ESPRO Ultralight Journey Press Overview

Backside Line

After we’re searching for a great cup of espresso with out ready to hit the path, or once we need a second cup for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, the ESPRO Ultralight Journey Press is the right software for making espresso. It’s light-weight, straightforward to make use of, brews nice espresso, and for the reason that complete machine is designed for on-the-go brewing, it’s able to pack up every time you’re.

It’s excellent for early morning path dates once we choose to hit snooze yet another time as a substitute of ready for espresso to brew. All we needed to do was boil water, add grounds, and let the espresso steep whereas we acquired transferring. When three to 4 minutes are up, merely press, screw on the lid, and revel in a leak-proof cup of espresso wherever you go. 

Throughout testing, the mug stored our espresso scorching for hours, even on chilly days, and a double-filter basket prevented grounds from coming into the ultimate product. We took our time ending the cup, and the final sips weren’t any extra bitter than the primary. One other bonus: the ESPRO additionally makes tea. If you happen to’d prefer to discover different choices, think about our complete information to the finest tenting and backpacking espresso makers.

How We Examined

We examined the ESPRO Journey Press for a number of weeks at dwelling and on the path. We introduced it to the climbing gymnasium for early morning periods and on darkish begin hikes round Utah once we needed our espresso to go and sippable as we moved.

Portability

What makes the ESPRO stand out amongst most different espresso makers we examined, together with varied French presses, is its design for portability. It serves not solely as a coffee-making machine but additionally as a sensible vessel: it combines a espresso brewer and journey mug in a single.

The travel-style mug was compact and match into each normal backpack water bottle pocket we positioned it in, in addition to in automobile cup holders. Though it isn’t the lightest espresso maker we examined, it’s light-weight for an insulated bottle at 7.4 ounces. Moreover, because it serves as each a brewer and a mug, it eliminates the necessity to pack each, probably saving weight total.

Because it’s slim and cylindrical, we had no bother becoming it into journey baggage, camp kitchen tubs, and backpacks. Plus, due to a leakproof screw-on lid, we weren’t apprehensive it will spill once we inevitably kicked it over throughout a hike break. The lid design additionally makes it straightforward to clip or safe the bottle to the surface of a pack if wanted, and the insulated vessel stored our espresso scorching for hours. Moreover, while you’re finished together with your espresso, you possibly can take away the filter and use the mug as a journey water bottle.

Ease of Use

In terms of brewing a cup of espresso, few gadgets we examined have been simpler to make use of than the ESPRO Journey Press. There are solely two steps to brew: add espresso and water, then wait and press.

Whereas weighing your beans and water is commonly really helpful for attaining a dependable cup each time, the dimensions limitations of the vessel itself make it straightforward to easily scoop espresso and fill it with water if you happen to’re not too specific. After you press, you possibly can even add milk or sweeteners by way of the holes within the ingesting lid if you want. There are a number of across the plunger prime that assist preserve espresso from sloshing whereas additionally permitting you to sip from anyplace across the rim, which we appreciated.

The ESPRO may also be used to organize tea in an analogous method. Simply take away the outer basket to boost the flavour.

We appreciated how straightforward it was to make use of once we needed to maximise our sleep time and brew espresso on the best way to the trailhead as a substitute of at dwelling. We additionally loved getting ready the machine within the morning, urgent it, after which accessing a second cup later within the day.

Time to Brew

Throughout testing, the ESPRO took precisely as lengthy to brew as some other French press technique: 4 to 5 minutes, not together with the time it took to boil water. The everyday steep time for this espresso technique is 4 minutes (three for a milder cup), however you possibly can steep for longer or shorter relying in your preferences. Most of that point is inactive, which means you possibly can end packing your bag or tying your boots whereas your espresso brews.

One draw back is that if you happen to’re brewing on the go, it’s essential depart the leakproof lid off till you’re able to press. The plunger arm doesn’t enable the lid to be hooked up whereas it’s within the brewing place.

Ease of Cleanup

Whereas the ESPRO could excel in lots of different classes, it ranked low amongst different camp espresso makers concerning cleanup. It required the longest time to get absolutely clear: about 45 seconds of fixed rinsing and re-rinsing as we washed out the spent grounds. That is as a result of small elements and irregularities on the filter baskets, which offered excellent spots for tiny grounds to cling and turn into caught.

The vessel itself is slim, making it tough to get our palms in once we needed to clean out the within after a visit. A bottle brush was helpful for finishing the duty.

Espresso Power

The ESPRO produced a cup of espresso that was barely stronger than medium when ready with a medium espresso grind and a typical four-minute steep time. Naturally, we may make a weaker cup by rising the grind measurement and shortening the steep time, or a barely stronger cup by decreasing the grind measurement and increasing the steep time. 

We even discovered that we may use a finer grind than with most different Contemporary presses as a result of the filter basket is double-walled and manufactured from very superb steel mesh. It stored smaller-than-average grounds out of the previous few swigs of our espresso, which implies we may brew a stronger cup than when utilizing extra conventional gadgets.

Ought to You Purchase The ESPRO Journey Press?

The ESPRO will definitely enchantment to a variety of individuals, however these most probably to be drawn to it are solo hikers and low lovers who get pleasure from sipping their favourite caffeinated beverage all through the day. In spite of everything, it makes getting ready a cup for later fast, straightforward, and painless.

Anybody who prefers to stand up and get transferring straight away will even respect the machine’s straightforward comfort. All it requires is a fast boil of water, and also you’re off—no want for strategic pouring or ready for gadgets to percolate. This makes it excellent not just for espresso on the path but additionally in your commute or working errands. You don’t even must decant it into one other vessel when it’s completed brewing. 

Though it falls on the upper finish of the value spectrum, its multifunctionality nonetheless supplies good worth for the correct people.

Those that sometimes brew espresso for a couple of particular person could not discover it as helpful. With the single-cup preparation and the prolonged cleanup, it’s not meant for a fast and straightforward rinse-and-repeat.

What Different Tenting & Backpacking Espresso Makers Ought to You Contemplate?

If you happen to like the thought of the ESPRO Journey Press however are questioning if there’s one other camp espresso maker on the market that may go well with you higher, take a look at these choices, all of which we reviewed in our espresso makers for tenting and backpacking gear information.

GSI Outdoor Java Press Overview: For a similar French press performance in a bigger design that’s higher fitted to brewing a number of cups for a gaggle, think about this espresso maker.

Aeropress Go Overview: If you happen to normally make only one or two cups at a time however choose a tool that’s simpler to wash between makes use of, the Aeropress Go is a good selection. It additionally permits you to customise brew power whereas remaining compact and moveable.

Jetboil Silicone Espresso Press Overview: This selection is right for Jetboil customers searching for a light-weight, moveable accent that transforms their pot into a flexible coffee-making powerhouse. It may well brew a number of cups directly.