Travel press coffee mugs are great.
They combine the portability and convenience of travel mugs with the perfectly extracted, great tasting coffee a French press provides.
No longer do you have to sacrifice quality for convenience.
I review 11 of the best French travel mugs but for those of you who are in a rush, here are my top three.
But, before you go out and buy just any old French press-style travel mug, consider these important features.
Size
A seemingly obvious feature, it’s important not to overlook this, when buying a travel press coffee mug.
Remember, that when brewing your coffee in the same container in which you are travelling with, you have to factor in your coffee grounds.
Coffee grounds take up space in addition to your water and brew pressing device.
The proper coffee ground to water ratio for French presses is approximately 2 tablespoons (0.5oz) per 6 oz. of water.
If you want to store and drink 12-oz of coffee for example, maybe go for a 14 – 16-oz mug.
Press Type & Filter
Also known as a plunger, there are many different types of presses with many different filters as well.
Most use a stainless-steel or micron meshed filter to make sure no coffee grounds get into the body of your coffee.
This is extremely important, considering you will be drinking straight from the mug.
Any travel press coffee mug that boasts a double-filtered system, locking mechanism or separate compartment for brewing is great and sure prioritize a fine filtration process.
Over extraction is something controllable by a good filter as well.
A lot of higher end travel press coffee mugs will have a system or special filter to stop the extraction process of your coffee once brewed.
**Pro tip: Any filter that is made for “coffee or loose-tea” will provide better filtration as loose-tea is odd in shape and requires fine filtration.
Being ‘double walled’ or ‘vacuum sealed’ are great features to have in your travel press coffee mug to maintain your coffees temperature.
Whether it be hot or cold, you want your coffee at the correct temperature to maintain its great taste and consistency. Double walled refers to the construction of the mugs outer body or walls. The thickness of the container’s walls, determine how much heat can enter or exit through them. If something is described as ‘double walled stainless-steel’, it means it has two layers of stainless-steel. Double-walled insulates better than single-walled, but not as great of an insulator as triple-walled. Vacuum sealed, means it reduces heat transfer through the air inside the mug or containers walls. If a travel press coffee mug is vacuum sealed it means it will maintain the liquids temperature well. The most common terms you will hear when describing a travel mugs insulation is ‘double-walled’ or ‘vacuum sealed’. The combination of the two, ‘double wall vacuum sealed’ is best.
2. Material:
For travel, you don’t want anything breakable or made with harmful chemicals that you could possibly ingest. Glass is breakable and plastic is often made with harmful chemicals that can leach into liquids (especially when heated). Stainless-steel has proven to be the best material for travel mugs. It is both durable and can be made without the use of chemicals such as BPA’s; which are often found in plastics. Parts of your travel press coffee mug are ok to be made from plastic, but ideally you don’t want any plastic coming into contact with anything you will ingest. This means water, loose tea or coffee grounds. If possible, it is always best to go with anything that states ‘BPA FREE’. Silicon is a great alternative to plastic and can be used in a variety of different ways.
**BPA stands for bisphenol A. It is an industrial chemical, used since the 1960’s and has been proven to be harmful to humans when ingested.
3. Cleanability:
One reason why you may have chosen to research buying a travel press coffee mug is for convenience. Being able to brew, store and drink all from the same container is very handy and requires less cleanup than its alternatives. To make things even easier, try to find a travel press coffee mug that is dishwasher safe and with an easy to rinse filter.
4. Spill / Leak Proof:
There’s nothing worse than leakage or spillage… especially when it comes to coffee. An extremely important aspect of any mug designed for travel is that it is both leak and spill proof. Ideally, you want something you can store in your bag, lay on its side and move around a lot without having to worry about it leaking or spilling. Some mugs, will have a locking mechanism for travel, others a sealant ring around the lid. If a manufacturer has put extra effort into making their product ‘Leak-Free’ or ‘Spill-Proof’ they will often advertise it. Most travel press coffee mugs do prioritize this, but it never hurts to take a look at the consumer reports or reviews to see if anyone has had issues with a leaky or spill prone travel container.
