Guide · Manual brewers
Best travel coffee maker: portable brewers for hotels, camping and the office
The AeroPress Go, two Wacaco portable espresso makers, a press-in-the-mug and a plastic V60 cone, compared for hotel rooms, campsites and desks, with UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026.
Hotel sachets, campsite instant and the office jar all have one thing in common: they’re rarely the coffee you’d make at home. This is our best travel coffee maker UK guide, and the right pick comes down to where you’ll brew, what hot water you’ll have and whether you want a mug of filter-style coffee or a short espresso. We’ve compared five portable brewers sold in the UK, from a plastic pour-over cone to a hand-pumped espresso maker. We haven’t tested this in person. Our picks are based on the makers’ published specs, UK retailer listings and prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Best travel coffee maker UK: the short answer
Buy the AeroPress Go if you want one brewer for hotel rooms, campsites and desks. It’s £49.99 at AeroPress UK, checked 3 Oct 2026, and Barista Shop had it for £48.00 on the same date. AeroPress says the brewer packs into its own microwaveable mug, with a holder for 25 filters, and that brewing and cleaning take about two minutes.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants espresso with crema, or coffee for more than one person at a time. AeroPress lists its capacity as 8oz, or one cup.
Get the Wacaco Nanopresso if you want espresso-style shots on the move for the least money. It’s £59.90 at WildBounds, checked 3 Oct 2026. Wacaco lists a weight of 336g, an 80ml water tank and a built-in cup.
Who it isn’t for: anyone without a fine grinder or ready-ground espresso coffee. Wacaco recommends an extra-fine grind.
Choose the Wacaco Picopresso if you take espresso seriously and don’t mind a learning curve. It’s £119.90 at Wacaco’s own store (UK prices), checked 3 Oct 2026. Wacaco lists an 18g double basket, a naked portafilter and a two-year warranty.
Who it isn’t for: beginners and anyone on a budget. It’s twice the price of the Nanopresso and Wacaco itself says there are no shortcuts with it.
Skip the kit with the Bodum Travel Press 0.35L if you just want to brew and drink in the same mug. It’s £14.99 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who hates sediment. A mesh press lets more fine grounds through than paper.
Pack the Hario V60 Plastic Dripper if weight and cost matter most. Size 01 is £8.00 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: anyone without a kettle they can pour slowly from. A cone needs a steady pour.
Which kind of travel coffee maker suits you?
There are four broad types, and each one suits a different trip.
- Travel presses like the AeroPress Go steep the coffee, then push it through a filter. They’re forgiving, quick and tough. Our guide on how to use an AeroPress covers the maker’s recipe for the Go, so we won’t repeat it here.
- Portable espresso makers like Wacaco’s use a hand pump to push hot water through finely ground coffee. They make a short, strong drink, not a mug of coffee.
- Press bottles and press mugs work like a cafetière you can drink from. Add coffee and hot water, wait, then press.
- Pour-over cones sit on a mug and drip through a paper filter. They’re the lightest option, but they need a little technique.
If you’re mainly after something to keep coffee hot on the way to work, rather than a brewer, see our guide to the best travel mug.
The picks in more detail
AeroPress Go
The AeroPress Go is £49.99 at AeroPress UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. AeroPress describes the Go as a travel version of its brewer, with a lightweight, shatterproof mug and a silicone lid that double as its carry case. It lists the mug as microwaveable and the parts as dishwasher safe on the top rack only. It also lists a height of 4.5in and a width of 3.6in, a stirrer and scoop sized for the Go, and a one-year warranty. AeroPress makes the claims about less bitterness and no grit, so treat them as the maker’s.
For hotels, it’s the easiest pick. A room kettle is all you need: AeroPress’s brewing guide suggests 85°C water, but says to use boiling water if you don’t have a temperature-control kettle.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who’d rather not carry paper filters. You’ll need to restock them.
