Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

This French press makes great "cowboy coffee." But if you do not like fine sediment and coffee grounds in your cup, look elsewhere. Too bad, because with a very minor design change this could be a great product. The silcone ring is too small in diameter and does not press the filter material firmly against the sides of carafe. If the silicone ring were designed to ride against the sides (preferably extending beyond the filter material raher than pressing the filter between the silicone and side wall)the seal would work. As it is, the filter material creases as it rests against the side walls allowing even very coarse coffee (and any inadvertent fines) to pass the sides and end up in your coffee. Moreover, grounds end up between the filter layers requiring disassembly to clean after each use. On the plus side, it is a reasonable size for one or two people and it is lightweight. The small base diameter mean it is not stable on most stoves - I used it by heating water in a larger base pot and pouring into the carafe. Snow peak is so close on this one - here's hoping they redesign or someone copies it. A last plus: it is NOT made in China. Recommended but with strong caution and reservations.

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

The coolness of this press, I think, is undeniable. It's nearly mechanically perfect: it's titanium and it makes coffee. It's not the lightest coffee making option, but some coffee making mechanism is non-negotiable in my kit. I've used many store-bought and homemade iterations of coffeemakers in the past and I'm going to stick with this one for a while.

It beats the other-brand lexan coffee press in quality of construction. The plunger of the lexan press is glued to the screen, whereas this metal press plunger rod is stainless and threaded and screws securely into the filter screen. Very durable and secure.

The vessel portion of the press can be placed directly onto the stove, eliminating the need to first heat water in another pot. Of course, on the burner, the typical Snow Peak flip-out handles become too hot to use afterwards, requiring a separate potholder to remove it from the burner. Also, the handles, which are steel and not TI, are becoming blue from the heat, but that's just personalization.

Finally, it makes good coffee. The metal screen is accompanied by a fabric screen that filters out most of the coffee grounds (using a course grind). It cleans up as easily as any other french press I've tried. If you like coffee, I would recommend trying the Snow Peak TI coffee press.

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

When I first bought this french press, I could not wait to try it out. So as soon as I got it home I fired up my stove and brewed a pot. The next thing I notice is that water leaking out of the pot has put out my stove. Upon closer examination, water is leaking out of the side of the pot where the measurement stamp has indented the titanium. Well, I was dissappointed, but not upset as these things happen in production. I returned the faulty one and recieved another. This one I did not test because of a busy schedule. Two months later, on a 2 day trek in shining rock, I wake up early and look forward to some real coffee. The exact same thing occurs. Now I have given up on cool and gone back to my heavier, but reliable perk.

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

I've had a Snowpeak coffee press for over a year and a half...It's always worked great for me. I have nothing but good things to say about the coffee press and Snowpeak Gear in general.

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

The best thing is it just plain works. It also can be used for a cup or to heat other things in by just removing the press. I did not have trouble using it on my MSR stove (can't remember which model, but it's small enough that the diameter of the press was not too small), and I didn't have trouble cleaning it - I just bought the largest ground coffee and rinsed it on the trail and it worked great for a 3-day trip.

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

French press coffee is often considered to be the best method of brewing coffee. It puts you in complete control of the coffee grind, the water temperature, and the duration of the brew.

Buy medium roast coffee. Darker roast coffees tend to contribute more of the flavors you may not like and are best for expresso, since the water passes quickly through the grounds.

You want to use the most coarse grind you can obtain when using a French press.

You want your water to be between 195-205 degrees F in order to extract the good flavors from the coffee and leave the bitterness behind. At sea-level, this would mean bringing your water to a boil in a SEPARATE kettle, remove it from the heat, wait for the boiling noise to stop, wait 10 seconds, and pour HALFWAY over the grounds in the French press.

Start your 4 minute timer.
Stir the grounds into the water.
Put your kettle back over a low flame to keep it at temp.

When camping, I bring a digital thermometer because water boils at different temperatures at different altitudes.

You'll probably want to stir the grounds into the water again because they will have risen to the top.

When there is about 30 seconds left on the timer, pour more water to the top of the French press. You'll figure out where the top is.

Plunge the coffee and pour into your drinking cup.

If you have a favorite coffee roast, you will find that adjusting the brewing TIME is all you need to do to get coffee that you like. Usually, it is going to be between 3-4 minutes.

If you are not yet happy with the results, try a different coffee.

Yes, this is all very extreme and you don't have to follow any of this, unless you're a coffee junkie like me.