5. Lid Type:
The lid type is actually quite important and does not only effect how you drink your coffee. It’s the one piece of a travel press coffee mug that ties everything together. Insulation, drinkability, press type and spillage are all effected, controlled and can benefit from a good lid. If you want a travel mug that can be stored in a pack or bag, you probably don’t want a plunger handle sticking out of the top of it. If great coffee kept hot is what you’re after, maybe a dual-system or insulated lid will be handy. Some have locks to prevent spillage and others, handy carrying loops. Whatever your specific needs require, make sure you’re thinking about the lid type.
6. Grip:
Generally, this aspect of a conventional travel mug is an afterthought. When it comes to travel press coffee mugs this is actually very important. A travel press (for travel) can entail brewing sometimes in peculiar or less than steady circumstances. Even if your travel press coffee mug is merely for your morning commute, it’s always nice to have a good handle on things. Silicon is a popular (and frankly the best), option for outer hand grips. It’s a great insulator, heat protectant and is soft to the touch… plus silicone is 100% BPA free! It ticks all the boxes and is a great addition to any travel mug, especially when used in place of plastic.
Ideal Buyer for Travel Press Coffee Mugs
If you are interested in, or have decided to make the switch to a travel press coffee mug, you are most likely someone that is busy or takes coffee on-the-go. But that doesn’t mean you still don’t appreciate the taste and consistency of great coffee. Travel presses (especially French press style) coffee mugs are a convenient way to enjoy coffee, brewed the way it should be. This is by hand and with the close attention of an experienced, smart coffee connoisseur. Or in less pretentious terms, someone that loves properly brewed coffee!
Whether you’re a student, working professional, busy stay-at-home parent, commuter or travelling nomad, a travel press coffee mug is the perfect choice for you!
[1] Bodum Travel French Press
Features
In terms of price, the Bodum Travel Press is pretty average. But, in terms of convenience, it is much more than that.
Consumers love this all in one; brewing, drinking and heat-maintaining, mug, as it has become very popular… and for good reason too!
Its sleek design with metal accents and color options, give it a very modern and hip look.
In fact, it looks just like a stylish travel mug. So much so, that the fact that you can actually brew coffee on-the-go with it as well as transport it, is almost unnoticeable.
Double vacuum sealed walls, keep the heat and freshness of your coffee preserved for hours.
This particular travel press from Bodum can hold up to 15-oz of coffee at a time, comes with a spill resistant lid, built-in French press style plunger and silicon hand grips.
It is dishwasher safe and customers love it for its convenience as well as sleek design.
It can brew, transport, and keep your coffee hot for hours. The all-in-one, Bodum Travel Press, is perfect for anyone who appreciates style along with portable and great tasting coffee.
Like what you see? Buy on Amazon
[2] Espro Travel Coffee Press
Features
This is a higher-end, travel coffee press made by Espro.
Being that it is a higher-end device, you would naturally expect it to have some number of heightened features, improved design or capabilities…. and it does.
You will not be disappointed when using this travel press for coffee or tea. With an intelligent, basket shaped, two-filter system, you’ll be assured to never experience any grit or residual coffee grounds when drinking your coffee.
This sleek and simple looking travel press has color options and looks just like your standard travel mug.
This is in part because it can also be used as just a standard travel mug. As well as being able to brew up to 10-oz of coffee directly in it, you can also use it as a travel mug, holding up to 15-oz of already brewed coffee.
It is made with a double wall vacuum sealed stainless-steel body.
The two-filter (or microfilter) system allows for French press brewing as well as the ability to brew pour-over coffee.
It is compatible with paper filters if you prefer less oily coffee with zero chance of grittiness. Its filtration system also stops coffee extraction automatically once the press plunger is pushed down.
If you are primarily a tea drinker, and love loose-leaf tea, you can opt for the ‘Tea Filter’, in which coffee extraction can be stopped with the touch of a button. With this option the tea is also filtered twice.
