GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip Coffee Maker TRAIL REVIEW

     The long-awaited trail review is here! So much to cover and so little time...

 I will keep it simple and answer the most burning questions about this ultralight coffee filter to date. Keep in mind, this is based on a 3-day 2-night weekend trip and NOT an extended thru hike. 

Was packing in/out coffee grounds too much of a hassle? 

    Not at all. I stored all my grounds in two plastic ziploc bags (one for each day) and simply dumped the wet grounds back into the bag after use. I understand that this is a leave no trace item, but the extra few grounds stuck to my filter were washed off along with my regular dish cleaning at a safe distance away from the shelter. 

How did I grind the coffee?

    I ground the coffee beans before I left for the trip and stored them in airtight bags. Was it abiding by the 15/15/15 rule for coffee? Definitely not, but everything tastes better in the backcountry anyway. I didn't notice a whole lot of difference as I scarfed down the caffeine as I watched the sunrise both mornings. 

How did I pack the filter/What was the cook system accommodation?

    So this was the biggest change in my normal setup. I usually use a Toaks 750ml titanium pot and a BRS 3000t, but for this trip, I used the Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Kettle Kit. This included a collapsible kettle, a collapsible bowl, and a collapsible cup. 

Pros: 

This system worked great to separate my ramen and tuna meals in the bowl from the coffee and oatmeal in the cup. Since I used the kettle to heat up all of my water, I never had to mix weird flavors while saving money on my homemade backpacking meals. 

Boiling water in the kettle means I have enough for both oatmeal and coffee in one shot. 

The filter is extremely light and fits right under the retaining silicone band that holds the cookware together.

Cons:

Since the BRS stove is the only stove I have, it took forever to boil the water in my kettle to make coffee. I didn't time it, but it was at LEAST 5 minutes to boil. Since the flame cannot go around the bottom and touch the sides of the kettle (or it will melt), this made for a very slow morning brew. 

This also increased the weight of my pack overall, since I didn't want to drink a hot beverage from the same pot I was eating tuna and ramen out of. 

The kettle was a little awkward to get a good pour from. I am not sure this affected the taste all that much. Again, a bad coffee in the backcountry is better than a good coffee in the office!

Overall: 

I would say this filter deserves every bit of a 5/5. It's super affordable, easy to use, and doesn't technically require you to add any more than 11 grams for the filter plus the weight of grounds (assuming you use the same pot to eat and drink everything out of). That's insane! It could also pack alongside the fuel canister if a bowl isn't in your backpacking kit to stack with, making this form factor superior to other forms of brewing "real" coffee on trail.

In comparison to instant coffee, this took longer to boil and brew, but will save you money in the long run vs the cost of instant packs. Similar weight packing in, but you will pack wet ground out with the GSI filter.

In comparison to Aeropress, the GSI Ultralight Drip should be quicker to brew with only some sacrifice to taste. This system will be significantly cheaper over time (no need for replacement filters) and packs smaller and lighter. 

In comparison to portable espresso makers, the coffee is significantly worse. But you will save almost a pound in weight by using the GSI, not to mention no need for another device to charge and an initial buy-in cost, while still needing to pack out grounds. If you don't care about espresso and drink drip coffee normally, I wouldn't bat an eye at these espresso makers. 

If you care about weight and have access to a grinder, this filter should make your packing list every single time. Even as a backup in case of emergency, it doesn't take much room or thought to throw this into your cook system bag!