable enough to survive years on the road or in your luggage – just add grinds and water, and you’re caffeine ready.

This contraption is so simple that any stainless steel Vietnamese coffee filter on Amazon would work, just like this stainless steel Vietnamese coffee filter (pictured above and below)

For the longest time on Bali and in Southeast Asia, I always carried a Vietnamese coffee style drip coffee maker, and freshly ground coffee to ensure I always had a cup of coffee before my sunrise surfs, and well before most cafes open.

The lightweight design, cheap price, the fact that you can find a replacement anywhere, make these Vietnamese gadgets perfect light traveler and backpacking coffee maker options.

Aeropress Coffee Maker for Espresso on the Road (with Additional Metal Disc)

If you require an espresso in the morning, but aren’t in Italy and don’t have a Nespresso machine , the AeroPress may be your next best option. 

By compressing the grinds before preparing the coffee (as you would before loading a normal espresso maker) and pairing with a reusable metal AeroPress filter disc , you’ll get the same strong coffee and frothy coffee oils of an espresso…anywhere!  Plus, having the metal filter disc means no hunting for paper filters when you’re in the middle of Jordan somewhere.

When packing your kit, if you prefer a more espresso style coffee, with the tasty frothy oils, be sure to pack finely ground coffee as that is the only way to achieve an espresso style coffee. Larger grinds, more suitable for French Press coffee, will leave you with a thinner coffee.

The DISC: FINE Premium Filter fo r AeroPress Coffee

More Great Aeropress Styled Coffee Press Options

Whether you’re backpacking through Yosemite or backpacking through Sri Lanka, finding a quality cup of espresso can be fairly difficult.

Also, surprisingly for backpackers wandering through Southeast Asia, finding a good espresso, long black, or Americano (due to bean quality, machine settings, and barista training) can be so difficult that you may want to your own pocket espresso maker – as I resorted to.

For the digital nomad and freelancing crowd that hustles from home, its hard to overestimate the convenience of being able to make a great cup of espresso at home, in your home away from home.

For travelers, backcountry campers, and digital nomads alike, these portable espresso machine options take up minimal space and make a cup of coffee worth their weight

A very interesting option for espresso while traveling, hiking or camping – the WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker .  Just over a year ago I purchased it as a compact way to make an espresso – at home and while backpacking – and if you are an espresso addict it is definitely worth the investment.

Here in Bali, there is no shortage of fantastic coffee beans from around Indonesia. However, finding a shot of espresso or a long black that uses those fantastic beans to make an equally great cup of espresso based coffee without being overpriced is rare. As such, the Nanopresso has been a great purchase for making a quick cup of espresso at home, without a moka pot, and is an equally good backpacking coffee maker for my travels around the world.

This handheld option makes espresso from both grinds and Nespresso pods via pump action, and only requires hot water, coffee…no filters, no electricity.  Find out more by viewing the Nanopresso options on Amazon .

If you specifically require a good cup of espresso or espresso based coffee drink wherever you go, consider the nanopresso.

More great Portable Espresso Maker Options**

If light and smooth is how you like your coffee, then travel-friendly pour-over coffee options will be best for you – and there are plenty of them. Hanging Filter bags and folding coffee drip filters, reusable cloth filters, and reusable mesh filters will all give a great cup of coffee cheaply, quickly, and with minimal hassle.

The beauty of filtered coffee is that it delivers a “cleaner” cup of coffee, extracting the oils from the coffee (along with a bit of bitterness) and leaving a more flavorful experience. If you prefer a lighter roast and lighter cup of coffee but are stuck with darker roasted bean (think Italian roast or French roast), having filters will make a more palatable cup of coffee.

Hanging Filter bags

These handy little gadgets are my most recent coffee discovery and a perfect java backup to carry during travel.  They’re cheap and simple, and as long as coffee grinds, hot water, and a cup are available you’ll always have a cup of coffee.  Be sure to purchase “ Hanging Ear Drip Filter Bags ” cheaply on Amazon before you travel…just in case. 

For a simple option that will last the duration of your travels and doesn’t require paper filters, paperless pour-over options made of mesh metal filters are quick to set up, easy to use, and quick to clean up giving cup of coffee.  Thanks to the simplicity you can find plenty of durable and cheap steel pour-over coffee filters on Amazon that are well-reviewed and perfect for travel.

Stainless steel design and a tightly-knit mesh filter make these reusable pour-over coffee filters great options for coffee on the road.  The materials will last the trip and the built-in metal filter means no hunting for paper ones.  Just set the filter in your cup, place the grinds in, pour on water, and sip to your heart’s contentment. 

Also, consider a reusable pour-over coffee filter with a stand to make life easier by setting the filter on a cup and pouring instead of holding it.

Foldable Drip Coffee Filters

The Snowpeak Folding Coffee Drip and Snow Peak Field Barista Coffee Drip are both great, lightweight, durable options for making drip coffee on the road – but don’t forget to pack your own filters or purchase a cloth reusable filter like these hemp cloth reusable cone filters (pictured below).

Improvising with Reusable Cloth Filters

Reusable cloth filters are possibly the most lightweight and minimalist options for coffee.  Just set a reusable cloth filter in place over a cup, add grinds, and pour. 

If you’re unsure if you’ll need a coffee backup plan and can barely spare the extra space take a reusable cloth coffee filter with you and improvise along the way

More Great Pour Over Coffee Options

• GSI Collapsible Pour Over Coffee Maker: Extremely compact and effective, just don’t forget the filters*
• Primula Reusable (Pour over) Filter: Lightweight, reusable, supported mesh filter no additional *
• Kuissential Slick Drip (Pour over filter cone): Cheap, compact, and effective collapsible silicon filter, just don’t forget the filters!*
• Kalita Wave 185 Dripper: Slightly more cumbersome as it isn’t collapsible, but the beautiful stainless steal may be worth it*
• Drip Kit 10 Pack : A self contained single serving pour over kit packed with coffee and a disposable filter*

Another minimalist option for a good cup of coffee while traveling is the infusion brewing basket commonly used for tea.  This is a great option – small, durable, simple, and perfect for a quick, single cup of coffee.

Back before backpacking around the world, infusion basket brewed coffee was one of my favorite options for brewing at home and camping as it gives the same style of coffee as a French Press, is easily cleaned, and can be used to brew loose leaf tea as well.

To use infusion baskets for coffee, drop a coarse grind coffee into an infusion basket that has small pores, place your coffee in the basket (while in the cup), pour the water over the coffee and (through the basket), and let steep 3-5 minutes – just as you would in a French press.

The compact size, versatility, and ease of use make infusion baskets excellent portable portable, minimalist travel and backpacking coffee maker options.

Any well-reviewed infusion basket on Amazon that explicitly states it can be used for coffee will work just fine.  I recommend checking out these options:

The Costa Rican coffee Maker: Chorreador de Café

Coffee beans have been around much longer than Starbucks and the espresso culture of Italy, and the simpler methods of brewing coffee still persist in the charmingly simpler parts of the world.  The Costa Rican “Chorreador de Café” is proof of this.

A reusable cloth bag with a handle used pour-over style is all that’s needed to brew coffee from the java beans that Costa Rica is so well known for.  This contraption is small enough that it takes up nearly no space in your bag, cleans up easily, and lasts for anywhere from a few months to a few years.

To use, just drop your grinds in, hold over your coffee cup, and pour away with hot water. 

For cleanup, don’t use soap, just rinse with warm water and scrub with salt if necessary (maybe once a week if using daily).

Traditionally the Correador de café is sold with a wooden stand like this handmade Costa Rican coffee maker , but you can find the Costa Rican coffee Makers on Amazon as a simple bag for cheap too, minimalist, and perfect for coffee while traveling.

By far, the easiest approach to making a good, reliable, quick cup of coffee are with single serve, tea bag style coffee servings. With these, you simply find hot water, grab a cup, and steep your coffee to your preferred point.

If you are car camping, and have quite a bit of space, or will be traveling and backpacking for a limited amount of time – planning out enough cups for your days of adventure and addiction – this may be the best and simplest travel coffee option for you.

These single serve “coffee bags” come in an environmentally friendly container in dark roast, medium roast, light roast, French Roast, and as many others as you can think of

The packaging itself is compostable meaning the whole experience of having your coffee in your favorite place is convenient and environmentally friendly.

More Great Single Serve Coffee Bag Options:

• Folgers Coffee Singles Coffee Bags: A household coffee name, packaged into convenient tea bag style coffee bags

For many people, the K-Cup dependency is real, and for good reason. K-Cup Pods are available (and can be restocked) in most countries in North America, Europe, and Asia, meaning you can pickup a portable K-Cup coffee maker and restock on the road.

This rechargeable (car or home) portable espresso maker runs on Nespresso pods and simultaneously heats water, perfectly pressurizes (to 8 to 10 bar) and pours a cup of espresso all with the push of a button.

Note that the heating process (for the water) takes about 10 minutes when starting with room temperature water.

Cold Brew Coffee for Travel

If you have the time, appreciate highly caffeinated coffee, and want something very smooth with low bitterness and acidity, cold brew coffee may be up your alley.

You’ll still need an option for filtering the grinds after soaking overnight, just cut it with a bit of water to your personal tastes as it will be quite strong.

To make cold brew coffee, simply grab some coarse grind coffee, mix 1 part coffee with 4 parts water (so 1 cup of coffee with 4 parts water), let it steep for 12 hours, and then filter with cheesecloth or coffee filters. 

Dilute the resulting coffee with water as necessary or plus up on coffee the next time for a stronger brew.

All-in-One Coffee Maker – Coffee Grinder, Coffee Maker, and Mug Combos

If coffee freshness matters to you most, a portable coffee maker that combines a coffee grinder and reusable filter compactly into the mug is perfect for you. This is my brew method of choice when camping and trekking solo as the morning routine of grinding the beans (usually over a few minutes) smelling the freshly ground coffee and carefully making pour over coffee wakes me up in such a pleasant way.

Consider these fresh coffee facts…

Did you know that the peak flavor and aroma of coffee grinds occur in the first 20 to 30 minutes after grinding? 

Did you know that coffee beans stay fresh for 4 months while coffee grinds only stay fresh for 1 month before going rancid? 

What does all this mean? If you’re traveling long term and not sure if coffee grinds will be available where you’re going, bring one of these handy gadgets and coffee beans.  This way you’ll be able to enjoy fresh coffee, anytime, any place.

I own a grinder combo similar to this portable coffee grinder and drip coffee maker combo by MOYEAH and it served me well during my national park tour – with a supremely fresh cup of java every morning, with a little grinding workout to wake me up. 

More Great All-In-One Portable Coffee Makers

• Coffee Gator : A whole coffee maker system, including a pour over cup, reusable metal filter and an insulated mug
• Cafflano Classic **
• Wacaco Pipamoka **

Other Great Travel Gear  Content:

• The 8 Best Travel Shoes for Men
• 5 Great Men’s Travel Shorts
• The Best Travel Pants for Men
• My Carry on Packing List

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlos is a nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.

The Best Travel-Friendly Instant Coffee

By Andrea Whittle

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

I noticed a trend in my email inbox recently. Over the course of a week, I received a slew of pitches about "travel-friendly" coffee, each of them in a different form: a ready-made espresso shot, a fancy-sounding instant coffee, a combination French press thermos, a vacuum-sealed cold brew pitcher, even a portable single-serving pour over device. And since I've had my fair share of lukewarm, metallic-tasting airplane coffee over the years, I was intrigued. What is "travel-friendly" coffee? Would it be worth taking on my next trip? And is it actually... good ?

To find out, I arranged a taste test with a group of Condé Nast Traveler staffers. We limited ourselves to coffee products that are truly simple, small, and lightweight enough to add to a typical backpack or tote—no overly complicated, bulky, or heavy options allowed. Still, there was a huge variety of travel-friendly options: Forto espresso shots, Dripkit pour over packets, and even a Nescafé instant latte that's made in Malaysia and is a top seller on Amazon. Here, the highly unscientific but undeniably useful results of our deep dive into the best travel-friendly coffees.

The All-Around Winner: Joe Specialty Instant Coffee

How does it taste? We tried it both hot and iced (the crystals dissolve instantly no matter the water temperature) and both versions were better than most of regular coffee you would encounter anywhere. It was a perfect analogue to the real deal, served at Joe locations around New York City: Bright, a little fruity, and very strong. We were honestly floored by how delicious it is.

Would you travel with it? Absolutely. It comes in thin brown paper sachets—which one editor noted were the only biodegradable option of the bunch—and they're basically weightless. You could easily throw a week's worth of these in your bag and not notice the difference.

Could you make it on a plane? Yep, easily. I could see myself adding a sachet to one of those mini water bottles they give you, shaking it up a little, and pouring it over ice.

Is it better than airplane coffee? Far superior. By orders of magnitude.

What situation is it ideal for? Airplanes, hotels with crappy coffee machines, bus trips, train rides, you name it.

Buy it: $19 for a pack of six, amazon.com

The Millennial-est Option: Dripkit Pour Over Packets

How does it taste? Very good! This portable pour over kit packs flat but folds out into a filter pre-filled with ground coffee. It makes a delicious, smooth, not-at-all bitter cup, though it's a little on the weaker side in terms of flavor. Dripkit will offer a rotating selection of single-origin beans every couple of months; the one we tried out was from a family farm in Guatemala.

Would you travel with it? Yeah! Each pre-filled filter comes in a slim packet about the size of a ten-pack of wet wipes.

Could you make it on a plane? No, unless you’re willing to ask the flight attendant to hang around your seat to pour three rounds of boiling water over your little cup. (Please don’t do that.)

Is it better than airplane coffee? Yes—but you can't really make it on a plane.

What situation is it ideal for? It's solid option for coffee snobs who end up in a hotel room without a coffee machine.

Buy it: $28 for a pack of 10, dripkit.coffee

The Amazon Bestseller: Nescafé Malaysia 3 in 1 Instant Coffee Sticks

How does it taste? This one stumped us all. This imported Malaysian variety of Nescafé is the best-selling instant coffee on Amazon, but it barely tastes like coffee; it's somewhere in between Ovaltine and a very weak latte. One editor called it "comforting," but the consensus was that it's sweet, slightly malty, and thick.

Steph Koyfman

Shannon McMahon

Charlie Hobbs

Would you travel with it? Sure. Easy to throw a few sachets in a backpack.

Could you make it on a plane? Yes, all you need is hot water and a stirrer.

Is it better than airplane coffee? If you like your coffee milky and sweet, absolutely.

What situation is it ideal for? Airplanes, or anytime you need something that tastes like a warm hug.

Buy it: $13 for a bag of 28, amazon.com

The Most Understated: Tandem Coffee Time and Temperature

How does it taste? Truly delicious. It's hard to believe how good this coffee tasted after just adding water.

Would you travel with it? Absolutely.

Could you make it on a plane? Yep, just ask for some hot water.

Is it better than airplane coffee? 100 percent.

What situation is it ideal for? It's great for making a quick cup of coffee on the airplane or in a hotel room, but it's also good to keep on hand for whenever you need a caffeine boost (and hot water is nearby).

Buy it: $15 for a box of six, tandemcoffee.com

The Goop -iest Option: Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee

How does it taste? Like coffee that you made in a vessel that you had previously used for miso soup. Funky. But not... terrible either? Another Amazon bestseller, it's a combination of organic instant coffee and powdered Cordyceps and Chaga mushrooms, which are very in as supplements right now.

Would you travel with it? Yes, if I were Gwyneth Paltrow.

Could you make it on a plane? Yes, all you need to add is hot water.

Is it better than airplane coffee? No.

What situation is it ideal for? Wellness fanatics in transit.

Buy it: $12 for a box of 10, amazon.com

The Mass Appeal Pick: Starbucks VIA Instant Pike Place Roast

How does it taste? Like your average cup of Starbucks: not amazing, but solid. Works as well iced as hot, too.

Would you travel with it? Yes.

Could you make it on a plane? Yes!

Is it better than airplane coffee? It's maybe a tiny bit better.

What situation is it ideal for? Since it tastes about as good as an average cup of airplane coffee, I'd say this would be good for long bus rides or train rides.

Buy it: $6 for a box of eight, amazon.com

Uncategorizable: Forto Espresso Shots

How does it taste? It comes in regular (sweetened and unsweetened), vanilla latte, mocha chocolate latte and Hershey’s chocolate latte. The regular is potent, and the rest are so cloyingly sweet that they pack more punch than a Frappuccino. One editor's scathing take: "It tasted like it was coffee made in a lab, if the only materials the scientists had on hand were various grades of jet fuel."

Would you travel with it? Maybe? Each pre-prepared shot comes in a two-ounce plastic cup, with a rigid plastic lid and a peel-off seal. (Each is also stamped with a perky, coffee-related slogan like “expresso yourself” or “take your best shot.”) At two ounces each, they do meet TSA restrictions on liquids, though you'd have to pack them in the same plastic bag as the rest of your toiletries.

Could you make it on a plane? Trick question: They're already good to go.

Is it better than airplane coffee? If you like your coffee very strong and very sweet, yes.

What situation is it ideal for? Whenever you're on the move with no access to hot water and you need a sugary caffeine kick.

Price: $12 for a pack of six, amazon.com

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

Best Portable Coffee Makers for Travel

Last updated: April 7, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 14 Comments

We, like many people, love coffee. It’s a staple of our morning routine, whether we’re on a road trip, on a camping adventure, or just hanging out at home.

Of course, there’s a world of variety when it comes to coffee, and not every coffee drink is created equally. When we’re at home it’s easy for us to make a great cup of coffee, but when we’re travelling, it’s not always so simple. And as full-time travel bloggers and photographers, we find ourselves on the road a lot. So finding the best travel coffee maker was something we were keen to do!

