Caffeinating whilst traveling

It's true, it's my little luxury that I take oh-so seriously

Sometimes people need a little practical advice, and guess what - even I am capable of sharing exactly some.

I love to drink coffee. I am addicted it is true. When my little eyes open every morning my waking thought is not world peace and rainbows with kittens, it’s coffee.

And not just any old cup.

Like the good specialized coffee stuff. If you’re friends with me you have been dragged around the planet to find some hipster specialized coffee shop to have a coffee beverage and to buy beans. And yes, dragged is light worded here, some may use words like heaved, maybe tugged, or hauled. And yes it is very true that these destinations have mostly not been on the way, or even remotely in the same direction as what we were heading in. That is valid.

There is a certain Boca Raton incident I remember now, and yes it did make us late for literally everything else for that day.

Oh and then that time we missed the train in Brussels…and the other time. Ok never mind this.

But it’s always worth it.

For me that is.

And thank you for indulging me.

But everyone (mostly) is happy as they are assured I come with great coffee wherever we travel. And hopefully they have enjoyed the pour overs that have emerged from all this fuss. But, of course, now everyone makes fun of me, this indulgence that makes me traipse all over the world in hunt for beans to serve with my coffee set up. Or even just the act of hunting for fresh coffee shops where I can drink coffee, buy coffee and talk to strangers.

I was traveling last week and some gentleman complimented my hat whilst I was sitting on a tram. So we turned towards each other, and it transpired that he was heading to his hotel room to make himself a gorgeous cup of pour over coffee, as he travels with a whole coffee making set up. So we struck up a little friendship based on our little quirk.

But I have also curated a little meditative way that I bring coffee on the road whilst traveling. Something about hand grinding in the morning I think sets me right for the day. And since people ask me often how to do it, here are some ways that I have done it that has worked well for me. And maybe it inspires you to get hooked up. We deserve better than gas station coffee. Even the Green Mermaid can only get you so far. And don’t get me started on those pods in a machine that has never ever ever been cleaned.

You never know, next week I shall be on the Belmond train going through the Sacred Valley and up to Machu Picchu - will they have fantastic coffee or will I be left sad with Nespresso pods? So this is why I travel ever-so-prepared.

You want a pour over coffee

I mostly travel with a pour over delivery system that is a V60, some paper filters and a hand grinder. And then you just need to call downstairs for hot water, or flip a tea kettle switch if your hotel room has one. Now Hario has a great hand grinder that I love if space is not an issue - made in Japan.

I recommend their ceramic Skeleton Plus grinder for this purpose with a burr that gives you a perfect grrrrrrrrind.

And then you need a way to serve this deliciously ground coffee. Now I love the Pouragami as it folds flat. It has these three stainless steel panels that orient and interlock for easy assembly and it has a pouch for the filters you need.

But you might want to take a little kettle with you also, just in case you need to create your own hot water for your coffee. The Fellow goose neck kettle is my favorite, as it’s fun to pour with it. You have to plug it into electricity, or if you are able to Beetle Juice Beetle Juice Beetle Juice create your own spark.

I don’t know what you do if you don’t have electricity, I am not the camping type so I can’t really help with that. Just ask someone to bring you hot water? I’d be sending for help at this point anyway.

You want a French Press

MiiR has a perfect French Press that can pack up nicely if you’re road tripping, or if you’re checking luggage. You add hot water, wait for 4-5 minutes, plunge and voila you’re French.

You want an espresso

This I love. A little espresso machine on the go. I mean come on, genius. It doesn’t weigh much so you can simply throw it into a bag. It is called Picopresso by Wacaco. And it has enough pressure to deliver a perfect shot. Now you can also get a scale if you want to be precise, and they have a fabulous grinder also. Here is a little video on how it works. I have visions for everyone making these in their hotel rooms in hot Las Vegas, at that friend’s house that only drinks Dunkin’ extra extra extra French roast, and even from the back of the Tesla when they’re charging in Fargo, ND. Just indulge me.

This is their Exagrind hand grinder that has this perfect handle that is comfortable and you can even adjust the grind to suit your needs. I must say I do love the feel of it.

And if you want to nerd out fully get a scale, why not. Science! The Exagram scale for coffee weighing. I mean it makes a difference when you get the grams right, sort of like drugs, or baking, or really anything. You need a scale.

You want another pour over

Now VSSL gear has this fantastic all in one kit that I think is nice if you’re outdoorsy. Outdoorsy for me means sitting outside on the deck in the sunshine.

But hey, to each their own.

It’s called a Nest Pour Over Set and comes with a grinder also. It all fits into the canister and even has two cups to drinks from.

But there are some fantastic hotels that have the whole shebang set up right in your room - no Keurig, no Nespresso Clooney nonsense, no weird pouch.

The Roost Apartment Hotel (my favorite is their Baltimore property in the Baltimore Peninsula) stocks each in-room coffee bar with $750 worth of equipment. As a Roost guest you can grind your own beans (they stock with local roasters) in a Baratza Virtuoso Grinder, then heat their Vero filtered water to a perfect Fahrenheit in a Bonavita Gooseneck Electric Kettle before pouring it through a glass Chemex Coffee maker resting atop a Hario Drip Scale. plus they have a Bonita coffee machine in case you prefer that. Hooked up I say.

And this fabulous hotel in Tsiblisi, Georgia called Stamba Hotel has a $4k in-room La Marzocco espresso machine.

Thank you, checking in.

The Durham in NC has a fabulous coffee program. When you spend the night with them they will deliver your choice of freshly-ground Counter Culture Coffee to your door each morning.

Any other hotels that you might want to add to the list?