ESPRO Ultralight Travel Press Coffee Maker Review

Bottom Line

When we’re looking for a good cup of coffee without waiting to hit the trail, or when we want a second cup for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, the ESPRO Ultralight Travel Press is the perfect tool for making coffee. It’s lightweight, easy to use, brews great coffee, and since the entire device is designed for on-the-go brewing, it’s ready to pack up whenever you are.

It’s perfect for early morning trail dates when we prefer to hit snooze one more time instead of waiting for coffee to brew. All we had to do was boil water, add grounds, and let the coffee steep while we got moving. When three to four minutes are up, simply press, screw on the lid, and enjoy a leak-proof cup of coffee wherever you go. 

During testing, the mug kept our coffee hot for hours, even on chilly days, and a double-filter basket prevented grounds from entering the final product. We took our time finishing the cup, and the last sips weren’t any more bitter than the first. Another bonus: the ESPRO also makes tea. If you’d like to explore other options, consider our comprehensive guide to the best camping and backpacking coffee makers.

How We Tested

We tested the ESPRO Travel Press for several weeks at home and on the trail. We brought it to the climbing gym for early morning sessions and on dark start hikes around Utah when we wanted our coffee to go and sippable as we moved.

Portability

What makes the ESPRO stand out among most other coffee makers we tested, including various French presses, is its design for portability. It serves not only as a coffee-making device but also as a practical vessel: it combines a coffee brewer and travel mug in one.

The travel-style mug was compact and fit into every standard backpack water bottle pocket we placed it in, as well as in vehicle cup holders. Although it isn’t the lightest coffee maker we tested, it is lightweight for an insulated bottle at 7.4 ounces. Furthermore, since it serves as both a brewer and a mug, it eliminates the need to pack both, potentially saving weight overall.

Since it’s slim and cylindrical, we had no trouble fitting it into travel bags, camp kitchen tubs, and backpacks. Plus, thanks to a leakproof screw-on lid, we weren’t worried it would spill when we inevitably kicked it over during a hike break. The lid design also makes it easy to clip or secure the bottle to the outside of a pack if needed, and the insulated vessel kept our coffee hot for hours. Furthermore, when you’re done with your coffee, you can remove the filter and use the mug as a travel water bottle.

Ease of Use

When it comes to brewing a cup of coffee, few devices we tested were easier to use than the ESPRO Travel Press. There are only two steps to brew: add coffee and water, then wait and press.

While weighing your beans and water is often recommended for achieving a reliable cup every time, the size limitations of the vessel itself make it easy to simply scoop coffee and fill it with water if you’re not too particular. After you press, you can even add milk or sweeteners through the holes in the drinking lid if you wish. There are several around the plunger top that help keep coffee from sloshing while also allowing you to sip from anywhere around the rim, which we appreciated.

The ESPRO can also be used to prepare tea in a similar way. Just remove the outer basket to enhance the flavor.

We appreciated how easy it was to use when we wanted to maximize our sleep time and brew coffee on the way to the trailhead instead of at home. We also enjoyed preparing the device in the morning, pressing it, and then having access to a second cup later in the day.

Time to Brew

During testing, the ESPRO took exactly as long to brew as any other French press method: four to five minutes, not including the time it took to boil water. The typical steep time for this coffee method is four minutes (three for a milder cup), but you can steep for longer or shorter depending on your preferences. Most of that time is inactive, meaning you can finish packing your bag or tying your boots while your coffee brews.

One downside is that if you’re brewing on the go, you need to leave the leakproof lid off until you’re ready to press. The plunger arm doesn’t allow the lid to be attached while it’s in the brewing position.

Ease of Cleanup

While the ESPRO may excel in many other categories, it ranked low among other camp coffee makers regarding cleanup. It required the longest time to get fully clean: about 45 seconds of constant rinsing and re-rinsing as we washed out the spent grounds. This is due to the small parts and irregularities on the filter baskets, which provided perfect spots for tiny grounds to cling and become stuck.

The vessel itself is narrow, making it difficult to get our hands in when we wanted to scrub out the inside after a trip. A bottle brush was handy for completing the task.

Coffee Strength

The ESPRO produced a cup of coffee that was slightly stronger than medium when prepared with a medium coffee grind and a typical four-minute steep time. Naturally, we could make a weaker cup by increasing the grind size and shortening the steep time, or a slightly stronger cup by reducing the grind size and extending the steep time. 

We even found that we could use a finer grind than with most other Fresh presses because the filter basket is double-walled and made of very fine metal mesh. It kept smaller-than-average grounds out of the last few swigs of our coffee, which means we could brew a stronger cup than when using more traditional devices.

Should You Buy The ESPRO Travel Press?

The ESPRO will certainly appeal to a wide range of people, but those most likely to be drawn to it are solo hikers and coffee lovers who enjoy sipping their favorite caffeinated beverage throughout the day. After all, it makes preparing a cup for later quick, easy, and painless.

Anyone who prefers to get up and get moving right away will also appreciate the device’s easy convenience. All it requires is a quick boil of water, and you’re off—no need for strategic pouring or waiting for devices to percolate. This makes it ideal not only for coffee on the trail but also for your commute or running errands. You don’t even have to decant it into another vessel when it’s finished brewing. 

Although it falls on the higher end of the price spectrum, its multifunctionality still provides good value for the right individuals.

Those who typically brew coffee for more than one person may not find it as useful. With the single-cup preparation and the lengthy cleanup, it’s not meant for a quick and easy rinse-and-repeat.

What Other Camping & Backpacking Coffee Makers Should You Consider?

If you like the idea of the ESPRO Travel Press but are wondering if there’s another camp coffee maker out there that would suit you better, check out these options, all of which we reviewed in our coffee makers for camping and backpacking gear guide.

GSI Outdoors Java Press Review: For the same French press functionality in a larger design that’s better suited for brewing multiple cups for a group, consider this coffee maker.

Aeropress Go Review: If you usually make just one or two cups at a time but prefer a device that’s easier to clean between uses, the Aeropress Go is a great choice. It also lets you customize brew strength while remaining compact and portable.

Jetboil Silicone Coffee Press Review: This option is ideal for Jetboil users seeking a lightweight, portable accessory that transforms their pot into a versatile coffee-making powerhouse. It can brew multiple cups at once.