Passenger Built an Espresso Bar in His Economy Seat — Coffee Genius or Cabin Nightmare?

A passenger sat down in coach ready to make the flight far more sophisticated. He brought a vacuum-sealed bag of coffee beans, a hand grinder, and a portable espresso maker. He opens the bag, grinds the beans at his seat, tamps them into the device, and pulls a shot of espresso during the flight. No spilled drinks, no obvious mess, no crew intervention — just a full barista setup in coach.

• Some who watched video of this called it “insufferable at 35,000 feet” and their “seat-neighbor nightmare,” arguing that vigorous grinding in tight quarters plus strong coffee smell is peak main-character syndrome.

• Others thought it was great, saying they’d “enjoy the smell of fresh ground coffee” and would simply ask him to pull them a shot too.

@ozanncetinkaya #espresso ♬ Will I See You Again? – Thee Sacred Souls

So is this crazy or brilliant?

From a pure coffee perspective, it’s brilliant. As long as the kit fits in a personal item and isn’t blocking aisles or exits, there’s nothing inherently unsafe or against the rules about grinding beans and using a hand-powered espresso gadget at your seat.

From an etiquette standpoint, maybe it’s on the line, but I really respect the effort to elevate the experience. It’s not at all in the same category of everyday bad behavior like clipping nails or spraying perfume.

This isn’t the first time a passenger has gone to extreme lengths to prepare great coffee on a plane. This person flying Emirates coach decided to pull out “all the gear” he needed to make “artisanal pour-over coffee” inflight. He made it for his companions, and even passed some around to those sitting nearby watching. Legend.

how good’s his setup though? he was mile-high cooking! grinding the beans, delicately pouring the water. so cute when he was done, his friends seated all across the plane dropped in for a cuppa. even the cabin crew came flocking asking questions about the process!

Never in my life did I expect to see a setup like this 30,000 ft in the air. and the smell, wow, made the cabin smell like a coffee shop!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Montana on Tour (@montana.ontour)

Airplane coffee is gross. It’s made with tank water, not bottled water. And that water just doesn’t make a good cup.

The coffee machines onboard are “galley insert” appliances designed to connect to the aircraft’s potable water system. A plumbed system delivers consistent flow and temperature, and avoids the time, mess, and burn risk of repeatedly pouring bottles into a hot brewer while the airplane moves. And yet… how much do you trust the EPA’s Aircraft Drinking Water Rule to protect you?

Even if you trusted the water and the machines, cabin pressure is going to change the brewing and taste.

• At typical cabin pressurization of 8,000 feet, water boils at ~197°F not 212°F. That reduces extraction energy and can yield flat or sour cups unless the roasts, grind, dose, and dwell time are adjusted.

• You literally taste less in the air. The cabin’s low pressure and low humidity reduces our sense of salty and sweet by about 30%, while some sour and bitter notes can become enhanced.

I do give United credit for their Illy coffee. Before the 2016 upgrade, their coffee was horrible. This change was the perfect way to signal a shift from the past cost-cutting of the Smisek era. Last year they added cold brew.

Alaska’s Stumptown partnership involves a custom altitude blend. It’s not bad. I am less of a fan of Delta-Starbucks. The idea that Starbucks somehow signals quality is strange.

The brand alone doesn’t even tell you what you’re getting. When United served Starbucks (prior to Delta) it was a special light brew because too many passengers were overwhelmed by deeper flavors. They worked to serve the lowest common denominator taste.

An airline that created a true coffee cart inflight would win my business. In the meantime, the passenger who do it themselves? True modern travel heros.