Whether you are trying to escape the instant coffee in hotel rooms or the bad diner coffee, trying to fuel your espresso addition in the wilderness, or trying to save money on buying expensive coffee at places like Starbucks, we think that making your own coffee with a portable coffee maker may be the way to go.

You can make your own coffee to your own liking for much less than you’d spend if you bought it from a coffee shop. Making your own coffee can also be a more environmentally friendly option as well.

With this in mind, we wanted to share a list of the best travel coffee makers on the market. With one of these devices, you’ll be able to make great coffee wherever you are in the world – be that on a hiking trip, in an RV, or at a hotel.

As well as our list of the best coffee makers for travel, we’re also going to share everything you need to know when looking to buy a coffee maker. So even if you don’t go for one of our options, you’ll know exactly what to look for when purchasing a travel coffee machine.

Things to Consider When Buying a Portable Coffee Maker for Travel

Before you buy a coffee maker for travel, there are a few things you will want to consider. There’s a huge range of different types of coffee makers on the market, and the style of coffee they make also varies.

So it’s important before you buy that you know what to look out for. Here are some of the key things to consider when shopping for a travel coffee maker.

Brewing Method & Type of Coffee

As you are likely already aware, there are a variety of ways that you can brew coffee. These include French Press style coffee, drip coffee (also known as filter coffee), Turkish style coffee, pour over coffee, and espresso coffee. The latter can be used to make a range of other coffee drinks like Americanos, cappuccinos, and lattes, with the addition of ingredients like hot water or steamed milk.

You probably already have a style of coffee you enjoy, which will come with an associated brewing method. It’s important to pick a travel coffee maker that can make your preferred style of coffee, especially as no one travel coffee maker has the ability to make every type of coffee.

Espresso in particular is more challenging to make on the go, as it requires hot water to be pushed through very fine coffee beans at between 7 and 10 bars of pressure. These types of systems tend to be heavier and more expensive.

The options listed below offer different methods of brewing coffee, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.

Dimensions & Weight

This is one of the most important factors when deciding which travel coffee maker is the right choice for you. The first thing you need to consider is the overall size of your luggage, and how much space you are willing to allot to your coffee maker.

Some of the options below have the ability to fold up, while others are lightweight and easily squeezed into the corner of your suitcase or popped in your hand luggage.

On the other hand, some of the coffee makers we mention in this list are much heavier and may only be suitable if you are traveling via car or RV. But they are probably too bulky for air travel.

Deciding on the ideal dimensions and weight all depends on your method of transportation, the size of your luggage, and the weight allowance of the airline you may be travelling with.

Volume of Coffee It Makes

Most travel coffee makers are designed for making quite a small amount of coffee, usually enough for only one or two people. It’s definitely worth checking before you buy to make sure the device you buy will make you enough coffee.

For example, if you are used to drinking a 12 oz mug of coffee every morning, you probably don’t want a system that will only make you 6 oz at a time.

Power Source

Some of the travel coffee makers on the market work by hand, while others require batteries, electric outlets, or solar power. If you are buying something for backwoods camping or boating, the options that work by electricity are not going to be ideal for you.

However, if you are staying in accommodation with access to plugs, you may wish to go for something electric or that can be charged for later use. If it needs to be plugged in, you want to be sure that it works in all the countries you plan to visit – the US for example has a 110v supply, whilst the UK has a 240v supply.

Also consider that most coffee makers require hot water to make coffee. If the coffee maker you buy doesn’t have a way to heat the coffee via a power source, you’re going to need something that will. If you’re camping, you’ll likely have a portable stove or access to a fire to heat water, so this might not be an issue.

Time to Brew Coffee

Sometimes you want a cup of coffee, fast! No fuss, no waiting around, just smooth, flavorful coffee on the go. How much fuss are you willing to go through for your morning cup, and how much time does it take to brew a cup or pot of coffee? This is something to bear in mind when searching for your next travel coffee maker.

All of the machines we mention in this list take varying amounts of time to make a cup, and also differing measures of coffee they can make at once. If you are traveling as a group of 4 or more for example, you may want a different solution than a solo traveler. Always consider the time per cup when calculating how long it takes to brew.

Ease of Cleaning

The last thing you want to worry about while you travel is how you’re going to clean the nooks and crannies of your coffee maker, so we definitely recommend looking into how easy the product is to clean before purchasing.

Some can be cleaned with a simple rinse, while others may have more finicky components that need to be cleaned after use. You will also find that certain coffee makers are dishwasher friendly, which is always an added bonus for when you have access to a dishwasher.

Environmental Impact

We are delighted to see more and more travelers opting for more environmentally friendly and reusable products lately.

In relation to coffee and coffee makers, it’s important to consider that coffee grinds are compostable, while single-use filters or pods might not be. Keep an eye out for recyclable or compostable options, it will do a world of good for the environment!

Additional Features like a Coffee Bean Grinder or Milk Frother

If you are a bit of a coffee connoisseur, you may require additional features to create your perfect cup of coffee, like a whole coffee bean grinder or milk frother . Some coffee makers have these built in, whilst others will require you to purchase additional accessories and add to the weight and cost of your final coffee making setup.

Versatility

Versatility is a big bonus when it comes to travel coffee machines, as you end up getting much more bang for your buck. While most machines only work with one type of coffee, others allow you to use a variety, from whole bean and fine ground, to K cups and instant coffee.

The same can be said for the types of coffee they can produce, for example, espresso, Americano, drip-style, and so on.

Another benefit is if the coffee maker can double up as a coffee mug so that you don’t need to carry both, or if it can also be used for tea, hot chocolate, smoothies, hot soup, or noodles. Some coffee makers even have the ability to keep your drinks cold as well as hot, or to make cold brew coffee as well as hot coffee.

This provides far more value to you in the long run than a regular coffee machine.

Lastly, take into consideration whether or not the product will also be useful in other situations other than just travel. Can you see yourself using it at home, work, hiking, or on a picnic at a local park? The more versatile the coffee maker, the more opportunities you will have to use it.

This isn’t something you usually need to think about when you are purchasing a coffee maker for your home, but if you are planning on taking it on the road, it is going to need to be able to withstand the wear and tear of travel.

Take a look at the key components that ensure long-lasting quality, such as the materials used and the warranty provided. Is it made from plastic vs stainless steel, and are there any extra parts that might be easily breakable?

We’ve searched for the highest quality products for every budget, but only you will know the level of durability required for your next travel adventure, so bear this in mind before you buy.

Prices can vary between USD $5.00 to over $100 depending on the level of functionality and durability that you are searching for. I always recommend seeking the best quality travel coffee maker for your budget. The better the quality, the longer is will last when you’re using it on your travels.

We have searched the internet to find the highest quality products at every price point so that there is something to suit everyone’s budget, as well as of course including our favorite travel coffee makers that we know and love.

Here’s our list of the best travel coffee makers on the market. They cover a wide range of budgets and styles of coffee, and we hope it helps you find the perfect option for your coffee on the go.

They are ordered by approximate price , from lower to higher, although prices do change regularly of course.

Primula Single Serve Coffee Brew Buddy

Designed to brew a single cup of coffee at any strength, the Primula Single Serve Coffee Brew Buddy is the ideal tool for rich and delicious coffee anytime, anywhere.

At just 1.6oz / 45g, it is by far the lightest option on this list as the eco-friendly and reusable lid simply fits on top of most mugs. This makes it extremely handy for travel, especially if you already have a favorite travel coffee mug! Its slim design makes it perfect for storage in a purse, suitcase, canvas bag or backpack.

It was built to accommodate coffee drinkers all over the world, so it can fit onto nearly all cups and mugs. It is also very easy to use, with no power required, all you have to do is pour in hot water, brew and enjoy. Cleaning is hassle free, as the coffee maker is dishwasher safe and doesn’t have any small areas where coffee can get stuck.

Please be aware that the mug is not included with this product, so if you are on the road or camping for the night, you will need to bring your own mug or thermos to use the Primula Brew Buddy.

This is a great option if you want a low cost and easy to use coffee maker which is incredibly portable and lightweight.

Capacity: 18oz / 500ml (limited only by the size of your mug really) Weight: 1.6oz / 45g Type: Pour Over Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Kuissential SlickDrip

Here’s something a little different! The Kuissential SlickDrip features an expanding silicone cone and lets you brew fresh coffee into your own mug or thermos. And then it collapses to under 1-inch high, making it really portable.

All you have to do is set the filter on top of one of your favorite containers, from a wide mouth thermos to a small pot. Then simply add any brand of #4 filter, grounds and hot water and voila – drip coffee just like home.

This coffee maker is small but mighty. It’s designed to be used over a single cup, but you could use it over a flask and make more coffee.

We love that it is so easy to wash with a quick rinse and there is no battery or power required. Although this is one of the more affordable and lightweight (136 g) options on this list, don’t forget that you will need to bring another cup or container for the coffee, and you will need to have access to hot water.

Capacity: 1 cup Weight: 4.8oz / 136g Type: Drip Coffee Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Zyliss Travel French Press Coffee Mug

Sometimes a simple solution is the best, and this travel coffee making mug from Zyliss is just that. This coffee maker allows you to brew coffee and take it on-the-go with one mug. All you have to do is put in the ground coffee, add hot water, and then press the filter to brew fresh coffee. Pop the lid on and off you go with no need to remove the grounds.

The double-wall insulation helps to keep your beverage hot on the go, while the mesh filter keeps grounds firmly pressed and out of your drink. It can also be used for all kinds of beverages as well such as hot chocolate and tea.

Weighing just 7oz / 200g, it is handy for travelers who want to throw it in their bags to drink on the go. No batteries or power required, making it a more affordable option.

While the mug is BPA free and dishwasher friendly, the body of this coffee maker is made from plastic, which means it isn’t quite as eco-friendly and durable as some of the other options on this list.

Capacity: 10oz / 280ml Weight: 7oz / 200g Type: French Press Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon  here

Presto MyJo

If your brew of choice comes in the form of a Keurig K-Cup or compatible reusable pod, the Presto MyJo will let you enjoy it on the go.

Measuring 4.1 x 4.1 x 9 inches and weighing 14oz / 400 grams, this is quite a compact travel coffee maker. To make the coffee, you just insert the K-Cup, add hot water to the reservoir, place it over your favorite travel mug, and pump.

It is very easy to set up, assembling in seconds and it can make 6-, 8-, and 10-ounce servings in less than a minute.

The Kitchen Gizmo is BPA free but not dishwasher safe. and can be taken apart easily for safe storage. You don’t need to worry about power, but you will need to have access to hot water. Last but not least, it includes a 1-year warranty, so if you have any problems, they will replace it free of charge.

Capacity: 10oz / 280ml Weight: 14oz / 400g Type: Keurig K-cups Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Coffee Gator

We’re big fans of the Coffee Gator motto “Bring the coffee house home”. They created the Coffee Gator Thermal Travel Cup with the aim of being able to make and drink incredible, barista-quality coffee at home or on the go.

The focus with this travel coffee maker is on high quality components. In their words, “Inferior metal makes drinks taste like licking a battery” and we couldn’t agree more. Which is why this is made from military grade stainless steel.

The dual layers of premium stainless steel create a vacuum that reduces heat transfer, so you are guaranteed the perfect temperature coffee for longer. In fact, it keeps coffee hot for 6 hours, or cold for 20 hours.

It comes with a stainless-steel filter for making pour over coffee, and it doubles up as a stylish insulated travel coffee mug too.

When used with the pour over system it can make 12oz / 340ml of coffee, whilst the cup on its own can hold 20oz / 568ml. Enough to wake anyone up we think!

The lid slips on and off in a flash, rinses in seconds, and is dishwasher safe. The icing on top of the cake is their total satisfaction promise, which covers everything they sell (they had nearly 10,000 positive reviews last year).

We travel with this coffee system and we also use this at home for a quick cup. It makes a great travel coffee mug in general, and it makes good coffee quickly and easily. We’d say it’s between this and the AeroPress Go for us in terms of our favorite travel coffee options.

Capacity: 12oz / 340ml Weight: 10oz / 400g Type: Pour over Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

JoGo CoffeeStraw

If portability is a critical factor in your decision making, then you should definitely consider the JoGo CoffeeStraw.

This innovative little device is basically a cross between a metal straw and a French Press. At one end of the stainless steel straw you’ll find a BPA free heat regulated silicone tip for drinking through. At the other end is a fine micron-mesh filter made from stainless steel.

Using the straw couldn’t be simpler. Just add ground coffee to any cup, pour in hot water, then wait a couple of minutes for it to steep (and the water to cool down!). Once brewed, you just drink through the straw. As you drink the coffee passes through the filter, giving you a coffee that is similar in style to a French Press.

Obviously, there is no pressure involved in the extraction, so the coffee produced isn’t espresso style. However, we find it to produce very tasty and smooth coffee, and it is incredibly easy to use. It’s also very small and lightweight.

In terms of cleaning, the filter unscrews for easy rinsing. The straw also comes with a bottle cleaner style brush so you can clean the inside, and it is also dishwasher safe.

The other good thing about this straw is that its use is not just restricted to coffee. You can also use it for loose leaf tea, fresh juice with seeds, or any other drink where you want to use a more environmentally friendly straw. It can also be used to drink cold brew coffee.

Of course, there are some drawbacks. You need to supply your own hot water and mug, and there’s no way to control the brew strength other than by adjusting the initial amount of coffee. As the coffee grounds (or tea leaves) stay in the mug, it will continue to brew as you drink.

We haven’t found this to be a problem, but if you are someone who likes to savour a cup over a prolonged time this is something to consider. The best option is to try and drink it consistently rather than slowly as otherwise the drink may become bitter or over brewed.

From an environmental perspective it saves on plastic straws as well as paper filters and single use coffee pods. It’s a unique product, and definitely one to consider for ultra-portable coffee making on the go!

Capacity: 1 cup Weight: 1oz / 23g Type: French Press Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here and direct from JoGo here .

GROSCHE Milano Moka Pot

When I travelled across Australia for a year, primarily camping out of my four-wheel drive vehicle in remote locations, my coffee maker of choice was a Moka Pot.

This is one of the most popular ways to make coffee at home in Italy. Basically, it’s a metal pot with two parts. – the hot water goes in the bottom container below the ground coffee, and you place it directly on a heat source like a stove top or gas burner. The water boils and is pushed through the coffee grounds and up into the upper pot.

Moka pots make espresso style coffee quickly and easily. The model we’ve chosen is available in 1, 3, 6 and 9 cup sizes, so you can brew from 1.5oz up to 15.2oz of coffee depending on your preferences.  You can either drink this as espresso, or use it as the base for longer drinks like an Americano or latte.

At 1.35lbs / 612g this isn’t the lightest coffee maker in our list, but it is definitely a durable and easy to use option. Just be aware it’s not dishwasher safe.

Capacity: 10oz / 295ml Weight: 1.8lb / 612g Type: espresso Requires power? No, just a heat source Requires hot water? No Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Stanley Camp Pour Over Coffee Set

Stanley are well known for their all-steel vacuum flask which they have been making since 1913. However, they also make a number of other camp and travel focused products, including some portable coffee makers.

We’re recommending the Stanley Camp Pour Over Coffee Set, which comes, as the name suggests, as a set with a cup and a stainless steel pour over filter.

You can also buy just the pour over part of the set if you already have a mug or cup you want to use.

The pour over filter and mug are both made from 18/8 stainless steel and is BPA free. It’s also dishwasher safe. The mug itself has a drink-through lid as well as double-wall vacuum insulation which can keep your drink hot for up to 1.5hours.

The mug has a capacity of 12oz and the pour over filter has a capacity of 20oz. The pour over has a built-in easy clean stainless-steel filter, so you don’t need any disposable filters.

It’s a very solid and sturdy device which is built to withstand the rigors of a camping trip. It also has an excellent guarantee. Just be aware that it is a little heavy due to the solid build.

Stanley also make a range of other products , including a portable French Press . Definitely worth checking out if you want a sturdy, well-made solution for your travel coffee needs.

Capacity: 12oz / 340ml (mug) Weight: 9.6oz / 272g (filter), 11.2oz / 317g (mug) Type: Pour over Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

AeroPress Espresso & Coffee Maker

If you are looking for something quick and simple that brews smooth ground-free coffee every time, this AeroPress might be a fantastic option for you. AeroPress basically created a new type of portable coffee extraction method, known as the AeroPress brewing system.

The AeroPress brewing system results in uniform extraction for a full coffee flavor. It includes a micro filter for grit free coffee and guarantees a 20 second ‘press time’ – just add your coffee and water. The end result is up to an 8oz coffee drink which is similar to but not quite as strong as espresso, to which you can add water to create a 10 oz sized Americano if you wish.

The AeroPress kit comes with 350 disposable filters, a scoop, funnel and stirrer. However, we recommend picking up a metal filter instead of the disposable filters so you don’t have to bring loads of filters with you when you travel, and also to avoid waste. You might also consider the flow control filter cap for more brewing control.

An added bonus is that there are no fiddly parts that are hard to get to when washing, so the cleanup is relatively simple. That said, in our experience no coffee system is ever that easy to clean as coffee grinds have a habit of getting everywhere!

The AeroPress also comes with a tote bag to keep your coffee maker tucked away neat and tidy on your travels.

Overall, this is a relatively lightweight and portable system that makes great coffee, and which is perfect for throwing in your backpack for your next camping trip or holiday. It’s designed to be simple to use, and you don’t have to worry about grind size or getting coffee grit in your finished drink, plus you can make both espresso style coffee and Americano style coffee by just adding hot water.

We have a complete AeroPress review if you’d like to learn more, which also compares the original against the AeroPress Go, so you can decide which might suit your needs better.

In addition, if you’re looking for a coffee maker made in the USA, then this is a great option, as AeroPress manufacturers all their coffee systems in the United States. As an aside, if you’re looking for more US made products, check out our guide to the best gifts made in the USA .

