Air travel is draining, and usually requires a cup or coffee (or tea) or two, but you probably want to get your fix before boarding your flight. Flight attendants — the people I like to take my plane advice from — do not and will not drink the hot coffee, tea, or water served on planes because that water comes from the tap, and airplane tap water can be a little impure (in 1 out of 8 airlines).

Read on…

According to a video by published by Business Insider, the EPA found that one in eight planes failed to meet the "industry standards" for drinking water and that some airplane tap water was contaminated with salmonella and "even insect eggs." (I could not find exactly how many insect eggs were in the water, or what an "acceptable" amount of insect eggs in tap water would be, but it doesn’t sound great.)

When Business Insider reached out to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (the flight attendant’s union) for comment, they did not seem impressed with the way tap water is handled on planes:

“Water onboard is regulated under the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure safe drinking water on the aircraft,” The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, told Business Insider. “The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA pushed for this regulation over 15 years ago. The regulation gives broad discretion to airlines on how often they must test the water and flush the tanks. AFA does not believe this regulation goes far enough or is sufficiently enforced.”

Does this mean drinking the plane coffee will instantly render you ill? 

Probably not, but Dr. Cedric Spak, an infectious disease specialist at Baylor University Medical Center, said that people with compromised immune systems should probably avoid it.

Further, an EPA study found that 1 in every 8 planes fails the agency’s standards for water safety. 1 in 8 is better than 7 in 8 but worth considering.

So what should I do for my caffeine fix when I travel???

We are passionate about coffee and love to find a way to enjoy awesome coffee whenever we can.

It is well known that gulping down large quantities of that black filtered coffee they serve on airlines will lead to dehydration. The reason being that coffee can act as a diuretic and can cause dehydration especially when you are in dry environments like airplane cabins.

I like to recommend to my Coffee Lover Tribe to enjoy a good quality coffee before you board. The Coffee Van down at Broome Courthouse Markets is a very popular last stop for travelers out of Broome. It's a great spot to grab your favorite blend and take it with you for the airport process in one of our gorgeous and environmentally friendly  Keep Cups. 

That way you know you are getting great quality, organic, free trade coffee that has been Roasted in the Zone ( check out more about this here) and is made from really high quality filtered water.

The Kimberley Coffee Van is also a great spot for last minute gift shopping – we are talking specialty teas, coffee gadgets, Kimberley style branded tea towels and of course some amazing beans to take home with you.

And, if you SIMPLY MUST enjoy coffee while traveling, consider the portable espresso makers like our  Simpresso. This is a Must-Have for coffee lovers. It requires no electricity or connections, just hot water, and awesome coffee.

I love to take the  Simpresso on flights (let's face it, I can’t go all day without a coffee, I am The Coffee Man!) along with some freshly ground Kimberley Coffee beans and you can create a perfect espresso right there in the stewardess galley!

At least you know your coffee is organic, free trade and super fresh!

Even BETTER for travel, try the Nespresso compatible CAPSules which fit perfectly into your Simpresso mobile espresso maker for absolutely no mess and a perfect result every time. Check out our special deal in January 2019 where you will receive a free pack with every CAPSule coffee subscription make in January.

Its super fun to do, and in my experience, the stewardesses love to help and get involved if you offer them an Award Winning coffee espresso while flying 4,000 feet above sea level!

Please share any traveling coffee stories and photos you have with us on Instagram  @kimberleycoffeecompany and we will repost and share to our Tribe.