Fresh Ground Coffee, Anywhere!
Coffee, the magical fuel of many an adventure and a daily ritual for many of us. And who can deny that fresh ground beans are the best way to make the best cup of coffee?
The art of making coffee in the backcountry and on road trips takes many forms. Regardless of how you make your coffee on the road, freshly ground beans add to the experience. In our perpetual pursuit of the best coffee experience, we tested a couple of small handheld coffee grinders. Just think, fresh ground beans with every cup, even when you’re traveling.
It goes against my minimalist sensibilities to think I’m actually going to pack a coffee grinder on a multi-day backcountry or bikepacking adventure, but making a portable coffee grinder part of my road trip camping kit seems reasonable.
Following some research, we narrowed in on two small, affordable handheld coffee grinders. Whether they deserve a spot in your overnight pack is up to you.
GSI Java Mill – Handheld Coffe Grinder
The GSI Java Mill is made specifically for travel and backcountry use. GSI makes a variety of cooking gear for camping and backpacking. The GSI Java Mill is the smaller of the two units reviewed and features a true conical burr grinder – that’s coffee geek speak for the preferred grinding mechanism. The handle pulls out for easy travel storage, and the full unit weighs about 10 ounces (280 grams). The grind is easily adjustable, and it made a fine grind that worked well with the Wacaco Nanopresso portable espresso maker and the Aeropress coffee maker.
It depends a little on your brewing methods, but the GSI Java Mill is designed to grind enough coffee for a single cup of coffee. Using the Wacaco Nanopresso, you can actually get two shots’ worth of coffee.
The GSI coffee grinder features a simple mechanism with a positive connection to the hand crank. It’s durable and provides a very consistent grind. Turning an adjuster in the bottom of the hopper sets the grind. It takes a couple of tests to reach your desired coarseness and stays put once set.
Like any handheld grinder, the grinding process takes time. It’s simply a function of the small grinding surface. A small grinder equals a small surface area, and grinding a full hopper takes a few minutes. How many minutes, you ask? It depends. The finer the grind, the slower the process. Think of it as embracing the slow food movement. Quality takes time. Nonetheless, this a great portable coffee grinder unit that’s designed to be packable, durable and gets the job done to serve up a fresh cup of coffee. GSI Java Mill coffee grinder $40
Hario Mini Mill Handheld Coffee Grinder
Hario makes a wide variety of home coffee brewing supplies. The Hario Mini Mill is a small hand-crank ceramic burr grinder for coffee made for home use. However, its lightweight, compact size transitions well to travel or backcountry use. The unit is an inch taller and a little bigger in diameter than the GSI, but it’s a couple of ounces lighter (weight = 8 oz) and holds a bit more coffee.
Like the GSI, the grind type is easily set by turning a small adjuster in the bottom of the hopper, and it makes a great espresso grind. The Hario Mini Mill handles enough beans for two cups at a time. Overall, it’s bigger than the GSI, but the crank removes easily for packing. It’s easy to clean and service.
The grinding process is slow, like the GSI unit. Again, it’s simply a function of a handheld grinder’s small grinding surface area. It takes several minutes to grind enough for a cup, and the finer the grind, the slower the process.
The Hario Mini Mill is a little bigger and less backcountry-specific in its design, but it’s also less expensive and serves up a nice, consistent grind for the coffee connoisseur. Hario Mini Mill Coffee Grinder $25
Check out our reviews of backcountry coffee tools
AeroPress Coffee maker review
Aeropress FellowPrismo Filter
Wacaco Nanopresso portable espresso maker
