Green Coffee Buying Club

Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: RenoB on February 03, 2009, 01:24:22 PM

Title: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: RenoB on February 03, 2009, 01:24:22 PM: Couldn't find this covered so here goes.

I am spoiled with french pressed home roast but travel alot. Hotels don't offer an option so I am looking to put together a traveling setup. This may just consist of a stainless french press and an electric wand for boiling water.

Any recommendations for these items or suggestions for another travel friendly setup?
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: cfsheridan on February 03, 2009, 01:28:06 PM: Here's my normal setup

Zassenhaus grinder
Aeropress (can make a decent cup with 170-180?F water--which is typical from a hotel coffee maker)
Beans in valve bags

Use rasqual's inverted method to prepare your ~~french~~ Aero press
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on February 03, 2009, 01:35:23 PM: I see it now... stainless steel diamond tread case with velvet lining.... holding french press, hand grinder and electric kettle...

I guess I don't travel enough... and when I do I just through it all together on my way out the door...

I think the aeropress would be my choice if I had to limit my choices on a trip... it is durable and versatile.. small electric kettle would be nice and grinder... in that order... I hate to think of traveling with pre ground coffee but in a pinch that is better than Hill's Brothers....
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: MMW on February 04, 2009, 05:58:22 AM: I've been thinking about this too. The biggest problem seems to be the grinder. It looks like one of these these (Hario Skeleton/Skerton?) (http://www.shop.browncoffeeco.com/product.sc?categoryId=25&productId=110) would do (The zass grinders are too big for a reasonable kit, I think). Ideally, I'd like a grinder to fit in the an electric kettle along with a handful of filters and a half pound or so of beans. Add a plastic pour-over and a thermos and it'd be good to go.

Any body up for a Hario group buy? Would that even be possible?
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: milowebailey on February 04, 2009, 06:53:03 AM: Quote from: MMW on February 04, 2009, 05:58:22 AM
I've been thinking about this too. The biggest problem seems to be the grinder. It looks like one of these these (Hario Skeleton/Skerton?) ([url]http://www.shop.browncoffeeco.com/product.sc?categoryId=25&productId=110[/url]) would do (The zass grinders are too big for a reasonable kit, I think). Ideally, I'd like a grinder to fit in the an electric kettle along with a handful of filters and a half pound or so of beans. Add a plastic pour-over and a thermos and it'd be good to go.

Any body up for a Hario group buy? Would that even be possible?

EDIT:
~~See if you can find a price on a case and~~ I think a group buy would go well.... With ceramic burr grinder... I'd be all over one. I've sent an email to Hario to see if we can get a group buy. ($50 a grinder seems a bit high, but we'll see what they say for case pricing).

Stay tuned.
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: MMW on February 04, 2009, 07:38:33 AM: I sent an email to Hario a few minutes ago. Barismo has them for ~$40 as does another Canadian outfit but they are both out of stock-- and have been.
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: jspain on February 04, 2009, 07:40:32 AM: I like it! I would be in for a manual grinder if we do a distro!!!! I've taken the easy way out in the past and ground before leaving home...... I know, bad move! I take my press, 4 cup hot water maker, and coffee. (ground) I'd love to transition to having something small. The Boxster doesn't have much trunk space for road trips! jim ;D
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: Tex on February 04, 2009, 07:41:30 AM: Quote from: milowebailey on February 04, 2009, 06:53:03 AM
Quote from: MMW on February 04, 2009, 05:58:22 AM
I've been thinking about this too. The biggest problem seems to be the grinder. It looks like one of these these (Hario Skeleton/Skerton?) ([url]http://www.shop.browncoffeeco.com/product.sc?categoryId=25&productId=110[/url]) would do (The zass grinders are too big for a reasonable kit, I think). Ideally, I'd like a grinder to fit in the an electric kettle along with a handful of filters and a half pound or so of beans. Add a plastic pour-over and a thermos and it'd be good to go.

Any body up for a Hario group buy? Would that even be possible?

EDIT:
~~See if you can find a price on a case and~~ I think a group buy would go well.... With ceramic burr grinder... I'd be all over one. I've sent an email to Hario to see if we can get a group buy. ($50 a grinder seems a bit high, but we'll see what they say for case pricing).

Stay tuned.

I'd line up to get one too. My wife, God love her, is intimidated by my commercial grinders. Even though she knows it's bad, she'll have me grind a weeks worth of coffee rather than use the MD-50. She has used her Grandmother's vintage German hand-grinder, so maybe she'd use one of these. If it's not too large it might also make a handy little pepper mill for the kitchen?
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: thugmusk on February 04, 2009, 11:00:54 AM: Quote from: J.Jirehs Roaster on February 03, 2009, 01:35:23 PM
I see it now... stainless steel diamond tread case with velvet lining.... holding french press, hand grinder and electric kettle...

