For many travelers, on-the-go coffee tools are just as important as comfortable shoes and a passport. But you can鈥檛 lug a Keurig around in your duffle. That鈥檚 when you need these 11 portable items designed to help you brew a perfect cup of joe鈥攏o matter where the road takes you.
Jiva Coffee Cubes ($5 for a 4-pack)
Add one family farm-sourced Colombian coffee cube鈥攁bout the size of two sugar cubes鈥攖o four to six ounces of hot water or milk, wait 30 seconds, stir, and you鈥檙e good to go. Each Jiva Coffee Cube is vegan, gluten free, and kosher, and comes in flavors such as caramel, french vanilla and hazelnut. Choose your dose, as cubes range in strength from 35 to 110 milligrams of caffeine. (The average cup of coffe has 95 milligrams.) The company also offers a line of decadent hot chocolate cubes, made from criollo cacao beans and pre-sweetened with raw, unrefined cane sugar.
AeroPress ($32)
A small, plastic coffee maker, the can churn out coffee and espresso drinks without electricity. For French press-style coffee, you鈥檒l use a plunger to pump coffee grinds and hot water through a cap with an integrated filter. Tip: For an environmentally-friendly cup of joe, a makes for a zero-waste beverage
Bonavita BonaVoyage Travel Kettle ($30)
You need hot water to make coffee on the road. That鈥檚 where the half-liter, stainless steel comes in handy. The tool boils water in about four minutes, and weighs less than a pound-and-a-half鈥攑erfect for sliding into your carry-on. This also works great in conjunction with the above-mentioned AeroPress, which fits neatly inside of the kettle.听Bonus: the kettle鈥檚 auto-shutoff capability saves energy when not in use. But get on the waiting list now: the Travel Kettle is out of stock until January.
Sprayable Energy ($15)
Want to skip the cup of morning joe, but still need the caffeine kick? Check out , a colorless, odorless caffeine vapor you spray onto your skin for an energy boost without the calories or crashes. Each lipstick-sized bottle contains 160 sprays鈥攁bout 40 applications鈥攁nd is TSA-approved for your carry-on.
Bonavita Immersion Dripper ($40)
French Press-meets-pour-over with the a porcelain single-cup brewing system that makes coffee in about three minutes. In a traditional pour-over coffee brewer, water runs through the coffee grinds. But with the Bonavita, the coffee stays submerged until you release the water with a lever. You鈥檒l add water, coffee, and a filter.
Avex Autoseal Aria Stainless Travel Mug ($23)
Every traveler needs a reliable mug. We like the 16-ounce because it keeps coffee hot for up to five hours and the automatic button lock seals the lid so it鈥檚 100-percent leak-proof. Best for road trips and throwing in your carry-on.
Handpresso Wild Hybrid ($129)
With the two-in-one , you use either grounds or Easy Serving Espresso (or ESE) pods to make a great cup of coffee. The 16-bar pressure system, which weighs about a pound, features a pump with a vessel at the end where you place the espresso grounds or ESE pod. Just pour water in and let the liquid caffeine pour into your cup.
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The Collapsible Java Drip ($13)
Thirsty? can make up to 12 cups of coffee. Fill a number-four filter with grounds, then place it in the conical tool. Nestle it over your mug or travel thermos, pour water over it, and voil脿鈥攃offee. The silicon device collapses into an one-inch-thick disk, and the cover does double duty as protector and lid.
Caffeinated Candy ($15)
Four of these marble-sized contain 100 milligrams of caffeine鈥攅quivalent to about one cup of coffee. Satiate your java craving and your sweet tooth at the same time: the candies are made of milk chocolate and infused with caffeine.
Sea Salt & Coffee Scrub Natural Soap ($5)
No, you shouldn鈥檛 consume this and it likely won鈥檛 compare to your morning cup of coffee, but it will give you fragrant boost.听Created by , the is a coffee-infused soap that cleans skin and tightens pores鈥攁ll thanks to those magic java properties. Skin absorbs 60 percent of what we use topically, according to the company, so if you feel more energized after your shower, thank the suds. Bonus: It鈥檚 also a natural insect repellent thanks to the eucalyptus and lemon oils.
KonaRed ($20 for 15 servings)
Hawaii-based KonaRed鈥檚 bottled coffee cherry juices are too large to fit in your carry-on, but its takes up no more room than a bag of Wet-Naps.听Coffee cherry skins鈥攖he sweet and juicy outside of the coffee fruit that coffee beans grow inside of鈥攁re said to pack more antioxidants than blueberries. Tip: Hawaii locals sometimes use KonaRed for a healthy cocktail mixer.
Java Gum ($3)
puts your daily caffeine jolt right in your pocket, with no spills or stained teeth to worry about. These dime-sized sugar-free gum tablets come in peppermint and spearmint flavors, containing 65 milligrams of caffeine in each. For those on a budget, think of it this way: A pack of Java Gum contains 8 pieces for $2.99. That鈥檚 8 small coffees for less than $3.