Review: GSI Outdoor – Coffee Rocket

I am a certified coffeeholic to the point where I spent several years as a Costa Coffee Barista Maestro. The issue I have, is that I like ‘real’ coffee not the instant muck. If I want a coffee when I am out walking I either need to use fresh coffee and some kind of filter/cafetiere system or rely on coffee bags! The latter is handy but I have never found a coffee that does not taste like cardboard.

Over the years I have tried several filter systems, but they usually require a paper filter which taints the taste of the coffee or some form of cafetière press to force the water through the coffee. I own two coffee presses sold by well know camping gas cooker manufacturers however, both are too ephemeral and allow the coffee grinds through into the cup!

So, I was delighted when the OS Leisure Team asked me to road test a new coffee filter system they were bringing online in their shop. It was ‘sold’ to me as a coffee filter that sits on top of a mug and then collapses to fit neatly inside the cup!

In the words of the OS online shop –

The GSI Outdoors Coffee Rocket is an incredibly clever, one person pour-over camp coffee maker that collapses to nest inside your favourite camp mug. In just a few minutes, you have a rich, invigorating fresh coffee anywhere. Designed with fun in mind, this compact pour-over camp coffee maker design incorporates an 8 fl. oz. (230 ml) drip cone designed to funnel piping hot water into an easy-to-clean, stainless steel filter. Hopper holds up to 3.5 fl. oz. (10 grams) of medium grind coffee for a quick and robust brew. Filter body neatly nests into water hopper for easy storage. Mug not included.

OS Leisure Shop

Specification:

• Clever compacting design collapses to nest within GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker Mug and similar vessels.
• Collapses to 3.8″; Expands to 5.5″ high
• High-efficiency screen and snorkel combine for fast, flavourful brewing and effortless cleanup.
• Sturdy, notched, folding legs grip nearly any mug and hold the drip cone above the already brewed coffee for perfect, mud-free brewing.

The product comes with clear and concise instructions, and it did not take long to have produced my first cup of coffee at home. The device comes in three parts – a frame which rests on top of the cup, a stainless-steel mesh filter which fits inside the frame and a funnel which fits on top of the filter. Including adding the coffee, the whole process took 60 seconds to assemble and prepare for hot water.

In order to make life easier in the field, I portioned coffee off into small ‘ziploc’ style bags which fit neatly into the detachable base of my portable cooker. Whilst my cooker can boil enough water for one cup in about 90 seconds the filtering does take about 3 minutes to complete. But then you cannot rush a perfect coffee!

Verdict

I am very impressed with this product. It achieves what other well known brands cannot and is so easy to use. The whole filter weighs in at 75 grams so adds very little weight to the rucksack and because it fits neatly inside my mug, it takes up no extra room. This product currently retails at £12.50 which, in my opinion, is an excellent price especially if, like me, you love real fresh brewed coffee.

Disclaimer: I was supplied with a GSI Outdoors Coffee Rocket by OS Leisure GetOutside Team for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.