Coffee on the road quandary

[edwa]

I'd like to ask a favor and put this out to the general forum to get your thoughts on a dilemma.

Backstory: I'm going to my mother-in-laws in Vermont for a week and leaving my beloved Bricc/Volante. She's somewhat of an invalid and has an old Mr. Coffee and uses preground. I'm not looking to change her world as she depends on what her hands can still do. BUT for my visit I can quit coffee for a week (yikes), grin and bear the Mr Coffee, OR

1) I could send out a press pot and order pre-ground from Terrior Coffee and store it in a freezer as they have suggested
OR
2) Spend a few more dollars and buy a blade grinder and use an inconsistent grind in the press pot. To spend any more would be a waste as the grinder will sit in a cabinet until the every so often that I visit (less than once a year). My wife visits more often but does the "grin and bear it" option.

What do you think is the lesser of 2 evils?

Any other suggestions I haven't thought of? ... besides butching up and gladly, grin and bear it?

[jesawdy]

You need something like this

If I am driving, I travel with Rocky and a Press pot. I am assuming you are flying, so...

My preference would be in this order:

Press pot and a used burr machine for travel like a Solis Maestro or Maestro Plus, I used to see some plastic press pots, which I would normally avoid but for travel may be a good thing.
Press pot with a blade grinder or "faux" burr grinder (try TJ Maxx or similar discount store for the pot and grinder), just expect LOTS of sludge
Press pot with preground

I would like to get something like an Aeropress for travel. Have you seen these yet?

In talking with two coffee professionals that travel, one used an Aeropress and some cheapie grinder, and the other used the Eva Solo brewing pot and a cheapie grinder. By cheapie, I mean a blade or "faux" burr machine. Both really talked up the Eva Solo pot to no end.

[edwa]

The Eva Solo looks nice. Nice video on their website.

It always amused me how nobody talks about clean-up on a press pot this would be even more difficult. There's no garbage disposal at her place so I'll avoid this one. I can just see myself hunched over her trash can trying to fish the grounds out of the narrow neck of the Solo. Still Stumptown Roasters include the Solo in their brewing guide and Terrior Coffee sells them online so that speaks volumes.

What about a moka pot? (Also in the Stumptown guide.)

I think I found a refurbished Cuisinart Burr grinder for $30 online, wouldn't want to spend anymore than that.

Things that make me go "Hmmmm". What are people doing with all that oil after they deep fry those turkeys?

[RapidCoffee]

For portability, it's hard to beat the AeroPress. The AP is small, lightweight, inexpensive, and basically indestructible. I've even taken it backpacking. Easier cleanup than a FP, because you eject the grounds in a puck. FP would be more suitable for larger volumes.

Dunno what to recommend for a portable grinder. (I can't help with the used turkey oil either. )
________
John

[chelya]

I do turkish on the go.
Here is what you are going to need:


or


And then something like this:


All can be found here:
http://www.natashascafe.com/html/foodncoffee.html

Also works in the wild with the following device:

[edwa]

Thanks everybody. This thread is quickly veering off course BUT jesawdy's reply made sense.

I bought a $30 refurbished Cuisinart grinder and then sent a French Press out to Mom's.

[jesawdy]

I'm pretty intrigued by the Aeropress. I had to laugh when I saw that, yes, it is fact made by Aerobie, the same folks that make the flying rings!

Enjoy the press!

[cannonfodder]

I take my kitchenaid A9 grinder and a French press to my parents house. When on extended travel (and I am driving not flying), I will take my lever machine and Cimbali JR grinder.

[tmaynard]

quit coffee for a week (yikes), grin and bear the Mr Coffee, OR...

It's just me, of course, but I roast enough to last the duration, seal it in one-way-valve plastic bags, and pack my Zass and press pot.

In a pinch, I'd substitute a whirly-blade for the Zass, and if necessary drop back to the Aeropress -- it depends on how much baggage I'm really willing to carry/check.

Fresh roast, yes: a must.

The Aeropress will make a decent cup of coffee with blade ground beans (30 secs or less, shake vertically while grinding) -- it's rather forgiving in that respect. I like 16.6 grams of beans in a 10 oz cup -- oh! Did I forget to mention my immersion heater and dial thermometer!? Gotta have 'em! Oooh, and my digital scale?! I can do without it in a pinch -- I've calibrated myself reasonably well.

But, I suppose, when push comes to shove, I could drive to Starbucks (/Caribou/Intelligentsia/Peets/...) and know that I'm having something "better" than Mr Coffee --- or I could just lick the road. I've been known to down a Starbucks americano on a road trip before. I could do it again.

Bad coffee beats cold turkey any day (IMHO).
t++

[edwa]

Good to hear about the Aeropress, I've been intrigued by it ever since I first read about it. I might have gone that route, but with the 8 cup french press I'll at least be able to make enough for myself and my wife.

At one point I wandered into REI and came across this grinder and contemplated buying it. But, none of the help knew anything about it so I passed.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=48039869&parent_category_rn=4500495&vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC



Anybody tried one of these?

The refurbed Cuisinart for $30 should work fine. I'll post results when I get there.

[tmaynard]

Anybody tried one of these?

I have not, so naturally this comment is worth nearly zero -- take it as you will. I believe (firmly) that freshly ground beans in a presspot is probably the optimal camping coffee you could ever have. My wife and I camp, and I take my Zass and FP and Coleman stove -- using whatever water the campsite provides (some are better than others!). We have used bottled water when we felt it necessary.