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

I am a serious coffee junkie. Anywhere I go I have to pack coffee and a way to make it. If you are like me and need coffee without the worries of packing or breaking another form of coffee maker, this press will make you happy. Growing up backpacking I have grown very fond of Titanium and after dropping my last French Press and breaking it I decided that I needed a durable coffee maker, since I am clumsy until I have that first cup in me. This press does let a few more grounds though than a normal one may but it’s not that bad and in my mind grounds are a normal part of pressed coffee. I use a very course grind and recommend that you do the same. I have not tried to heat mine directly on the stove, I always have another way to heat the water and don’t want to risk it. Bottom line, it makes good coffee. I should not that I use mine primarily at home but bring it everywhere with me.

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

It seems that some previous reviewers are not familiar with the details of making "french press" coffee. It might sound a little frilly, but it's just different than typical drip, percolated, or instant coffee, and it requires a little re-learning sometimes (it did for me).

1. With french press, you have to use coarse ground coffee if you don't want any sediment. Finely ground coffee WILL get through the filter - even with a regular glass french press designed for use at home. If this indicates a "poor product" in your mind, check your regular drip coffee at home after you pour out most of it. I can guarantee there will be at least a small amount of sediment at the bottom. If sediment is a bother, you can let your coffee sit until it settles and be careful not to drink the last bit out of your cup.

2. A french press isn't meant to be put directly on the stove!! You put the grounds in the containter and pour hot water over the coffee... and you always, always need to leave room at the top. Sometimes the grinds will lump together at the top, and if you push on the press it will squirt out the spout. Again, ALL french press coffee makers are prone to this, no matter how expensive or fancy.

Like I said, it's just a different way to make coffee. Lucky for us campers, many coffee fanatics say french press is the best way to make coffee... and it just so happens to be one of the best things for camping!!

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

I need to agree with other reviewers that if you aren't a French Press Coffee drinker, you ought to be. It is so vastly superior to the other swill, that as they say you'll never go back. That said, if you don't like French Press Coffee, you won't like this press. But do be aware that even considering the vastly expensive silver & Pyrex home presses....this little unit still makes stunningly good coffee.

I've used my Snow Peak Coffee Press for a couple of years now.....and am thrilled with it.

It is sooooo light it practically hovers. And pack nicely, even with room for your first pot of coffee, maybe a baggie of more coffe and even a scoop. But like all other similar teeny (backpacker size) products, it is not the most stable thing on the planet, particularly when full of boiling water. Yikes. I have spilled more than one pot on the grass outside my tent....you'll note that I figured out early NOT to do it on the tent floor. Also like all titanium devices it gets VERY HOT.

I use it often with my Jet Boil stove, and have did so prior to Jet Boil coming up with a French Press accessory for its unit. I would still rather have the Snow Peak press, as I can then continue to use the Jet Boil while the coffee is steeping in the Snow Peak pot.

I too am a obsessive coffee snob. Life is too short for bad coffee. And like many, many minimalist campers of all sorts, I use only products with high quality design & construction. I guess, for me, that life is also too short for cheap Colemanesque outdoor products. Maybe it's an outdoor-zen thing...but this little press works for me. I was stunned to read about something as stupid as seamless titanium units leaking at the stamped markings....this hasn't happened to me with any of the Snow Peak (or REI units made by them) products.

I did have one amusing thing happen. When returning immediately home on the last day of a trip, I will simply dump the coffee grounds and bag the thing to clean up at home (the place with warm water). Well my "delicate little blossum" (14 year old daughter) helped Dad out by washing the pot. She managed to lose the little supplemental fabric filter. I assume she thought it disposable. In any case I love my Snow Peak coffee, so I immediately emailed the U.S. office (you do need to understand that Snow Peak is a VERY Japanese company)and begged for a replacement...assuming from the price of the pot itself that I'd have to sell my previously mentioned daughter to buy a replacement filter.

The nice people at Snow Peak U.S. sent me a new filter for free, and since it was so teeny they enclosed it in a new catalog.

Then there's that catalog! Wow! The absolute best catalog I have ever seen for any product. Worth it for the photos alone.....then there's the Japanese poetry. While poetry is not precisely my thing, the catalog was still stunning. It reminded of the early, early, catalogs from Patagonia....but waaaay better. Worth it just for the bathroom reading. Like a big fancy toy book. I was a little put off by the obsessive-retentiveness of Snow Peak's luxury camp lines but still....what a read.

Comments about Snow Peak Titanium French Press - 3 Cup:

You should know that a French press is one of the best ways to make coffee. This does that well. I collect coffee presses and espresso machines, and am happy to pack this one into the backcountry. If you put too much water in, you will pay with gritty coffee. I carry a separate filter to cut the grit. It's worth the cost if you seek ultralight gear. Snow Peak makes a frothing pitcher too. Latte hombre?