All of this, with the added ability to keep your coffee or tea hot for 4-6 hours is why customers absolutely love this two-filter, travel French press and pour over travel mug.
If you’re someone that hates grit and loves intelligently designed and versatile coffee brewing on-the-go, then you’ll love this travel coffee press from Espro.
Like what you see? Buy on Amazon
[3] Stanley Classic Vacuum Travel Press
Features
A mid-ranged classic travel press mug for the average coffee drinker.
‘Classic’ is the best way to describe the Stanley Classic Vacuum Travel Press Mug because of its design and physical appearance.
Resembling a retro travel thermos, this 160z teal colored press mug looks as if it belongs in a black and white movie, or best enjoyed in the back of an air-stream trailer.
It’s made from stainless-steel, is vacuum sealed and BPA-free.
Being able keep coffee (or general liquids) hot for 4-hours, cold for 5-hours, and frozen for 20-hours, makes it great for long hiking trips or adventures.
To help facilitate these activities, it also has a foldable carrying loop, making it easy to secure or clip onto backpacks.
Its plunger device for brewing is unique, unattached to the lid and completely removeable (unlike many travel press coffee mugs).
This is a retro mug. Think hipster. Customers absolutely adore this travel press mug, but mainly for their emotional attachment to it.
For how cool it looks and how different it is than other mugs on the market. In terms of functionality, there are definitely other travel press coffee mugs on the market that can deliver better heat maintenance with more intuitive designs.
But for how unique it is, the cool look and overall feel it gives off, the Stanley Classic Vacuum Travel Press Mug is definitely a one-of-a-kind travel press coffee mug, for certain one-of-a-kind individuals.
Interested? Buy on Amazon
[4] Zyliss E990001U Travel French Press
Features
As far as French press travel mugs go, this is about as economical as it gets.
The single-serve, Zyliss Travel French Press is a great and very budget-friendly option.
Judging by its appearance, you would never guess that this coffee mug has the ability to brew coffee as well.
It merely looks like a well-insulated, home-style, black coffee mug.
And although it is well insulated (being double walled to keep heat in), it is far from a standard home-style mug.
To use, merely add your coffee grinds as you would any other French press travel mug, and then your water.
Instead of a plunger style press, this particular mug uses a handheld, mesh filter that clips onto the side of the mug once pressed down all the way.
Once this is done, you can snap on the travel mug styled lid and voila!… you have a single serving of French press brewed coffee in a home-style, insulated mug.
Zyliss is known for their craftsmanship and using high-quality materials. This particular mug is made without the use of harmful chemicals such as BPA’s.
Feedback on this mug is overwhelmingly positive for its convenience and innovative design.
One drawback is sometimes gritty coffee. This is as a result of the small brewing capacity.
Although very convenient, there is no ability to stop the brewing process. If left for long periods of time, over extraction can occur and can cause gritty or thick coffee.
This is not uncommon among a lot travel press mugs, but more noticeable in a small container.
The solution to this is simple… drink your coffee faster!
For those who work in an office, at home or like to enjoy coffee conveniently in a home-style mug with little cleanup, the Zyliss Travel French Press Mug is a great option!
Like what you see? Buy on Amazon
[5] Kohipress
Features
This is an amazingly priced, portable and all-around great, mid-ranged French press coffee brewer and travel mug.
Its smart, innovative and simple design has made it a staple for travellers, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone wanting to brew and enjoy perfect coffee on-the-go.
The Kohipress is all black, double-wall insulated and vacuum sealed and resembles an aero-press.
Its long, slender design makes it easy to pack away in your bag and allows you to brew 12-oz of perfect coffee wherever you are.
Using a full immersion steep, the Kohipress takes the word ‘plunger’ to a whole new level.
Its giant, pressurized plunger press has a patented self-locking system that separates used coffee grounds from your coffee once brewed to avoid over extraction.
A fine micron stainless-steel mesh keeps all grounds out of your coffee, and the entire device is very easy to clean.
The plunger is made from plastic, so if you are averse to plastic or possible BPA’s, another stainless-steel option might be a better choice for you.
