Introduction: The Search for a Good Cup While Traveling

Away Game Coffee: Brewing Excellence on the Road – If you’ve spent years immersed in the world of specialty coffee, there’s one hard truth you learn when traveling: finding a consistently good cup is not easy. Whether you’re in a new city for work or leisure, the hunt for a decent coffee shop can become a time-consuming game of trial and error. While apps like Google Maps and social media recommendations help, they don’t always guarantee a cup that meets the high standards of a well-trained palate.

Over the years, I’ve developed a simple yet effective travel brewing setup that ensures I never have to compromise on quality. It’s a method that is both cost-effective and practical, requiring minimal gear but delivering a cup that rivals what you’d find in a high-end specialty café. Instead of scouring unfamiliar streets for a decent espresso, I’ve learned to bring my own experience into the process – no stress, no disappointment, just great coffee, anywhere.

My Travel Coffee Setup: Compact but Powerful

When traveling, space and efficiency matter. I don’t want to be lugging around a full coffee station, but I also don’t want to sacrifice quality. Through trial and error, I’ve narrowed my kit down to three essentials:

• Timemore Grinder – A hand grinder that offers consistency without taking up much space. It allows me to grind fresh, which is non-negotiable when brewing good coffee. This is a one off investment that you will need to make and hopefully like me you will cherish it! Look to spend around 75 pounds.
• Kalita Wave – A flat-bottom dripper that provides excellent control and balance, making it a favorite for brewing on the go.
• A Rare or Experimental Coffee – Whenever I travel, I bring a coffee that excites me—whether it’s a unique single-origin lot or a new experimental processing method. Exploring different coffees in different environments keeps the experience fresh.

With just these three elements, I can create a cup that I know will be enjoyable, no matter where I am.

The Airbnb Brew Method: Making It Work with What You Have

One of the biggest challenges when brewing away from home is dealing with unfamiliar setups. Not every Airbnb or hotel room is stocked with a gooseneck kettle or a proper coffee scale. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for bad coffee.

Here’s the method I use, which is both effective and replicates a cupping-like experience:

1. Find a vessel. If I don’t have a dedicated brewing pitcher, I’ll use whatever’s available—a small pot, a sturdy mug, or even a glass.
2. Grind the coffee fresh. I aim for a medium-fine consistency, similar to table salt.
3. Use our coffee ratio calculator (my go to is 1:16-17). That means for every gram of coffee, I add 16-17 grams (or ml) of filtered water. If I’m brewing a 20g dose, I’m using around 320-340ml of water.
4. Pour hot water into the vessel and mix. Without a proper stirring spoon, I use a sloshing technique—gently moving the vessel in a circular motion to ensure all grounds are saturated.
5. Let it steep for about 90 seconds. This brief immersion allows the coffee to develop deeper complexity.
6. Pour through the Kalita Wave. I use a filter paper that has been pre-rinsed to remove any papery taste.

This method is something I really enjoy because it respects the coffee’s natural qualities, allowing oxygen to interact with the brew and bring out the nuanced flavours in a way that mimics traditional cupping.

Why This Method Works: Unlocking Maximum Flavour

The reason I keep coming back to this technique is that it enhances flavour clarity while making brewing effortless. The combination of immersion, oxygenation, and percolation encourages the coffee to open up, highlighting both its sweetness and acidity.

By steeping the coffee first, I allow the flavours to settle before filtering, which smooths out the extraction. The swirling motion provides gentle agitation without over-extracting, creating a brew that is both balanced and full-bodied. In many ways, this method is a hybrid between a cupping and a pour-over—offering the control of the latter while embracing the full-spectrum extraction of the former.

The Ultimate Travel Hack: Save Time, Save Money, Enjoy Better Coffee

For me, traveling is about experiencing a new place, not spending half my time searching for coffee that meets my expectations. By carrying this simple brewing kit, I eliminate the need to gamble on unknown cafes or settle for subpar coffee.

Not only does this method save me time, but it also saves me money—no more spending $5+ per cup just to roll the dice on quality. Instead, I can wake up, brew something I know I’ll enjoy, and start the day right.

After working in coffee for so long, I’ve developed a taste memory that demands a certain level of precision—sweetness, acidity, and balance are non-negotiable. This travel setup ensures I never have to settle, no matter where I am.

Closing Thoughts: Take Your Coffee Ritual Anywhere

If you’re someone who values great coffee and wants to ensure quality even while traveling, I highly recommend refining your own “away game” setup. Experiment with different brewing methods, find the gear that works best for you, and embrace the freedom of never having to rely on luck to get a good cup.

If you have your own go-to travel coffee setup, I’d love to hear about it! Share your tips, methods, or favorite travel brewers in the comments below. Let’s keep the conversation brewing. ☕