There are two things I live for: beautiful hotels and excellent coffee. The two, unfortunately, don’t always go hand in hand. I’ve stayed in some of the most luxurious properties around the globe, from overwater villas in Tahiti to historic hotels in Egypt, and it never ceases to amaze me how few invest in their coffee programs—especially at remote resorts where there’s nowhere nearby to find a better option. There are, of course, exceptions to this—like the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, which offers a solid specialty coffee menu, along with coffee tastings and barista-led classes, and Explora Journeys’ ships, which are effectively floating hotels with better on-board cafés than most vacation spots.
While Nespresso machines are offered in most luxury hotel rooms, it’s often the hotel restaurants that surprise me—particularly when they opt for automated machines rather than a quality espresso maker and trained baristas. A poorly made latte is frankly the last thing I want at a stunning property, especially when morning coffee is such an instrumental part of my routine.
On a two-week trip to Egypt, my equally hotel-obsessed friend had the brilliant idea to pack some travel-friendly essentials to make our own lattes. I initially thought it was comical, but after questionable coffee experiences everywhere from Turks & Caicos and Bora Bora, to, surprisingly, St. Barts, I’ve begun to follow suit. This list might seem over the top to some, but for fellow coffee lovers, it can be a game changer. Below, five small-but-mighty essentials to pack on your next trip for a five-star cup of coffee wherever you are.
Outin
Mino portable electric espresso machine
At just 1.5 pounds and 9 inches tall, this portable espresso machine—which is about the size of a standard water bottle–takes up minimal suitcase space. To pull off a quality espresso-based drink on the road, I’d argue that the espresso maker is equally as important as the beans themselves. The OutIn takes both pre-ground coffee and Nespresso’s original pods. After plenty of research, this one easily wins: Not only does its 22-bar pressure create café-quality espresso, it can heat cold water, too, meaning I don’t have to rely on a hotel room kettle. It’s also easy to clean and only takes about four minutes to brew an espresso shot. I’m most likely to pack this for longer trips, or somewhere remote where I know my coffee options will be limited.
Blue Bottle
Whole Bean organic coffee
Subminimal
NanoFoamer V2 performance milk foamer
As someone who prefers her lattes and cappuccinos on the creamier side, a solid milk frother is a must. I use the Nespresso Aeroccino at home, but the much more compact NanoFoamer V2 does a comparable job with café-quality foam, in addition to being lightweight and easy to rinse. It runs on AA batteries, which also means one less USB-C device to keep charged on the road. The Nano Foamer works well to foam both dairy milks and alternatives like oat and almond. I usually pick up Malk’s original oat milk locally if I’m traveling to areas that have grocers or shops, or I’ll ask room service what options they have available. Of note, the foamer won’t heat up your milk—so I typically will use a microwave, or ask for a warm cup of water at a hotel.
Sip Solo
Beverage syrup variety pack
Flavor or sweetener is entirely personal, but I like having the option. These small, individually packaged syrups (about the size of a tea bag and designed for a single beverage) are much easier to pack than a liquid bottle, which can be both heavy and prone to leaks. I recently traveled with this variety pack which included rose vanilla—a favorite of mine—along with options like lavender honey, pistachio coconut, and salted pecan praline.
Nespresso
Loop mug & lid set
A portable coffee mug is as much a style symbol as it is a practicality. I’ve been a longtime fan of this neutral-colored, medium-size cup from Nespresso that also works well on the plane. This option is sustainable, too: Over a third of its materials are from coffee bean husks. It’s also easy to hold and sip from, whether you’re stationary or out for a stroll. This cup fits easily into my new Béis Weekender bag, and is both lightweight and easy to rinse out, making it a repeat guest on my travels.
Five items dedicated to making coffee might sound like a lot of precious suitcase real estate, but after waking up to some pretty bad lattes around the world, I’ve decided they’re worth the effort. For a quick weekend to Paris, I’ll likely leave the setup at home—but if I’m headed on a longer trip or to somewhere remote (or just not coffee-centric), these are all coming with me.
