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coffee press choices

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:46 pm
by rlown
Ok, for those of you who do like your coffee up there, which would you pick?

There's the GSI: http://www.rei.com/product/785023" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've had two. the small one wouldn't pour due to the silly grid on the lip. The big one had the strainer fail after 2 trips (common problem)

Then there's the Snow Peak: http://www.rei.com/product/708069" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Never tried it, but it's lighter, and it'll probably lose it's heat faster, and the strainer isn't as fine. At least it's handle folds out of the way, unlike the GSI.

We dropped the ol' drip style choice as it tends to freeze before you can get your coffee through. :\

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:32 pm
by Flux
I would opt for the Ti one for a couple reasons.

I had a GSI one (not that exact one) and broke it. I probably didn't baby it, but it still broke. The Ti one is slick and you could toss your mug out and just use that one and even put it right on the stove for boiling the water or a quickie heat up.

You could probably find a lightweight beer cozy that fits around it somewhat or fashion one yourself out of a lightweight material and duct tape. I got a Ti mug on sale at REI and I want to make a cozy for it for hot bevy's, it has a lid which helps alot to conserve heat. But oh man, if the dirtbags catch me with that thing, I am a goner. I already took crap for my Black Diamond tent and Patagonia jacket.

.......great, now I want one too!

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:45 pm
by oldranger
I use Starbucks instant when making my mocha. Saves weight and eliminates issue of dealing with grounds.

M

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:11 pm
by rlown
i've never been a fan of instant. I don't mind the grinds, or the ritual. Full on Peet's french roast suits me fine.

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 4:22 pm
by Flux
I used some of the Starbucks Instant and I got a wicked stomach ache on the trail. Since then, I switched to black tea, might have been an altitude thing too. MUST have my caffeine, one way or another. French Presses make the best coffee though.

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:50 pm
by freestone
I am all for as few moving parts as possible. I go with Starbucks instant these days, or green tea. Before that, it was a Melitta setup with a #4 cone dripping into a Nalgene shaker wrapped in a cozy. That setup would be considered poison these days because of the BPA contamination risks.

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 11:37 pm
by AlmostThere
freestone wrote:I am all for as few moving parts as possible. I go with Starbucks instant these days, or green tea. Before that, it was a Melitta setup with a #4 cone dripping into a Nalgene shaker wrapped in a cozy. That setup would be considered poison these days because of the BPA contamination risks.
Only if you used one of the old style Lexan models. They still make plain old plastic Nalgenes, and they're cheaper than Lexan. I doubt the Melitta was anything BPA - those are cheap plastic too.

I've done the coffee bags, the drip cone, the GSI metal thingie that screws into the top of a widemouth container, but the most consistent results aside from a full on coffee press have been with a little doodad called the cup-pour-ri that I got for five bucks at REI. It works with loose leaf tea, too.

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 11:10 am
by Carne_DelMuerto
I'm another convert to the Starbucks Via, but before that I often just made Turkish coffee--have you considered that? No extra gear required, just pour the grounds into the boiling water, let it settle, then pour off the top. It makes for some strong, rich coffee. You just have to make sure and get the finest grind at the market when you buy the beans.

I have a friend who also insists on bringing the french press, but I've always thought it was too much trouble. To each his own. :)

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 1:13 pm
by rlown
yeah, I've done the "cowboy coffee" thing before, but I like to use my pot for boiling water only. It serves multiple uses like oatmeal, malto-meal, and the coffee. Depends on who I hike with, their tastes for either coffee or tea.

One trip, I brought Foldgers instant. [-X as the other person was a tea guy.

I'm leaning towards the Ti press. I can probably use the ol' neoprene cover to keep it warm.

At almost 50, I'm not worrying so much about BPA or AL poisoning. Any damage has already been done.

Re: coffee press choices

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 7:06 pm
by BSquared
I just tried my first round of Starbuck's Via a week ago on a ski trip, and now I'm a convert. I had to convert to decaf a few years ago, but I still need the taste of the stuff in the morning. This is not "instant coffee." If you haven't tried it, give it a whirl.