We are booked to stay in the Plaka Hotel which I don't believe has a coffee maker. We love coffee first thing upon arising. Does anyone have clever ways to manage this in European hotels that don't have coffee makers?

Deluxe hotels don't have a coffee maker, you can call down and pay for freshly made coffee. I never bother, I'm not one to wake up to coffee.

On a more practical note, buy a tiny travel kettle, and some instant coffee and suffer coffee flavoured water as a substitute.

Hi yclarke. My husband is staying at the Plaka right now... if no one else knows for sure about the coffee maker I will ask him next time he calls me and post the answer. Should be within 3 days or so!

One of my girlfriends--a real fresh coffee fiend--travels with an immersion coil and a mug. I believe she got it one of the big travel companies like Magellen's or TravelSmith.

I must confess to taking the path of least resistance myself. I send my husband out to get a cup of coffee for me (yes he is a very nice man to do that for me all these years).

I have never stayed in a greek hotel with a coffee maker in the room, no matter the price range of the hotel
for hotels with room service, we just call for coffee.
for hotels with a restaurant, like the plaka, if we are really desperate, one of us goes down and brings up coffee to the room
or, even better, we get out of bed and go to the nearest cafe (which at the plaka will be on the plateia next to the cathedral, which is, I believe, immediately adjacent to your hotel)) and wake up while watching the people go by -- then go back to the hotel for a shower before we start the day

For emergencies carry a one cup immersion heater. Put a spoonful of espresso grounds in the boiling water and stir it up. Drink after it has settled and cooled a bit. It's just like the coffee at many Greek and Turkish cafes which include a half cup of mud. Buy the heater over there so you have no electrical problems.

OK, I'll admit it: when packing my bag I throw a handful of Folgers individual coffee bags in a side-pocket of my luggage. In a worse-case scenario, it can be steeped with hot tap water in a bathroom tumbler.

Before that route, I will always ask if a coffee maker or electric kettle might be available. If not, and my stay is a week or longer, I have been known to go purchase an inexpensive one locally and just leave it upon departure.

I'm with KS452. I have no problems with going to a nearby inexpensive store and buying a cheap coffee maker. I NEED that coffee.

For many cities, its easy to find out ahead of time where to get the coffee maker, but I wouldn't hesitate to ask someone locally to direct me to the cheapest place.

In case this sounds crazy, for a stay of several days, a coffee maker can cost less than room service coffee every day.

dln, isn't it great to have a husband who is not only a perfect travel companion, but one who can be relied on to bring you coffee, no matter where you are?
We usually always have room service. ( I have to say that I have never stayed in a hotel with a coffee maker) If there is no way of getting coffee TO the room, I just manage to get ready and out to the nearest cafe.
The idea of starting the day out with a bag of instant coffee makes me shudder, I guess with that in mind, it is easier to go without until I can get a cup of real coffee.

I love coffee too. Like DLN and Scarlett, I have a husband who happily takes up the role as morning coffee courier, (he takes half the time to leave the room as I do!). There are many good suggestions here for apparatus/ ingredients for in-room coffee, but I really think you should also try Greek coffee. It is quite different from american- thick, black and sweet, with sludge at the bottom, served in a tiny cup. You will probably either love it or hate it, but either way, you should try it. I, for one, loved it. Just didn't want you to miss out on the experience.

I have a one cup Melita drip coffee gadget (available in coffee section of grocery stores) which fits on top of a cup. You need boiling water so I have an immersion coil to make that. So, I carry with me a cup, the Melita top, coffee filters, coffee and the coil!

yclarke, I'm with you on the need for a coffee first thing, before I've even thought about getting dressed, so here's what I do.

I have a small travel kettle (holds equivalent to one large mug or 2 cups). I also have a small (again 2 cups sized) cafetiere - there's a different name for this in the US, something like a coffee press? (others can enlightnen me here). Inside this, I stuff a small bag of my favourite ground coffee for the journey, and bingo! Coffee just like I make it at home. I buy milk when I get there and store it in the fridge.

I hate instant coffee, and have to say I dislike greek coffe also (tastes like bitter instant muck to me). I don't think coffee is their forte. Hence the emergency kit I take with me.

I'm in league here with Kate, I pack a small French press, ground coffee, (creamer packs...oh the shame!!) and a coil. I admit to a couple of folgers' coffee-bags too. I simply cannot physically function at first - cannot jump out of bed, dress and go find a cafe. Can't do it... nah-uh....

Either bring your own method (all good ideas above) or consider buying an inexpensive coffee maker once you arrive? I'm not sure what country/city is Plaka Hotel, but in urban places you could easily visit a hardware store or monoprix. Depends on length of your stay and price of the cheapest machine if it would be worthwhile.