If you've ever taken a sip of coffee at 38,000 feet and thought, “This tastes… off” you're not alone.
Even if an airline loads up with decent beans and brews them fresh (a rarity, let’s be honest), something changes in the air. It’s not just bad luck or bad brewing, it’s science. And it turns out, your taste buds, cabin pressure, and even your nose all get involved in the betrayal.
So what’s really going on up there? Why does coffee taste so different on board? And more importantly, is there a fix for a good caffeine hit in the sky?
Let’s break it down.
Cabin Pressure - The Taste Tamer
When you're flying, you're not in “normal” air. Aircraft cabins are pressurised to somewhere between 6,000–8,000 feet above sea level. That means the air is thinner, drier, and your body reacts accordingly.
Studies have shown you lose up to 30% of your ability to taste sweetness and saltiness in low-pressure environments. Bitterness, however? That stays... lucky us.
Add in the near desert-level humidity (less than 15%) and your nose stops doing half its job. Since aroma contributes massively to flavour, it’s no wonder your flat white starts testing, well, flat.
Ground Coffee vs Sky Coffee: What Actually Changes?
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Acidity feels sharper - Beans with bright, citrusy notes might taste sour or even metallic.
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Bitterness becomes dominant - Over-extracted espresso or dark roasts can feel harsher than usual.
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Body feels thinner - That creamy mouthfeel? Often lost in the dryness of the cabin air.
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Aroma vanishes - Floral, fruity, or chocolatey notes get muted. Like coffee with a head cold.
So yeah. It’s not just in your head. It’s in your mouth. And your nose.
So What Do Airlines Do About It?
In short: Not enough.
Most airlines brew in bulk, often from dark roasted blends designed to punch through the sensory dulling. But the equipment is basic, the water isn’t great, and nobody’s dialling in shots mid-turbulence.
Some airlines are trying. Emirates partnered with Lavazza on selected flights. Singapore Airlines serve illy coffee in premium cabins. Lufthansa worked with Dallmayr. All noble efforts, but the result still depends on altitude, airflow, and reheated water from a tank older than some of the passengers (and probably rarely cleaned!)
Can You Brew Your Own Coffee on a Flight?
Here’s where things get fun.
If you're thinking about brewing coffee at altitude - whether you're in the flight deck, the cabin crew galley, or just a frequent-flyer with high standards - you need to plan differently.
✅ In Flight Brewing Equipment
Both the AeroPress and the Outin Nano are more than capable of brewing in the sky, and both will comfortably fit into your cabin bags. The advantage with the Outin is that it heats water via a battery (up to 3 espresso's)
We will make a demonstration video in the air soon, but until then here's one we found on YouTube of a guy brewing an espresso in the air!
✅ Use a travel grinder
Pre-ground coffee loses aromatics fast - especially in dry cabin air. A compact hand grinder like the Hario Kabuto is a smart move for any airborne barista.
✅ Try medium-to-dark roasts
Lighter roasts can taste more sour in flight. Jet Bean’s Jumbo Jet or Blackbird are smooth enough to hold their own, even when the cabin air tries to flatten the flavour.
✅ Focus on body, not complexity
That fruity Ugandan bean might sing on the ground, but a Brazil or Sumatra with chocolate, nuts and syrupy body will do better in the sky.
✅ Brew hotter
Use water just off the boil if your gear allows it. Altitude drops the boiling point of water, so you'll want to get every bit of heat you can.
Final Thoughts: Brewing With Altitude and Attitude
Making great coffee in the sky isn’t impossible - but it does require knowing the enemy. Cabin pressure, low humidity, dull taste receptors… they’re all working against you.
But with the right beans (like ours), a little preparation, and a rebellious refusal to accept bad brews at altitude, you can change your inflight coffee game.
After all, coffee that belongs in First Class shouldn’t taste like it came from the rear galley.
Chris Louch
Frequent Flyer | Coffee Evangelist | Jet Bean Loyalist
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