Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

I have the French press and it works fine. Use it a lot when I'm working.

Attached pic is a bit of a mess but you'll get the idea

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Good to know thanks. That van looks massive. What is it?

It's a VW Crafter. And yes, it's pretty big

Those jetboil style things are quick and convenient, but pretty bulky and heavy. A French press strikes me as similarly overbuilt for bikepacking.

For one person, I go with a 400ml ti mug with lid, Alpkit Kraku stove, and MSR mug mate if I'm doing fresh coffee.

Tbf the french press is just a 500ml ti pot and a rubber lid with the press part attached. It can be used for cooking as well as coffee

I agree with you. This is for hiking but I posted in here because the package is sold for bike packing.

I can’t get going in the morning without coffee so I’m happy to be carrying an extra kilo.

I can’t get going in the morning without coffee so I’m happy to be carrying an extra kilo.

There are much lighter options, were discussed in the coffee thread recently.

(cowboy style is my favourite so far)

Is carrying a dripper that much lighter?

Dripper means 2 cups (one as the kettle, one for the cup) (EDIT: I just realised you can't drink out of a french press so would need a second cup anyway...obviously...sorry for being dense. I haven't...had my coffee...)

The PX french press

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CPJOCUPPRES/jobsworth-cup-with-coffee-press

is just one cup, with a plunger, could pair it with a "minimal" stove.

They do have a jetboil type thing with a plunger

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CPJOJX2CS/jobsworth-java-x2-outdoor-cooking-system

Which is probably quite heavy, but if you're going to take a jetboil stove type thing for cooking anyway it might not be too bad?

I have not used either, but have been thinking about getting the cup with plunger.

Where did you get your 500ml ti pot with press? Sounds exactly what I'd like.

Cheers - I’ll see how we go. I’m doing four days of walking in Shropshire next week as part of prep for C2C in august.

It’s to test out kit as much as anything so I’ve got time to decide I want/need something lighter. I’m hopeful we’ll get away with one stove between three of us so it’s not a huge weight to carry.

Stop messing about and just make it Turkish. Hair on your chest and all.

Yeah, I don't quite get the faff. Coffee just settles out anyway.

It's how the grrl's Polish parents drink their coffee most days too.

Coffee in mug, hot water in mug, stir, wait, drink.

Coffee bags* work fine on short trips.

*obligatory: they were giving them away free so I tried them, better than instant and good enough for camping.

If you're not averse to instant then just take the sachets from hotels and throw a couple in.

Stop messing about and just make it Turkish. Hair on your chest and all.

Oooohhhhh MG I was literally going to actually seriously suggest this. I've gone camping with a cheapo Cezve and it rocked. So easy.

I just realised that it's actually a 1l aluminium pot. My bad

Is carrying a dripper that much lighter?

Bear bones meths stove, smallish alpkit ti mug, sea2summit x-cup plus the munie tetra drip or gsi java drip will not weigh much at all and would mostly pack into the mug. Could chuck in a ti windshield/ pot stand for not much more of a weight penalty too.

I'll weigh the above bits in a bit and see what it totals.

IMO: Jetboil (& equivalents) weight penalty is good for when the weather is shite and you just want to boil and go. I'd not use mine for cooking, just to heat water.

four days of walking in Shropshire next week as part of prep for C2C in august.

Enjoy!

Thanks. Weather looks shite but it’ll be a good test for the kit.

I'd not use mine for cooking, just to heat water.

That’s exactly what I’ve got mine for. Got ~800ml to the boil in 3.5 mins last night but that was in my kitchen.

The aero press option is light and depending on a big enough mug size could pack inside. The coffee is good. Also cuts the need for a separate heating vessel and a mug. Obviously the Turkish/Greek option cooked in the mug is optimal streamlining but then it’s down to taste (again). If it’s just for coffee the beercan stove works a treat and there’s enough room in the hollow of the press for a small bottle of meths/alcohol)...

I'm a tea man, but that brings in the issue of milk. Anyone use anything more fancy than skimmed milk powder? It's ok but nowhere near as good as a proper milk.

Carry a little bottle, and fill it up at the last pub/cafe before making camp.

I have not used it in tea, but I cycled across the middle of Iceland a few years ago and premixed porridge oats with Nido full cream milk powder. It was basically the highlight of the day, with the caveat that it was getting pretty close to being winter, I didn't see anyone for a week and I basically spent the whole time wet and cold.