GSI's Java Drip is gadget for camping cycle tourists with an uncompromising caffeine addiction, the Java Drip promises fresh filter coffee without a weight penalty or palaver. Weighing only 12g, it fastens onto your mug with three plastic legs/clips, and then the dose of ground coffee is placed in the mesh followed by hot water. It then simply drips through, as the name suggests, and can easily be cleaned out afterwards. The result is a perfectly acceptable brew, far more enjoyable than the instant granules that are normally the only option of the weight conscious tourist. Of course you have to carry the ground coffee too, but 12g extra weight in the form of the filter isn't a lot by anyone's measure, and it takes up next to no space either.
Verdict
The perfect gadget for the weight conscious coffee connoisseur.
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road.cc test report
Make and model: GSI Java Drip
Size tested: One
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Aimed at campers who like real coffee
Spot on for lightweight trips requiring a decent brew
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
12g
Designed to nest under a camping stove fuel cartridge
Collapsible legs clip onto most mugs
Probably won't last years but made very well for its weight and purpose.
Makes good coffee, as long as you use good coffee.
Might not survive too many camping trips, but should do if treated gently.
For a coffee maker it's hard to find fault with 12g
Price seems quite high for what it is, but die hard coffee lovers may well disagree!
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Performed very well indeed. Easy to use too.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Ease of use, performance, weight, packsize
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing really.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes- a lot
Would you consider buying the product? Definitely. And for friends too.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes- especially camping coffee lovers
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
A great addition to a pannier for cycle camping trips.
About the tester
Age: 37 Height: 1.65m Weight: 67kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,
Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling.
Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other.
She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting.
6 comments
Cold-brewed coffee anyone? Seriously, if I'd taken that with me cycle touring (in Ireland), the result would have been pretty sour and underextracted. Water won't stay at 92 degrees for long in that thing!
I favour an Aeropress in the pannier instead. (And a hand grinder. Nothing beats grinding away in a field at dawn, before you hit the road. Unless MTB's your thing, in which case you can keep grinding away all day).
I have a slight suspicion that you're a bit more of a perfectionist than many PJ.
I've used one of these in the field many times, not this exact one but a very similar beast. and the coffee it made was absolutely fine for my uncultured pallette.
Cold-brewed coffee anyone
I recently was exposed to the delights of "sun jar coffee". I'll pass.
Ah! Just realized, i should have said my problem was "badly brewed coffee with too-cool hot water, eg 80 degrees" - cold-brewed is actually pretty good! (I make it occasionally, requires a long infusion time - overnight is good - and is v popular in Japan).
For anyone who doubts you can have good coffee when cycle camping, here's my setup:
I am jealous of that set up I could not be bothered when camping. However I 'slum' it with coffee bags. Individually foil sealed and can be dunked and stirred around like builders tea for a hot cup of java!
And the aroma is there too...