I’m all about simplicity. That comes out in a lot of ways in the worlds of mountain biking, the way I drink coffee, and even how I run Loam Coffee. For a 10 year stretch the only mountain bike I had was a single speed. I didn’t have to fret over broken derailleurs or erratic shifting. I drink my coffee straight black. This simplicity is at the forefront in Loam Coffee from our logo, bags, branding, and more. I love simple. Clean.

That’s why I love exploring various manual brew methods. My daily routine begins with a cup of coffee … hand ground and then brewed via pourover, French press, or aeropress. But it’s one thing to brew and drink coffee in the warmth and comfort of your kitchen and another to do so outside. Particularly as temps have plummeted it means the need for simplicity in brew methods is even more important.

That’s why the GSI Ultralight Java Drip stands out.

Recently I went for a hike with two of my sons. It wasn’t some crazy long-distance hike but close-by in Forest Park here in Portland. It was more like a walk in the woods than an actual “hike.” We only had a couple hours and wanted to simply get out without driving an hour to some distant trailhead. Last minute I decided to toss my Jetboil, a bag of Loam Coffee, hand grinder, and the GSI pourover set up into my day pack. We drove 10 minutes to the trailhead, parked, and set out.

Throughout our hike we stopped, took photos, and talked. I kept looking for a great spot to break out my set-up to make coffee. Nothing stood out. Although brewing coffee on a rock next to the stream seemed like it’d make for good photos I instead lazily opted for a picnic table at another trailhead we came across. Since everything was wet it was a good place to brew some coffee.

First things first … I fired up the Jetboil. With the flame cranked nearly all of the way up it was hissing and screaming. Water was heating fast.

Next was to grind the coffee.

From there it was go time. The water was ready. I attached the Java Drip to my Hydro Flask. Since it was a last minute decision to pack all of this with me I didn’t grab a paper filter. No worries, because you can use it with or without one.

Added coffee.

Next came time to pour. While the Jetboil doesn’t have a spout like a pourover kettle, which makes it easier to control your pour, when you’re making coffee outside you’re not too bothered. You just want coffee.

In my haste I forgot to bring a scale which is essential. So I was guessing on how much coffee as well as how much water. But the irony is when you’re outside brewing coffee details like that aren’t a deterrent from enjoying coffee. While at home I’m obsessive about weighing my coffee and water, water temp, pour time, etc, it was actually fun to just “eye ball” it and let ‘er rip.

In the end I enjoyed a cup of coffee while hiking. I couldn’t ask for a better outing. The GSI Ultralight Java Drip is great for enjoying coffee outdoors. It’s small, compact, and can fold up and store in the smallest of places. It’s perfect for the trailhead, bikepacking, backpacking, camping, or glamping.

Words and Photos by Sean Benesh

Founder of Loam Coffee