I’ve been working on the ideal coffee solution for awhile. You can see my previous efforts at:
Backcountry Coffee on lightpack.blogspot.com
As a follow-up to that post, I recently ordered the Jetboil coffee press. Here’s a quick overview of how it works with my Snowpeak 700 mug.
First, let’s start with what I typically carry. My go-to mug for the past couple of years has been the Snowpeak 600. I’ve modified it significantly from stock:
1. Added measurement markings so I don’t have to carry a separate measurement tool
2. Added silicone tubing on the handles
3. Added a silicone lip guard
4. Added a lid from MBD
This system in total weighs in at 3 5/8oz.
I originally purchased a SnowPeak 700 because it includes a lid and measurement markings right out of the package. I learned the hard way that the lid is heavy and I don’t necessarily need that much volume as I’m typically cooking solo. I did modify the setup slightly to remove the ‘hook’ from the lid, and add a simple handle to the lid. This set-up weighs 4 5/8oz.
The Jetboil system allows me to ditch the original SP700 lid. The Jetboil lid is a burly design so there is practically no weight difference between the two. The lid fits tight and the design eliminates the need for a lip guard. The coffee press fits well but the stem is about 1 inch too long out of the box. The extra length causes the stem to poke you in the face when you try to drink. I was able to remove the plastic knob from the top of the stem by heating the stem with a lighter for a few seconds. After marking the stem for modification I was able to cut it easily with a tube cutter. After confirming the length of the stem I epoxied the knob back on and have a Jetboil system that works perfectly with the Snowpeak 700 mug.
I also opted to swap the handles from my SP600 to the SP700. Initially it was because I had the silicone tubing on the SP600 handles but after a quick comparison I also like the design of the SP600 handles a little more as well (more compact).
Total system weight is 5 1/4 oz.
The extra 1 5/8 oz for pressed coffee in the backcountry is well worth it since I’m an admitted coffee addict. I’m also able to eliminate the stuff sack that was necessary to keep the lid on and the contents in my cookpot. With the SP700 my fuel canister fits completely inside the mug allowing me to pack my kitchen kit completely inside. I used a mesh bag so the weight savings of eliminating it are negligable but its one less item to manage while hiking.
