BODUM TRAVEL PRESS REVIEW: THE BEST CAMPING BREWER?

The Bodum Travel Press lets you brew and drink a tasty cup of coffee anywhere, all in one user-friendly and shockingly affordable device.

The Bodum Travel Press is one of the simplest and most convenient ways to enjoy coffee on the go. This versatile two-in-one product is both brewer and travel mug, making it the perfect compact and affordable way to bring coffee anywhere. 

Is it a practical choice for your life on the move? I bought one to find out. 

For the past few weeks, the Bodum Travel Press has been my constant companion, from the morning commute to the weekend campsite. Read on for my honest thoughts on this popular brewer.

A Full Review Of The Bodum Travel Press

The Bodum Travel Press is a travel mug and a French press rolled into one, and the result is more than the sum of its parts. This easy-to-use travel coffee maker can brew fresh coffee or tea on the go, and its stainless steel double-walled carafe keeps your drink hot for hours.

How We Rated It

• Design
• Durability
• Performance
• Coffee Quality
• Value for Money

4

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How does the Bodum Travel French Press work?

The Bodum Travel Press is a two-in-one French press and travel mug with double wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction. It’s essentially a small insulated French press with the addition of a comfortable heatproof rubber grip and a lid with a hole for drinking.

Heat Retention Testing

A big part of the Bodum Travel Press’s marketing is that it can keep your coffee hot for hours, so heat retention was the first thing I tested. I filled mine with 200 F water and measured the temperature at regular intervals by inserting a thermometer through the drinking hole (1). 

You can extend this time by preheating the carafe with boiling water before brewing coffee. This is a particularly important step if you’re out camping on a cold morning because the frosty stainless steel will cause your coffee to cool much faster!

The Flaw Inherent In French Press Mugs

French press travel mugs have an inherent design flaw which always makes me hesitant to recommend them. The coffee grounds continue to sit in the bottom of the mug while you’re drinking. So if you’re a slow sipper, you’re inevitably drinking bitter, over-extracted coffee by the time you reach the bottom (2).

Thanks to a fine metal mesh and a silicone seal around the filter, this Bodum press is better at isolating the grounds from the water than some lower-end alternatives. But this problem simply can’t be eliminated entirely. Even if your coffee stays hot for two hours, its flavor starts to turn bitter after about 30 minutes.

Design, Style, And Sizes

I wouldn’t call the Travel Press beautiful or display-worthy, but it’s an attractive and practical design. In this case, I’m happy to see them prioritizing function over form. 

It has a sleek stainless steel body, branded silicone grip, and plastic lid and knob. The travel press lid and grip are color coordinated, and Bodum periodically releases fun color options, like vibrant red or lime green.

It comes in two sizes, 15 ounces and 12 ounces. Remember that the volume includes the space at the bottom for the grounds, so they can brew roughly 13 or 10 ounces of coffee, respectively. I suspect the larger model will be more practical for most users. 

My only design complaint is that the knob on top of the plunger, while reasonably subtle, protrudes from the top. So when I’m drinking from the press, especially as I near the end, I can feel it hitting my nose. It’s not a big deal, but it does detract slightly from my coffee experience.

A Solid Choice For Camping And Travel

This coffee press was designed as a travel mug first and a French press second, making it a great option for brewing on the go. It weighs under a pound empty and is made from durable materials. 

I love it as a French press for camping, especially if I only need to make a single serving. Not only is it portable and easy to use, but it saves me from packing a separate mug. I don’t know about you, but space always seems to be at a premium when I’m planning a camping trip.

Are Bodum travel mugs leakproof?

Bodum does make leak-proof travel mugs, but this travel press isn’t one of them. The extension of the plunger through the lid makes that impossible. The fittings are relatively tight, however, so it’s reasonably spillproof. I could knock it over without making a mess, provided I was quick to set it upright. But definitely don’t toss it haphazardly into a backpack if it’s full of hot coffee.

For a few dollars more, you can buy a Travel Press Set, which includes a regular lid to turn your Travel Press into a standard coffee mug. This is a nice money-saver if you’re also in the market for a Bodum travel mug, but it eliminates the brewing feature unless you like a mouthful of grounds with your coffee.

How I Brew With The Bodum Travel Press

One thing I love about French press brewing is you can make it as complicated or simple as you want, and you’ll end up with a pretty tasty cup regardless. When I’m out camping, I eyeball a few scoops of pre-ground coffee then fill the press with water just off boiling. At home, I have the tools for a more meticulous approach to crafting a delicious coffee. 

