TECH GROUPTEST
Stefan Abram tests five gadgets to get your coffee on the go
Cycling and coffee. The two go together like, well, coffee and cake!
There will always be a place in my heart for the delights of the cafe stop: the shelter from the wind and rain, a comfy seat, authentic espresso without the faff, and deep countertops laden with delectable pastries, shortbreads, flapjacks and, of course, cakes.
Still, sometimes a cafe stop is neither practical nor possible. On an all-day epic – especially when bikepack ing – a self-sufficient coffee stop is an excellent way to break up the day. Plus, mornings are much improved if you can enjoy your first brew without even having to leave your sleeping bag!
With that in mind, we’ve put five portable coffee makers to the test to find which is the most convenient system for life on two wheels. Space on the bike is always at a premium, so we’ve ensured that all the coffee makers on test, together with their associated paraphernalia, fit inside an 11-litreOrtlieb Handlebar Pack QR . This top-entry, roll-top bag is particularly well suited to carrying non-compressible loads to which you want easy access. And, despite its generous capacity, it can still fit between a set of 40cm bars.
There are many considerations when it comes to the hard practicalities of making coffee on the go. How you transport your water, how you heat it, how you carry the grounds, and so on. We’ll guide you through these important little details in a separate overview, as well as touching on any specifics as they relate to each coffee maker. For now, let’s get into the testing.
CONSIDERATIONS
First is the question of whether to go with whole beans or ground coffee. At home, I always use whole beans and a conical burr grinder (rather than spinning blades which give a less even grind and can scorch the coffee). But I’m no coffee dogmatist – some situations require concessions to be made, and travelling on two wheels is one such case.
In this context, I do use ground coffee, which I keep in a 500ml stainless steel canister along with a ½ tbsp scoop. There’s nothing worse than a coffee packet splitting in your bag – plus, I find it near impossible to scoop straight out of a bag without spilling some. I’ve used this container with all of the coffee makers on test, also packing it inside my Ortlieb Handlebar Bag QR.
Second is the question of using a coffee maker which needs its own heat source, rather than just the addition of hot water. If you do bring a stove, that allows essentially unlimited coffees on the go – a significant boon over a thermos flask, which really only works if you’ve stayed overnight in some kind of accommodation (or can persuade a cafe to top it up for you).
But bear in mind that if you‘re travelling with
