AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Maker

The whole AeroPress Go kit packs into its own mug. The brewer, a smaller version of the original AeroPress, nests inside a lightweight, microwaveable cup with a silicone lid, so the cup that holds the coffee is also the case that carries everything.

Brewing is quick: add ground coffee and hot water, wait 30 seconds, then press. AeroPress says a cup takes under two minutes, and the design borrows from a French press, a pour-over and espresso all at once. Air pressure pushes the coffee through a fine filter, which the company credits for a smooth cup without bitterness or grit. Cleanup is popping out the spent grounds and giving it a rinse. The owner gets full control over brew time, water temperature and grind size, so it can make an everyday cup, iced coffee, cold brew or a strong espresso-style base for a latte.

It suits the commuter who keeps a bag of beans in a desk drawer, the camper, the hiker, and the traveler who would rather not drink whatever the hotel room provides. It’s small enough that it doesn’t need to earn its place in a carry-on.

The catch: it still needs hot water and ground coffee from somewhere. On a trail or in a hotel, that means packing a way to heat water, and probably a hand grinder too.