Stanley has a new Mountain Coffee System for that coffee-loving outdoor enthusiast on your shopping list this year. And knowing how much we love a good cup of freshly brewed coffee at home, work, or far away from it all, they were kind enough to send us the 1.1 quart version to make sure it’s a worthy gift.
Right from the start, we could see that Stanley set out to address the main shortcomings of other vacuum bottles when they designed the Mountain Coffee System. With a 1.1 quart (35.2 oz) capacity, it holds enough of your favorite hot or cold beverage that you might be inclined to share, so the lid can be separated into two cups, rather than the usual single. The stopper, formerly really not much more than a threaded plug, is now a handy place to store fresh coffee grounds. “Store fresh gounds”, you ask? Yes, because the lower half of the bottle is a pot with a folding handle. If you’ve ever wished that your vacuum bottle was also a French press, wish no more. The Mountain Coffee System allows you to boil water and press a fresh quart of coffee. Technology is finally being applied in ways that truly make our lives better.
Let’s say you’ve packed a cold drink for an outing. The Mountain Coffee System will keep it cold for up to 20 hours (or iced for up to 100). At the end of the day, you enjoy that cold beverage with your companion. When you wake up the next day, twist the pot off the bottom of the bottle, fill it with clean cold water, and bring it to a boil over your camp stove. Pop the grounds out of the plug, and pour them into the water. Give them a few minutes to brew, then twist the plunger off the bottle as well. Use it to slowly press the grounds to the bottom of the pot. At that point, you’ll have around one quart of fresh coffee. Holding the pot by its folding handle, pour the coffee back into the bottle. Rinse the plunger, dump the grounds out (they’re good fertilizer), and put it all back together. You’re now ready to face the day with plenty of coffee. And if you’re only sipping your coffee, expect it to stay hot for up to 24 hours.
Stanley Mountain Coffee System: plunger, vacuum bottle, cups, pot with handle, and stopperWhile the 1.1 quart Mountain Coffee System is probably a bit too bulky for most backpackers (they offer a 17 oz version for that), it’s ideal for car camping, and weekends at the cabin. Even full, it’s not too heavy to carry from camp to the lake, for some early morning fishing. Made from 18/8 stainless steel, it resists rust, and will likely provide many years of use, plus any small dents just give it character. The cups, stopper, and plunger are all a very durable plastic, and the only areas of concern are the seal for the plunger and the screen. They appear robust, but should they get worn or damaged, we’re sure Stanley will have replacements available. We also like the way everything twists into place, with four dimples on the pot locking into some grooves on the plunger, and the rest being large threads. This is easy to keep clean, and hard to mess up in the dark, cold, wet, or all three at once. Overall, it’s a great product, and we’re happy to have been given a chance to try it out. Check out Stanley-pmi.com for their huge line of outdoors products. If you haven’t visited in a while, you’re sure to be pleasantly surprised.
– Brian