Compact Travel Coffee Makers: Three Ways to Get a Decent Coffee on the Road

This is for those mornings because if you area coffee tragic like me where you need your coffee no matter where you are to get your system moving, then listen up, this is for you!

We looked at three compact manual brewers — the AeroPress Go, Wacaco Minipresso GR2 and Wacaco Nanopresso — to see which deserves precious touring cupboard space.

AeroPress Go – the easy all-rounder

The American-made AeroPress Go packs the brewer, scoop, stirrer and filters into its own drinking mug. It weighs around 323g packed, brews roughly 240ml, and cleanup is beautifully simple: push the coffee puck out, rinse and you're basically finished.

Find out more - AeroPress Go

It's our pick for caravanners, campers, motel-hoppers and road-trippers who like a proper full cup rather than a tiny espresso. It can also make espresso-style coffee and cold brew. Better still, the AeroPress story began with American inventor Alan Adler — the bloke who also invented the Aerobie flying ring and spent decades designing everything from boats to aerodynamic toys. Coffee apparently came later.

What we'd improve: lose the ongoing dependence on paper filters by including a reusable filter as standard.

Wacaco Minipresso GR2 – tiny espresso without electricity

The 285g Minipresso GR2 is the smallest of our trio at just 125mm long, holds 80ml of water and takes 8–12g of ground coffee. Its hand-operated system produces up to 18 bar pressure, so this is much closer to the espresso experience.

Wacaco began in Hong Kong in 2013 and now operates its own production facilities in China. Even the name has a story: WAng + CAilleton + COoperation.

Find out more - Wacaco Minipresso GR2

We love the size, built-in cup and adjustable coffee basket. It's particularly good for solo travellers, hikers, motorcyclists and anyone whose morning personality requires espresso before conversation.

What we'd improve: an easier way to knock out and clean the grounds when you're nowhere near a sink.

Wacaco Nanopresso – for the coffee tragic

At 336g, the Nanopresso is slightly larger, with an 80ml tank, 8g coffee basket and up to 18 bar pressure. Add Wacaco's optional Barista Kit and it'll handle a 16g double shot; another adapter allows compatible capsules.

Find out more - Wacaco Nanopresso

That's why we'd choose it for the traveller who takes coffee seriously enough to travel with accessories for their coffee maker.

Which would we pack?

For most road trips, AeroPress Go. It's fast, forgiving, easy to clean and makes a decent-sized coffee.

Want proper espresso in the smallest package? Minipresso GR2.

Want to fiddle, customise and chase a better espresso shot beside your caravan at 7am? Nanopresso.

All three still require hot water, but none needs electricity. Which means your coffee ritual can follow you almost anywhere — and the servo's $6 lukewarm disappointment becomes entirely optional.