Our Gear Editor had 2.5 hours sleep the night before testing the 2x Espresso Pour Over Coffee Filter on a camping trip because he’s that committed to putting his body on the line for a gear review (he also wrote the preceding sentence, whoops, guilty).
There are about as many camp coffee options out there nowadays as there are ways to annoy your local barista with a ridiculous order. I’m looking at you, decaf, skinny latte with an extra shot, extra hot and 3 sugars.
As overwhelming as the camp coffee game can be at times with a one-size fits all option, something of a pipe dream, I think 2x Espresso’s pour over coffee filter is as close as we’ve been to ticking all the barista boxes.
It’s easy to use, portable, sustainable and most importantly, capable of making a decent cuppa.
Design and Portability
Now before we go any further, we’re talking about pour over/drip coffee with this 2x Espresso Filter.
It’s easy to get carried away with outdoor plungers and mini stovetop espressos if so inclined, but sometimes keeping it simple is best and that was my experience with the reusable stainless steel filter here.
As mentioned, I was running on about 2.5 hours sleep when I unpacked this beauty. Not because I especially wanted to critique it’s ‘ease of use’, but because some ‘fellow’ — I use this term loosely — campers threw a rave at our campsite the night before.
To put a long story short, I was in dire need of a coffee.
I was also not stoked with the idea of spending ages brewing a really complicated one.
Therefore, I was stoked to discover this little filter is simply the one piece of kit with no real moving pieces to consider — if you don’t count the foldable wings.
Made of Stainless Steel & BPA free plastic, it’s one of the lightest camp coffee setups you could ask for, weighing in at just 50 grams.
It packs down to be just 7.5cm X 7.3cm and from what I could tell it seems pretty indestructible, so I had no issues tossing it in the bottom of my pack.
Ease of Use
As well as one of the lightest options, it could well be the most simple too.
The filter can make between 1 – 3 cups of coffee per pour and requires medium to finely ground coffee to work best with the twill weave filter.
It’s simply a matter of placing the filter over a mug or cup, and resting it there with the help of those little foldable wings, which are also super sturdy.
You then scoop the desired amount of coffee into the filter and pour over about 40ml of boiled water and let it ‘bloom’. Apparently ‘blooming’ takes between 30 seconds to one minute and gives it a richer flavour.
After that’s done, you can just continue to pour over water in a circular motion until you’ve got your desired volume of brown bean juice.
Sustainable
One of the enduring criticisms of camp drip coffee filters here at We Are Explorers is that they tend to be disposable, or at least require disposable paper filters.
Not only is this filter entirely washable and reusable, you also don’t have to buy and then throw out paper filters, or fiddle with them during the pouring process.
It also means you don’t get the same papery taste you sometimes find in the cheaper paper filter varieties.
Price
Not only are you saved from buying paper filters every time you want a camp coffee, the unit itself is fairly inexpensive in the scheme of coffees.
The 2x Espresso Coffee Filter costs the same as just 6 Large Cappuccinos here in Sydney. Or put otherwise, $26.99.
To brew or not to brew?
If I could make a cup of proverbial joe on a few hours sleep using the 2x Espresso Coffee Filter, you can too!
It’s a super simple solution that makes a great coffee that you can tailor to be as strong or as weak as you want. It also gives you the freedom to BYO ground beans which every bush barista will know makes all the difference.
Matt was sent the 2x Espresso Coffee Pour Over Filter and was allowed to keep it, and all the coffee he brewed afterward, the views are his own.
