Travel Coffee Maker: the 450ml Cafetière

A 450ml travel coffee maker built to be carried, and a proper cafetière rather than a compromise. The glass body is shatterproof, and it sits inside a hard plastic casing that adds a second layer of protection, so the whole thing takes knocks that would end a kitchen cafetière. There is no separate handle to snap off, a fine stainless steel filter, and a footprint small enough to live in a kitbag. Real French press coffee, wherever you have hot water.

Why this travel French press

Most French presses are designed for a worktop. Glass sides, a glued handle, and no protection at all. The moment one goes in a bag it is a matter of time. This one is built the other way round: shatterproof glass first, then a hard casing over the top that works as both insulation and shock absorber. It is the robust option for anyone who actually moves with their kit, on the road, in the field, or on a job site.

How to brew with a French press

1. Add 25 to 30g of coarse ground coffee to the press.
2. Pour 400ml of hot water (93 to 96°C) over the grounds.
3. Stir gently. Place the lid on with the plunger up.
4. Wait 4 minutes.
5. Press the plunger down slowly. Pour and drink.

What grind to use

Coarse. Finer grinds slip through the mesh and end up as sediment in the cup. Our ground coffee is ground for cafetière, so it works straight out of the bag.

Specs

• Capacity: 450ml (3 cups)
• Body: shatterproof borosilicate glass inside a hard plastic protective casing
• Plunger and filter: stainless steel with food safe silicone
• Dimensions: 180mm H x 85mm W x 85mm D
• Temperature resistant: minus 30°C to 200°C
• Colour: black

Best coffee for a French press

The mesh filter lets the oils through, which means a fuller body than a paper filter brew. Works well with darker, chocolatey blends.

• Battle Prep: Brazil and Latin America blend, balanced and chocolatey. The default daily driver.
• After Hours: higher Robusta content, intense and nutty, for early starts or long shifts.

Is this French press unbreakable?

No cafetière is indestructible, and we will not claim it is. What this one has is a shatterproof glass body and a hard plastic casing around it, which is two more layers of protection than a standard glass cafetière carries. It is built to survive being packed, dropped, and used away from a kitchen.

Is it big enough to share?

450ml is three cups, or two decent mugs. Enough for one person over a morning, or two people once.

Is it a good camping coffee maker?

Yes. It needs nothing but hot water and coarse ground coffee. No filters to run out of, no power, no separate handle to lose, which is more than most camping coffee makers can say. Boil water however you normally would and brew straight into the press.

How does French press coffee compare on strength?

Read our coffee strength scale guide to see where cafetière coffee sits on the strength scale, and how it stacks up against pour over, AeroPress, and espresso. We also wrote a direct comparison: pour over vs French press.