September 11, 2006
Freedom of the press
Now, you can brew good joe in your Nalgene bottle

By Matthew Cox
Staff writer

There’s no such thing as “bad” coffee when the suck-factor is high.

I’ve relished lukewarm, muddy joe made from the instant coffee in Meals, Ready-to-Eat. Not the Taster’s Choice brand, but the old-school dried swill the military issued when MREs came in the dark-brown pouch.

But for my money, coffee made in a French press is the best — it’s always hotter than automatic-drip brew and you don’t need filters or electricity.

But unless you’re in the French army, these simple little coffee contraptions aren’t what you’d consider deployment- worthy gear.

Until now.

The Press-Bot, by Venture Design Works, is a French press designed to fit inside a wide-mouth, 32-ounce Nalgene bottle.

Made of nearly shatterproof Lexan plastic, Nalgene bottles can handle hot and cold beverages, or keep things dry and protected — angel-hair pasta, small electronic gadgets or whatever fits through the bottle’s mouth.

Add the Press-Bot, which retails for $18, and your Nalgene becomes an ingeniously simple coffee maker that’s rugged enough for field use. Don’t have a Nalgene bottle yet? You can get one direct from Press-Bot or Nalgene (www.nalgene-outdoor.com), as well as from most outdoor outfitters.

To fit inside the Nalgene bottle, the Press-Bot is cleverly designed — the screen is hinged, folding in half to squeeze through the bottle mouth. Once it’s inside, you screw a locking collar onto the screen to keep it rigid.

The top of the Press-Bot then screws onto the threaded top of the Nalgene bottle.

Once you get the hang of folding the press screen inside the bottle to remove it, it’s as easy to use as any French press.

Just spoon your favorite ground coffee (or tea, if that’s your thing) into the bottom of the Nalgene — about six tablespoons of Starbucks Verona works for me — insert the Press-Bot and fill with hot water. The directions say to use “hot,” not boiling, water, but it’s only a safety warning. Neither the press nor the bottle will melt in boiling water.

Let the coffee steep about five minutes — more if you prefer strong brew. Depress the plunger, then pour from the built-in spout — or screw the Nalgene’s lid onto the top of the Press-Bot and you have coffee to go.

The Nalgene bottle doesn’t retain odors if you clean it properly — but it does take soap, water and a little scrubbing to keep the coffee smell from lingering.

The Press-Bot weighs about 2 ounces; and the Nalgene bottle is about 4½ ounces. Not bad for a little luxury.

For more information or to order, check out www.press-bot.com.

Matthew Cox covers the Army.

Ellie