Capacity: 10oz / 296ml Weight: 8oz / 226g Type: AeroPress Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon  here

AeroPress Go

AeroPress also make the AeroPress Go . This has the same brewing system as the original, but it includes a 15oz (444ml) cup which fits all the accessories when not in use, and is slightly more compact. We have one of these and love it for the coffee it produces as well as for how portable it is.

It also comes with 350 disposable filters, but we’d recommend picking up a metal filter instead of the disposable filters so you don’t have to bring loads of filters with you when you travel, and also to avoid waste. You also get a coffee scoop.

It is obviously slightly heavier overall than the original AeroPress because of the mug, and it can only brew 8oz instead of 10oz as it’s slightly smaller. Otherwise you’re going to get the same great coffee.

The AeroPress Go is one of our most recommended systems for travelers, especially for campers and hikers where weight and simple cleaning is important – we’ve enjoyed it when exploring the outdoors of Scotland. See our complete AeroPress review for more on our experiences using this when traveling.

Capacity: 8oz / 220ml Weight: 11.2oz / 317g Type: AeroPress Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Soulhand 5 in 1 Electric Coffee Maker & Grinder

If you are a bit of a coffee connoisseur, you probably like to do everything yourself, including grinding your beans. From a travel perspective, whole bean coffee usually stays fresher than ground coffee, so having a way to grind your beans on demand makes logical travel sense too.

This travel coffee maker from Soulhand takes on-the-go coffee making to the next level. You can grind your own beans with the built-in battery powered electric burr grinder. Then, you just add hot water and allow the coffee to pour through the reusable stainless steel filter dripper into the insulated thermos mug.

The grinder is powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery which holds enough charge to do 7 – 8 grinds. It’s chargeable by USB, meaning you can use a wide variety of chargers to top it off. A full charge takes around 3 hours.

It measures 11.1 x 4.7 x 4.7 inches, which is compact enough to travel with. The cup will also fit in most car cup holders for your next road trip.

This high-quality coffee maker and cup has a handy split design, making the cleaning process simple and quick. You can also use it with ground coffee of course if you prefer.

Capacity: 10.5oz / 300ml Weight: 27.5oz / 780g Type: Drip coffee Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Chulux travel coffee maker 

Although this travel coffee maker is one of the heaviest on our list, weighing 2.2lbs / 1kg, we wanted to include it for those of you wanting coffee when traveling via car or RV. Despite the weight, it’s still fairly compact.

It’s a single cup design which fits most coffee capsules, or you can use your own ground coffee, so you have plenty of options to make drip coffee. It’s quite similar to the drip coffee makers you find in many hotel rooms across the world.

The Chulux travel coffee maker includes a 12oz / 340ml water tank and a removable drip tray, which ensures that your daily coffee demand is met, mess free. It’s also quite quick, producing a 12oz cup of coffee in around 3 minutes, and it has an automatic shut off function after brewing for safety.

Cleaning is simple, with a quick wipe of the coffee outlets, and the detachable accessories are dishwasher safe. However you may find that you need to use a small sharp item such as a paper clip to really clear out the outlets every now and again for longer lasting maintenance. It is also easy to clean and store. It supports standard sized or larger cups (up to 5.3“ tall), and you can adjust the drip tray to fit your cup.

To top it off, the product comes with quality assurance and a one year warranty. It is also made from BPA-free material and it is UL & FDA certified, for safety guaranteed.

Capacity: 12oz / 340ml Weight: 2.2lbs/ 1kg Type: Drip coffee Requires power? Yes Requires hot water? No Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Bodum Travel Press

This French Press travel coffee maker allows you to brew coffee on the go and drink from the same container when it’s ready to go. It couldn’t be more simple to use, simply add your ground coffee and hot water and seal the lid for a delicious, freshly pressed cup in just 4 minutes.

The body is made of vacuum-sealed, double-wall construction stainless steel, keeping your beverages hot or cold for several hours. It also features a spill resistant lid, built-in plunger and silicone, non-slip grip for easy use on the go.

The travel mug itself without the press can hold 15oz / 420ml of coffee, however when you use it to brew coffee the grounds take up some of the space so expect around a 12oz / 340ml serving. It is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. It weighs 14.4 oz / 410grams, but if you are looking for something a little smaller and lighter, you can always opt for the smaller version which weighs just 8.8oz / 250 grams.

For those that prefer loose leaf tea, the Bodum Travel Press works equally as well for brewing a cuppa, giving it extra points for versatility!

Capacity: 12oz / 340ml Weight: 14.4oz / 410g Type: French Press Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon  here

Wacaco Portable Espresso Maker

Famous among the hiking community, the Wacaco Portable Espresso Maker is designed to be the smallest, lightest and most versatile handheld espresso machine. Space and weight are major factors when selecting the right travel coffee maker and this model is portable, compact and functional!

With its innovative design, the Minipresso is easy to use, with no battery or electric power needed. You just need to add ground coffee and hot water. For a shorter trip you can even add boiling water to its tank so you don’t need to worry about heating it up while you’re out.

With the help of the semi-automatic piston, the water is pushed through the coffee at 8 bars, and after just a few pushes, your espresso is ready to be extracted. Water tanks of different capacities are also available so you can enjoy multiple espresso types, ranging from ristretto to caffè lungo.

Considering the body of the machine is made from stainless steel, it isn’t very heavy, weighing just 360g. A quick simple wash will do wonders, but keep an eye on the indentations in the filter chamber to ensure that it continues to seal nice and tight.

You can buy it from Amazon, as well as directly from Wacaco here . It’s worth checking out the Wacaco website as they have a number of other products you might like too.

Capacity: 1.76oz / 50ml Weight: 12.7oz / 360g Type: Espresso Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

CONQUECO Portable Espresso Machine

The Conqueco Portable Espresso machine is a one-stop-shop for coffee on the go, with support for Nespresso pods and L’OR capsules. It’s also one of the few options on the market that has a built in battery which allows you to heat your water on the go – although this can take a while, so using pre-heated water is quicker.

Operated by a rechargeable lithium battery, this machine can heat water up to 194F/90C and the coffee it produces is at 158F/70C. You will need to use the supplied car or wall adapter to charge the battery pack prior to use.

If you use the built-in battery to heat the water from room temperature, it will be able to make three cups of espresso. If you use preheated water, it can make 200 cups!

With a 50 ml water tank capacity, you can create a standard 40-45ml single espresso shot very quickly from hot water – in seconds in fact. The 15 bar high-pressure pump helps to unlock the delicate flavor and premium aromas of your coffee capsule during the brewing process. Once you are done, it has a self-cleaning process.

With all of this functionality, it is understandable that this option is higher up on the scale in terms of weight, coming in at 31oz / 880g. It is also important to note that this coffee maker was designed and tested for Nespresso capsules only, so it does not work with Nespresso compatible capsules or ground coffee.

Capacity: 1.6oz / 45ml Weight: 31oz / 880g Type: Nespresso pods Requires power?  No, except to charge Requires hot water? No, but can be used with hot water if available Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Bripe – Coffee Brew Pipe Kit

If you’re looking for something a bit different for your coffee making needs, then check out the Bripe Coffee Brew Pipe. As the name suggests this is kind of like a drinking pipe for coffee lovers.

The “bowl” of the pipe serves as the brewing and heating area, whilst the stem is where the coffee is filtered as you drink it. The kit includes a quad-jet torch which you can use to heat the water in the bowl of the pipe before you suck it through the stem, meaning you don’t need to worry about power.

There’s also a thermometer so you can check the water temperature is perfect for your brew, and the filter is stainless steel and reusable. The only waste is the ground coffee. In terms of brew time, you’re generally looking at around a minute to heat the water up, and a couple more minutes for it to cool down to a drinkable temperature.

It makes around 2oz of coffee at a time, and only weighs 337g. It’s definitely a unique portable coffee making device!

Capacity: 2oz / 57ml Weight: 11.9oz / 337g Type: Coffee pipe Requires power?  No Requires hot water? No, but can be used with hot water if available Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Handpresso Wild Hybrid

This simple, lightweight and elegant travel coffee maker is the latest portable espresso maker from Handpresso. You can use the Wild Hybrid with either E.S.E. pods or ground espresso coffee.

This espresso maker works a bit like a bicycle pump. To use, you generate up to 16-bars of pressure with the hand pump, add hot water (from a kettle or a thermo flask), espresso coffee (ground coffee or E.S.E. pods), and then let the machine prepare high quality espresso with the push of a button! As it’s hand operated there’s no battery or electricity required: making this a great option for espresso in the back country. It’s also relatively lightweight at 17oz / 480g.

This compact travel option can also come as part of a beautiful outdoor kit , which is the perfect gift for any coffee lover in your life. Complete with a hard travel case for ultimate protection, 4 unbreakable cups and a new thermo flask with integrated thermometer.

Capacity: 1.76oz / 50ml Weight: 17oz / 480g Type: e spresso Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Pakt Coffee Kit

The Pakt Coffee Kit aims to provide nearly everything you need to create coffee on a go, in a portable and travel friendly package.

The device includes an electric kettle with dual voltage support for worldwide travel, a 12oz double walled stainless steel travel mug with lid, a stainless-steel reusable mesh filter, a coffee ground scooper and storage for your ground coffee. All of these elements pack away neatly inside the kettle element for easy travel, and it comes with a neat travel sleeve to keep it all safe. It also all comes in planet friendly plastic-free packaging.

You will need access to power to heat the water up obviously, or hot water if you just want to use the pour over filter and cup.

The only real downsides are the weight, as this is quite heavy for a travel item, although it is reassuringly solid and well built. It’s also at a fairly premium price point.

Capacity: 12oz / 340ml Weight: 3.76lbz / 1.7kg Type: pour over / filter Requires power? Yes Requires hot water? No Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Uniterra Nomad Espresso Machine

Although this coffee maker is the heaviest option on this list (2.6lbs/1.18 kg), it is famous among the travel community for its innovation and spectacular tasting coffee! With optimized pressure, flow and temperature characteristics the Nomad produces a full rich crema that rivals even the best commercial machines.

Here’s how it works; The seesaw motion of the small lever operates two tiny piston water pumps, building up pressure over a few strokes. That means you have got the ideal 8 to 10 bars of brewing pressure at your fingertips. You can pull a perfect shot each and every time with the help of the True Crema Valve.

You can adjust the pumping speed to produce optimal brewing pressure, giving you total control. It functions like a true lever machine while simplifying the operation and increasing the success rate of what’s involved in pulling a shot of great espresso.

This travel coffee maker is outdoor and environmentally friendly and it produces minimum waste. You will need to carry your own mug though, so bear in mind that this travel coffee maker might be more suitable for road trips and for making coffee in an RV rather than for air travel and extended back country trips, as the weight is quite high.

Capacity: 10oz / 300ml Weight: 2.6lbs/1.18 kg Type: Espresso Requires power? No Requires hot water? Yes Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

Which Travel Coffee Maker Would You Recommend?

The answer to this will vary depending on your preference for coffee style. For us, we think that the AeroPress Go or Coffee Gator pour over travel cup are our favourite options. They’re both relatively inexpensive, easy to use, portable, and easy to clean. They also make great coffee!

If price and portability are your main criteria, then check out the Primula Single Serve Coffee Brew Buddy or JoGo CoffeeStraw . The latter in particular is super easy to use and only weighs an ounce!

If you absolutely must have espresso coffee on the go, then the Wacaco espresso maker is an excellent choice.

You can see the majority of the portable coffee makers and accessories in one place on Amazon here for easy comparison.

Coffee Accessories for Travel

Now you have your coffee maker all figured out, you might need some accessories to go with it. Your needs will vary depending on the coffee maker you purchase, but here are some options to consider.

Travel Coffee Mug: Contigo Stainless Steel Travel Mug

The Contigo is the ideal travel flask to keep your coffee hot while you enjoy your travels. The body is made from stainless steel for maximum durability, while the silicone band adds extra comfort while holding.

It can hold up to 16oz / 450 ml, which I think is more than enough to keep you going on your next adventure. It also includes a clever lid technology to ensure that the product is leak-proof for on-the-go activities and it can keep your drinks hot up to 5 hours or cold up to 12 with vacuum insulation.

If you are planning on taking a road trip, the Contigo travel mug fits most car cup holders. In terms of washing, the lid is dishwasher-safe, however the body is hand-wash-only.

Travel Coffee Grinder: JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder

Finding the perfect coffee grinder is no easy task. If you want the perfect cup of coffee, you need high quality materials, durability, and functionality in one.

Thankfully the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder is built to last, featuring a stainless steel body, a durable ceramic burr, and an adjustable grind selector for optimal results. This portable coffee grinder can be used anywhere, be it hiking, camping, backpacking or out on the open road.

It features a built-in adjustable grind selector so you can fine-tune it to get the coarseness you want.

Travel Milk Frother: Café Casa Milk Frother

This lightweight, hand-held, battery-operated device is designed specifically to produce perfect frothy milk in 15 seconds or less. It can be used to froth all types of milk, including cow, soya, rice, almond, coconut, UHT, and powdered milk, so you are guaranteed smooth, frothy coffee no matter what your taste.

The head and shaft are both made from robust stainless steel. It is also easy to clean and maintain.

Travel Sized Kettle: Travel Foldable Electric Kettle

Travel coffee mugs aren’t the only foldable products on the market these days, now you can get collapsible kettles! This travel kettle provides readily accessible hot water on any continent, with support for both the US 110v standard and the European 240v standard.

It is perfectly safe to use, with boil dry protection, and a sturdy lid lock to ensure scorch-free usage, while the concealed heating element eliminates those rusty metal coils.

Travel Water Heater

If you would like a way to heat water but don’t want to carry a whole kettle, consider an immersion heater. These basically take the heating element from a kettle, which you them immerse into the water you are heating up.

The one we recommend is designed for travel, and supports both 120v and 240v supplies, making it ideal for world travel. It’s small and compact, and all you need is a power outlet and something like a mug for heating.

When using a device like this it is obviously important to carefully read and follow the directions for safety.

There’s no use having all of this equipment if you don’t have any actual coffee! There’s a huge range of coffee available today from all around the world, which comes in different formats depending on your requirements.

We recommend checking what type of coffee your coffee maker manufacturer recommends. Usually there will be a specific grind size for your coffee maker, or if it takes pods, a specific type of pod it is compatible with. Here are some quick links to different types of coffee to get you started:

• Ground Coffee
• Coffee Pods
• Whole Coffee Beans

Finally, don’t discount instant coffee for those situations where you just don’t have any alternatives. We’ve had good results with the Starbucks Via range when road tripping and hiking – they are really lightweight, the coffee is good, and they even dissolve in cold water if you don’t have a stove or other heat source. Some of the Via range is specifically designed to make cold brew coffee.

Further Reading

We also have a number of other relevant posts that we think you will find useful for travel planning.

• We have a detailed review of the AeroPress and AeroPress Go coffee system
• We have a guide to the best travel shoes for men , and the best travel shoes for women
• If you’re looking for packing tips, see our guides to what to pack for a ski trip ,  what to pack for Iceland ,  what to pack for London , and  what to pack for winter in Finland  to get started.
• For gift ideas, see our guide to  what to buy for photographers ,  travel themed home decor items , and our  ultimate gift guide for travelers .
• Just because you have your own travel coffee maker doesn’t mean you should skip out on trying great cafes when you travel. See our guide to the best cafes in Rome as a starting point.
• We also have lots of travel posts to help inspire and help you plan your next trip! These include our guide to the  world’s best road trips , our guide to  getting online when travelling , our  guide to picking a travel router  and more
• We have reviewed many other travel related products you might find useful. Check out our guide to the best travel routers , best travel cameras and best travel wraps to get started!

And that’s it for our guide to the best travel coffee makers! As always, we’re happy to hear your feedback and questions! Just pop them in the comments below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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There are 14 comments on this post

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Rolando Ajata says

20th October 2023 at 5:28 pm

Thank you very much for this compilation. I use the following alternatives for field trips: 1) Staresso portable coffee maker to prepare espresso; 2) PRESSE by Bobble French Coffee Press by Gamila Company; 3) Rivers brand reversible silicone coffee dripper cave. Greetings from the North of Chile.

Laurence Norah says

22nd October 2023 at 3:34 pm

Thanks for sharing your favorite products Rolando 🙂 Enjoy your coffee on the go!

17th January 2023 at 5:05 pm

When we travel, I use a small, cheap Black& Decker 5 cup drip coffee machine. I have found it even easier than a French press + cleaner is better.

19th January 2023 at 1:37 pm

Thanks for your input Fred, glad to hear your device works well for you and I hope your tip helps others as well!

Brenda says

8th July 2022 at 11:35 pm

Enjoyed travel coffee review. Will research your suggestions.

9th July 2022 at 9:52 am

Thanks Brenda!

Kathleen says

4th April 2021 at 7:55 pm

Have you tried (and have comments on) the ESPRO Ultralight Travel Coffee Press?

5th April 2021 at 11:42 am

Hi Kathleen – I haven’t tried it and so don’t have personal experience. It has largely positive reviews and running the brand through Fakespot the reviews also appear genuine. So if you are after a French press style mug coffee maker it certainly looks like a good option. If you do purchase it I’d be happy to hear your opinion!

Dada Vai says

27th August 2020 at 6:06 am

Great article, Coffee Gator is my best choice in your article, I found a lot of information. Which one do you recommend for the best Coffee Gator and Bodum Travel Press? Thanks for sharing such an informative article. Hopefully, waiting for your more article in the future.

27th August 2020 at 12:13 pm

Thanks very much! If you want a French Press style coffee maker, and like Coffee Gator, then you’ll want the Coffee Gator French Press 🙂

7th July 2020 at 7:06 pm

Great info about the travel coffee machines. Thank you for sharing this article.

8th July 2020 at 12:25 pm

My pleasure, thanks for reading and leaving a comment 🙂

Juliette Mason says

29th April 2020 at 9:55 pm

Hi there, great review of travel coffee makers. Do you know if the moka pot you recommend would work on a camp stove induction burner? Thanx!