Thinking of every aspect of portable coffee brewing / drinking, the Kohipress is leak-proof.
This is just one of the reasons why consumers love it. It’s truly one-of-a-kind and great for travel.
Like any one-of-a-kind product, there will always be imitators. But, for the reasonable price of the Kohipress, I would recommend going for the real thing as opposed to trying to save the marginal amount you would, by buying a knock-off for cheaper.
For a traveller or anyone wanting a great, portable, French press coffee brewer travel mug with no chance of grit or over extraction, the Kohipress is an obvious choice!
Interested? Buy on Amazon
[6] Presse by Bobble
- A DELICIOUS BREW ANYTIME: Start your day the right way with this portable coffee maker that brews your freshly ground coffee in minutes! Built-in micro-filter ensures the best quality hot beverage!
- ON-THE-GO DESIGN: This portable french press is a chic and convenient travel mug so you can bring it anywhere after you’re finished brewing!
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION & EASY TO CLEAN: The presse is made from high quality, food grade stainless steel. The silicone top is engineered to withstand high temperatures. The presse is DISHWASHER SAFE!
- 3-WALL INSULATION: Don't worry about your hot coffee getting cold on your way to work - triple insulation ensures your coffee stays the perfect temperature for your satisfaction. The Presse works for loose tea too- Or just take it as a travel tumbler if you don't feel like using the press function.
- REDUCE WASTE, SAVE MONEY: Ditch the single serve coffee cups, and save money by brewing coffee shop quality coffee right from your home or office!
If you always find yourself in a rush to get to work every weekday and barely have time for a decent cup of coffee then meet the single-cup brewing device that will completely change your mornings. Presse by Bobble is an on-the-go coffee maker designed for travelers and people who are always on the move but still want to enjoy a delicious coffee drink.
This single-cup coffee brewer bears a close resemblance to the Aeropress but functions much like a traditional French press. It combines manual immersion brewing with reverse flow filtration to give a rich and tasty brew.
To brew your coffee drink with the Bobble press, simply add about 10g of medium-coarse coffee grounds into the tumbler, add water to the tumbler and stir the mixture, place the inner press into the tumbler and attach the lid to the press. Press the inner canister all the way down into the tumbler and that’s it.
This brewer uses a reusable micro-filter to separate the grounds from the brew and traps them at the bottom after brewing, so you have your coffee brew completely fresh from those annoying bits of coffee grounds. And it retains heat pretty well, this is actually one of it’s biggest selling points.
The Bobble press has three layers of insulation between the stainless steel walls, this keep the beverage hot for as long as possible — usually more than 3 hours. And the outside remains very cool so your hands to get any of the heat, no heat actually sips out anywhere. Another great thing about the Presse by Bobble is that it’s very easy to clean and maintain.
It takes approximately 4 minutes to take apart this little machine and empty the grounds, you can either hand wash (with soapy and warm water) it or use a dishwasher — yes, the Bobble press is also dishwasher safe. If you like your coffee on-the-go and sizzling hot while you drift through traffic to start your workday, then the Presse by Bobble will give you just that.
[7] GSI Outdoors Commuter Java Press
- ESCAPE THE DAILY GRIND: The Commuter JavaPress features an incredibly clever, sliding inner carafe, which replaces the rod from classic French Presses for unencumbered drinking.
- STAYS HOT: Double walled insulated lid holds in heat while brewing and serving.
- NO MORE WASTING COFFEE: Spill-resistant top and sealable spout prevents loss of heat. Non-slip foot helps keep cup upright and fits most car cup holders.
- COMPACT AND COMFY: Ballistic cloth-wrapped, foam cozy sleeve insulates hands and coffee for a secure grip and great for compact travel.
- IT'S ALL ABOUT THE OUTDOORS: In 1985 three siblings combined their love for the outdoors and set out to create GSI Outdoors. Now 32 years later GSI continues to bring quality cookware to outdoor lovers everywhere.
