Bodum Travel Press Review: Is It The Right Travel Coffee Maker For You?
The Bodum Travel Press is one of the simplest and most convenient ways to have 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. Whether you’re crowded into a commuter train or solo in the backcountry, this coffeemaker-tumbler won’t let you down.
Read on to learn all the important details about this portable coffee maker and find out if it’s the best option for you.
Summary: Bodum Travel Press
- Two-in-one system is both French press and travel mug.
- Double-wall vacuum-seal stainless steel construction keeps coffee hot for hours.
- Great value for money.
Being a coffee maker and travel mug all in one, it’s one of the most minimal and space saving designs I’ve seen so far.
– Janie, Food Writer
The Bodum Travel Press Review
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 coffee or tea on the go, and its stainless steel double wall exterior keeps your drink hot for hours. (1)
Whether you’re trekking through the wilderness or stressing at the office, the light and compact Bodum Travel Press lets you drink delicious coffee anywhere. And since you won’t even have to buy a separate travel mug, the value for money is hard to beat.
Bodum Travel Coffee Press Review
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Aesthetic Appeal
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Ease Of Use
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Custom Brewing Features
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Portability
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Value For Money
Aesthetic Appeal – 4/5
The Travel Press isn’t as beautiful as some of Bodum’s other French press offerings, but that’s by design. This is a travel mug first and a travel French press second. The double-wall, vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction not only keeps your cup of coffee hot or cold but also provides a classy look (2).
This stylish design was excellent at retaining heat and well insulated to prevent fingers from getting too hot.
The Bodum branded silicone grip and matching lid are available in a variety of bright appealing colors.
Ease of Use – 4.5/5
The Bodum travel press is super easy to use. Just nail down two important criteria, the quantity of coffee and the grind size, and putting together a tasty brew as you dash out the house each morning is virtually foolproof. There are more advanced French press brew methods available of course, for those able to take more time.
The Bodum does lose a few marks for convenience because once the 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. Black coffee drinkers will find nothing to complain about here.
Additionally, Bodum has made all parts of this travel press dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze.
The hardest part might be waiting for your coffee to cool down, as brewing directly in an insulated mug produces a seriously hot drink.
Custom Brewing Features – 4/5
One great feature of a press style brewer is that it can also be used to steep a delicious cup of tea. If you’re an avid coffee AND tea drinker, this will be very appealing. Brew a coffee in the morning, give the press a quick rinse, and then you can use the same device to make an afternoon cup of tea.
Like any other coffee press, the Bodum can also be used to make French press cold brew. Just add grounds and cold water in the evening, leave the mug in the fridge overnight, and press the plunger in the morning. You’ll have a great cup of cold brew on the go and will save a ton of money by skipping the coffee shop.
Portability – 5/5
This coffee press is the very definition of portable as it was designed as a travel mug first, French press second. It’s lightweight and fits inside an average cup-holder. It’s also great as a French press for camping.
The press lid is spill-resistant, but for safety reasons, it’s not airtight. If you expect your travel mug to do some gymnastics, consider buying the Bodum Travel Press Set instead. For a few extra bucks, this comes with a plain lid, turning your travel press into a standard travel mug.
A pour-over brewer might be lightweight and portable, but you’re not going to whip it out on the bus to make a cup of coffee. The Bodum, on the other hand, just needs the hot water added before you leave home. The steeping and pressing can be done wherever you are four minutes later.
A special feature of this travel press, compared with other portable brewers, is that it’s the only one that can actually brew while you’re on the go.
Value for Money – 5/5
This travel coffee maker is great value. Not only is it one of the cheapest travel brewers on the market, but it’s two products in one. You won’t even have to buy a separate travel mug.
Things we liked:
- Both French press and travel mug
- Keeps coffee hot for hours
- Amazing value
Things we didn’t like:
- Not suitable for other types of coffees
- Complicated for adding milk and sugar
Do Not Buy the Bodum Travel Press If…
- You’re not into French press coffee – French press style coffee is unique because the metal filter, unlike paper filters, allows more coffee oils into your final cup. Many find this a selling point, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste. There is also some evidence that heavy coffee drinkers at risk of high cholesterol should avoid this style of coffee. (3) If oily coffee isn’t for you, but you still want to caffeinate on the go, try the Aeropress or the even smaller Aeropress Go.
- You need to serve multiple people – The Bodum Travel Press has a capacity of 350 mL. That might be enough to satisfy two people with small coffee appetites, but in general, this is not a brewer for a crowd. If you want that rich French press taste, and your friends do too, consider brewing in a larger French press like the Bodum Chambord coffee press or the Bodum Brazil before divvying it up into travel mugs.
- You’re not planning to drink it for a long time – Even though the insulated travel mug will keep your coffee hot for hours, prolonged contact with the grounds under the filter will eventually spoil your brew. This applies even more so for tea drinkers looking to avoid the bitter tannin taste that arises from over-steeping (4).
- You prefer a battery-operated coffee machine – Portability is one thing, but a coffee machine can save you from the hassle of using a manual brewer. The Makita battery-operated coffee maker is a good choice if you’re going camping or working on-site. The coffee it makes isn’t as strong as you’d expect it to be, but it’s good enough.
The Verdict
The Bodum Travel Press is a wonderful product because it satisfies the needs of many types of coffee drinkers. Are you a harried office worker running out the door to catch the bus to work? This is a great brewer for you. Are you an avid hiker looking for a lightweight, portable coffee maker for your next camping trip? This is a great brewer for you too. As long as you love French press coffee, and you want it on the move, you will be well served by the Travel Press from Bodum.
References
- Sarchet, J. (2020, January 27). Bodum Travel Press – Best Camping Coffee Maker Review. https://hedgecombers.com/bodum-travel-press-best-camping-coffee-maker/
- Woodford, C. (2019, January 8). How do Thermos vacuum flasks work? https://www.explainthatstuff.com/vacuumflasks.html
- GoodGodman, H. (2016, April 30). Pressed coffee is going mainstream – but should you drink it? Housekeeping Institute Team. (2019, June 18). Bodum Vacuum Travel Mug. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/pressed-coffee-going-mainstream-drink-201604299530
- Debczak, M. (2018, May 23). How Long to Steep Your Tea, According to Science. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/536417/how-long-steep-your-tea-according-science
