This holiday season, 
while visiting grandma and grandpa, or anyone else you might be traveling to see. Thanks to these three travel-sized innovations in the coffee industry, you can have a great cup of coffee anywhere you go. Perhaps Santa should pay your home an early visit and bring you some of these pieces? It might just make the whole holiday-traveling season go a little smoother for everyone.
Porlex Mini Coffee Grinder
Most people’s introduction into good coffee begins with freshly grinding it at home, but most people don’t bring a grinder with them on the road. Instead of going back to your pre-ground days, consider investing in Porlex’s Mini Coffee Grinder.
The Mini Coffee Grinder is a ceramic burr grinder, making it better than any blade grinder your relatives may have in the back of the cupboard. As with any decent burr grinder, the burrs can be adjusted for anything from turkish coffee to a french press. Porlex also offers a larger size, but the Mini’s 5.1-in. height will leave more room in your stocking (and your luggage) for other things.
AeroPress Coffee Maker
The AeroPress Coffee Maker is a lot like a french press, except that it is smaller, faster and better for travel. The AeroPress uses an immersion method of brewing, as do french presses, but it takes much less time to brew a cup: one minute instead of four or five. When you have to face in-laws first thing in the morning or kids are racing to their stockings, shortening the brew time by 3 to 4 minutes may make a big difference in the morning.
The AeroPress can be used to brew American-style coffee and espresso, but incorporating any espresso shots into a latte on the road involves a lot more equipment and work. You will probably just want to stick with drinking it like a normal cup of coffee, or perhaps an americano.
Chef’s Choice Compact Electric Kettle
If, for some reason, you will find yourself without hot water during the holidays, you will want a travel kettle. We like the Chef’s Choice Compact Electric Kettle, because the cord retracts into the base and the kettle, itself, is cordless. While not a goose neck kettle, this kettle will allow enough control to brew a decent cup and maintain a tidy kitchen with minimum spills.
A good cup of coffee may not completely eliminate the stress that accompanies holiday travel, but it can help a great deal. Ensure you will be able to enjoy the perfect cup on the road by putting these ideas on your wishlist–and bribing Santa to come a little early this year.
