Traveling with Coffee

[Jenne]

A spin-off from <a href="http://forums.tombihn.com/questions-about-bags-accessories/3385-aeronaut-tristar-3.html#post25203">Aeronaut vs Tristar:</a> Do you travel with a coffee kit? What do you carry in your kit?

Part of the reason I'm asking is just curiosity, but also, I'll be changing up my packing list this summer with the addition of a DSLR camera. Can a coffee kit co-exist with a DSLR and the usual one-bag stuff one needs for a week? (Usually traveling with a Tri-Star or first gen Western Flyer.)

[Fat Crip]

As most of my travelling is between my two homes, carrying coffee making kit isn't a big issue, but on a related theme, my friend was traveling from Spain to Scotland earlier this year with budget airline Ryanair. She got to the gate carrying her one piece of luggage, a handbag (that's a purse to many of you). Now I know Ryanair are strict about one piece only, but in her other hand she had a coffee ... "either put it in your bag or throw it away!" Now, assuming it was too hot to just gub, I might have left it, but not Caroline. She thought i've only got to put it in there for an instant while I pass the gate, so it'll be fine. To cut a long story short, she should have left it!

[BPritchard]

...snip... Now I know Ryanair are strict about one piece only, but in her other hand she had a coffee ... "either put it in your bag or throw it away!" Now, assuming it was too hot to just gub, I might have left it, but not Caroline. She thought i've only got to put it in there for an instant while I pass the gate, so it'll be fine. To cut a long story short, she should have left it!

That's why I carry a coffee/tea traveling mug/cup to put in the water bottle part of my Co-Pilot.
I always have the Starbucks(original store in Seattle) mug with me on trips. The styrofoam cups are too flimsy.

[RedBeard]

That's why I carry a coffee/tea traveling mug/cup to put in the water bottle part of my Co-Pilot.
I always have the Starbucks(original store in Seattle) mug with me on trips. The styrofoam cups are too flimsy.

Don't you still have issues with leaks? I have not found a plastic, leak proof container that I can use for coffee and as a water bottle. I have a couple of stainless steel vacuum sealed commuter mugs, but the TSA gets kind of jumpy around sealed metal cylinders so I do not take them on trips.

[BPritchard]

Don't you still have issues with leaks? I have not found a plastic, leak proof container that I can use for coffee and as a water bottle. I have a couple of stainless steel vacuum sealed commuter mugs, but the TSA gets kind of jumpy around sealed metal cylinders so I do not take them on trips.

The mug i referenced has a screw on top and hinged lever that seals tight.
I can turn the mug upside down and shake it without any spills.

[Lone Piper]

B, if you don't mind, what is the brand of said mug above? Thanks!

[BPritchard]

B, if you don't mind, what is the brand of said mug above? Thanks!

The mug I referenced was bought at the Starbucks Seattle store at Pike's Market.
I haven't seen it in any Starbucks here in the Tampa Bay area. Probably exclusive to that store since it is the original first store.

[flitcraft]

I have my elaborate coffee kit and my "it'll do" coffee kit. My elaborate one features an aluminum mug (with a spiffy paisley porcelain-like finish). I have a small immersion heater that heats the water to nearly boiling. (Make sure that you immerse them before plugging them in, then unplug before removing them from the water. Otherwise you'll burn them out. I know--I've lost two that way!) Water then gets poured into the glass supplied with my hotel room. (I've never had a problem with hot water damaging the glass, though I intentionally don't take it all the way to boiling. But really, you make better coffee with slightly cooler water, anyway.)

Once the water is ready in the second glass, I place over my mug a small sized Melita cone filter (the unbleached variety) that I've punched with a hole punch, two holes per side. I take two of those dandy red and white swizzles that coffee places use for stirring and stick them through the holes over the cup crosswise. Then I add a generous dollop of ground coffee. Pour the water (using a wash cloth to protect my delicate hands from the hot water) slowly over the grounds. Savor...

I've also been known to slip a few of those Mini Moo half and half containers into my liquids and gels bags for when I feel like cream in my coffee. Don't care for those nondairy creamers myself.

When I'm feeling like a less elaborate rig and I know the room will come with a mug and some kind of kettle or coffee maker, I just pack a fistful of those Starbucks Via thingees and toss one into hot water. Surprisingly good for instant (which I know is damning with faint praise.) I just scored a couple of extra boxes of the Tribute Via at my hotel Starbucks in San Antonio. Hope they continue to make "special edition" Via's for us road warriors who get tired to Columbian, Italian, and French roast versions.

[RedBeard]

The mug I referenced was bought at the Starbucks Seattle store at Pike's Market.
I haven't seen it in any Starbucks here in the Tampa Bay area. Probably exclusive to that store since it is the original first store.

Any chance of posting a pic? Maybe with the mug next to your Co-Pilot? I could drop by Starbucks #1 and see if they are still available and pick up some for those who are interested.

[Katy]

Any chance of posting a pic? Maybe with the mug next to your Co-Pilot? I could drop by Starbucks #1 and see if they are still available and pick up some for those who are interested.

Speaking from experience (as I have about 20 of these). A good majority of their travel mugs use the same lids.

It appears that two out of the three travel mugs currently on their website have the lid with the screw on/flip top rubber seal.

Starbucks Made Greener Tumbler at StarbucksStore.com

[tCook]

My first (and sometimes only) coffee-related item to pack is a double-wall insulated travel mug, which sounds like the ones from Starbucks referenced above. Mine has a handle, which makes it more difficult for packing, but it does still fit in the water-bottle section of the Synapse. It's great to have at a conference, for example, to keep the coffee warm long enough.

If space isn't a consideration, I'll bring a travel mug, Splenda, and my Aeropress, and get half and half somewhere along the way. So yes, I usually travel with a coffee kit (and a good cheese knife, but that's another story).

[Moose]

Hi All,
I just got back from a couple of days away. This time I took part of my coffee kit with me. I had my LLBean GSI Java Drip with me. I also took a snack size zip lock bag of ground coffee and another bag with salt, sugar and Equal in it. This along with my spork, number 2 cone filters, hot water from the hotel room coffee maker and some half and half, also hotel supplied, was a great start to a couple of long days.

I just noticed something on the LLBean web site called a Java Drip Coffee Maker. It looked interesting and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this gizzmo.

Flitcraft, thank you for the idea of punching holes in filters, never considered that before.

My apologies if this double posts, my first post got nuked into computer heaven, I think.

Happy travels,
Moose

[daisy]

Hi All,
I just got back from a couple of days away. This time I took part of my coffee kit with me. I had my LLBean GSI Java Drip with me. I also took a snack size zip lock bag of ground coffee and another bag with salt, sugar and Equal in it. This along with my spork, number 2 cone filters, hot water from the hotel room coffee maker and some half and half, also hotel supplied, was a great start to a couple of long days.

ooh the LL Bean java press looks interesting too.. thanks for the pointer. We drink espresso at home so travel coffee is important!

[backpack]

I was under the impression that one could not travel on a plane with an empty reusable coffee mug or glass bottle because they obviously are much more than 2 oz.

Can forum members clarify that?

[Moose]

Hi backpack,
I've never had any trouble traveling with an empty container. My mother was once told by a TSA agent that she couldn't take her water bottle through security. Once she pointed out it was empty and the agent had a brief conversation with another agent she was allowed to take the empty bottle with her. All of my flights have been in the US only. Mother's experience was also in the US. I'm interested to hear about the experience of others.
Happy travels,
Moose