Portable Coffee Break

Intro: Portable Coffee Break

I admit it, I really like coffee. It's my favorite drink. But sometimes when I go to a meeting, the coffee in the pot is stale and bitter from sitting too long. Fortunately, the water dispenser in the office has a hot-water spigot. So I pack a few supplies with me.

STEP 1: Collecting the Parts

You'll need to visit your friendly local grocery store's coffee aisle to pick up a box each of single-serving packets of instant coffee and creamer.

Next visit the baking aisle to pick up a box of sugar packets or your favorite artificial sweetener.

You'll also need either to pick up some coffee stirrers or some plastic spoons.

Because the single-serving packets are longer than the standard Altoids tin, I'm using a greeting cards tin I picked up for a buck at a nation-wide chain of arts & craft stores that begins with a "M".

STEP 2:

A few mints never hurt. To keep them fresh, check your pharmacy counter for little plastic zipper-closure pill baggies.

These pill baggies also work for storing two tea bags that come in the large boxes.

STEP 3:

I prefer a spoon for stirring, but even with the added length of the gift-card tin, it's still a little short.

Place the spoon in the tin diagonally and determine how much you need to remove from the handle (it shouldn't be much). I used a pair of EMT Bandage Shears to trim the plastic handle, rounding the end. A little sand paper can smooth it further.

To avoid splitting the plastic, trim towards the end.

STEP 4:

To start packing the tin, first place a packet each of coffee and creamer side-by-side, then fit in the spoon diagonally.

Pile a few packets of your sweetener of choice in the empty corner.

STEP 5:

Pile another packet of coffee and creamer on top of the first, covering the handle of the spoon.

If you're packing the mints, fold the plastic baggy and put them on top of the spoon.

STEP 6:

Close the lid and you're all packed!

Tea drinkers can pack tea bags instead of coffee (use the pill baggies from step 2 for those tea bags that don't come packed in individual foil pouches).

Those of you who like adding drink mixes to your bottled water will find the gift-card tin also makes a durable container for your single-serving packets.

Comments

[TheCommander]

I like your idea have been doing this myself however being the frugal man I am instead of the single serve packets you can buy a large container of instant and use the straw method of storage :-)

[mkambas]

good job, silverknife.
glad to know i'm not the only one who carries around his custom coffee break kit.

i also used to carry a tiny mixer/frother which is still in my backpack. but as of late, i've gone spoon-free after discovering some cool motorized-base mugs for $1.99 at goodwill and i keep buying more to give away as gifts to friends.

they make awesome cappuccinos or frappucinos (just add ice cubes when you're done frothing). because i love mochas, i've even made my own sugar-free "mocha mix packs" to avoid the clutter of separate coffee-creamer-sugar packs. try it!

[ChrysN]

Handy!

[Silverknife]

Thank you! Promise you won't report me to Java Anonymous!