If you’re one of those ardent coffee lovers that can’t seem to get by without a cup of freshly brewed coffee — especially when on-the-go — then you just found your soon-to-be favorite coffee companion. The GSI Outdoors Commuter JavaPress is a simply designed yet unique single-cup French press which does a perfect job of consistently brewing you fresh, hot and delicious cups of coffee or tea.
The GSI JavaPress has two shatter-resistant plastic cylinders made from BPA free materials. The double-walled insulated lid traps the heat and holds it in keeping your drink hot for hours. A spill-resistant top and sealable spout prevents coffee spills and wastage.
On the outside, the Java press is covered with a nylon webbed neoprene insulating sleeve which prevents heat from getting to your hands when you hold it, plus its comfortable for a secure grip and removable too. The Java press has a removable non-slip foot which helps it to securely sit upright anywhere you place it and it fits into the cup holder of most cars.
Brewing your favorite beverage with the GSI Java press is also pretty simple and it takes only a few minutes. To brew, place your coarse coffee grounds (or tea leaves) in the outer cylinder and fill it with hot water. Let it seep for some minutes, then place the inner carafe into the outer cylinder and push it all the way down.
The inner carafe has a mesh microfilter which filters the brew and locks the grounds at the bottom of the outer cylinder, so you’d have your coffee drink free from those unpleasant tiny coffee grounds that get stuck between your teeth. Enjoy your hot beverage from the Java press with your fingers wrapped around it’s cool exterior. The Java press is also very easy to disassemble and wash.
If you’d love to keep enjoying those hot, fresh and tasty cups of coffee on your next camping or travel trip, I assume you know what to do — don’t leave your GSI Outdoors Commuter JavaPress behind. You can thank me later.
[8] Amovee French Press Travel Mug
You shouldn’t have to forgo your morning dose of caffeine just because you’re running late or worse still endure some crappy brown liquid as a sorry excuse for coffee. An excellent on-the-go single-cup French press travel mug for brewing hot, fresh and tasty coffee is all you need to satisfy that coffee craving and you’ve got one here — AmoVee French Press.
The AmoVee French press travel mug is a compact and very portable single-cup coffee brewer designed to make great tasting coffee or tea in just a few minutes — and on-the-go. It has two cylinders which are made from food grade plastics with heat resistant silicone rubber, and they’re free from BPA.
The outer cylinder contains the coffee grounds or tea leaves (or bags) and hot water, while the plunger does the filtration and separation through mesh microfilter with a valve that locks particles out. The AmoVee French also has a spill resistant lid which prevents spillage and waste and allows you to take your mug anywhere.
The AmoVee French press travel mug is slender and tall and has a capacity of 350ml which is approximately 12 ounces. You can use it at home, in your office or while on the move but make sure you drink your coffee really fast because it doesn’t have any real insulating system to ensure your coffee stays hot. While it brews you fresh and hot coffee, it’s also very easy to take apart and clean up which is very important for maintenance and long life.
To clean, gradually take out the plunger and wash with running water. Brewing with it is just as simple. Take out the plunger, put your coarse coffee grounds or tea leaves into the outer cylinder, pour in hot water and allow to steep for 3-4 minutes. Replace the plunger and your beverage is ready, steaming hot and fresh.
[9] Espro Ultralight Coffee Press
If you’re looking to take a single-serving coffee maker on our next camping trip, then you just found the most ideal coffee companion. The Espro ultralight coffee press was made with campers and travelers in mind, it can simply pass as the lightest single-serving coffee press in the world.
This coffee maker is actually a French press and it comes in an attractive stainless steel, sturdy metal shell and a screw-on plastic top. It brews by combining the elements of manual immersion brewing with dual filtration system to give you a flavorful and grit-free cup of coffee. The double filter system has two interlocking tight mesh filters to keep your coffee drink absolutely free of tiny coffee particles. The microfilters are up to 12 times finer than the filters found in an average French press.
If you prefer to gradually sip your coffee for a long time without it getting tepid, then rest easy because the Espro coffee press has a double-walled stainless steel insulating system to prevent your brew from losing heat, this keeps your coffee hot for hours allowing you to drink at your own pace.
