Traveling tips, deals, info from moms and families

October 3, 2022 //  by Mary Moore

Is it worth packing a portable espresso maker? If you’re someone who can’t do the things without a high-quality espresso drink, then the answer’s “yes.” There’s nothing worse than hitting the 3 o’clock wall on a road trip and there’s not a coffee shop in sight.

Worse? You wake up on a camping trip and your only option is a weak cup of campfire joe. You scream to the trees…”I want my morning cappuccino!” The trees are not amused. Neither are your tent mates.

Get the cup of coffee you need when you want it. Here’s a list of the top picks for the best travel espresso makers based on weight, ease of use, brewing method and heat source. Some require hot water; others don’t. Check the specs for the model that will work best for you. Keep calm and brew on!

The Wacaco Nanopresso checks a lot of boxes when it comes to making a great shot of espresso on the go. Its hand-powered pump is easy to operate and no batteries or electricity are needed. All you will need is boiling water and your favorite ground coffee beans. In just a few minutes, you‘ll be able to savor a delicious cup of espresso with one of the best layers of crema we‘ve seen come from a portable espresso maker!

The Wacaco Nanopresso portable espresso maker is also one of the lightest and smallest portable espresso makers we‘ve reviewed. It also comes with its own measuring cup/scoop, tamper, cleaning brush, filter basket, carrying pouch and drinking cup. Plus, with a series of fun color options, you can find the perfect hue to “espresso“ yourself.

Another one of the great travel espresso makers is the CERA+ Portable Espresso Maker. This self-heating machine can work with either cold or pre-heated water. This feature is great for time when you only have a bottle of water in your bag. Just fill it up with your favorite coffee capsule or coffee grounds, add your water and in 4 minutes your brew is ready to enjoy.

Another thing we love is that the CERA+ Portable Espresso Maker is rechargeable by a type-c cable and charger. It even works with a car charger, which is also included in the bundle package travel coffee kit.

Travel coffee kit includes portable espresso maker, carrying case, filter basket, capsule adapter, type-c cable, car charger, cleaning brush and instructions.

If you’re often pressed for time and want to be able to make a shot of espresso quickly, the STARESSO Portable Espresso Machine is a great option. It’s easy to use AND easy to clean. Plus, it’s made with a stainless steel inner tank so if you plan to take it camping with you or just want something less plastic…give this one a try. All you‘ll need is access to hot water and a bit of your favorite coffee. Did we mention you can also choose to use either coffee capsules or your favorite ground coffee? No? Well, you can!

The STARESSO Portable Espresso Machine includes a Staresso Glass, spoon and cleaning brush.

Pro Tip: Coffee lovers, remember to practice being your own barista at home first. That way, you’ll know what additional gadgets or specialty drink extras (like simple syrups) you’ll like to pack in your bag and bring with you.

Also known as a Moka pot, the Bialetti Moka Express is an Italian-style stovetop espresso maker – and it’s actually made in Italy! While this portable espresso machine is a bit more primitive and bulky than some others and needs an external heat source to brew, those looking for a “true espresso“ experience may be able to look past those negatives.

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Besides nostalgia, the Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker is super easy to clean up as the instructions say to only rinse it with clean water after use, no detergents. This is a plus for anyone looking to use their travel espresso maker while camping. Have a few friends joining you on your camping trip? This option allows you to make up to 3 cups of espresso at once – more than many of the other portable espresso maker options out there.

The Wacaco Minipresso is a great option if you’re looking for something with a compact design that you can easily toss in your bag. In fact, this travel espresso maker ranks pretty high on our list because you‘re able to make a quality espresso with very few extras to pack. Because the WACACO Minipresso NS works with Nespresso capsules, you can leave your bulky bag of coffee, measuring spoon and coffee grinder at home!

Besides your favorite Nespresso capsules, all you’ll need for the brewing process is a way to heat water. Many travelers choose to use their hotel microwave or campfire, just be sure to use a separate safe container to do so. After that, simply pour the hot water into the Minipresso‘s water tank, unlock the piston and hand pump until you have a tasty cup of fresh espresso to enjoy.

