If you still want to have your morning cuppa while enjoying the great outdoors, never fear. Getaway‘s Gear Editor Matthew Sterne looks at ways to boost your roasting game in the outdoors.
Here are seven tried-and-tested gear items that will help you get your coffee fix:
1. GSI Outdoors Commuter Java Press
R475, rammountain.co.za
Loved by many experienced hiking friends, this French press coffee mug keeps drinks hot for three hours and is big enough for two cups (420ml) – ideal to make at home and have on a hike. A sliding inner carafe replaces the rod from classic French presses and creates a double wall of insulation, while a spill-resistant top helps prevent heat loss.
2. GSI Outdoors Javapress (Glacier SS)
R795, picnicspot.co.za
If you’re going camping with a group of coffee-loving friends, this is the way to score some extra points. This 975ml stainless steel French press has a silicone ring plunger for ensuring pure, sludge-free coffee, is vacuum-insulated and double-walled with a pour-through lid for heat retention, and has a stainless steel body and non-slip foot for stability.
3. Lume travel grinder
R1 650, moreflavour.co.za
This battery-operated travel grinder serves up freshly ground coffee in a jiffy and grinds enough for 50 cups when fully charged. Using one hand, press and hold the start button for two seconds to start grinding, and press again to stop. Charged via USB, the Lume also has a 150-lumen light that’s useful around the campsite.
4. Bialetti Mini Express 2 Cup
R510, just-like-papa.webshopapp.com
This variation of the classic Bialetti Express is for the dedicated espresso lovers. It involves a few more packing items but the theatre is worth it. Brewing up to 60ml of espresso, it’s enough to fill two 30ml espresso cups, in under five minutes.
5. Wacaco Nanovessel
R460, moreflavour.co.za
This is described as a 3-in-1 vacuum-insulated flask (tumbler, tea infuser and water tank). It can act as a small, one-cup flask (210 ml) but also has a filter mesh so you can brew tea leaves in it (easy to remove and clean). Made of stainless steel, it keeps drinks warm for up to four hours.
6. Miir tumbler
R400, just-like-papa.webshopapp.com
Apparently inspired by the timeless paper cup, the Miir stainless steel tumbler is double-walled and vacuum-insulated to keep your drink hot (or cold) on a road trip. It has a Hardshell powder coat and comes with a press-on lid.
7. Jetboil Flash
R2 495, rammountain.co.za
All hail the Jetboil, the fastest way to boil water outside of your kitchen (a litre in two minutes, in good conditions). There’s a push-button igniter, the bottom cover doubles as a cup and the colour-changing heat indicator means you don’t lose steam by opening it up. It’s R95 for the 100g fuel canister, which can boil around 12 litres of water.
Images: Highbury Media