One disadvantage of letting your coffee sit for long in many French press travel mugs is the possibility of your brew getting bitter due to over extraction from the coffee grounds. Well, fortunately this isn’t the case with the Espro Ultralight Coffee press. Once you press the plunger in, the extraction stops which prevents your coffee from getting bitter overtime — all thanks to the double filtration mechanism, the last drop tastes just like the first.
With this portable French press, brewing grit-free and delicious tasting coffee drink has never been easier and it has a leak-proof lid which prevents coffee spillage. Cleaning this coffee press is also pretty easy but you have to be very careful and gentle. The Espro Ultralight Coffee Press is an excellent on-the-go coffee maker — it brews you fresh and delicious grit-free coffee and keeps it hot for up to 6 hours — and you can never go wrong with it.
[10] Coffee Gator Pour Over Brewer Mug
Staying hydrated and caffeinated on the go is the dream of every true coffee lover and thanks to the vast number of compact and portable travel coffee makers, this dream can finally come true. And one single-serving coffee maker that was designed for the sole purpose of keeping a traveler hydrated and caffeinated is the Coffee Gator Pour Over travel Mug.
The Coffee Gator Pour Over Travel Mug is compact and portable enough to follow you anywhere and it lets you make your coffee steaming hot, delicious and fresh anytime. It comes with a stainless steel micro mesh filter which is fine enough and keeps the grounds out of your drink while letting only the brew soak through and drip into the thermo mug.
This pour over travel mug is made from very solid and BPA- free materials, a vacuum layered military-grade 304 stainless steel coating and a smart copper lining for trapping the heat of your brew and keeping it hot for as long as possible. With the dense micro mesh stainless steel filter you have no need for paper filters which makes this coffee maker environment-friendly.
The Coffee Gator Pour Over Travel mug is compact enough to fit into any standard auto car holder so you take it with you for that long road trip and stay caffeinated all the way. To brew your favorite beverage with this coffee maker; attach the filter to the thermo mug, put your desired amount of coarse coffee grounds and gradually pour hot water over the coffee grounds.
The dense mesh filter will allow the coffee to soak through and drip into the thermo mug, this takes about 2 to 3 minutes and you have your coffee drink, cover the thermo mug with lid and drink whenever you like. If you intend to enjoy rich and flavorful coffee, not to mention fresh, on your next vacation or road trip, give the Coffee Gator Pour Over Travel Mug a try and you’ll love it.
[11] BRBHOM Set of 2 Portable Travel French Press
If you’re a sucker for fitness, chances are you always want a quick dose of morning caffeine before your daily workout sessions or your early morning jog, and what better way to get it other than from a portable French press. The BRBHOM travel portable French press is an ideal single serve coffee maker for brewing yourself a sizzling hot and fresh coffee anytime you start craving one.
It’s made from high quality and durable materials. The sleek plastic is toxic free and made from heat resistant silicone rubber. The coffee press uses the manual immersion brewing technique and has a plunger with a micro mesh filter which separates the grounds from the brew. This portable French press is super easy to use and requires absolutely no prior knowledge of using a French press.
To make your coffee; remove the plunger, put your coarse coffee grounds and pour in hot water. Allow to steep for 3-4 minutes, twist the plunger and lid then slowly press it into the body while you do this make sure the lid is open. And your coffee is ready, hot, fresh and tasty, just the way you like it.
One major drawback in the design of this portable French press is its inability to retain heat for a long time. It doesn’t have an insulating system which means your coffee drink will get tepid under an hour. To prevent this from happening, the best advice is to drink your coffee fast. Though the plastic is heat resistant, it’s not enough to keep the coffee hot for hours.
This coffee press also has a leak-proof lid with silicone seal which keeps your brew locked in and prevents coffee spillage. Despite that it’s a single walled plastic and can’t seem to retain heat for very long, the BRBHOM portable French press is great for those “I need a fresh and tasty hot cup of coffee in me now” moments and it does a great job of that. Plus you get an extra one when you order for one — so you have a set of 2 portable travel French Press.
