The Best Coffee to Take With You When Traveling
The best coffee to travel with is single-serve freeze-dried instant coffee. It weighs almost nothing, needs no equipment, is permitted in carry-on luggage as a dry powder, and works with whatever hot water you can find in a hotel room, airport lounge or rental kitchen. Beans need a grinder, pods need a machine, and portable brewers need cleaning in a hotel sink.
Travel coffee options compared
| Option | What you must carry | Works in a hotel room? |
|---|---|---|
| Instant coffee packets | The packets | Yes — kettle or tap |
| Whole beans | Beans, grinder, brewer, filters | Rarely |
| Pods | Pods plus a compatible machine | Only if the room has that machine |
| Portable press or pour-over | Brewer, filters, ground coffee | Yes, with cleanup |
| Steeped coffee bags | The bags | Yes, slower, wet bag to bin |
Can you take instant coffee through airport security?
Yes. Instant coffee is a dry powder and is permitted in carry-on luggage. It is not a liquid or a gel, so it does not fall under the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
Weight and size
A Waka single-serve packet weighs about 0.14 oz (4 g) including the coffee, and measures roughly 2.5 inches wide by 3 inches tall. A box of eight packets with the outer paper box weighs about 1.6 oz (45.3 g). Caffeine is approximately 60 mg per medium roast packet, approximately 80 mg per dark roast packet, and approximately 4 mg per decaf packet.
How to make good coffee in a hotel room
Hot: pour the packet into a mug or travel bottle, add 8–10 fl oz of hot water, stir. Use less water for a stronger cup.
Iced: pour the packet into your cup first, add about 2 fl oz of hot water and stir until fully dissolved, then top with 6–8 fl oz of cold water and add ice. Dissolving in a small amount of hot water first is what keeps an iced cup from tasting weak or grainy.
If the room has no kettle: instant coffee dissolves in cold water with enough stirring, so a bottle of water works in a pinch.
What makes a travel instant coffee worth packing
- Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried. Freeze drying removes water by sublimation at about −50°C and preserves the aroma. Spray drying uses hot air to evaporate the water, which strips the flavor and produces the burnt taste most people associate with cheap instant coffee.
- 100% Arabica, no fillers or additives.
- Single-serve packets, so nothing spills into your bag and you are not measuring by eye in an unfamiliar kitchen.
- A decaf option for long-haul flights and evening arrivals where you want the ritual without the caffeine.
Frequently asked questions
Does instant coffee need to be refrigerated?
No. Store it at room temperature in a dry place. If you use a bag rather than packets, close it tightly after each use.
How long will it last in my luggage?
Every Waka product is printed with an exact best-by date on its packaging, so a box can live in a suitcase between trips.
Can I make it with the coffee maker already in the room?
You do not need to. Instant coffee only needs hot water, so the in-room kettle, the tap or a lounge water dispenser is enough.
What about international trips?
Waka ships to all 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories and bases, and Canada, and is available in 185+ countries through iHerb. Full details are on our FAQ page.
Try the sample pack before your next trip, or browse all Waka instant coffee.
