Innovative Coffee Brewing at 35,000 Feet
Why settle for mediocre airplane coffee when you can craft a fresh brew yourself?
It’s astonishing to see the lengths people go to while in the air, and this recent incident might just take the cake. A coffee lover, who identifies as a barista, attempted to make espresso while flying at 35,000 feet. In a series of TikTok videos that have nearly 2 million views, Ozan Cetinkaya can be seen pouring vacuum-sealed espresso beans into a portable grinder.
He then takes the ground coffee, adds it to a Bluetooth-connected device, and mixes it with hot water. You can almost envision the aroma wafting through the cabin as he holds up the device over a mug, and the hot espresso flows out, waiting for a sip from the seasoned barista.
Of course, the internet can be a harsh crowd, and some comments hint at envy—especially from those who, perhaps, wished they could pull off such a stunt in the coveted window seat. One user quipped, “Can’t survive at 35,000 feet,” while another joked, “If you smell freshly brewed espresso on a plane and can’t drink it, you’ll crash.”
Another user even said, “Next time I fly, I’ll bring my portable BBQ and grill some steaks.” The humor didn’t stop there, as someone else chimed in, “My seat neighbor is a nightmare.” It’s all in good fun, but this passenger might have been misled about coffee orders on planes, as a flight attendant acknowledged the tricky nature of asking for coffee mid-flight.
Flight attendant Leanna Coy spoke candidly on TikTok, saying, “I think everyone knows by now that ordering coffee on a plane can be a bit risky.” She raised an interesting point—it makes you wonder if anyone genuinely enjoys airplane coffee for its taste, rather than just the caffeine boost it provides.
Coy isn’t the only one voicing concerns about coffee on planes. Kevin, a former flight attendant turned pilot, recently shared insights, revealing that “the water tank is rarely cleaned.” He added that sometimes, coffee is dumped into airplane toilets, with the pot’s spout being close to the toilet bowl. Who knew that ordering coffee on a flight could come with such a backstory?
