Barista on the road. ✈️ → ☕

Hey there! It’s Michael here, your pilot for today’s journey on The Red Eye!

Grab your passport and your favorite mug of coffee (we recommend a single-origin Ethiopian Yirgacheffe …mmm… ☕), we're about to embark on a caffeinated journey like no other.

But first, I need to share something important…

We know you're a fan of our newsletter, and we're grateful for your support. We’re building a fun community here, and I really need your help to reach even more travel and coffee lovers!

Here’s how you can help: Share your personal referral link with your friends and family and let's see how many new subscribers we can welcome to our community. When you share and your friends sign-up, we’ll send you free coffee! ☕

Copy and paste your unique referral code and send to others, or just post it wherever your friends hang out on social media:

https://newsletter.du.coffee/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

Thank you so much! 🙏

Ok, now grab your coffee and let’s embark on today’s edition of The Red Eye!

BARISTA ON THE ROAD.

Bad coffee is not on the itinerary.

Ok, let's face it: Finding good coffee while traveling can be hit or miss. Burnt or stale beans, questionable water, and chemical smells in the cup all conspire to ruin the start of your day.

Don't settle! If you're going to pay good money for a coffee away from home, shouldn't it be delicious? We think so.

SIP, SIP, HOORAY!

Here's the good news: It's easier than you think to get your hands on an awesome cup o' joe on the go. Here are your options:

1. COFFEE IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM OR AIRBNB. It's not hard to whip up your own morning brew that will taste just like home — if you do some prep in advance of your trip.

2. COFFEE AT A LOCAL COFFEE HOUSE. Find your local coffee tribe and immerse yourself in the local café culture. It's fun and exciting, and you could end up with some new lifelong friends.😳 We'll share a few proven methods for finding the best coffee locally.

From our experience (and we've traveled a lot 😅), you don't need to compromise when it comes to coffee on the road.

Here are some of our favorite hacks and tips for making your coffee experience on the road exhilarating.

COFFEE IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM OR AIRBNB.

We may be control freaks, but we ❤️ LOVE ❤️ having an amazing cup of coffee in our hotel room or Airbnb every...single...morning. It's something we look forward to, and you can too.

You can roll the dice and try the in-room coffee 🤢, OR simply do a little prep before your trip and you can enjoy your favorite coffee style right in your own private space. Here's all you need to make great coffee in your room:

OUR PACKING LIST FOR AMAZING COFFEE:

1. PORTABLE COFFEE MAKER: For making coffee on the road, we recommend (and use) the trusty AeroPress Go. Hands down, the Go is the simplest to use, weighs in at just 11 ounces (remember to pack light!), and includes filters and a built-in coffee cup.
   
   If you're a pour-over fan, you can pack a collapsible coffee dripper like this Attsky silicone dripper. You'll need to bring some paper filters; we love the Hario V60 filters as they don't add funky flavors to your cup. To be extra-ready for anything, pack a coffee cup made by our Aussie friends at KeepCup - environmentally a great travel companion.
   
   If a silicone dripper isn't your thing, then pick up this very cool, artsy MiiR Pourigami (our founder often travels with this). Don't forget your filters.

2. FRESH GROUND COFFEE BEANS: We love Guatemala beans roasted medium, and this Prague roast is a trusty companion for a trip anywhere.

READ MORE TIPS…

COFFEE ON HOCA TAHSIN STREET

We're taking you on a live adventure to one of Istanbul's most popular cafés, located on Hoca Tahsin street

Welcome to the vibrant and bustling streets of Istanbul, where coffee culture thrives and people from all walks of life come together to enjoy a warm cup of coffee.

Brew up your best cup of coffee and come people-watch with us as we immerse ourselves in the rich culture and vibrant scene of Istanbul's coffee culture.

HAVE COFFEE WITH US… 

Bitten by the travel bug? Need advice on where to find awesome coffee shops and roaster houses on your next trip?

From the bustling cafés of Tokyo to the charming cobblestone streets of Rome, we've got insider tips to help you discover the best brews around the world.

After last week’s edition of The Red Eye, fellow travelers asked us for advice on where to find great coffee in:

• Rome, Italy: Check out Sant' Eustachio Il Caffè, a must-visit historic coffee shop near the Pantheon. Coffee always comes with sugar, go with it! They’re at Piazza di S. Eustachio #82, open every day 7:30 AM till midnight.

• Florence, Italy: A must-visit is Ditta Artigianale, a modern coffee joint with 3 shops, all with fine baked goods and excellent coffee. The original shop at Via dello Sprone #5/R is open every day from 8:30 AM till 8 PM, google for their other shops.

• Kyiv, Ukraine (‼️): We hear good things about Kaffa, not far from Independence Square, located at пров. Шевченка #3. They’re open daily from 10:00 to 20:00, check out their website, be sure toconfirm they’re open by calling in advance at +380.44.278.48.12.

So where are you traveling this year?

Send us your questions by replying to this newsletter, or email us directly at [email protected]. We’ll respond faster than your local barista can pull a double espresso!

That’s a wrap for this week’s edition of The Red Eye! And if your travel curiosity isn’t satiated yet, check out this video on how you make coffee using the AeroPress Go, our favorite coffee maker for vagabonds and nomads!