International overlanders can find the full assortment on the website of Stanley (Europe).
Dutch, and European overlanders can also order theirs via our partner Bushcraftshop.nl.
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Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press review
The Stanley French Press could very well be the ultimate overland companion from the Stanley range. This travel mug with an integrated filter makes anything and everything, use it for a French press hot coffee, cold brew, oat milk, or a Chai latte. It’s versatile, durable, and easy to store.
Made of stainless steel and coated with Stanley’s Hammertone Green paint it’s not only up to the job of full-time overlanding, it also looks the part around camp. We’ve used it since 2015 and wouldn’t leave home without it.
What is the Stanley Classic French Press?
The Stanley French Press is a coffee maker for overlanders and travel enthusiasts alike. It brews coffee, filters out the grounds, and keeps the coffee warm for hours. A great tool to have on the road. The double lid is leakproof but also features a drink-thru opening which is pleasant to use.
The Travel Mug features a vacuum-insulated body with a built-in French press plunger. It’s an all-in-one unit that serves the needs of coffee-loving overlanders. The plunger itself is a plastic frame with a metal mesh on the bottom and a seal on the sides, a design that functions well. The bottom part of the plunger can be unclipped for easy cleaning of the assembly as well. Not necessary in a dishwasher, but great around camp.
You can also choose to leave the filter plunger at home, or in your storage compartment, and use the travel mug as a simple on-the-go mug that keeps your drinks warm. It fits most car holders which is an ideal feature for overlanding of course.
Specifications
- Travel mug with an integrated coffee press
- Car cup compatible
- Stainless steel construction
- Double-wall vacuum insulated
- Stainless steel carry loop
- Stanley Classic Series
- Capacity: 470 ml
- Weight: 500 grams
- Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 24,5 cm
- Keeps drinks hot: 4 hours
- Keeps drinks cold: 5 hours
- Keeps drinks iced: 20 hours
Pros
- French Press on the go
- Insulated
- Heavy-duty stainless steel
- Won’t crack or rust
- Durable hammertone green paint
- Detachable filter for easy cleaning
- Drink thru opening
- Leak proof lid
- Car cup compatible
- Dishwasher safe (if you have that luxury)
Cons
- The filter component has a small plug that we lost
- The plunger is slightly harder to clean due to the shape
- Lid threads don’t line up sometimes
- Won’t stay super hot for many hours
Would we buy it again?
The Stanley French Press is one of our favorite gear items in our entire vehicle. We truly love the versatility and durability of the device. Back home we loved to use the Trigger Action Mug (renewed as The AeroLight Transit Mug), which is a great thermos to keep coffee warm. It was only when we hit the road that we fell in love with the Classic Travel Mug French Press as it combines both a coffee maker and a thermos in one device.
It’s a well-designed piece of gear and Stanley’s experience definitely comes through in it. It’s durable, insulates quite well, and combines multiple features. Looking at the exterior design the top and bottom of the mug are bare stainless steel to prevent scratches or the paint from flaking on the most impact-prone surfaces. The double lid is innovative and is fully leakproof. After opening the top lid a drink-thru opening and air hole are visible. This combination makes the French Press comfortable to drink from as it gives an even flow and doesn’t create a vacuum. When closed a silicone seal blocks both the drink opening and the air hole, making it truly spill-free.
A slight drawback of the double lid is that closing it can be a challenge sometimes. On some occasions the double lid doesn’t always line up properly, making it hard to screw the lid back in place.
These days we use this Travel Press every week, often daily in certain regions and climates. Our favorite drinks that we use it for are cold brews (get those chocolate tones going in your cold coffee) and spicy chai. Earlier on in our travels we also used it for great-tasting hot coffee, but since the beginning of 2024, we started using the Pour-Over for that. Having said that, we think a French Press is perfectly suited for our overlanding lifestyle, and Stanley’s version should be high on your list. Do note that our version can be hard to get, while the bigger version is readily available.
Our approach for gear reviews
As long-term overlanders we fully understand the need for high-quality and reliable gear. We know that if gear isn’t up to standard it can hinder your adventures, resulting in discomfort or a dangerous situation.
We write our reviews after extensive testing and with you – an adventurous overlander – in mind. We hope you appreciate our information, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Pro Tips
Did you know that a French press in general often delivers a very full, round-flavored coffee? Whereas a Pour-over creates a lighter more fruity coffee. Although we have to say we would describe a hot coffee from the French Press as slightly rougher, and possibly stronger. The latter is because we leave the coffee grounds in there when driving. We press the filter, but the grounds stay in contact with the hot water, continuing to give off flavor.
It all depends on your taste and needs (coffee straight away vs coffee on the go) if the French Press or the Pour-Over is more suitable for your adventure. Keep in mind that a French Press is extremely versatile, so in all honesty having both works best in our opinion.
Know that coffee grind size and brew time are related. Coarser grounds equal less surface and require a longer brewing time for example. Experiment with your beans, and ground size, and use a high-quality grinder to make manual adjustments easy.
Check out these product shots
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Hi! did you managed to find a replacement for the lost plug? Had the same problem and I’ve been unable to find one.
Hi! Unfortunately we didn’t find an ‘official’ plug. Instead we used a tiny plastic nut and bolt from the hardware store. Has been working flawlessly for the past year or so.