29th April 2020 at 10:12 pm

Hi Juliette,

Thanks very much! According to the manufacturer it should work on an induction stove. There are some reviews suggesting it doesn’t, but the manufacturer says that that was an older model, and the new version which is on sale now is induction compatible. I have a number of CoffeeGator products, and they have always been very quick to respond to any questions when I’ve messaged them, so I would say that if for some reason it doesn’t work for you, I am sure they would help out 🙂

Let me know how it goes if you decide to go for it 🙂

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• What to Buy

I Make Coffee To-Go Every Day, and This Is the Coffee Gear I Never Travel Without

Never trust the coffee setup at the hotel.

Food and Wine / Fellow

A fun part of my job as a commerce editor is testing kitchen products. One of my favorite parts about that part of my job is testing the best coffee gear. I make coffee every morning either to sip at my desk or to-go while I’m walking my dog, and I’ve gone through dozens of coffee makers , grinders , espresso machines , and milk frothers . I love coffee so much that I like to make it even when I travel, especially after being stuck at an Airbnb without a proper coffee setup one too many times. And don’t even get me started on the horrors of the broken hotel room Keurig.

So, no matter where I go, I bring a few simple coffee tools that are durable enough to get banged around in the back of the car but lightweight enough to pack without adding too much bulk. If I’m headed upstate to go camping or hitting the beach for a long weekend, these are the three travel-ready coffee tools I always take with me.

The 3 Travel Coffee Tools I Always Pack 

• Fellow Carter Move Travel Mug , $30
• Barista Warrior French Press , $35
• MiiR Airtight Coffee Canister , $35

Fellow Carter Move Travel Mug

I don’t travel without my Fellow Carter Move Mug , whether I make a quick trip into the office or hit the road for a weekend getaway. Unlike many other coffee thermoses, it fits perfectly in a cup holder. It also feels nice in my hands; the twist-off lid makes a satisfying tactile clank. Its stainless steel construction makes it durable enough to toss in my bag for a hike or a subway commute, and the vacuum seal means it won’t spill my precious coffee everywhere. It’s also designed with a removable splash guard that has proven to be especially useful when I’m in a hurry.

It’s my favorite travel coffee mug thanks to its durability, practical design, and temperature control, and it’s also versatile for iced and hot coffee (or a to-go spring cocktail in the park). Also unlike other coffee thermoses, the Fellow Carter Move Mug has a ceramic interior that doesn’t impart any chemical aftertaste, so when I’m blissfully sipping my coffee in the woods, I’m not distracted by any metallic taste.

Barista Warrior Stainless Steel French Press

A French press is my go-to small coffee maker . I like the flavor, strength customization, and control I get with a manual press. I’ve tested dozens of French presses and broken at least two glass Chambord models, but the Barista Warrior Stainless Steel French Press has gone with me on multiple camping trips and Airbnb stays for over three years. It’s a great portable coffee maker for travel since it only requires beans and hot water from an electric kettle (or even better: from a pot over a crackling fire).

Unlike glass models, this double-wall insulated stainless steel press doesn’t get hot to the touch but keeps my coffee piping hot. It has a handy built-in thermometer that makes it easy to brew coffee at the correct temperature too. This is hands-down the most durable French press I’ve ever used (as I said, I’ve broken several), but it’s lightweight enough to pack. 

MiiR Airtight Coffee Canister

I buy my coffee beans whole and grind them to a medium coarseness to use in my French press. If I’m headed out of town for a long weekend, I’ll grind my beans beforehand and pack enough grounds for a few days in an airtight coffee canister to throw in my bag. This MiiR Canister is designed with double-wall vacuum insulation to protect contents and maintain freshness, and it works exceptionally well for transporting coffee beans.

I use this coffee canister for other snacks while I’m hiking. I’ve also used it to store my dog’s kibble or treats on our hikes, too. I’ve tried other fancier vacuum-sealed canisters that have been tricky to seal and release, but I recommend this simple lever-style model with a twist top for transporting smaller amounts of coffee beans, trail mix, or snacks.

Shop More Editor-Favorite Travel Coffee Gear

Aeropress go travel coffee press kit, javapresse manual stainless steel coffee grinder, powerlix powerful handheld milk frother, more fresh finds from food & wine.

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Best Insulated Cups of 2024

We tried the Stanley Tumbler, Yeti Rambler, and other cups to see which did the best job keeping drinks hot and cold

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more .

An insulated cup lets you take your favorite drink, hot or cold, anywhere you go. Whether you’re looking to tote around a day’s worth of cold water, or you want to keep your coffee hot all the way to work, the right insulated cup feels like it was designed with your routine, and even you, in mind.

But the worst insulated cups can feel like a piece of over-engineered junk that leaks tepid coffee or room-temperature water onto your lap, and clutters your cupboards, collecting dust.

Best Insulated Cups

Stanley tumbler review, yeti rambler review, how cr tests insulated cups.

These devices go by many names—travel mug, travel cup, or tumbler to name a few. And of course, some brands and models have become all but synonymous with taking your drink to go: The Yeti Rambler, Stanley Tumbler, and Thermos-brand models of any variety are all famous for different reasons, from inventing the category itself to protecting your drink so well even a fire won’t breach its vacuum-insulated walls.

But reputation isn’t everything. In our recent evaluation of insulated cups, we tried out a traditional Thermos, the Stanley Tumbler, and the Yeti Rambler, along with plenty of the competition, to see which insulated cups rose to the top.

“One of the most interesting findings in our testing was that some of the really well-known brands, including Yeti and Starbucks, fell short of the competition,” says Bernie Deitrick, CR’s test engineer in charge of evaluating insulated cups. “In certain cases, we’d find that the mug would be beautifully designed and styled, but would have something like a flimsy plastic lid that would allow the heat to escape, or liquid to spill.” We run our tests to give you data-based comparisons. With something like an insulated travel mug—which will live in your grip day after day—we realize that only you can decide what makes it great, whether that’s a leakproof design or a profile that fits in the slimmest of cup holders. Know that at a minimum, every mug here keeps drinks hot for at least a few hours; we sincerely hope that’s plenty long enough for your commute.

We test how well-insulated cups keep drinks hot or cold, how easy they are to clean, and whether they offer readily replaceable gaskets.

For the temperature tests, we filled each insulated cup with boiling water (212° F) and immediately screwed or pressed each lid back on. Then our testers opened each cup at set intervals to take the temperature of the water inside until it dropped to 140° F—better known as lukewarm.

We also tested each cup to see whether it could keep cold drinks cold as well as hot drinks hot. “We found that cups that were well-insulated did a great job with keeping liquids either hot or cold,” Deitrick says.

To rate how easy cups are to clean, we evaluated each lid, assigning points to those that were easy to clean and subtracting from those that had hard-to-clean nooks or gaskets in their lids that retained soils even after a thorough scrubbing.

Each insulated cup in our test had at least one silicone gasket, and some had as many as three. Over time, they can wear out, and many harbor foul odors. So we removed each gasket that could be removed—some can’t—to see how easy it would be to clean beneath it, and then replaced it. We also noted whether a manufacturer offered replacement gaskets or lids, which will, on occasion, spare you the need to replace an entire cup.

Lastly, we sized up ease of use, which reflects whether or not the cup resists leaking and spilling, how easy it is to open the lid and drink from the cup without it, and how easily the cup will—or won’t—fit into car cup holders.

Paul Hope is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports and a trained chef. He covers ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens, as well as grills, drills, outdoor power tools, decking, and wood stains. Before joining CR in 2016, he tested kitchen products at Good Housekeeping and covered tools and remodeling for This Old House magazine. You’ll typically find him in his old fixer-upper, engrossed in a DIY project or trying out a new recipe.

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Best travel coffee mugs in 2024 — tested and rated

We’ve tested a range of models to find the best travel coffee mugs

Best overall

Best budget and durable

Best with handle

Best heavy duty

Best color selection

Best smart travel mug

Best for heat retention

Best for sustainability

Most secure

Best mug design

Best ceramic

Whether you want to ensure your coffee stays warm throughout the morning, or your iced tea remains cool in warm conditions, you'll need one of the best travel mugs. 

And while it might seem simple enough, the task of choosing out of tons available, can be tricky. You'll need to find the right travel coffee mug to suit your needs and lifestyle. Consider what material you'd prefer? Durable materials range from steel, aluminum and plastic, to even ceramic. Other things to think about include how heavy it is to carry, heat retention, and overall style. 

Finally, how much are you willing to spend? The best coffee travel mugs range from $15 to $35, though there are more advanced types with their own battery that cost $185.

To help you decide, we’ve found a great selection of the best travel mugs to suit any lifestyle and budget right now.

1. MiiR Flip Traveler

Capacity: 16 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 2.75 x 7.25 inches | Weight: 10.2 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 9

The MiiR Flip Traveler is one of the best travel coffee mugs we’ve tested, offering a compact cup that will keep your liquids hot or cold for hours. Coming in 9 different colors, the double wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel body holds 16 fluid ounces of liquid. Although there are 12 and 20 fluid ounce capacities available too. The cup itself is very light, coming in it at 10.2 ounces.

The unique lid on top flips out when you need to drink and is secure when you need it locked in. But right after you drink, a small amount of liquid can gather on the lid, leaking to tiny droplets getting in places they shouldn’t. Also, if you don’t lock the lid firmly in place, it can spill. There’s nothing worse than having hot tea on your electronics because you didn’t make sure the lid was completely down.

It was one of the best we tested at keeping liquids consistently hot. Our testing started at 203 degrees Fahrenheit, only to drop to 178 after two hours, 154 after five hours, and 126 after 10 hours. Other cups paled in comparison, with the MiiR outclassing them in the category that is, literally and figuratively, the hottest.

Washing the cup is super simple and the lid doesn’t need to be taken apart to be put in the dishwasher. The whole cup is fairly durable and comfortable to hold. Overall, MiiR offers a fantastic travel mug with few downsides, keeping everything cool and on the inside. Give it a try if you are looking for a mug that offers everything you’d need. 

2. Stanley Classic Trigger Action Travel Mug

Best budget and best durable

Capacity: 16 fluid ounces | Dimensions: ‎2.9 x 8.9 inches | Weight: 8 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 18

Stanley is a brand built for rugged adventures and their Trigger Action Travel Mug is no exception. The strong, durable exterior claims that it has survived a bullet so it should be able to handle whatever you can throw at it. Made of stainless steel, the double-wall vacuum insulation creates a sturdy mug that weighs 12.8 ounces and holds 16 ounces, making it one of the heaviest we reviewed. A 20 ounce capacity is available too, which will no doubt weigh even more — we tested the 16 ounce capacity. 

The lid is also built to last, having a unique trigger system that lets you take a sip by just pressing the button. Though the lid is useful, it does tend to leave a bit of water in the mouthpiece if you close it too quickly. But other than the occasional dribble, it won’t leak even when turned upside down and severely shaken. The whole cup is dishwasher safe, but you might want to think twice about taking apart the lid. It's a bit difficult to reassemble, especially when you haven’t rebuilt it before. 

It kept the heat in fairly well, starting at 204 degrees Fahrenheit, dropping to 176 at two hours, 152 at five, and 125 hours at 10. But when it does have a hot liquid in it, the heat only breaks through a bit allowing you to hold even scolding beverages without a problem. 

While the MSRP is $25, it can often be found for $17.50, so you are getting one of the best travel coffee mugs out there for a great price. Even if you aren’t the adventurous type and just need something to shove in your cup holder that won’t tip over, then Stanley is your guy.

3. Hydro Flask Coffee with Flex Sip Lid

Capacity: 20 fluid ounces | Dimensions: ‎2.9 x 9.3 inches | Weight: 13.2 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 14

Hydro Flask is one of the most popular brands for travel mugs and cups for a very good reason. Available in multiple sizes, from 12 to 40 ounces, and in 11 colors, this travel mug features double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your drinks at the right temperature for hours. The stainless steel bottle is durable, with paint that won’t chip from use.

What really makes this mug different from the competition is its unique lid. The top handle is great for taking it on the go, but when you unscrew it you see the real magic. To take a sip, just turn the lid counterclockwise to open the seal. When you want to take the whole lid apart to clean, just unscrew it in the opposite direction, revealing the intricate mechanism beneath. Keep in mind that getting it put back together can be a bit of a hassle or might take practice. 

The cup is incredibly durable and lightweight, coming in at 11.6 ounces for the 20 ounce capacity. Though it lacks a rubber bottom, the cup is still comfortable to hold and stable. It's also great at keeping your drinks hot, falling from 202 degrees Fahrenheit to 172 after two hours, 145 after five, and 116 after 10. It's definitely one of the more unique-looking cups we’ve tested, but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular. Expert engineering and craftsmanship put it at the top of our list. This is why it’s one of the best travel coffee mugs. 

4. THERMOS Stainless King Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug

Capacity: 16 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 3.3 x 7.6 inches | Weight: 15.7 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 8

Thermos is a brand that has become synonymous with quality travel mugs, and the Stainless King is truly a wonderful option. Made of stainless steel, this vacuum-insulated cup is dishwasher safe and should fit in most cup holders. The handle on the side makes holding the cup easy and the outside stays cool even when hot liquids are inside. It is available in four different colors and holds 16 fluid ounces of liquid.

The lid is expertly crafted and won’t leak no matter how many times it's turned over or shaken. But it does have to be completely closed to work, just a little bit of an opening and the cup will spill out whatever is inside. 

To open the lid, just turn the nozzle counter-clockwise revealing the “open” label on the lid. When it's closed, the lid creates a vacuum seal that keeps everything nice and hot. There’s even a small hook on the bottom of the lid to hold your tea bag and make sure it doesn’t fall in. The lid doesn’t even need to be taken apart to clean.

The Thermos excels at keeping beverages hot, outperforming everything else we tested. Starting at 203 degrees Fahrenheit, it only dropped to 181 at two hours, 159 at five, and 131 at 10 hours, which we found was still too hot to drink. It earns a spot on our list as one of the best travel coffee mugs for this reason alone. 

It is one of the heaviest cups we tested, coming in at a whopping 15.6 ounces. The only heavier mug was the Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug. 

5. Yeti Rambler

Capacity: 20 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 3.5 x 7 inches | Weight: 12.8 ounches | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 34

Available in 10, 20 or 30 ounces (we tested the 20 oz capacity), the Yeti Rambler is unique in its design, offering a much stouter mug with enough room for your liquid inside. Cupholder-friendly and dishwasher safe, this double-wall vacuum-insulated mug is great for taking your cold or hot drinks on the go. Plus it’s available in a whopping 34 colors, so you can find whatever tone you want. 

Because of its more round shape, it's better than some we’ve reviewed at not getting knocked over, though it doesn’t have a rubber bottom for grip. But even the mightiest wind should allow the Yeti to stay upright. 

The lid is simple but effective when kept upright. You can slide it up to take a sip and then slide it back down to seal it. The slide requires a bit of pressure for it to get opened, so it shouldn’t just flop open and spill what's inside. But you shouldn’t just place this cup in your bag because it is possible for it to spill. The lid does not screw on and only has a rubber circle keeping it in place. With enough shaking or momentum, the lid will pop off and won’t have an airtight seal when turned upside down. 

It's also a bit dangerous to drink while hot. We found that while testing the outer ring on the lid retains heat a bit too well and was too hot to touch. The cup itself retains heat well enough, starting at 204 degrees Fahrenheit and going to 166 after two hours, 136 after five, and 108 after ten. 

But if you aren’t going on any backpack adventures and just want a drink to keep warm, then the Yeti is a great option. 

6. Ember Temperature Control Travel Mug

Capacity: 12 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 3 x 8 inches | Weight: 38.4 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: No | Colors available: 2

Having an electronic travel mug that costs $185 might seem a bit extra, but the Ember makes it seem absolutely reasonable. The mug has an internal battery and can keep a drink at the same consistent temperature for three hours on a single charge. All you have to do is tap the center to reveal icons and set it to your desired temperature. 

It's packed full of smart features, which is why it’s one of the best travel coffee mugs, like Bluetooth that connects it to your phone to set the temperature and light that tells you when the cup needs charging. It also has an app, which is simple to use and works flawlessly, showing the battery level and temperature of the beverage (but it does need to be reconnected after every use). To charge it, all you have to do is place the cup on the included stand and it should be ready to go in just a few hours. We set the temperature to 136 degrees Fahrenheit after starting at 199, it managed to stay the same for the whole 10-hour period. 

The lid is also a marvel of engineering- all you have to do is press down whenever you want to drink to create a small circle of liquid to flow through. Even when shaken, the liquid didn’t escape and stayed inside the remarkable metal cylinder. Some liquid might stay around the lid after you take a sip, so keep that in mind. 

It’s also very durable and has a rubber-coated bottom to keep it from spilling over. It might be a great travel mug, but other options can do what it does without the hefty price tag. There’s no need to over-engineer a cup that’s worked fine before. It’s fairly lightweight,  coming in at 12 ounces and holding 12 fluid ounces. Being hand wash only is a drawback to boot as well.

7. Teabloom

Capacity: 16 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 2.5 x 9 inches | Weight: 15.2 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 5

The Teabloom tumbler allows you to make teas on the go with everything inside the bottle. Unlike a lot of other travel mugs, this long but elegant bottle comes with a metal diffuser with its own handle that you can throw your favorite tea blend or coffee right inside. Holding 16 fluid ounces, it's made of stainless steel and brushed with a metallic exterior that stood up to the wear and tear of everyday use and weighs 15.2 ounces.

The tumbler is very thin and can be a bit wobbly. It doesn’t have a rubber grip and it's tall but the thin facade can cause it to get knocked down with just a little bit of force. But it will fit in almost every cup holder snugly, without any worry of it flying out. 

