For most people, GSI’s handy little JavaMill is probably an awesome piece of gear, although not life-changing. Of course, I’m not most people. In a pinch, I’ll drink some pretty terrible coffee. But given the chance, nothing is better than a hot cup of coffee made from freshly ground whole beans. A proper cup of coffee while camping won’t change your life, but certainly adds a bit to your lifestyle.
Sounds good, but who brings a grinder on camping trips? Well, if you get yourself a JavaMill, you can. The folks at GSI Outdoors came up with a grinder so small, it fits into their Commuter Java Press travel mug, which happens to be a great way to make yourself that fresh cup of coffee. But I’m getting ahead of myself. With its compact size and removable grinding arm, the JavaMill is very portable. You can even load it up with beans, and grind only what you need, which is perfect for shorter trips.
The whole thing is very well thought out. A plastic body allows you to see how much whole bean is inside, while the removable cup on the bottom makes it easy to tell when you’ve ground up enough. No cheap blades here, there are conical ceramic burrs to give you a consistent grind, and you can easily adjust them from fine to coarse. Operation is very simple too. Remove the L-shaped grinding arm from the top of the mill. Pull the rubber handle off, place it on the short end of the arm, then replace the arm, with the long end going into the top of the mill this time. (Takes longer to read than actually do) That should give you all the leverage you need to pop the top off and fill it with your favorite roast. Twist the grinding arm a few times, and check that it’s not too coarse or fine. If it is, pop the cup off the bottom, and use the little T-handle to adjust it. Doesn’t take much effort to get enough for a cup or two.
Now that you have your fresh grounds, what are you going to do with them? While I did try it in a Keurig reusable pod, the most logical way to brew is using GSI’s Commuter Java Press (click the link for my review). This travel mug is a personal, portable, French press. And the JavaMill complements it so well, it actually fits inside, for travel. Dump your grounds in, add hot water, wait three minutes, and press. Better than instant coffee, and with only a bit more work.
With an MSRP of $29.95, the JavaMill is priced fairly. It’s got those ceramic burrs, plus a thick plastic housing that seems durable. The metal bits are mostly cast, but look like they should hold up well too. And let me point out that the JavaMill is not just for camping. I use it at work, and plan to take it with me when I travel. Of course, when not in use, it will be stored with my 72 hour kit. As I mentioned before, not having my morning coffee is a true emergency. gsioutdoors.com
– Brian
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the GSI Outdoors JavaMill for free from GSI Outdoors in consideration for review publication.