This gizmo looks (A) a lot lighter than the Zass, and (B) a lot easier to grind into a presspot (no box dumping transfer). I'd go for it -- if you camp a lot, or travel frequently. Since it's designed to mate with their Lexan presspot, I'm reasonably confident that it (might) produce a satisfactory grind. Considering your options (after crawling out of a tent, or stumbling out of a hotel room bed), what could be better? Zass grinders are non-existent these days -- and they're heavier, and more awkward to pack. They don't fold, for example.

A plastic grinder with a plastic brewer, and a source of hot water is all you need -- these are all readily available in most hotel rooms (and campsites, if you have a stove). Sure, it's not a Rocky/Silvia -- but you do have a canopy of trees overhead -- or a spackled plaster ceiling -- you have to lower your standards just a tad, I think. Consider adding an immersion heater (about $3 from Ace Hardware), especially if you're "camping" in a hotel, but also true if you're sleeping on the ground.

And, consider this: in a campground you'll be having coffee that's 10-100X better than your neighbors (some of whom, in a $100,000 motor home have full espresso set ups!). In a hotel/motel, you'll be having coffee that is 1,000-10,000X better than the crummy autodrip and bagged ground coffee that your neighbors will be having. Go for it, Dude!

Your only other real option is the Aerobie Aeropress. It's light, small, travels well -- but only brews 1-2 cups at a time. You could still use the REI grinder -- you'd only need to play with it at home to optimize the grind/steep/stir times to deliver the brew you prefer. But that's also true with the presspot! Make a few pots at home before you go!

HTH, and nothing but great cups to you,
Tom.

[Ron_L]

I travel with my homeroast, an Aeropress, a mini-ibis electric kettle and a Zass turkish mill for a grinder.

A friend at the Green Coffee Buying Club uses one of the REI travel grinders and says that it works great! I'm thinking about getting one just to lighten my load a bit.

[edwa]

Greetings and Happy Holidays from Vermont.

A final update from me, the $30 Cuisinart burr grinder is working wonderfully. It's very noisy, a big bulky thing but it appears to produce a consistent coarse grind for the french pot and all rave about Terrior Coffee's Costa Rican DeCafe.

Gotta go, just got the call to come to dinner.

[tweaker]

At one point I wandered into REI and came across this grinder and contemplated buying it. But, none of the help knew anything about it so I passed.

Anybody tried one of these?

I received one of these last winter and traveled quite a bit with it over the summer (in Montana & Alaska). It's light and packs down well, but it is painfully slow. Because of it's shape (wide and squat), it is awkward and tiring to use. There is no comfortable way to grip it while you grind.

I just received a traditional Greek coffee will, and while I haven't traveled with it yet, it works much better. The tall skinny design is much more comfortable to use. And it produces a great powder fine grind for Turkish. The Greek mill is much heavier, and I think the light weight of the wide plastic one has an advantage there for backpacking. However, I did see a plastic bodied greek coffee mill in a store the other day, which looked like it might work well for back-packing.

[Thwack]

Because of it's shape (wide and squat), it is awkward and tiring to use. There is no comfortable way to grip it while you grind.

I'm heading out of town next month and really don't want to take pre-ground coffee for my press pot... looking for a lightweight solution. Could this be the one? Maybe the shape would make it easier to operate than the other one at REI that tweaker has used.

Has anyone tried it? Traveler II Coffee Grinder



Thanks

[pauljolly65]

I travel with my homeroast, an Aeropress, a mini-ibis electric kettle and a Zass turkish mill for a grinder.

I use a very similar setup: homeroast, Aeropress, Zass mill (and get the hot water any way I can). It works great, is relatively light, and the grind on the Zass can't be beat w/o electricity. The biggest 'hassle' is the homeroast--flying to Puerto Rico with two pounds plus the accoutrements takes a fair bit of luggage space. Fortunately, I only need a few t-shirts & shorts to wear!

Paul

[CGP4]

When Tonx was blogging about coffee for Dethroner, he recommend that REI Grinder, see here.

My travel setup is the same I keep at the office. Melitta "Perfect Cup" (102 plastic filter holder) with Filters, Solis Maestro Plus Grinder and Bodum Mini Ibis Kettle. I'd prefer French Press, but disposal/cleaning can be tricky. With the Melitta, I can just toss the filter with grounds into the trash.

[ppopp]

An alternative to the Aeropress would be a plastic Melitta no. 2 cone. They're super cheap, the filters are widely available, and they brew a great cup. Cleanup is easy too - just let it drip dry and toss the filter. Of course, it's drip coffee and not espresso, but the Aeropress doesn't actually make espresso either.

[ppopp]

One more thing - http://www.campmor.com has a portable grinder for $16.99 that looks quite similar to the portable shown above, perhaps it's the Traveler I. Go to the site and type "coffee" into the search window. Some interesting stuff comes up, including Java Juice liquid coffee extract. Yeaachh!

[dr_doppio]

I've traveled with a 3 cup Bodum FP and with a plastic cone that takes No. 2 Mellita filters. I prefer the drip set up. It weighs less and cleanup is trivial. This is a particular issue if I'm staying in a room without a kitchen.

What I'm missing is a grinder. Has anyone experience with the Travel II grinder mentioned above? It looks cool. BTW, Espressoparts.com carries it too.