The lid is a simple screw-on top with a rubber ring that easily stops it from leaking even when shaken upside down. We found that even with the lid not screwed on completely all the way, the cup did not spill any water.

It also retained heat very well. When you put it in high-temperature beverages you can feel the heat on the side but it is definitely not too hot to touch. Out of all the travel mugs we tested without its own battery, the Teabloom held heat the longest, starting at 203 degrees Fahrenheit, and falling to 179 at two hours, 154 at five hours, and 126 at ten hours. It's by far one of the best travel coffee mugs to store hot liquid in, the fact it can make tea, coffee, or infused fruit water is just a plus. 

8. bioGo 16 oz Reusable Coffee Cups

Capacity: 16 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 3.6 x 7 inches | Weight: 6.4 ounces | Material: Rice husk | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 8

The bioGo Reusable Coffee Cup is simplistic but offers everything you’d need in a travel mug. Available in eight colors, it's made of recycled rice husks making them better for the environment. They also fit in cup holders and have a padded bottom to stop the cup from falling over.

It's also remarkably light; the model we tested weighs 6.2 ounces while still holding 16 fluid ounces. Although a 13 ounce capacity is also available. That light nature does make it feel a bit flimsy, but it held up to being knocked around just as well as other stainless steel mugs we tested. The cup is dishwasher safe and won’t break apart after multiple uses. 

The screw-on lid is simple but effective. The hole on top has a plastic stopper that can be flipped in or out, which effectively keeps liquids inside. No matter how shaken or flipped upside down, the cup did not leak. The lid closer did not move once it was locked in place, but when the piece came out of the hole it did flop around. 

Though it's a very pretty and stylish cup, it didn’t retain heat as well as a lot of the other mugs we tested. Starting at 202 degrees, it dropped quickly to 118 by two hours, 90 by five, and room temperature by 10. The whole cup became extremely warm on the outside, starting out at 125 degrees making it too hot to touch. If you need a mug that's safe for the environment and that you don’t need to hold hot beverages for long periods, then give this bioGo a shot. The environmentally friendly aspects make it one of the best travel coffee mugs.   

9. Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug

Capacity: 16 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 3.56 x 7.75 inches | Weight: 6.9 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: No | Colors available: 13

The Contigo West Loop Travel Mug has a gorgeous and unique shape that is durable enough to last. Made of stainless steel and its own patented Thermalock insulation, drinks stay hot or cold for hours inside. The shape makes it stand out from other travel mugs out there while still being slim enough to fit in most car cup holders. It holds 16 ounces of fluid and weighs 6.9 ounces. A 20 ounce capacity is also available, but we tested the smaller model. 

The lid opens with a button press on the side, allowing any liquid to flow without issue. Even when shaken and held upside down, nothing escaped. To make sure nothing escapes, there’s a fantastic locking feature where all you have to do is press down on a button on top to make sure the lid can’t open. So when you place the mug in your bag, the button won’t accidentally get pressed and spill everywhere.

The odd shape does have it wobble a bit when tapped and it lacks rubber grips on the bottom, so it can fall. But it is still quite durable so even a tumble shouldn’t crack the exterior. The whole cup is dishwasher safe and the locking lid does not require disassembly to clean. 

When filled with hot liquid, we found that the plastic lid coated in rubber got very hot and couldn’t be touched at max heat. But it did hold heat tolerably, starting at 204 degrees Fahrenheit and failing to 166 at two hours, 137 at five, and 111 at 10. Other travel mugs insulated a bit more consistently, but the Contigo still earned a recommendation, which is why it makes the list as one of the best travel coffee mugs. 

10. Ello Campy Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug

Capacity: 18 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 4.4 x 6.9 inches | Weight: 5.3 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 9

The Ello Campy Travel Mug is a simple, yet truly effective, liquid container. Its sleek metallic exterior hides a vacuum-insulated interior that keeps beverages cold or hot hours after use. That hard body makes it incredibly durable, though the plastic lid may not be able to handle the most aggressive of use. 

The handle is coated in cork inside, helping you keep your grip and not burn yourself when going for a drink. The large handle makes it impossible for it to fit firmly in most car cup holders, especially any that are very deep. But it does make the cup look aesthetically pleasing and simple to use if you’d rather grasp a handle. 

The screw-on lid is a bit more than just a simple piece of plastic, using a unique flipping mechanism to look the cup in place. Hot liquids made the lid too hot to touch and drink. It's also just a simple push button that can easily be knocked open without you noticing. This cup can’t be placed in a bag because it will spill everywhere. But it won’t leak when turned upside down as long as the lid is positioned correctly. 

The whole cup is fairly good at keeping liquids hot, starting at 203 degrees Fahrenheit it fell to 171 at two hours, 142 at five, and 113 at 10. That puts it alongside a lot of the other cups we tested with vacuum insulation. Overall, it's great as long as you don’t try to drink scolding hot beverages. The model tested holds 18 ounces and weighs 5.3 ounces, but a smaller 11 ounce design is also available. 

11. Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug

Capacity: 18 fluid ounces | Dimensions: ‎3.5 x 6.5 inches | Weight: 24.7 ounces | Material: Ceramic | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colors available: 5

The Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug is elegant with a timeless look, capturing the vibe of a cozy summer cottage somewhere in the wilderness. With a thick rubber bottom, the mug stays firmly planted when placed down and won't jiggle too much unless you try to knock it over. Being made of ceramic, we imagine that it's not as durable as other steel options (though we didn’t intentionally try to break it). 

The handle on the side makes it comfortable to hold, though it is a fairly wide mug that won’t fit in most cup car holders. You can fill it with 18 fluid ounces of liquid and clean it in the dishwasher. 

The top lid is a thin piece of plastic that you can shift up and down to take a drink. The lid is most certainly not leakproof and does not offer an airtight seal. If you just flip it over, the liquid will come gushing out, potentially with the lid as well. The lid is not screwed on and has no rubber gasket and is only held in place by a thin rubber bit around the lid.

It’s also not very good at retaining heat. It started at 199 degrees Fahrenheit and went down to 115 in just two hours. Like the Tupkee Glass Tumbler, the cup reached room temperature in just five hours. It's a much better indoor mug than a travel one, offering a unique option that just isn’t as stable as others on this list. The mug is also quite heavy, coming in at 22 ounces.

How we test

We put these travel mugs through rigorous testing for durability, heat retention, and comfort. First, we gave a score to every mug based on holding capacity, comfort to hold, stability, ease of opening, ease of cleaning, weight, and quality. 

Then we performed a test to see if it could hold liquid while turned upside down, without spilling a drop. We filled each cup to its maximum amount and held it upside down for five seconds. Then we noted which cups leaked and spilled onto the countertop. Most mugs managed to stay tight-lipped, while others leaked their insides everywhere. After a quick wipe-down of each mug, we moved on to the next step.

Then we tested each mug's ability to retain heat. We filled each cup at the same time with boiling water and checked its temperature with a digital instant-read thermometer at two, five, and 10 hours. To check the inside temperature, we opened the top and placed a thermometer with a rod inside just long enough to get the recording without leaking much heat. Then, we closed the lid as quickly as possible before moving onto the next one.

How to choose the best travel mug

Material A travel mug can be made of stainless steel, plastic, ceramic, or glass. If you need a more durable mug, you should find one made of a tougher material like steel or plastic. These tougher mugs are also much better at retaining heat, with some having a vacuum insulation that keeps heat from escaping.  

Durability Steel and plastic mugs are incredibly durable, able to withstand rigorous outdoor activity or time spent knocking around in a backpack. Mugs with rubber bottoms are also better at staying upright and not just falling over. If you are looking for a mug you can take on the road, it needs to be both durable and practical to use. 

Size Most travel mugs are between 12 and 20 ounces, with 16 and 18 being the sweet spot. Most are slim enough to fit inside your average car coffee cup holder, while being snug enough to not just bounce around inside. If you are looking for a good sized mug, then aim for one that's around eight to ten inches in height. 

How easy is to clean Ideally, you should wash or rinse out your travel mugs straight after use, to prevent any grimy build-up inside. If you want to remove odors, one tip is to add  ½ cup of vinegar before adding 1tbsp baking soda into the travel mug. Allow it to soak in the solution overnight, and then rinse it with warm water. Make sure you rinse it well so that there are no traces of the solution/vinegar. This should have removed lingering smells. 

How do you keep your beverage hot or cold? Whether you want to maximize the heat or chill factor of your drink, there are a few tips. For hot beverages, it's recommended to pour hot water into the mug, and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then empty the mug, before adding your hot drink, and this should retain the temperature. The same applies for cold drinks, but you use ice cubes in the cold water instead.  

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Steven Asarch is a writer and editor who lives on Twitch and YouTube. After graduating from Baruch College, he wrote for IBT Media,  Newsweek and Insider. In 2021, he executive produced the docu-series "Onision in Real Life" on Discovery +. As someone always looking to have the best smelling apartment possible, he's made it his mission to find the best air purifiers out there. His home has since become an air purifier haven, having stored and tested ten models for over three months. You could say he now knows everything there is to know about air purifiers, and what separates the good from the best.

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17 Best Travel Coffee Mugs for Hot and Cold Drinks

Commute with your coffee under control.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

For many of us, coffee is a constant companion — and that means you'll want a trusty travel mug as you head out the door. Whether you prefer a piping hot cup from your drip coffee maker or single-serve coffeemaker , a refill at Starbucks or a dose of joe from your cold brew coffee maker , your travel coffee mug should handle it all without leaking. Fortunately, there's tons of options out there, including stainless steel coffee thermoses to keep your beverages cool and ones with straws for easy sipping.

Over the years, the pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab have tested 45 different travel mugs for hot and cold temperature retention, durability, resistance to leakage, ease of use and more. In our most recent tests, we called in samples of the latest travel mugs and used them both in the office and on our commutes to see how well they held up. We noted how they felt, how they traveled and, unavoidably, how they held up when dropped. Ahead, we rounded up the best travel coffee mugs based on picks that performed well during testing or come from brands that we trust.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Travel Coffee Mug

Zojirushi 16-ounce stainless steel mug.

Best Value Travel Coffee Mug

Juro stainless steel vacuum insulated tumbler.

Best No-Spill Travel Coffee Mug

Stanley classic trigger action travel mug.

Best Travel Coffee Mug for Espresso Drinks

Avana sedona stainless steel thermal tumbler.

Easiest to Clean Leak-Resistant Travel Coffee Mug

Oxo good grips 16-oz travel coffee mug with leakproof simplyclean lid.

Best Travel Coffee Mug with Carrying Strap

Hydro flask flex sip lid coffee flask.

Best Self-Heating Travel Coffee Mug

Smrtmugg heated coffee mug.

Best Wide-Mouthed Travel Coffee Mug

S'well stainless steel traveler.

Best Locking-Lid Travel Coffee Mug

Contigo luxe autoseal vacuum-insulated mug.

Best Travel Coffee Mug with Handle

Yeti rambler mug with lid.

Read on for more information on our testing process as well as for tips on what to look for when shopping for a travel coffee mug. For more ideas on what to fill your cup with, check out these coffee recipes to make at home .

Zojirushi's travel mug with a locking lid opens with the push of a button but won't leak or spill (even in a backpack). It will keep hot coffee hot — in fact, the brand is so confident that it offers a five-year warranty on heat retention. Iced coffee fans will appreciate that the mouth is large enough to handle big ice cubes for that extra chill.

Our tester noted that the vacuum-sealed lid keeps water cold all day: "I always grab it from my backpack and think, 'There's no way this could still possibly be cool anymore,' and I'm always pleasantly surprised." We also like the slim design, which is easy to grip and fits nicely into backpacks or totes. It comes in several colors and a 12-ounce version.

This stainless steel mug is a great affordable option, especially considering its large 20-ounce size. What's more, it claims to retain the temperature of your coffee for up to six hours. Online reviewers like that it fits easily into car holders and won't sweat when filled with ice. The tumbler includes two lids: The featured slider lid as well as a flip-style lid , so you can choose which you prefer for the beverage you're drinking. It also comes with a reusable straw and a straw cleaner, though we found the straw was short and inconvenient to use.

Stanley has been in the thermal carafe game since 1913. This travel coffee mug delivers the company's insulated design and also includes a push-button "trigger action" lid that keeps the mug sealed unless pushed. We liked that it means the spout stays closed when you're not hands-on . Our pros did note that it requires some level of strength and dexterity to hold the button while sipping. This mug is available in several colors (even camo!) and in a 20-ounce size.

This 10-ounce travel mug from Avana is perfectly sized for espresso-based drinks, but it's also available in 20-ounce and 30-ounce versions. Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou likes that the simple two-piece design is easy to clean because the lid is just one solid piece, unlike many other lids. This is particularly helpful if you like coffee drinks with foam, like latte beverages , that can gunk up lids over time. The contoured mouthpiece makes sipping easy, but it doesn't seal closed, so watch out for leaks. The double-walled insulated construction keeps drinks hot or cold and helps prevent condensation from collecting on the outside.

We love when kitchen gear comes apart for a thorough cleaning, but would rather skip the guesswork that can follow when it's time to reassemble. The OXO travel coffee mug with SimplyClean lid solves this pain point: The four-piece lid is color-coded, numbered and etched with assembly instructions . It's easy to take apart and clean by hand (or in the dishwasher), and simple to put back together for your next cup. Never mind, it's also comfortable to hold. The mug comes in four other colors as well as a 20-ounce size.

Hydro Flask has a huge following when it comes to water bottles — in fact, we named the brand our best stainless steel water bottle — and we're fans of its coffee mugs (called coffee flasks), too . GH Lab tests found that its stainless steel, vacuum-insulated body kept drinks hot and cold for hours, and it was quite leakproof. Hydro Flask also offers a separate wide-mouth lid , which can be handy for cold beverages. (The included lid twists to open and close.) But, be careful drinking hot beverages with a wide mouth as it can spill easily. It's available in a range of colors as well as 16- and 20-ounce sizes , and the little handle helps make it easier to transport.

This SmrtMugg travel mug — rated our best self-heating travel mug — has built-in heat technology to keep coffee hot. Its large battery on the bottom — the manufacturer claims a 10-hour battery life — kept coffee hot (above the target temp of 135˚F) for the full four hours of our Lab tests . Once you get the hang of the controls at the bottom of the mug, the clear digital readout is helpful in setting the temperature and turning off the mug. This travel mug also aced our leak tests. Our tester noted that while the push-button lid is easy to use, the edge of the button can bump your lip while drinking.

This sleek 16-ounce bottle has been redesigned to fit more comfortably in your hand. Though we have not tested this model in the Lab, our pros appreciate that i ts large size and wide mouth can easily fit ice cubes , which makes it a great choice for frequent iced coffee drinkers. We have also found other S'well products to be good at maintaining temperatures. It seals shut and is leakproof; plus, it will keep your drinks cold (or hot!) all day. The S'well comes in a ton of color options as well as 12-ounce and 20-ounce sizes.

This coffee mug from Contigo is super comfortable in your hands, and it has a unique locking feature that makes it leak- and spill-proof. When you want to sip (or chug) your coffee, just press the button to release the seal. During your commute, you can lock the button so you don't accidentally press it while on the go . It's also completely dishwasher-safe, even the lid. One tester did note that with hot beverages, the lid can feel too hot to handle.

This popular Yeti mug looks just like a traditional coffee mug, but it's designed to keep your drinks hot or cold and comes with a lid to prevent unnecessary spills. The sturdy and comfortable handle is large enough for even wide hands. It's available in a dozen different colors as well as sizes from 10- to 30 ounces. Another bonus is that when you buy from the Yeti site, you can customize your product with a short text, a monogram or a logo. Our tester found that the lid slides open easily but noted that it's not leakproof. The brand has also introduced the Rambler Stronghold lid , which screws on (rather than presses in), which we're actively testing in the Lab.

Fellow Carter Everywhere Travel Mug

This little cylinder makes a statement, with testers loving how compact it was. The sleek stainless steel shell contains a ceramic liner intended to keep your coffee free of metallic flavors. The screw top reveals a wide mouth that you can sip from any angle and is large enough for adding ice . It comes in seven additional colors as well as a smaller, 12-ounce size.

W&P Porter Ceramic Mug with Protective Silicone Sleeve

Papantoniou likes that the inside of this travel mug is easy-to-clean porcelain, which generally helps to prevent buildup over time that can negatively impart flavors . She also noted that it keeps coffee "nice and hot right off the bat." It includes a simple shape and a silicone sleeve for a comfortable non-slip grip. It comes in several colors and a couple of terrazzo prints . It's also available in a 16-ounce size.

Starbucks Classic Green & White Traveler Tumbler Coffee Mug

Starbucks fans will appreciate that they can purchase this mug online rather than solely in the stores. The ceramic mug is easy to use — the lid just pops into place and is surrounded by a rubber seal to help keep it (and the coffee) in place — and easy to clean . "It keeps coffee warm like a standard ceramic mug would, and the lid helps to keep things a little warmer for longer," our tester says. "I like that it's not scalding hot like in a metal mug, so I can enjoy my coffee without burning my mouth." The 12-oz size is perfect for refills of Starbucks tall drinks.

STOJO Collapsible Travel Cup with Straw

Stojo's collapsible coffee cup makes it possible to travel light while avoiding single-use plastics. The brand impressed our pros with its other collapsible offerings — the Collapsible Bowl won a 2021 Kitchen Gear Award . Similarly, this travel cup is well designed: The cup includes a heat sleeve that provides a structured grip for the squishy silicone cup, and the 16-ounce size includes a straw (which is great for iced coffee or if you prefer to bring your own cup to fountain machines). The collapsed cup is just two inches in size. It's both microwave and dishwasher safe, with 8-ounce , 12-ounce and 24-ounce sizes.

