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9JetBoil Coffee Press Review

The JetBoil Coffee Press conveniently turns your stove into a French press, but that means additional cleanings if you need it for other things
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9jetboil coffee press camping coffee review
jetboil coffee press
Credit: JetBoil.com
Price:  $18 List
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Manufacturer:   JetBoil
By Penney Garrett and Chris McNamara  ⋅  Nov 20, 2018
67
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Taste - 40% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 25% 6.0
  • Group Cooking - 15% 6.0
  • Portability - 10% 7.0
  • Weight - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

The JetBoil Coffee Press conveniently turns your JetBoil camping stove into a French press. It is compatible with the following JetBoil products: Zip, Flash, Flash Lite, MicroMo, PCS Sol and Sol TI, as well as the 1-Liter Tall and 0.8-Liter Spare Cups. It is simple, light, and makes good strong coffee. In general, we prefer a small cone that uses paper filters because it doesn't require any cleaning. But if you are looking for the lightest weight setup and like French press style coffee, go with the Jetboil Coffee Press.
REASONS TO BUY
Light
Doesn't require filters
Makes good strong coffee
REASONS TO AVOID
Clean up process requires water
Your stove will be "offline" while making coffee
New Version Available

Jetboil now makes a silicone version of the Coffee Press. We're linking to that updated model, but be aware that it is different than the version we tested.

April 2020

Our Analysis and Test Results

If you're already carrying and using a JetBoil but don't have room for much more, the JetBoil Coffee Press will take care of morning coffee with a minimum of additional equipment.

Brew Features


With this setup, you won't have to track down those pesky #2 filters before each trip or worry about running out. Simply attach the stem of the Coffee Press to its base, use your JetBoil as usual, and brew away.

9jetboil coffee press camping coffee review - jetboil coffee press
JetBoil Coffee Press
Credit: JetBoil

Taste


We were quite happy with the quality of our brew from the JetBoil Coffee Press, though — as with most French presses — it does leave sediment behind in your cup, especially on the last pour. French press coffee is notoriously muddy because there is no paper filter to soak up oils and small particles, and the grounds stay in your water and continue to extract. Although both the Espro and the Planetary Designs French Press change that tired old story — they both have patented plungers that completely stop extraction when depressed. The Espro even has paper filters that fit between the double microfilters for a cup as clean as a pour-over. However, when camping with limited space, sometimes all that matters is having a decent hot cup to start the day, sediment or not, and the Jetboil Press can offer that.

Ease of Use


This is a very easy brewer to use. However, a major drawback of a French press system is the cleanup process. You need to bang your JetBoil against something to empty out the grinds or scoop them out with a spoon. It's not the cleanest process, especially if you are camping and don't have a big trash can handy. You also need extra water to clean it. If you camp next to a stream, this is not a big deal. If you're far away from water, you'll need to have extra for rinsing. And if you are conserving water, it may be hard to get all the coffee flavor out, meaning that taste will transfer to your oatmeal or whatever else you are cooking.

Group Cooking


You may wonder why a French press would receive a lower score in this category. It's true that you can make more coffee at once, but since this system is contingent on using your JetBoil, you can't easily transfer from using this as a coffee filter to boiling water for other purposes. For example, when using this with four people where the JetBoil Flash was the only stove, everyone had to get their coffee made, then the JetBoil had to be cleaned, and then the group could boil water for breakfast oatmeal. There was no practical way to have hot coffee and breakfast at the same time. If you then want a second cup an hour later (as many people often do), you will have to clean it a second time. By comparison, if you are using a cone filter system, you can be making coffee and boiling water for other items all at once.

Portability


We love how light and easy the JetBoil Coffee Press is to transport and set up. The screen disconnects from the metal rod so you can store it easily. If you're already bringing along a JetBoil, this is one of the easiest ways to add coffee service to your camp kitchen.

9jetboil coffee press camping coffee review - dissasembled coffee press
Dissasembled coffee press
Credit: JetBoil

Weight


The Coffee Press only weighs an ounce, making it about the lightest way to make coffee, if you have a JetBoil.

Value


This is a cheap addition to your camp kitchen arsenal IF you already own a JetBoil. If you don't, this shouldn't be a consideration because it's not a functional device on its own. But if you already have the stove and want a way to turn it into a functioning French press, this will allow you to do it for cheap.

Conclusion


This coffee maker is a solid option for the right scenarios. If you already have a JetBoil that goes with you everywhere and you don't need it for anything other than coffee in the mornings, this is a great addition. Also if water will never be in short supply, you're golden, because French presses take more water for cleaning. But, if you're planning to eat oatmeal while desert camping, you might want to consider a different setup.

Penney Garrett and Chris McNamara