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I have been doing significant research over the past few months to find the essential pieces of equipment that we would need to acquire to begin our overnight backpacking adventures. As I thought through these items I looked to meet basic needs and prioritize them for purchase. For instance, we all need sleep, right? So, I ask myself, “What are people doing besides sleeping on the ground under the stars with a rock for a pillow?” This led me to sleeping pads and hammocks. Which brings up the question of size and weight of products. Now what do I carry them in? And on and on it goes. So, what’s #1 on the priority list? Backpack…sleeping pad…sleeping bag…clothing…shoes? Well, one last detail to consider and the #1 spot is easily decided—Randi’s going. Therefore, the #1 piece of equipment that is most vital and necessary to the happiness and well-being of all involved is a coffee press.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I like coffee. I really like strong coffee pressed from freshly ground beans steeped in scalding hot water for four minutes. But, if I don’t have it, life will continue. Not the case when Randi is involved. She’s very adamant about her need for coffee. This meme pretty much sums up her addiction.

But she’s not satisfied with what we’ll be nice and call ‘wimpy’ coffee. She wants the full-throttle brew I make in the kitchen at home. But, let’s be real, the trail is no place for something as fragile as a french press…or is it?
We were happy to find that GSI makes this functional and stylish individual french press made just for the trail. They even have Randi’s favorite color…orange! We purchased two and excitedly set out to duplicate the wonders of our coffee brewed at home on the trail. Now, one more detail about Randi and her coffee…she likes her creamer just about as much as she likes her coffee. Truth is, she likes her coffee without her creamer about as much as we like Randi without her coffee.

After much trial and error we have finally arrived at a travel based solution. The main problem we had was you can’t carry a quart of Caramel Macchiato creamer in your backpack through the desert. Seriously people, I know it’s non-dairy, but that stuff will turn in less than time than you think. So, our current solution is to brew the coffee nice and strong and add a sweetener packet and hot chocolate packet. It makes for a nice mocha without losing too much of the coffee flavor. Hey, it’s a work in progress, but we have a workable plan for the first priority on our list. On to less important things like clothes.

Let us know if you have any suggestions for a travel friendly alternative to White Chocolate Raspberry or Almond Joy or Chocolate Caramel or any other of our guilty pleasures we put in our coffee at home. By the way, for everyone’s safety, let’s avoid suggestions that involve powdered creamer. Not a good idea. Trust me, I tried that one.

Have a great week everyone,
Mike