MiiR Flip Traveler

With a 4.8-rating on Amazon, this stainless steel thermos comes in a slim design and an easy-to-open lid. Though we have not tested this pick in the Lab, we like its focus on giving back: T he bottom of each travel mug is printed with a "Give Code" that you can enter at Mirr's website for details on the brand's corporate giving , which is funded through every purchase. The Flip Traveler is available in several colors and 12-ounce and 16-ounce sizes .

JOCO Glass Reusable Coffee Cup

This glass bodied Joco mug has a colorful silicone lid and a matching thermal sleeve. It's microwave (and dishwasher!) safe, which makes it a great option if you like to reheat your coffee throughout the day. Since the glass is clear, it's easy to see how much coffee you have left — and hit your preferred shade when you add your creamer. Take note that the lid does not seal shut, so while it might be handy for car commuting, this isn't one that's great for tossing in your bag.

Zoku Instant Iced Coffee Maker

For iced coffee fiends, this mug is for you. Get your cuppa in flash: Simply store the inner core of the mug in the freezer, then slip the frozen cup into the protective plastic sleeve and pour in hot coffee. Our tester found that the travel mug will chill your coffee rapidly without watering it down with ice cubes. (The brand actually uses the same concept for its ice cream maker .) Slide in the lid with the provided straw, and you're ready for undiluted iced coffee — though you can add ice if you prefer. One caveat is that the freezable core holds only 11 ounces, which some might find too small.

How we test travel coffee mugs

When the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab test travel coffee mugs, they use thermocouples to track the temperature of the liquid inside the mug over time. Many of the mugs on this list were tested at home over months (even over commutes) to assess their durability, ease of use and temperature retention.

Our pros also evaluate the mugs for stability, cleanability and comfort of both holding and drinking. They test whether the mug is easy to open and close, and they drop each mug to assess its durability. To test for leaking, our pros roll the mug around on its side as well as turn it upside down and shake it vigorously.

How to find the best travel coffee mug for you

✔️ Material : Many travel coffee mugs are stainless steel, though our list also includes porcelain, glass and silicone options. Double-walled construction is common with stainless steel mugs, and that can help keep your beverage hot or cold longer. Other materials may not be insulated. If you opt for a glass mug, consider borosilicate glass, which is tempered to prevent shattering with hot liquids and can be more durable if dropped. Porcelain mugs are generally easy to clean, and because the material is nonporous, the mug is unlikely to develop odd flavors. Silicone is a great lightweight option, but it can get warm if it does not have a heat sleeve.

✔️ Lid : Some lids are more spill-proof than others. Our Lab experts particularly love the locking feature on the Contigo Luxe Autoseal Vacuum-Insulated Travel Coffee Mug , which adds a level of safety if you plan to toss your mug in your bag. Lids that screw on are also often leak-resistant. Those who prefer a more traditional-style mug with a handle may find that slider lids are common; evaluate those for leaking, as some are prone to dribbles (or worse). Note that spill-proof lids often require more care to clean.

✔️ Washability : Check to see if the mug is dishwasher-safe. If it needs to be washed by hand, make sure you can thoroughly clean it with a sponge or bottle brush .

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Sarah Wharton is the Senior Editor and Analyst for the Good Housekeeping Institute. She tested several of the newest additions to this list as well as led the recent test of heated mugs. She's written about all kinds of kitchen gear as well as coffee advice like how to make a cappuccino and how to make an iced latte .

Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou oversees all testing of kitchen gear, including products like coffee grinders , coffee makers , espresso machines and Nespresso machines . She has tested almost all of these travel mugs and is constantly rotating through an assortment in her daily travel mug use. She is also the lead judge in the Good Housekeeping Institute's forthcoming Coffee Awards .

Sarah (she/her) is a deputy editor in the Good Housekeeping Institute , where she tests products and covers the best picks across kitchen, tech, health and food. She has been cooking professionally since 2017 and has tested kitchen appliances and gear for Family Circle as well as developed recipes and food content for Simply Recipes, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Oxo and Food52. She holds a certificate in professional culinary arts from the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education).

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The Best Travel Mugs to Keep Drinks Hot or Cold

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Best Overall Hydro Flask Coffee Mug With Flex Sip Lid (16 Ounce) Read more

A Good Wide-Mouth Bottle Klean Kanteen TKWide Insulated Mug (16 Ounce) Read more

A Classy Paper Cup Replacement KeepCup Brew Cork (12 Ounce) Read more

An Eco-Friendly Option Miir Climate+ Read more

Staying hydrated can be a battle, especially if you're toting around a bottle of lukewarm water, coffee, or tea. Whether you drink cold drinks or hot ones, a vacuum-insulated beverage holder can keep it at your preferred temperature so that every sip is a joy. There are tons of vacuum-insulated bottles, mugs, and tumblers on the market these days. Most of them are perfectly capable at keeping beverages colder or warmer than room temperature for much longer than a non-insulated bottle, too.

I tested each bottle with both ice water and cold water, sat outside on a patio in indirect sunlight, and then with hot coffee left indoors, where the ambient temperature was 70 degrees. During testing so far, none of the bottles failed to roughly match up to their claims of how long they'd keep cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot. It's rare to run across an insulated bottle that's a total failure at doing that these days, but it's also rare to find one that truly stands out. Rather, I've noticed the features that tend to make or break a bottle are their leak-proofing, exterior coating, and cap. Here are the best travel mugs that impressed us, and some of the rest.

Note that my colleague, Medea Giordano, wrote a piece about the use of lead soldering in the construction of some reusable bottles. Be sure to check out our guides to the Best Reusable Water Bottles , Best Coffee Subscriptions , Best Coffee Grinders , Best Espresso Machines , Best Portable Coffee Makers , Best AeroPress Coffee Makers , and How to Make Better Coffee at Home and Joe Ray's rave on how he learned to love pour-over coffee .

Updated March 2024: We've added the Yeti Rambler Vacuum Bottle With Chug Cap, Stanley IceFlow Straw Tumbler, REI Co-op Camp Mug, and GSI Outdoors MicroLite 500 Flip. We've also added information about the use of lead in some bottles' manufacturing, as well as updated pricing and availability throughout.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com , full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Best Overall

Hydro Flask’s powder coating is one of the toughest I have come across on a beverage container. Whenever I can foresee some serious abuse happening to a coffee mug on a trip, I take a Hydro Flask. I’ve yet to dent or scratch one through routine carelessness over the past four years. Without a cupholder in my car, my Hydro Flask lived on the floorboards, rolling and crashing around with every maneuver, and it still held up. The pebbled texture is grippy, so you're less likely to fumble it if your hands get wet or greasy.

A Good Wide-Mouth Bottle

Narrow openings are fine for water, in my opinion, but for hot beverages, I like having a wider gap so I can take a big gulp. I'm less likely to burn my mouth on hot drinks when I can let them cool off through a bigger opening, too. The TKWide’s Cafe Cap is more like drinking from a regular to-go coffee cup, rather than a water bottle.

All the colors have matte powder-coated finishes, which are more scratch-resistant than the brand’s smooth powder-coated finishes. That said, I haven’t found them to be as tough as Hydro Flask’s powder coating, and the uncoated stainless-steel ring on the bottom of the mug is pretty easy to scuff up.

A Classy Paper Cup Replacement

The Brew Cork is greater than the sum of its parts. This double-walled, insulated mug is meant to replicate and replace paper coffee shop cups. It’s fun to drink out of. Many other tumblers’ lid openings are blocky or mash your nose, but the KeepCup is ergonomically on point. It’s not the best for road trips, nor the best for keeping a ton of coffee hot for hours, but I highly recommend the LongPlay if all you want is a reusable cup to cut down on single-use waste and keep your drink warm long enough for you to actually drink it. That said, the lid is a bit dribbly. While the interior and lip are glass—no metallic off-tastes here—the exterior shell below the rubber grip is plastic.

An Eco-Friendly Option

It doesn't fit a typical car’s cup holder, but if you like an insulated mug that resembles a cup more than a bottle or beer glass, the Climate+ is for you. It has the solid build quality and tough powder-coated finish we’ve come to expect from Miir, in a package that has less of an impact on the environment. Miir says that the Climate+ uses no new plastic (the lid is 100 percent recycled and recyclable), and its insulation uses 25 percent less stainless steel than traditional insulated mugs. It’s also completely BPA-free.

David Nield

Aarian Marshall

Boone Ashworth

Camp Classic

This camp cup is awfully charming, harkening back to the classic blue, enameled camp cups that ooze 20th-century Americana. Like all the tumblers on this list, it’s vacuum-insulated to keep hot drinks hot and cold ones cold. Its screw-on plastic lid, with a sliding lever for sipping, is leak-proof enough. If you leave it upside down for more than a few seconds or shake it, it’ll drip, but I couldn’t get it to leak by knocking it onto its side. The handle is plastic to avoid conducting heat from hot contents, and the inner part of the handle is lined in cork. The Campy isn’t enameled—it’s just painted to look like it—but it pulls off the effect well.

For Coffee Purists

Instead of a tiny sippy hole, the Carter’s screw-on cap reveals a wide tumbler that lets you breathe in your coffee’s aromas as you drink. The opening is 69 millimeters wide, so you can use most manual coffee brewers, such as an AeroPress or Hario pour-over, directly on it. That’s too wide for many cars’ cup holders, but it’s plenty stable, and you won’t have to worry about tipping it over on a desk. My average-size hands had no issues, but some buyers with smaller hands might find it difficult or uncomfortable to hold.

The interior is ceramic-coated, so you don’t get any metallic flavors, and the thin metal lip is curved like a cabernet glass. Its textured matte exterior coating is tough and held up as well as the mighty Hydro Flask’s coating. It's been completely leak-proof too. You should have no concerns throwing it into your laptop bag completely full.

For Camping

When traveling, I want to pack light. Snow Peak’s gorgeous insulated titanium camp mug is less than 4 inches tall, weighs only 4.2 ounces, and has foldaway handles to make it even smaller. Its 450-ml capacity equates to slightly more than 15 fluid ounces. As someone who finds washing mugs to be an interminable hassle, this is the easiest one to travel with—just refill, rinse, and carabiner it to the outside of your bag. I've carried mine up glaciated mountains and down desert trails for six years now, and although the lettering has worn away, the mug itself works as well as it did when new. You can also buy a Snow Peak lid for $14 separately, which is splash-proof and kept my coffee warmer for longer.

Tumblers and travel mugs are generally designed for you to pour your chosen beverage into, but what if you just want to put a can in there? These kinds of insulated drink holders are particularly useful when I'm out and about, drinking a canned soda or beer, and want it to stay cool in the summer heat.

Not only can you put the can directly into the drink holder, but you can also pour it into the Hydro Flask and drink directly out of it, if you wish. Just remove the collar, and now you've got a handsome, stainless steel rim to sip from. The collar fits over the bottom of the can to stabilize it too, so you won't lose it. This is the 12-fluid-ounce version that fits a standard beer, soda, juice, or wine can. There's also a 16-fluid-ounce Tallboy Cooler Cup for $28 if you're feeling particularly thirsty.

Honorable Mentions

We've run through many travel mugs, and not all of them are winners. These are a few we like, just not as much as the ones above.

Miir Flip Traveler for $28 : The Miir has a tough powder coating with a flip-top lid that is absolutely leak-proof. I couldn’t get one drop of liquid to escape, no matter what I did to this tumbler. It’s narrow enough to fit any cup holder or backpack bottle holder, and it feels tough enough to survive years of abuse. Personally, I also find it quite aesthetically attractive, with its sharp lines and angular cap, compared to its competition. Miir has stated that some of its bottles use lead, and its website states : “MiiR drinkware is frequently tested at a 3rd party accredited lab by COE Resolution CM/RES(2013)9. When MiiR drinkware is tested, lead is not detected. The limit of detection is < 0.002 mg/kg (ppm).” Representatives at Miir declined to clarify if the Flip Traveler is one of its bottles that use lead.

Yeti Rambler Bottle With Chug Cap for $50 : The star of this bottle is what Yeti calls the chug cap, a threaded spout that's between a wide-mouth opening and a more typical sipping hole in size. I enjoyed it quite a lot. When gulping water, it flowed more smoothly and quickly than a sipping hole, but it didn't spill over my face, as a wide-mouth opening can sometimes do when in a hurry. A cap with a plastic handle screws on over it to close up the bottle. The handle is wide and robust. I'd use a carabiner to clip it to a backpack often and never worried about it breaking (36 fluid ounces of water is heavy). If you're a frequent sipper like me, you'll appreciate that it only takes a half turn of the cap to expose the chug cap. Yeti cautions that the chug cap (which can be unscrewed and removed) is unsuitable for hot beverages. Just to make sure I didn't burn my mouth on that initial, exploratory sip of hot coffee, I'd take it off when drinking something hot, which negated some of the bottle's convenience. Like most Yeti bottles, the exterior coating was durable and didn't scratch or dent during testing. Yeti uses lead in its manufacturing .

Stanley IceFlow Tumbler for $30 : Rather than a long straw, the IceFlow has a stubby, flip-open straw about an inch long that's built into the cap. It was easy to manipulate with my thumb to flip it out, which I appreciated when I was hot and sweaty after a workout and didn't want to fumble with a hard-to-use cap. Its small diameter meant that I couldn't gulp water, though, only sip a steady trickle. The carry handle was big enough to use while wearing puffy gloves this past winter, and it flips down and out of the way when you don't need it. Both are a very nice touch that outshine most other bottles' handles. Like Stanley's other bottles, its exterior coating is tough enough that I noticed no scratches or wear. Stanley uses lead in its manufacturing process .

Contigo Luxe Autoseal for $36 : What makes the Contigo “automatic” is a button on the side of the lid that opens the sipping hole. There’s a lock to prevent the button from opening the hole, too. With or without the lock activated, the Contigo never leaked a single drop. Some buyers have complained that the metal lid gets too hot, but I filled up the Luxe Autoseal with scorching, molten coffee, and the lid barely even got lukewarm. Contigo is also among the manufacturers that uses a lead solder bead in its construction. When reached for comment, a company representative said, “The bead is covered and insulated by multiple layers—it never comes in contact with users or liquids in the bottle—and cannot be accessed unless the bottle is fully deconstructed. No traces of lead are found on or in the bottle that would be exposed to the consumer or the beverages in the bottle.”

KeepCup Thermal for $26 : This is the answer to those who like the KeepCup LongPlay's ergonomic shape and paper-cup-imitating feel but long for a cup that can keep their coffee warmer for longer. The Thermal is, like most of the vessels in this guide, vacuum-insulated stainless steel that insulates against heat loss or, in the case of cold beverages, heat gain. It shares the Brew Cork's slightly dribbly lid, although it loses some of the novelty of the Brew Cork's glass.

REI Co-op Camp Mug for $23 : There are getting to be an awful lot of insulated camp mugs in this basic style on the market, and REI's own is a perfectly fine option that doesn't particularly stand out. REI didn't attempt any gimmicks with its lid, which is a durable piece of thick plastic with an open hole for sipping and a smaller hole for airflow (so that sipping is smooth). You can't just toss it in a backpack or on the floor of your car without it leaking, but for a camp mug, that's fine. They're better suited for use in camp, a motorhome, or on a desk anyway, in my opinion. The exterior coating was tough enough to show no scratches, even after knocking it over a few times outside, and the REI graphics were tasteful and attractive, in my opinion.

Miir Camp Cup for $28: Miir's insulated coffee mug doesn't leak, it insulates hot and cold drinks just fine, and the coating is as tough as any Miir. But it's up against tough competition, and for the same money the Hydro Flask Mug is a bit nicer. The Miir lacks the Hydro Flask's stainless steel rim, and the transparent plastic lid feels a little cheap. The sliding opening on the lid felt like just an extra step to operate each time I wanted a sip.

Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler for $35 : The rounded handle is comfortable to hold, which is important in an 18.4-ounce mug loaded with up to 32 fluid ounces of drink. Like most Hydro Flask products, it comes with the same bomb-proof powder coating (in optional soft, pastel colors) that resists scratches and chips very well, plus the addition of a straw poking through its lid. There's also a 40-fluid-ounce version for $40 .

GSI Outdoors Glacier 15-Fluid-Ounce Camp Cup for $20 : It's not too easy to find at retailers, and when you do, they tend to be available in just a few colors and go in and out of stock. This cup is awfully simple, particularly the incredibly basic lid, but it's more than a little endearing. There's a brushed stainless steel version and, my favorite, a "blue speckle" that imitates the classic enameled blue camp cups of past generations, although both of these colors are plain steel. Other colors come in a more durable-seeming pebbled coating.

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug for $29 : The stainless-steel interior is BPA-free and has a wide-mouth opening. The lid locks to avoid accidental spillage, and I once accidentally left hot tea in it for 18 hours and found it still hot when I opened it again. It’s also small enough to fit in my jacket pocket on chilly morning walks. It’s not my preferred mug for daily use, simply because the lid has three separate parts—a mouthpiece, a gasket, and a lid—that are deeply ridged and hard to clean.

Rambler Stackable Cup for $30 : This insulated cup holds 16 fluid ounces, which is the capacity of a typical tall drinking glass. The best aspect of this is that you can stack several of them, so you can keep a bunch in your pantry without taking up much room. It comes with Yeti's durable powder coating, too, making them among the toughest options out there.

Hydro Flask Mug for $28: The Hydro Flask Mug merges a durable powder-coated, vacuum-insulated construction with the traditional, handle-sporting shape of a diner or camp mug. Hydro Flask does it better than most. The stainless steel rim makes it nicer to sip from than competitors' mugs, and it comes with Hydro Flask's usual drip-proof lid and bomber-tough powder coating that is nearly impossible to scratch. But it is more at home on a desk than at a campsite or in a car's cup holder, which it can't fit into.

