Did someone wash their underwear in your hotel coffee machine? Bring a portable espresso maker, and you won't have to worry

A fitness influencer has disgusted caffeine-lovers by describing how she washes her underwear in a hotel-room coffee maker. In a video that went viral after being posted on X, Tara Woodcox instructs viewers to "put your underwear where you would put the coffee grounds," then "press brew and it puts scorching hot water through it." Once the underwear has, er, brewed, Woodcox advises using the hotel's hairdryer to "blow dry those bad boys."

She claims she learned this 'hack' from a friend who's a flight attendant, and she "did not realize how many people already knew this." I certainly didn't, and I'm never going to look at a pour-over machine the same way again.

From now on, I'm taking my own coffee maker with me, and thankfully, there are lots of options to choose from. I've rounded up a selection of my favorites below, all of which work without electricity, so you don't need to worry about the voltage in the country you're visiting.

These coffee makers require a source of hot water, but if your room doesn't have a kettle, or you're worried a previous guest might have used it to boil their tighty whities, rechargeable travel kettles are widely available. I'd recommend picking something like the Jettle, which is shaped like a thermos flask and easier to carry than a conventionally-shaped kettle. Now, let's start brewing.

1. Aeropress

The trusty Aeropress is easy to use, extremely tough, and weighs only 7.75oz / 220g including the cap, scoop, and stirrer. Once only available in black-tinted plastic (shown above), the Aeropress now comes in an array of candy colors, plus an XL version that can brew enough for two people. If you're often on the road, it's worth taking a look at the Aeropress Go, which includes a holder for 20 filter papers and a mug that doubles as a carry case.

Place the filter inside the perforated bottom part of the Aeropress (dampening it will help it stick), then screw it onto the tube section. Place this assembly on top of your camping mug and add coffee using the long-handled scoop. Pour in your hot water and gently agitate the grounds using the T-shaped stirrer. After a couple of minutes, place the plunger into the top of the tube and press down to force the coffee through the filter.

When you're done, just unscrew the bottom of the Aeropress and push the plunger all the way to eject the used grounds. You can get away with just rinsing the press in your hotel room, then giving it a thorough clean when you get home.

2. Barista & Co Strong Brew

The Strong Brew coffee maker from Barista & Co works in a very similar way to the Aeropress, but its design means you only need to gently twist its two handles to extract your coffee, rather than exert strong downward pressure. You may find that easier if you don't have a stable, flat surface to use (perfect for hotel rooms with wobbly furniture).

To brew, place the filter paper in the bottom section, screw on the middle part (it locks into place without too much force), then place it on top of your cup and add coffee grounds. The Strong Brew makes a single serving approximately the same as a double espresso, so about 18g will work well.

Now you're ready to pour in your hot water, taking care not to overfill the brewer (if you do, it'll overflow when you tighten it). Put the top plunger section in place and begin to twist it, stopping when it starts to turn. Leave the coffee to brew for a couple of minutes before pushing the two handles together to force the coffee through the filter. The result: a strong, tasty brew, without a hint of underpants.

3. Yeti Rambler Pour-Over

In her video, Woodcox appears to be describing how to wash underwear in a pour-over coffee maker (cramming it into an espresso portafilter would be a challenge). If this is your preferred brewing style and you're planning to never touch a hotel machine again, consider packing a coffee dripper and a pack of filters for your next vacation.

The Yeti Rambler Pour-Over, made from kitchen-grade stainless steel, is puncture- and rust-proof, and should survive even the roughest of airport baggage handlers. It's dishwasher-safe, but is so easy to clean by hand that there's no need to wait until you get home to wash it. Just rinse it in clean water, and it's good to go again.

At 9.6oz / 272g, it's relatively hefty, so if you're travelling as light as possible, a simple plastic V60 will be a more practical option. However, if you can afford the additional weight, then it comes highly recommended.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.