Side note: The WACACO Minipresso doesn’t come with any accessories (like some of the other options), but you can buy a carrying case, tamping mat and a larger water container separately through Amazon. You can also buy a ground coffee version here.

Pro Tip: If you’re staying in a hotel with a free breakfast bar, utilize the items they have provided (like milk, sugar and ice) to make your own delicious coffee drink similar to an iced latte.

A great feature of the CONQUECO Portable Espresso Makers is that it allows you to make an espresso shot with either hot or cold water. This makes it perfect for camping or for making a coffee beverage without any access to an external heat source, like at a highway rest area. Road warriors, I’m looking at you!

When using cold water, you’ll simply press the switch button for 2 seconds and the coffee machine will start self-heating and will automatically pump for you. This process takes about 8-12 minutes. And you don’t need to worry about your device running out of battery while traveling because the CONQUECO Portable Espresso Maker is equipped with a car charger(12V 7A) as well as a home charger(12V 2A). Did we mention it will also run an auto wash?

You can also pick up this bundle package with a branded CONQUECO travel case to keep all of your accessories organized and secure.

The Cafflano Kompresso is part of a fully hand-powered travel coffee maker line of products. There’s something for everyone, including a pour-over coffee maker with a grinder, drip kettle, stainless steel filter, dripper, tumbler and lid all in one. But what we want to focus on today is the Cafflano Kompresso, a light travel espresso maker with high pressure for an extraction force over 9 bars!

What makes the Kompresso unique is that it makes a cold espresso using cold water. This is great for people without a heat source to make hot water. It is also the lightest and most compact of the travel espresso makers we’ve reviewed! While it may be little, it doesn’t lack any of the necessary gadgets to create a great cup of espresso. There’s even a built-in tamper

If you‘re looking to have a great espresso maker that‘s easy to use on long road trips, the Outin Portable Mini Espresso Machine is an excellent choice. It heats cold water and extracts espresso automatically. Just one press of a button starts the process, which only takes about 3-4 minutes to complete.

Because you‘ll want to use the Outin Portable Mini Espresso Machine over and over again, keep it charged using a Type C Cable (included) attached to either a USB cord or car charger (neither is included).

The long-lasting charge of the VentureBrew Portable Espresso Maker makes it a popular choice for travelers. When fully charged, this coffee gadget can heat and brew five cups of espresso with cool water. If you have a way to heat your water first, you can brew between 50-100 cups on a single charge!

Being a self-contained, hand-held device, the VentureBrew can heat and prepare a shot of espresso in 5 minutes or less. Simply fill it with water, a coffee pod or your favorite ground coffee and touch the start button. After twisting off the built-in cup and enjoying your brew, you can simply allow the machine to self clean. It’s easy, quick and can easily serve your needs during a long weekend away from home.

With the HiBREW Portable Espresso Maker, you can break free from the anxiety of finding your specific type of coffee refill while away from home. That‘s because this product offers you more choices in coffee type than any of the other espresso makers we’ve reviewed. You can use Nespresso capsules, Dolce Gusto capsules or your favorite ground coffee.

The HiBREW Electric Espresso Maker is also rechargable, so no power outlet or batteries are needed on a daily basis. You’re free to enjoy whatever coffee you’d like, wherever you’d like!

The Flair Signature Espresso Maker is a manual espresso press that is geared toward people wanting to have complete control over the process. Each kit comes with a custom pressure gauge with the capability to brew between 6-9 bars of pressure.

While this espresso maker is the largest and heaviest of the travel espresso makers we’ve reviewed, it does come with a precision cut, padded carrying case. It definitely makes sense if you want something you can pack for your stay in a vacation rental or take with you to a hotel with kitchen space.

If you like to go between a good espresso beverage and a french press coffee, depending on the day, the AeroPress Go Portable Travel Coffee Press is an excellent choice for you. It doesn‘t require electricity or a recharge and can brew either a hot coffee or espresso in just around a minute.

While some baristas shy away from the AeroPress because they don’t consider it a “true espresso,” we love the flexibility it offers to craft more than one type of beverage and the larger water tank—meaning you can make either 8 oz. of coffee or 1-3 shots of espresso on a single plunge.

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