Wacaco Nanopresso
The Nanopresso is a hand-pumped espresso maker, at £59.90 at WildBounds, checked 3 Oct 2026. Wacaco lists a maximum pressure of 18 bar, a pressurised portafilter, an 80ml water tank, 8g of ground coffee (16g with an add-on) and a one-year warranty. It says the pouch, scoop and brush come in the box. It was also £59.90 at Wacaco’s own store (UK prices), checked 3 Oct 2026.
You still need hot water from somewhere. A hotel kettle or a camping stove works, but there’s no heater built in.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who drinks long coffees. 80ml of water makes a short drink, so add hot water afterwards for something closer to an americano.
Wacaco Picopresso
The Picopresso is Wacaco’s more advanced manual model, at £119.90 at Wacaco (UK prices), checked 3 Oct 2026. It lists a 52mm stainless steel basket holding 18g, a naked portafilter, a weight of 350g and a maximum pressure of 18 bar. Wacaco says the box includes a tamper, a distribution tool, a funnel and a protective case. It was also £119.90 at WildBounds, checked 3 Oct 2026, but showed as out of stock there.
Who it isn’t for: anyone without a grinder that can go ultra-fine, which is what Wacaco recommends. A basic hand grinder may struggle.
Bodum Travel Press 0.35L
The Bodum Travel Press is £14.99 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026. Barista Shop lists a 0.35-litre double-wall mug with a silicone sleeve and a four-minute brew using coarse coffee. It’s cheap and simple, and it suits a desk drawer or a commute. We cover it, and Bodum’s steel Vacuum Travel Press, in more depth in our AeroPress alternatives guide.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants paper-filtered clarity. The AeroPress Go or a V60 gives a cleaner cup.
Hario V60 Plastic Dripper, size 01
Size 01 is £8.00 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026. Barista Shop lists the plastic V60 in sizes 01, 02 and 03, with size 02 at £8.99 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026. Size 01 uses 01 filters, which Barista Shop says brew one to two cups. A pack of 100 was £8.90 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026. Barista Shop describes it as useful when travelling, and it suits a desk drawer or a camping box.
Who it isn’t for: anyone in a hotel room with only a wide-spouted kettle. Pouring slowly from one is fiddly.
Grinding on the go
Fresh grinding makes a difference, but it adds weight. You’ve got three options:
- Pre-grind at home and pack the coffee in an airtight bag. It’s the easiest option for a short trip.
- Pack a hand grinder. This is the better route for the Wacaco makers, which need very fine coffee.
- Buy ground coffee for your method. For an AeroPress, our guide to the best coffee for AeroPress lists UK supermarket options.
The right grind changes with the brewer: coarse for a press mug, medium-fine for an AeroPress and very fine for portable espresso. Our AeroPress grind size guide explains how grind and steep time affect each other.
A simple packing list
- The brewer, plus filters if it uses paper.
- Coffee, pre-ground or whole beans with a grinder.
- A way to heat water: the hotel kettle, a camping stove or the office kettle.
- A mug, unless your brewer packs into one.
- A small bag for used grounds and filters when there’s no bin nearby.
Downsides
- None of these heat water. You’ll always need a kettle or stove.
- Portable espresso takes effort. Both Wacaco makers are pumped by hand, and they need finer coffee than most supermarket ground coffee.
- Paper runs out. The AeroPress Go and V60 need filters, which are easy to forget.
- Stock varies. The Picopresso was out of stock at WildBounds when we checked.
FAQ
What’s the best travel coffee maker for a hotel room? For most people, the AeroPress Go. It packs into its own mug and works with water straight from a room kettle.
Can you make espresso while travelling? Yes, with a portable espresso maker such as the Wacaco Nanopresso (£59.90 at WildBounds, checked 3 Oct 2026) or Picopresso. You’ll need finely ground coffee and hot water.
What’s the cheapest travel coffee maker here? The Hario V60 Plastic Dripper, size 01, at £8.00 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026. You’ll also need filters.
Where can you buy these? AeroPress Go at AeroPress UK, Wacaco Nanopresso at WildBounds, Wacaco Picopresso at Wacaco, Bodum Travel Press at Barista Shop and Hario V60 Plastic Dripper at Barista Shop.