Coffee Press
Has anyone used a coffee press? and if so were you happy with it?
I have a small (16 oz) TAZO tea press bought at Starbucks exact same as a french press coffee maker. I use it for coffee / hot choc / tea / cuppa / drinkable soup type stuff. The lid screws on for anti spill, the drinking spout flips closed and seals, for anything besides coffee, you can easily remove the "press" portion. The sides are double walled for insulation too. Been very happy with this little gizmo. Have to be careful though, it makes a STRONG coffee.
I have a coffee press i use at home sometimes which is glass and it makes good coffee. Im going to buy a lexan coffee press REI sells made of Lexan Its less than 10 bucks. A titanium one is out now but costs 50 bucks(not cheap)
I'm a coffee geek. I use a press at home: 4 Tbl whole bean medium groun just before using, water just before boiling (200-210 deg.), steep for 4 minutes (not 5 or 3). This is the best way to make coffe (American style) for both body and flavor. When I was in Iceland, even the gas stations and pastry shops served coffee in presses! It's a taste sensation.
However, I think they would be a hassle and heavy on the trail unless you are a freak about coffee out there.
coffee
dont want to be shouted down by coffee snobs, but the coffee that comes in tea bags (forget which company makes it) was essential to my thru hike - if a bit pricy.
it was easier to deal with than instant coffee which has a tendency to get wet and sticky, and tastest like, well, instant coffee.
I use a plastic( bpa-free ) type press. The carafe also serves as a drinking cup or eating bowl for. To drink hot tea/coffee i unscrew the plunger handle and drink with the strainer in the bottom. Even though it's the smallest coffee press I have found the entire thing is almost too heavy/bulky unless you do have multiple uses for it.
I own every conceivable coffee making device - including the french press - you can't nest anything inside the thing (much) and it takes up a lot of room. Unlike home-style french presses mine which is a GSI brand tends to let a lot of grounds get in the coffee and is a real mess to clean up. I have also carried percolators, and all sorts of drip coffee contraptions. I pretty much use Starbucks VIA or medaglia d'oro instant espresso on long distance hikes. If you are a gourmet though, GSI makes a tiny espresso pot too. I also have a tiny italian made espresso pot which is heavy but a real luxury; it looks like this:
bialettitrio-1.jpg
I have a Jetboil press and another one (home type). The bottom line: Makes good coffee. Makes a good mess too. I now use the Tassimo bags like a tea bag - just put them in the boiling water, let them soak, and then squeeze them out. Makes a good cup with a lot less mess.
I like cowboy coffee. The half real / half instant folgers coffee bags are ok, but the flavor is just not good enough. Cleaning a French press requires too much water to be practical for me.
Those Coffee bags (Folgers, Wegmans, Maxwell House) all have instant coffee in them to varying proportions.Originally Posted by mindlessmariachi
.....Someday, like many others who joined WB in the early years, I may dry up and dissapear....
I have a Boden Lexan press which I use for weekends and such, but for longer trips, I prefer either the MSR Mugmate or just simple Coughlin 1-cup filters that use a twig or plastic sprig to hold over your cup.
.....Someday, like many others who joined WB in the early years, I may dry up and dissapear....
Coffee Press? You thru hiking or car camping?
"Fish Camp Woman.... Baby, I like the way you smell"
- Unknown Hinson
VIA by Starbucks
I've tried the Columbian Via and have to say it's the best instant Coffee I've ever had. Rivals many brewed coffee's. My press, so far with many uses, have not started to allow (many) grinds to seep past the rubber seal. I'd consider full use of the VIA if it was readily available when traveling. On shorter trips I have carried instant and or the VIA types. The VIA is also quite expensive, especially for an instant.
I assumed that the OP wasn't considering a thru hike with one - I carry some coffee supplies on trips under 30 miles though - no biggie Spokes - its fun.
What's a person from Knightsbridge London UK doing drinking coffee in the first place?
"Fish Camp Woman.... Baby, I like the way you smell"
- Unknown Hinson
I know PapaD....... gotta break out of my old mold..... I know. ;-)
"Fish Camp Woman.... Baby, I like the way you smell"
- Unknown Hinson
He must be a yank or just cool!
Most of the world consumes coffee as well as leaf tea. Some more than others.
world ranking (per capita consumption) of tea USA: 69th UK: 6th
world ranking (per capita consumption) of coffee USA: 25th UK: 44th
I do drink much, much more tea, but when you're hiking/traveling, especially in the states, it's impossible to find any leaf teas. Notice on my post #6 I mention "tea/coffee" meaning what leaf tea I have brought doesn't last long then it's left to the more accessible coffee for my hot drink. The press works very well with teas, not just coffee. To point out the closest leaf tea to the AT would be New York city and Atlanta or possibly a few other exclusive inns along the trail. Occasionally I'll receive some via mail drop. Just remember tea to a Brit consist of tea leaves, not small bags with a string attached and a ground up substance inside said bag.
As a fellow transplanted Brit , good tea(PG TIPS,TYPHOO E.T.C.), needs real milk for a really fine cuppa, just the way most of us were raised to drink it since we were nippers, whereas coffee tastes just fine with powdered milk which is easier to carry on the trail ..
So now you know...
ivegot the gsi press, i just found it too difficult to keep clean on the trail, switched to via.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