GSI Outdoors MicroLite 500 Flip for $30 : Under the button-activated, flip-up lid there's a contoured bowl that you drink from, as if somebody cut the top half off a plastic cup. It felt gimmicky and unnecessary. It didn't do anything that just drinking from an open bottle couldn't do, and it tended to collect stray water droplets after I was done drinking. The overly complex cap was harder to hand wash than most caps, although the dishwasher could clean the cap without issue. What saves the MicroLite 500 is the stainless steel rim, which felt nice to drink from when the cap was removed, plus the array of available colors in durable, non-scratch coatings. Minus the cap, the bottle was fairly nice, if not particularly a standout among the competition. There's a MicroLite 500 With Twist Lid for $30 that does away with the gimmicky cap and has a simpler lid, although the carry strap is narrow and not as robust as I'd have liked.

Owala FreeSip for $28 : Product reviewer Medea Giordano loved the FreeSip ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) for its dual drink spouts: one open hole, plus a built-in straw. If you've got mobility or pain issues that make tilting your head a hassle, this mug is a solid performer. It's easy to grip too, with its flattened sides, which can come in handy for those with reduced hand dexterity.

OtterBox Elevation for $30 : At 8.5 inches tall, the Elevation 20 looks a lot bigger than it is. It has a copper lining that the company says helps better maintain your beverage’s perfect temperature, although I saw no noticeable difference in the Elevation's temperature-holding abilities. The clear press-on lid has a locking mechanism that you can switch it out for a straw lid or a French press lid if you’re in a hurry. It comes in a variety of stunning hues. OfferBox uses lead in its construction. When reached for comment, a company representative said, “ The seal is not open or accessible to the end user, and at no time, under intended use, could it come into contact with the end user. The OtterBox Elevation tumbler meets all applicable US regulatory requirements.”

Purist Mover for $48 : Ever empty a stainless-steel bottle of one beverage and fill it up with a different one, only to notice that the taste of the first drink lingers? The Purist has applied a thin layer of glass over the interior of the Mover, which keeps this taste transfer from happening. You can down a mug full of coffee and then fill it with herbal tea without risking a coffee aftertaste. I didn’t experience leaks from the Element top, but a high number of customers have reported their Purist lids leaking over time. I’ll keep using the Purist and update this page with information on how it performs.

S'well Traveler Tumbler for $30 : S’well boasts that its tumblers are triple-walled, but I'm not convinced that has much real-world benefit over a normal double-walled tumbler. It didn't keep beverages remarkably colder or hotter than its competitors, for example. What really sets the S’well apart are its designs. There are 12 finishes, from plain colors and bare stainless steel to elaborate patterns, such as blue marble and faux wood, and a slide-open lid so you don’t have to pop it off every time you want a swig of coffee.

Stanley Classic Vacuum Pint for $26 : Stanley’s vacuum pint includes a press-on lid with a deeply pebbled exterior that’s reminiscent of classic flasks. Although it’s billed as a 16-ounce pint, Stanley has added a few extra ounces to accommodate foam (or splashing hot coffee), and the lid comes with a slide-in metal bottle opener if you like to go immediately from work to happy hour. Stanley uses lead in its manufacturing process .

Avoid These Travel Mugs

We’ve tested a great many tumblers, and not all are winners. These aren't anywhere near as good as our picks above.

Greens Steel Beast 20-Ounce Insulated Tumbler for $18 : Greens Steel’s Beast tumbler has more than 67,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is, at least for me, one of the top hits when I search Amazon for an insulated tumbler. But the rubber seal around the lid is thin and easily comes out of place. I was ready to write the Beast off when it was leaking like a sieve, but after I adjusted the seal, it was reasonably leak-proof. Sometimes it dribbles, sometimes it doesn’t, depending on whether the seal stays put when you’re attaching the lid. The exterior color coating is not as durable as the Klean, Hydro Flask, Yeti, or Fellow. It did come with a regular metal straw, a thick metal milkshake straw, and a cleaner brush.

Snow Peak Kanpai 500-ml Bottle for $98 : Unlike most of Snow Peak’s line of camping and backpacking gear, the Kanpai is stainless steel, not titanium, and it’s not made in Japan. It’s a double-walled, insulated stainless-steel tumbler with a glossy finish, and it comes with three lids, for some unnecessary reason. There’s a white screw-on lid that needs to be removed every time you want a drink, and a black version of the same lid. The third lid—one with a sipping hole that can be closed with a sliding latch—leaks if the Kanpai tips over. It took damage in a mere 3-foot drop when it was empty, landing on its rim, which flattened. A steel bottle, especially one with no liquid in it, should be able to survive that without battle scars.

Toaks Titanium Double Wall 450ML Cup for $40: More often than not, I champion Toaks gear as an affordable source of titanium camp cookware compared to Snow Peak and Evernew and MSR, which tend to be more expensive. But this mug is only $10 less than the Snow Peak mug we recommend above, and its finishing is rougher.

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The 50 best coffee shops and best cafes in Moscow

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1 Coffeemania

2 Nude. Coffee & Wine Bar

3 One Teaspoon

4 david b. cafe, 5 starbucks.

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6 Coffee Bean

7 coffeemania, 8 cafe pushkin, 10 i love cake, 11 double-b, 12 bar bq cafe, 13 chernyy cooperative, 14 camera obscura coffee, 15 shokoladnitsa.

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17 Coffee Piu

19 bosco café, 20 restoran mandarin. lapsha i utki, 21 coffee house, 22 tehnikum, 23 conversation cafe, 24 scramble, 25 starbucks.

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28 cezve coffee, 29 bosco bar, 30 double b, 31 starbucks, 32 ziferblat, 33 black milk, 34 table one cafe, 35 ladurée moscow.

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• The best coffee shops and best cafes in Mytishchi
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Swig Life 22oz Tumbler, Insulated Coffee Tumbler with Lid, Cup Holder Friendly, Dishwasher Safe, Stainless Steel, Large Travel Mugs Insulated for Hot and Cold Drinks (Pixie)

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• KEEPS HOT UP TO 3 HOURS. COLD UP TO 24 HOURS, Double wall, vacuum sealed, and copper plated insulated tumbler with thick, professional grade 18/8 stainless steel.
• EASY TO CLEAN, DISHWASHER SAFE coffee tumbler. All Swig Life travel mug tumblers and accessories (lids and bases) are top-rack dishwasher safe.
• CUP HOLDER FRIENDLY stainless steel tumbler is easy to hold, and fits in most car cup holders. The perfect travel coffee mug or tea tumbler (tea infuser attachment sold separately).
• SLIP-FREE, SCRATCH-FREE, NOISE-FREE SILICONE BASE keeps your insulated coffee tumbler from tipping over or making too much noise when you set them down.
• OVER 40 COLORS AND PRINTS to choose from makes Swig Life insulated tumblers the best unique gift idea for women, men, mom, dad, teachers, birthday, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Holiday and Christmas

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Swig Life designs insulated drinkware and coolers made for living your best life! We understand that your water bottle, travel tumbler and insulated bag are each a reflection of your personal style, and this inspires us to produce premium products in designs you love, for yourself or for a gift.

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Swig Life 22oz Triple Insulated Stainless Steel Skinny Tumbler with Lid - Confetti Pattern

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Thanks to our triple insulation technology, this coffee tumbler with lid keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot up to 12 hours. The cup holder friendly, slim shape makes it perfect on the go or at home. From sweet tea to hot toddy's, this Swig will definitely be your new fave!

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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers are happy with the quality, size and ease of cleaning of the drinking cup. They mention that it's a great product, fits in standard cup holders and that it keeps their water cold all day. Customers are also happy with appearance, and coldness. Others however, are not happy with lid. They say it'll only go on the cup with the drinking spout open. Customers disagree on value, and leakage.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the coldness of the cup. For example, they say it keeps their water cold all day, it's great for hot or cold drinks, and it holds ice for a long time. Some mention it'll stay hot for hours.

"...If I do that it stays hot for hours . Fits in standard cup holders and is a pretty coral pink color." Read more

" Keeps my water cold all day and small enough to fit in the cup holder" Read more

"...It keeps my coffee hot, just the way I like it! My ice water stays cold over night ! I love the colors and designs...." Read more

"...I love the color as it's perfect and it keeps things cold the entire day !" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the cup. For example, they mention it's pretty, has great design choices, and is in the perfect shade of girly pink. They also appreciate the pattern and the material on the bottom. Overall, most are happy with the product's appearance.

"...Fits in standard cup holders and is a pretty coral pink color ." Read more

"...My ice water stays cold over night! I love the colors and designs . I have several, so I always have a clean one ready to use." Read more

"...The way it curves in makes it look nice as well and it fits in all of my car cup holders...." Read more

"...The design is beautiful and it makes me smile every morning. And best of all, it fits in the cup holder, so I don’t have to be so careful on my drive." Read more

Customers like the quality of the drinking cup. They say it's well-made, durable, and works great. Some mention that the design is sleek and nice, and the non-skid bottom is great. Overall, most are happy with the quality and design of the product.

" Great cup . I do rinse it with hot water before I put coffee in so the cold metal doesnt cool my coffee down. If I do that it stays hot for hours...." Read more

"...I love the color as it's perfect and it keeps things cold the entire day!" Read more

"...The hole is too small and it is hard to drink with their lid . if you fix the lid, it would be perfect." Read more

"I love Swig tumblers! I use them all the time and they are wonderful . When I put ice in them, it stays frozen for 10 to 12 hours...." Read more

Customers like the size of the cup. For example, they say it's small enough to fit in the cup holder, great size for on-the-go beverages, and not too big and heavy. Some like that it'll fit in many cup holders and is narrower on the bottom.

"...If I do that it stays hot for hours. Fits in standard cup holders and is a pretty coral pink color." Read more

"Keeps my water cold all day and small enough to fit in the cup holder " Read more

"...The way it curves in makes it look nice as well and it fits in all of my car cup holders ...." Read more

"...Also. it fits in a car cup holder , so many insulated cups & water bottles don’t. I’m going to get some for myself." Read more

Customers like that the cup is dishwasher safe and easy to clean.

"...The whole reason asked for this tumbler was because it was dishwasher safe (and it was so pretty)...." Read more

"This mug is great for hot or cold and especially like it is dishwasher safe ." Read more

"Works great and love that it is dishwasher safe . The standard lid is not the best but it is functional and I don't have to hand wash it!" Read more

"...The lid is a little difficult to keep clean - it has a slidey opening, and my drink does get inside of it, so I have to slide it back and forth..." Read more

Customers are mixed about the leakage of the cup. Some mention that it keeps their coffee hot and doesn't leak, while others say that the lid and cup are not leak proof, it significantly leaks when drinking from it, and the lid spills everywhere when you try to drink out of it.

"...with small kids & it gets knocked over multiple times a day and never leaks . Also...." Read more

"Swig needs to redesign their lids. The lid is so airtight that it builds up pressure with hot liquids and lid pops off...." Read more

"...The design is beautiful, and the lid is leakproof as far as I can tell...." Read more

"Great tumbler, poor designed lid. It will spill if it tips and it is almost impossible to drink out of, your drink will not flow out ...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the value of the drinking cup. Some mention that it's worth the price, while others say that it was a waste of money and rendered useless.

"I found this tumbler, and the design made me smile. The price was a lot higher than I wanted to pay...." Read more

"...Fun gift to add!! Better and less expensive that Yetti !!!" Read more

"Mug is average just like the others, a little overpriced considering it had no real extra features...." Read more

"... Over-priced , I guess because is a "designer" cup." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the lid of the drinking cup. They mention that it has a flawed design, it pops off easily, and it doesn't always stay on well. Some say that the bottom silicone part was coming off.

"...It was looped around the lid hole and certainly not going to keep it in place while I drink my coffee...." Read more

"...lid is so airtight that it builds up pressure with hot liquids and lid pops off ...." Read more

"...Everything else is perfect but definite design flaw with the lid . My husband has a similar Tervis cup...." Read more

" Did not like lid ." Read more

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• Cafes In Moscow: A Russian Sojourn To Roasted Coffee And Buttered Croissants

23 Mar 2023

Specialty coffee is quite new for Moscow city but it’s good to know that now it has some handful of locations which are strictly focusing on professionally crafted coffee. Here you will find different types of coffee shops which are offering quality coffee with free Wi-Fi facility. Imagine you are taking a sip of the barista-made coffee in one of the cafes in Moscow while working on your computer – and how you can make this dream come true.

Top 10 Cafes In Moscow

Does the smell of roasted aromatic coffee attract you? Does the butter goodness on the side tempt you? Then check out the list of coffee shops which includes both specialty and historic cafés in Moscow city.

1. Mayak Café-Buffet

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The spot of this café was Previously occupied by the buffet of Mayakovsky theatre and in the later part; it was replaced by one club which hosted parties that were mainly attended by well-known actors and journalists. At present, if you are in search of a bohemian café –restaurant in Moscow, then probably this will be the best choice. The architecture of this café is really impressive and it is visited majorly by creative folks of the city. The ancient curved sideboards; decorated walls of the cafe will make you feel mesmerized. This hipster cafe in Moscow is famous for both French and Italian cuisine.

Must Read: 15 Interesting Things To Do In Moscow: Trekking, Opera, And More In 2022

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2. Bosco Café

It is more than 16 years of its operation and still, Bosco Café is serving its guests with exclusive coffee in style. Since its inception, Bosco Café is making the life of the citizens of Moscow more entertaining and enjoyable. The two storied café is no doubt extremely stylish and attractive for its unique decoration. This café has been decorated in Liberty style now. This popular café is situated at the Red Square and this place is just perfect to have your lunch or dinner with family or even for just a coffee pause. The interior decoration is done with chandeliers designed at the popular Seguso factory in Venice. The café is perfect for a summer day visit.

3. Strelka Bar

This café has become extremely popular among the ingenious people in Moscow. The venue is really ideal for those who want to have peaceful meetings and want to relax their mind after having a hectic weekend. Normally the price range of the cocktails lies between 500 to 600 rubles. The interiors are designed with application of Scandinavian designs and that what created an amazing atmosphere in the bar cafe. Strelka is no doubt one of the best coffee shops in Moscow Russia with a difference.

Suggested Read: 10 Best Hotels In Moscow That Redefine Luxury Like None Other!

4. Enthusiast Moto Café

If the search is for one of a class café the visit here. this café is a perfect combination of a café, workshop of motorcycle and bike besides a vinyl store. If your car needs any repairing then you can simply come here and hand over your car to the experts. Let the experts remain busy with your car’s necessary repairing work and you just relax here and enjoy the sip of your favorite beer or coffee with snacks of your choice. You can also enjoy the music playing in the café. Special arrangements are made on Sundays by top-notch music groups to entertain the guests out here.

5. Café Milk

Previously this was the place from where fresh milk selling used to be done to the locals. This popular dairy shop has now been transformed into world-class café in Russia . Coffee served at this café is really awesome to taste and The interior decoration of this café have been done with black and white and no doubt this decoration attracts the visitors. The breakfast menu, as well as the tea menu of this café, managed to impress the guests out here.

Suggested Read: Shopping In Moscow: 14 Top Places That Will Make You Believe The City Is As Classy & Chic As Milan

6. Café Pushkin

Image Source If you love the taste of traditional Russian dishes then cafe Pushkin in Moscow will be the best choice for you. This café is extremely popular not only to the locals but also to the tourists to this place. This café has been named after the renowned poet Alexander Pushkin. If you want to know more about the history of this café then ask any of the waiters for an amazing guided tour. This tour will help you to know more about the rich history of Café Pushkin.

7. Bar BQ Café

This café is situated between the entrance of the Kremlin and Red Square. The happening atmosphere and the delicious menus are the prime attraction of this café. Burgers, tapas, nachos and chicken wings, etc are offered at this café of great quality besides awesome caffeinated drinks. Here you will get a long list of cocktails with bruschetta with tuna, backed sweet pepper and lot more besides coffee.

Suggested Read: Russian Museums: For A Tour Down The Country’s Expansive And Profound Culture!

8. I love Cake

If you love the yummy taste of sweet of different varieties then this café will no doubt fulfill your wish completely. Once you are here you will become a huge fan of the sugary items offered in this café. Take the chance to taste American Pancake and waffles and trust us you will end up becoming a fan of this café. Whether you want to have exclusive cappuccinos or exotic lunch or breakfast, you will get here everything.

9. Coffee Mania

This one is one of the most popular coffee shops where stellar specialty coffee is available. Trained and award-winning baristas attend the customers here in the coffee shop. This café started its journey way back in the year 2001 and at present, this café has become a part of everyday life of the people of Moscow. People visit this café to have exotic lunch at the daytime and refresh the mind in the evening.

Suggested Read: Russia Circle Trip: 20 Places To Visit In Moscow And St. Petersburg In 2022

10. Vogue café

Image Source If you are in search of the best modern cafes in Moscow then vogue cafe will definitely fulfill your wish. This is one of the highly preferred cafés for the Fashionista crowd in Moscow. Normally people visit here after doing shopping in the nearby shopping malls. Huge lamps, classic interiors, stylish chairs of different color and sizes always attract the guests here. It was the year 2003 when this chic café started its journey.

Further Read: With The Red Square Turning White, Snowfall In Moscow Hits A 100-Year High!

The aromatic smell of the roasted coffee will spark up energy in you to make you feel happy and satisfied. So if you are on a trip to Russia then look for the best cafés in Moscow. The above 10 Cafes are the most happening ones in the city.

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Best Time To Visit Moscow

Where to stay in moscow, moscow itinerary, day 1 itinerary in moscow, day 2 itinerary in moscow, day 3 and beyond, staying safe in moscow, day trips from moscow, faq on moscow itinerary.

Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring  (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV,  in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

Godzillas Hostel is one of our favourites in Moscow but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral  | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

• Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
• Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees. 
• Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic! 

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

• Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
• Cost: USD $15.00
• Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

• Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
• Cost: Free!
• Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
• Cost: USD $8.00
• Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

• Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
• Cost: Free to enter
• Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

• Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
• Cost: USD $5.00
• Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for! 