Foam lined Parker case containing the following: small butane stove, kettle, #6 cone filter holder w/ box of #6 filters, sugar, carafe from the Nissan stainless steel french press (virtually unbreakable), two *$ double walled SS (the old school kind), stirrer from a CafeSolo, grinder from that was carried by the Luftwaffe (a Zass just took too long to grind and both the hopper and drawer were just too small) and an ice tea spoon for dispensing the sugar. Plus, separately, two or three old style glass Thermos filled with boiling water for rinsing/cleaning operations.

Carried in the rear of my Land Cruiser on long road trips and during any extended business trips that I drive to. (I don't fly)

The whole operation takes 22 minutes from parking in a rest stop to pulling back out onto the highway. During the time of water coming to a boil I walk the dogs and make a head call.

Unreasonable "kit"? Yeah.

:-)

Rich
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: RenoB on February 04, 2009, 01:30:42 PM: Some great ideas, especially the stainless steel diamond tread case with velvet lining ;)

Thinking I'll go with the aeropress. Just thought I'd grind before I leave but that manual grinder is enticing, I'd be in for one if that happens!

Thanks for the input.
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: Pyment on February 04, 2009, 04:49:35 PM: For a manual grinder I find a Geska is perfect. You see them now and again on ebay.

They usually go for less that $30 they give a good grind. When I fill it full, the hopper holds about 30 grams. It is smaller than a Zass and, because it is flat, easier to pack.
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: Tex on February 09, 2009, 02:15:08 PM: Quote from: MMW on February 04, 2009, 07:38:33 AM
I sent an email to Hario a few minutes ago. Barismo has them for ~$40 as does another Canadian outfit but they are both out of stock-- and have been.

Any reply from Japan? A group buy sounds pretty cool!
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: milowebailey on February 10, 2009, 12:48:29 PM: The case price FOB Japan is $29 per grinder (case of 12). I'm checking to see what shipping would be for a case...
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: headchange4u on February 10, 2009, 04:48:58 PM: I'd be in for one of those grinders if the group buy goes through.
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: jspain on February 10, 2009, 05:49:17 PM: You can add me to that list! Jim
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: milowebailey on February 12, 2009, 07:04:41 AM: shipping from Japan is too high.... $18 per grinder.. that gets the price up to $48 per grinder .... you can order them online for that price. I'll see if there is any way to get them here any cheaper... but I suspect not.
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: Pyment on February 12, 2009, 07:20:33 AM: who is their US distributor? Last time I checked there wasn't one. There is a Canadian one though.
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: milowebailey on February 12, 2009, 07:31:08 AM: I found them. In Massachusetts

But look at this.... Hario makes a tabletop butane roaster..... hmmm we need to get someone in the USA to carry their gadgets.... very cool
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: Tex on February 12, 2009, 08:44:11 AM: Quote from: milowebailey on February 12, 2009, 07:31:08 AM
... Hario makes a tabletop butane roaster...

That's cool - not sure what I'd use it for, but I can see it hooked up to a small motor with a pots to control speed. Rather than denatured alcohol, I'd probably set it up to use an electric heating coil - safer. Was there a price for the roaster?
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: peter on February 12, 2009, 09:44:21 AM: Quote from: Tex on February 12, 2009, 08:44:11 AM
Was there a price for the roaster?

Coffee Bean Roaster "RETRO" (RCR-50) CAD299.00
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: Nucer on February 12, 2009, 10:10:29 AM: That translates into $240 USD. Expensive for a novety. Wonder if it even works?!

(saving my pennies in Benbrook, Texas)
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: Tex on February 12, 2009, 10:53:38 AM: Quote from: Nucer on February 12, 2009, 10:10:29 AM
That translates into $240 USD. Expensive for a novety. Wonder if it even works?!

(saving my pennies in Benbrook, Texas)

When my wife saw it she figured it'd be better used as a chestnut roaster for the family room coffee table. She also likes to place the Silex with the hotplate on the coffee table for a bit of after dinner theater.

(http://home.earthlink.net/~cm_harmon/images/SilexLido.jpg)
Title: Re: Travel setup for French Press
Post by: BobTimo on February 15, 2009, 01:20:56 AM: This used to be my coffee travel kit in a small bag when I was using the French press ...

(http://timonera.com/forumpix/coffee/travelkit.jpg)

The black thing at the bottom is a hand burr travel grinder from Clipper that I got from Amazon. You can actually adjust grind size with this grinder, but it's tiring, maybe coz handle is too short.

But then I got converted to the Aeropress, using Scott's inverted method. So this now is my travel kit ...

(http://timonera.com/forumpix/coffee/travelkit-aero.jpg)

The grinder has been replaced by an electric blade grinder. Easier for me. That small bottle with kopi luwak label actually just contains brown sugar. I'm a sweet guy, y'know. ;D

The beans are usually in half-pound bags with one-way valve in the my baggage. If I know I'd be in a good hotel, then I don't bring electric kettle. If there's none, then I'd just buy one. Cheap. I'm still in search of a small good electric water heater, something as small as my grinder, just 2 cups worth.

BobT