Here’s my recipe for the 15-ounce model:

1. Bring water to 200 F in a kettle.
2. Rinse the travel press with hot water to preheat it.
3. Add 23 grams of coarsely ground coffee beans.
4. Add enough water just to cover the grounds and let them bloom for 30 seconds.
5. Add more water to fill the mug, screw on the lid, and start a timer.
6. Steep for 4 minutes, then gently press down the plunger to stop the extraction.

When you’re done brewing and drinking, all parts of this press are dishwasher-safe, so clean-up is a breeze.

Can you add milk to the Bodum travel press?

The Bodum loses a few marks for convenience because once the black coffee has been steeped and pressed, the only way to add milk or sugar is through the drinking spout, and then there’s no way to stir. If you like your coffee sweet, avoid any hassle by adding the sugar along with the grounds at the beginning.

Does The Bodum Travel Press Make Good Coffee?

Bodum Travel Press brews typical French press coffee. The presence of coffee oils in the cup gives it a robust flavor and heavy mouthfeel. 

The first 95% of your coffee will be delicious and rich, but I’d suggest skipping the bottom 5%. Though the filter is quite good, there will inevitably be some grainy fines in your cup at the end. Plus, as I mentioned before, the last few sips are likely to be over-extracted and bitter.

A Versatile Coffee Maker

One great feature of a press-style brewer is that it can also steep a delicious cup of tea, using either loose leaves or a tea bag. If you’re an avid coffee and tea drinker, this will be very appealing. Personally, I like to brew a coffee in the morning, give the press a quick rinse, and then use it again for an afternoon cup of tea.

The Bodum can also be used to make single servings of French press cold brew. Just add grounds and cold water, leave the mug in the fridge overnight, and press the plunger in the morning. 

The double-wall insulated mug will keep your cold drinks cool and refreshing just as well as it keeps your hot drinks hot.

The Bodum Travel Press Is An Affordable Option

The Bodum Travel Press has some flaws, but overall, it performs as advertised. And as one of the cheapest 2-in-1 French press mugs on the market, it’s hard to argue against its value for money. It comes with a one-year warranty, but given the quality of assembly and durability of the materials involved, I can see this thing lasting decades.

That said, the value varies considerably based on current pricing. Bodum products are frequently on sale, and unless you’re in a hurry, it’s worth checking around or waiting a few weeks to find the best price. 

For example, the MSRP of the Bodum Travel Press is $38.49, which is a decent value. But as I write this, it’s on sale for $20.99, which is a spectacular value. It’s hard to find a decent French press or travel mug for that price – let alone both in one product!

A plastic version of this travel press is also available for a lower price, but I’m not inclined to recommend it. It’s not as durable or as insulating, and I generally prefer to avoid plastic French presses.

Don’t Buy The Bodum Travel Press Coffee Maker If…

• You just want a good travel mug: If you already have a favorite French press or other coffee maker, the 2-in-1 option is probably overkill. All you really need is a good travel mug to pour the coffee into. My current top pick is the Zojirushi Insulated Mug, which combines excellent heat retention with sleek style and easy operation.

• You just want an insulated French press: What about if you already have a favorite mug? Then all you’re missing is the French press. The stainless steel double wall Stanley Stay Hot is a large-capacity option popular with backcountry campers. If you prefer the single-serving size of the Bodum, then check out Frieling, which offers a mini French press for brewing just 12 ounces.

• You want to serve a crowd: Stick with the Bodum brand if you’re interested in a traditional glass French press at an affordable price. The Bodum Brazil and Bodum Chambord are both best-sellers available in a range of sizes up to 51 ounces.

• You prefer a cleaner cup: If you prefer a less silty and over-extracted finish to your French press style coffee, the Espro Travel Press is the best I’ve tested in that regard thanks to its unique double-filter design (3). 

If you prefer to avoid an oily brew altogether, the Aeropress (or more travel-friendly Aeropress Go) is my favorite portable coffee maker, as perfect for a business trip as it is for an ultralight backpacking adventure. It brews a smooth and strong cup reminiscent of espresso.

The Verdict

The Bodum Travel Press is a clever portable French press that lets you brew coffee or tea anywhere. Better yet, it doubles as a well insulated travel mug that will keep your drinks hot or cold for hours. 

It’s as easy to use as a traditional French press and as compact as a standard coffee mug. Whether you need an on-the-go coffee maker for the morning commute or a practical brewer for weekend camping trips, the Bodum Travel Press is a solid option at an unbeatable price.

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