Decades after the first mass-produced motorcar rolled off the production line, we are still very much in the age of the motorized vehicle. In an average lifetime, It is estimated that the average non-commercial driver spends up to four years behind the wheel and it seems, most of that time is spent looking for a good cup of coffee to keep them going! Naturally, if driving is part of how you earn your keep, truckers, taxi drivers, and everything in between, this already large figure, increases further.
It has long been the practice of long-distance truck drivers to have facilities in their cabs to make it as homely as possible. With some sleeper cabs sporting a fully operational all-in-one bathroom, kitchen, and dining room., perfect for the mobile coffee makers we are about to show you.
With today’s technology, you don’t have to be a professional trucker or own a camper van to access a range of modern conveniences like coffee machines that make a long journey that bit more bearable. Modern design has made it possible to take things we love in our homes and shrink them to a car-friendly, convenient size whilst maintaining the same great quality and ease of use.
One of these portable products, a product that is very much associated with bricks and motor homes, is the coffee machine. I’m willing to bet that if I asked you to think about a coffee machine, you would think of a large, somewhat cumbersome box with various dials and knobs plugged into the wall. You would of course be correct as this describes what a huge 54% of us have in our household and use on a daily basis.
This article will showcase and review five examples of portable coffee machines that demonstrate that you don’t have to rely on gas station coffee when you’re out on the road. These products have the same features that you would look for in any coffee maker, including durability, ease of use, and quality of coffee produced but also possess features necessary to make them particularly suited to being used in a vehicle. These include a small profile, compatibility with 12 or 24-volt power outlets most likely to be in a vehicle, and a design that’s easy to clean (especially with limited faucet access!).
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
CONQUECO Portable Espresso Maker Travel Coffee Machine
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features
- Single espresso shot capacity (45ml/1.5oz)
- Comes with 12V 2A charger for home use and 12V 7A adaptor for charging in the car
- If used with cold water, 3 cups per charge, if used with pre-boiled water, 100 cups per charge
- Average charge time 4.5 hours
- Water heating temperature: 199 / 93. Espresso pouring temperature: 167 / 75.
- Capable of barista standard 15 bar pressure for coffee extraction
- Comes with handy travel case
Ease of Use
- Can be used with both cold water and pre-boiled water giving you options
- Simple operation, just add water, capsule and press a button
- Quick capsule to cup time if using pre-boiled water (five seconds), longer if cold water (eight to ten minutes)
- Easy to keep clean with auto wash function (just run the machine without a capsule) so you only have to wash the cup
Build quality
- Compact design measuring 12 x 7 x 42″ and weighing 3.47lb
- Plastic construction
Quality of Coffee
- Compatible only with high-quality capsule makers, Nespresso and L’Or
- If you are prepared to wait (when using cold water) this machine will provide a single shot of espresso comparable to larger home pod machines.
Sunsbell Car Kettle Boiler 750ml
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features
- Large 25Oz capacity
- Comes with 12V adaptor suitable for plugging into car cigarette lighter
- Heats up to boiling in 30 minutes
- Comes with 12 month warranty
Ease of Use
- Simply fill with water and switch on
- Simple indicator light to show when water is boiled
- Designed with safety in mind with slip resistant base and safety lid
- Easy to clean with damp cloth
Build quality
- Compact design despite large capacity 5.5 x 3.3 x 8.7″ and 1.16 lb
- Designed to fit most cup holders
- Durable stainless steel and plastic construction
Quality of Coffee Produced
- As this unit heats water only , the quality of coffee made will really depend on which coffee you use!
Wacaco Minipresso GR, Portable Espresso Machine
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features
- 2.35 Oz capacity but can be expanded with expansion tank available for separate purchase
- No electricity required, 8 bar pressure achieved by hand with its semi-automatic piston
- Comes with handy scoop
Ease of Use
- After adding hot water and filling with your choice of ground coffee, espresso is ready after just a few pumps of the piston
- Safety considered with piston’s travel lock
- Easy to rinse and wipe clean
Build Quality
- Attractive bullet shape
- Very compact design: 6.89 x 2.75 x 2.36″ and 0.8lb
- Constructed of durable plastic
Quality of Coffee Produced
- Depends on the temperature of water added and ground coffee quality but provides enough pressure to give you a decent single shot of espresso complete with the all important crema to rival anything you make at home
- This portable coffee machine can be used with any coffee bean or roast so the sky is your limit, really
RoadPro 12V Power Supply Portable Coffee Maker
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features
- Large 20Oz capacity carafe
- Supplied with 12V adaptor to plug into your car’s cigarette plug
- Comes with reusable filter
Ease of Use
- Use as you would a filter coffee machine at home
- Fairly quick brewing cycle (takes about 20 mins to brew 20Oz coffee although this can vary)
- Easy to wipe clean and glass carafe is dish washer safe
Build Quality
- This is a classic filter coffee machine design, just miniaturized
- One of the larger machines on this list but still compact at 6 x 8.6 x 10.5″ and 2lb
- Made from tough glass and plastic
Quality of Coffee Produced
- Your local barista probably won’t need to give up their day job but coffee produced is tasty and decent enough to get you through those long trips
HiBREW Portable 3-in-1 Multi-Function Electric Espresso Maker
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features
- 60 ml capacity
- Can be powered via USB, 12W car adaptor or at home with AC adaptor
- Case available for separate purchase
- Can be used with cold and hot water (if using USB, must use hot water)
- 15 bar pressure for extraction
Ease of Use
- One touch design to go from coffee to cup
- Fairly quick processing time (60 seconds for hot water and 5-8 minutes for cold)
- Easy to dismantle and clean
Build quality
- 2.75 x 9.41″ and 32 lb
- Made of durable, BPA free plastic
Quality of Coffee Produced
- Designed to be used with a range of high-quality pods (Nespresso and Dolce Gusto) but also your own choice of ground coffee giving you options
- Some users have reported that the espresso wasn’t blended well with the water. Although they were in the minority as the majority of Hibrew users brewed a cup of coffee comparable to what they would make at home
Summary
Regardless of whether you drive a car, truck or van, hopefully this article will have convinced you that you can indeed make a decent cup of coffee when out on the road. Which machine you go for depends entirely on how you prefer to take your coffee, for example filter vs espresso and whether you want to stay tethered to your car or not.
As such, there isn’t one overall winner but in general, unless you want an espresso specifically, I would say that you can’t go wrong with Sunsbell's car kettle , leaving you free to make whatever hot drink you like. Sometimes, there is beauty in simplicity.