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture! 

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

• Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
• Cost: Free! 
• Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months.  A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

• Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
• Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov.  The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner! 

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

• Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres. 
• Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics. 

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

• Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
• Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 –  USD $228.00 based on seat location.
• Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

• Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

• Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
• This museum is fun for both adults and children!
• Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

• A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
• Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
• The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

• Television and radio tower in Moscow
• Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
• Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

• The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
• Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
• Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

• Closed on Mondays
• Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
• The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy! 

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Moscow

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Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided!  Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

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Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Alya and Campbell

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• General Information
• Plan your trip

Prices & travel costs in Moscow

Are restaurants expensive? How much does a coffee cost? How much money should you bring for a few days in Moscow? Discover how much it costs to travel to Russia and plan ahead to save money on your trip!

Moscow can be an expensive city to travel to, although booking hotels in advance can often mean finding good deals and saving money. Having said that, transport is relatively affordable, and exploring the Moscow Metro is like being in an art museum; parks, churches, and free walking tours provide a great way to save money, and it's possible to find deals at  restaurants to suit all budgets.

Tipping in Moscow  is not as widely expected as in other countries of the world. Tip tour guides around 10% of their daily rate, but in taxis, hotels, and restaurants only if the service warrants it.

Check out the currency conversions from the Russian Rouble here .

A few examples

Food and drink.

• Coffee: 65 - ₽ 150 ( US$ 1.60)
• Beer: ₽ 300 ( US$ 3.20)
• Small bottle of water: ₽ 100 ( US$ 1.10)
• Two-course meal in a restaurant: ₽ 1,200 ( US$ 12.80)
• Fixed-price lunch menu deal: 400 - ₽ 600 ( US$ 6.40)
• Single  metro  ticket: ₽ 55 ( US$ 0.60)
• Taxi from  Moscow Domodedovo Airport to the center: from ₽ 2,000 ( US$ 21.20)

Accommodation

• Single bed in a shared dorm room: from ₽ 600 ( US$ 6.40)
• Double room in a budget hotel: from ₽ 1,200 ( US$ 12.80)
• Well-rated, central hotels: from ₽ 3,000 ( US$ 31.90)
• Luxury hotels: from ₽ 10,000 ( US$ 106.40)

Entrance fees

• Entrance to the  Kremlin : ₽ 700 ( US$ 7.50)
• Entrance to the Pushkin Museum : ₽ 400 ( US$ 4.30)
• Entrance to the Tretyakov Gallery : ₽ 500 ( US$ 5.30)

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Spring, summer, autumn or winter: learn all about the weather in Moscow so you can decide when to travel and what to pack!

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Lincoln Square's Café Selmarie closes after more than 40 years in business

A popular restaurant in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood closed its doors on Saturday afternoon after more than 40 years in business.

Café Selmarie opened in 1983, serving pastries and coffee.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The café was founded by Birgit Kobayashi and Jeanne Uzdawinis, who met as neighbors on Giddings Street. It expanded over the years.

But now, Kobayashi is retiring.

Despite having a truly wonderful staff, Kobayashi said she is ready for a new chapter in her life.

"After cooking and baking for decades, it is time to sit down," Kobayashi said. "I want to travel with my husband and have time to indulge in other interests. We have met so many wonderful people over the years and celebrated birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations with them. We witnessed this sleepy northside enclave blossom into the vibrant, lovely Lincoln Square neighborhood at our front door. We are forever thankful to our customers for their support through all these years."

There's a new owner who plans open a restaurant called Willow Cafe and Bistro.

That coffee's going to cost you. Why java prices have skyrocketed

Your cup of joe may be under threat as coffee prices soar to new highs amid fears of a global shortage

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Article content

Coffee prices have joined cocoa in soaring to record highs. Extreme weather in top-producing countries Brazil and Vietnam has caused coffee prices to surge, spurring fears over shortages.

That coffee's going to cost you. Why java prices have skyrocketed Back to video

This month, futures for robusta reached an all-time high in data going back to 2008 . “There’s not much coffee left unsold in Vietnam,” Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodities at Rabobank, told the Financial Times .

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Vietnam is the world’s largest grower of robusta, the generally cheaper species used in instant coffee and espresso, and is second to Brazil in overall coffee production. Farmers were already under pressure. Now, during what’s supposed to be the country’s rainy season, a heatwave is damaging the crop, raising concerns of a global shortage and sparking a “buying spree.”

According to the Vietnam Coffee Cocoa Association, the country predicts a 20-per-cent drop in production in the current crop year. “Combined with the fact that the market is ‘waiting for rain’ in Vietnam’s coffee region, the supply situation will probably remain tense,” the association said in a recent report.

Meanwhile, extreme weather in Brazil is affecting arabica, the world’s most widely consumed brew and specialty coffee’s bean of choice.

Newsweek reports that arabica futures rose to the highest level since September 2022, partially due to atypical weather in the country’s coffee-growing regions. Minas Gerais, where roughly 30 per cent of Brazil’s arabica is grown, has been especially hard hit, with rainfall over three times the average at a crucial time for bean development.

“An El Niño pattern typically brings heavy rains to Brazil and drought to India, negatively impacting coffee crop production,” according to an Agriway Partners report. “The El Nino event may bring drought to Vietnam’s coffee areas.”

Surging prices pose a threat to coffee makers worldwide and could mean an increase in retail prices for coffee drinkers. (Canada is the sixth-largest importer of coffee in the world and the 10th-largest consumer at 6.5 kilograms per person per year.) Italian coffee company Lavazza recently said its profitability is suffering due to “the sharp increase in the cost of the raw material,” despite last year’s 13-per-cent increase in revenue.

Volatile prices also take a toll on the mental health of coffee farmers, according to a new international study published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics . “Our results suggest that not only poverty but also the risk of poverty caused by fluctuating prices has a significant additional negative effect on the mental well-being of farmers in low-income countries,” said Finn Tarp, professor at the University of Copenhagen and coordinator of the Development Economics Research Group .

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Agritourism involves travel, entertainment, adventure and agriculture, but, at its core, agritourism is really about connecting and educating. Join me to learn from experienced agritourism farmers and entrepreneurs, and help me build my future farm strategy.   

The Agri-Tourist, My Journey Back to Agriculture Jennifer Ross

• APR 27, 2024

A Chocolate & Coffee Agri-Tour Adventure with Moka Origins CEO Jeff Abella

Taste the Moka Origins lemon ginger chocolate bar and you'll experience real chocolate for the first time.  On this episode of The Agri-Tourist, meet social entrepreneur Jeff Abella, Co-Founder and CEO of Moka Origins.  Learn how his vision for the company was born in Cameroon, Africa and how it has evolved into the growing, socially responsible company it is today. Moka Origins handcrafts chocolate from cacao beans to the finished chocolate bar. They also carefully roast their coffee to bring out delicious flavors from around the world. But this company, out of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, is much more than a craft chocolate and coffee company.  The Moka Origins team is a global family working to transform lives by promoting innovative farming techniques while giving their farmers opportunities to create a sustainable livelihood. Their vision is for coffee and chocolate to empower communities around the world to survive and thrive. In addition to visiting their chocolate factory in Pennsylvania, you can also learn about chocolate and coffee through their incredible immersive agritourism adventures to Costa Rica, Uganda, and Mexico. On these trips you will connect with Moka’s global cacao and coffee sourcing partners, experience fair trade in action, and discover indigenous cultures, cuisines and epic landscapes, all while learning and volunteering.  Moka Origins Moka Origin Adventures About Jeff Abella , CEO & Co-Founder Moka Origins Visit the Chocolate Factory in Honesdale, PA  Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture. Agri-Tourist.com HeartBeet Farms Instagram About Jen Ross, The Agri-Tourist Podcast Host

• © 2024 The Agri-Tourist, My Journey Back to Agriculture

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

European beach beats Hawaii and Caribbean to be crowned best in the world

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The best beach in the world has been crowned by Tripadvisor – and it’s under three hours away from London .

Praia da Falésia in the Algarve , Portugal has finished in first place at the Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024, ahead of stunning locations in the Caribbean, Australia and the Seychelles. 

In fact the top three are all in Europe, with Spiaggia dei Conigli in Sicily and La Concha Beach in Spain taking second and third respectively. The highest Caribbean entry was Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos which came in at number five.

Though the UK failed to make the top 10 overall, we did win an award for having the most sustainable beach in the world. Sandbanks Beach in Poole, Dorset, got a special mention from the judges for its commitments to sustainability, including eco-friendly transport options, waste disposal and water quality.

The popular travel guidance platform analysed ‘tens of millions’ of reviews submitted by travellers over the past 12 months, looking particularly at the quality and quantity of ratings for beach experiences. 

Portugal’s Praia da Falésia is known for its dramatic red, sandy cliffs and golden sand. Reviewers who have been lucky enough to visit loved walking along the soft, powdery sand while admiring the views of the Atlantic Ocean.  

There are thousands of gushing reviews for the beach. A Tripadvisor user known as Waddler said of the location: ‘It reminded me of some remote beaches I’d been to in Western Australia, but here it has resorts around so is much more easily accessed.’

Another visitor, @grillo84BS, wrote about the walk they enjoyed from the beach Praia Maria Luisa towards Vilamoura, with Praia da Falésia being located in between both. ‘The colours of the cliffs are spectacular and you almost don’t realise how many kilometres you have travelled,’ they said about the award winning beach. ‘Highly recommended for those who love these scenarios.’

Meanwhile, @GlobetrottingViking said: ‘The red-coloured cliffs were magnificent and it was amusing to see the playful birds, like Ruddy Turnstones, Yellow-legged Gulls and a solitary Kestrel along the beach.’ 

Although the beach is often showered with praise, one criticism from reviewers is that it isn’t the most accessible place for those with mobility issues. Tripadvisor user @Steve_of_N21 commented: ‘Both the entry points at the Albufeira Surf Adventure and the Algarve Gardens Sports Resort involve steps, especially at the surf adventure where the wooden staircase down to the beach is an impressive piece of mechanical engineering.

‘Also Praia da Falésia is not blessed with facilities, with the Strandbar Alfamar at the Garden Sports entrance being about it.’

Top 10 beaches in the world for 2024

• Praia da Falésia- Algarve, Portugal
• Spiaggia dei Conigli – Sicily, Italy
• La Concha Beach, Basque Country, Spain
• Ka’anapali Beach – Maui, Hawaii
• Grace Bay Beach – Turks and Caicos, Caribbean
• Anse Lazio, Seychelles
• Manly Beach, New South Wales, Australia
• Eagle Beach- Aruba, Caribbean
• Siesta Beach, Florida, US
• Varadero Beach – Cuba, Caribbean

How much do flights from England to Faro cost?

The nearest airport to Praia da Falésia is Faro, which is a 40-minute drive away by car. Comboios De Portugal runs a train service from Estação Ferroviária de Lisboa Oriente (a major public transport stop) between Albufeira and Ferreiras five times a day. Tickets are typically priced between £14-£20 and the journey takes two hours and 36 minutes according to Rome2Rio. 

You can currently book a plane ticket from London Luton Airport to Faro for £58 with Ryanair. 

Other airlines that fly direct to Faro include Jet2, easyJet and British Airways, with flights priced between £108-£151. The non-stop flights usually last for around two hours and 50-55 minutes.

What is the weather like in the Algarve and when should you visit?

The Algarve is a top choice among travellers seeking warmth and sun even during the winter months. The Olhos de Agua region, where you’ll find Praia da Falésia has a Mediterranean climate, with long hot summers and relatively short winters. 

For the most heat, the best time to visit is between June and August. The hottest month of the year is July, which has an average high of 30°C and an average low of 22°c°. 

February is the coldest month of the year, but you would still be able to wear a t-shirt outdoors. During the second month of the year, the average high is 16°C and an average low of 10°C.

What are the top things to do and where should you stay at Praia da Falésia?

The beach is also listed number one for things to do in the Olhos de Agua region on Tripadvisor, however that doesn’t mean you have to spend the entire trip sunbathing (even though that does sound ideal). 

For a shopping spree, visit Albufeira’s old town – Avenida Dr Francisco Sa Carneiro – for souvenirs and clothes. You can also find an open-air mall with the easy to remember name Algarve Shopping, where you can buy anything from pottery to a new outfit, as well as local bars and restaurants, like Planet Fusion, The Three Harps and Symbiosis.

For tapas and booze, you can head to Fabio’s RoadStop, Platinum and Metrópole.

But let’s face it, the beach is an attraction itself and visitors can actually walk or hike from Praia Maria Luisa towards Vilamoura and pass through Praia da Falésia. 

The west side of the award-winning beach is where you’ll find the high red cliffs. This part is also referred to as Açoteias and a highly rated hotel in this era is the Epic Sana Algarve Beach Hotel.

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The east side of Praia da Falésia, towards Vilamoura, is referred to as Alfamar because of the nearby Alfamar Beach & Sport Resort. The lower parts of the cliffs can be found here, along with shallow waters where activities like paragliding, diving and surfing take place. 

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Woman left fighting for her life after drinking coffee filled with insects at airport

After lifting the lid of the coffee cup, she was met with a shocking sight.

Mia Williams

A 21-year-old woman was left struggling to breathe after drinking an insect-infested coffee at a Spanish airport .

The anonymous airline worker was waiting to board a flight from Son Sant Joan airport near Mallorca, Palma on April 22.

It’s not unusual for airline staff to have a caffeinated drink considering how much time they spend working in the air, and this woman was no different.

She approached the vending machine in the airport, and once the cup had stopped filling up, she took a sip of her drink, only to notice it didn’t taste like you would expect a coffee to.

Upon lifting the lid to check if the drink looked OK, she was greeted with the sight of insects floating around in her cup.

It didn’t take long for the effects of this to show, as the woman was soon thrown into anaphylactic shock .

This caused her face to swell up and her throat to narrow, making it difficult for her to breathe. She was also left with swelling on various other parts of her body.

Staff at the airport's health service were able to administer adrenaline alongside other drugs in the hopes that they would tackle the allergic reaction.

The woman was then taken to hospital and spent 36 hours in intensive care but was luckily discharged two days after the terrifying ordeal.

According to local publication Ultima Hora, the family of the 21-year-old have filed a complaint to National Police against the airport for allowing their services to be infected in such a life-threatening way.

In their statement, they emphasise that this infestation case should be taken as a crime against public health, which had severe consequences and resulted in reckless injuries.

The family also accused the airport staff of failing to make sure the machine was safe for use and did not check or maintain hygiene standards for customers.

The vending machine has now been marked as out of use.

Anaphylactic shocks are usually able to be treated with drugs that control the allergic reaction, but according to Gov.UK, they still kill 20-30 people per year.

LADbible Group contacted Son Sant Joan airport and the National Police for comment.

And this isn’t the only stomach-turning discovery as of late after a man found out he had 150 live bugs in his nose .

The unnamed Florida native told First Coast News: "Over a couple hours my face just started swelling, my lips swelled, I could hardly talk. My whole face felt like it was on fire.

“I started getting nose bleeds, constant nose bleeds. I couldn't even get up to go to the bathroom without my nose starting to bleed.

“When I went for the examination the doctor says, 'I see movement’.”

The patient was given an anti-parasitic as well as a special anti-parasitic rinse to clean his nose and will be evaluated as many as four times a year but is expected to make a full recovery.

Topics:  Travel , Health

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Kim Kardashian Is Not Here for This Coffee Accoutrement

Don't worry, Kim: We found some chic alternatives.

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

That's right: The reality star-turned-lawyer recently revealed to Jimmy Kimmel that she makes her assistants remove her cardboard coffee sleeve on her Starbucks order before delivering her daily dose of java.

The reason? She hates the feel (and sound!) of cardboard. "I can't see it being done or I can't hear it, and I can't feel it," Kardashian tells Kimmel. "The cardboard being moved off the cup is like nails on a chalkboard for me." (But before you think that Kardashian has a major cardboard phobia, the Skim founder makes it clear that it only applies to coffee sleeves.)

We know that everyone has their pet peeves—and misophonia is a real thing—but we can't help but feel that Kardashian's hangup is a little...well, silly. Not only can ditching a coffee sleeve be done in one swift, virtually painless motion, but the mere act of doing so is a little counterintuitive. Coffee sleeves typically help keep the caffeinated goodness inside the cup warmer for longer, which seems to be a non-negotiable for Kardashian, who also told Kimmel that she "hates being freezing." So, what's the alternative? Sipping on room-temperature coffee? No, thank you.

The good news is that, whether you order from Starbucks on the regular or make your cup of Joe at home, there are plenty of ways to keep your coffee warm sans sleeves. (Kim, if you're reading this, we found some chic alternatives you might want to try. Don't worry, you can thank us later!)

Ember Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2

Want to keep your coffee pipin' hot? There's an app—and a smart mug—for that. Ember's Bluetooth-enabled mug makes it possible to keep whatever you're sipping on at your preferred temperature, ranging from 120 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. On a full charge, the Ember Smart Mug 2 can stay warm for up to 80 minutes; however, you can place your mug on its accompanying charging coaster warmth all day long.

KINMINGZHU Assorted Colors Heat-Resistant Silicone Nonslip Coffee Cup Sleeve

Believe it or not, coffee sleeves don't have to be made from cardboard. Sold as a set of five, these silicone sleeves tick off all of the boxes—and then some. Not only is this alternative heat-resistant and insulating, but they're also reusable, which is great for anyone who wants to cut down waste. (Plus, the non-slip grip will keep any unpleasant noises to a minimum.)

Simple Modern Travel Coffee Mug Tumbler with Flip Lid

For another way to cut down on waste, ditch the disposable cups for a reusable tumbler like this one from Simple Modern. A dishwasher-safe, leak-proof lid will ensures a drip-free drink, while the double-wall insulation will keep beverage warm for up to four hours. On the style front, the sleek look will totally go with Kardashian's minimalist monastery .

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