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Bodum Travel French Press, Insulated Coffee and Tea Mug, Double Wall, 15 oz. Capacity

WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT IT

The   Bodum   Travel Press gives you the ability to create great tasting, authentic coffee or loose leaf tea drinks on the go. This 15 oz. vacuum coffee maker is convenient, safe and easy to use. You don't need directions in order to figure out how to make a great cup of French press, and you never have to worry about random spillage ruining your clothes or burning your hand.

You get a professional workflow with your   Bodum , starting with its core infrastructure. The vacuum seal keeps your drink warm for hours, so you can always come back to it later. However, the   Bodum   Travel Press is never dangerous to touch - the stainless steel double wall design keeps your hands cool no matter how hot your drink may be.

Directions are easy - simply mix 3 or 4 tablespoons of ground coffee or tea with hot water and your preferred type of milk or sweetener. Stir, put your lid on with the plunger facing up, and wait four minutes. After this, just press down on the plunger to enjoy your perfectly mixed hot beverage!

The   Bodum   Travel Press comes in two colors, black and gray, so you can match your container to the rest of your   carry-arounds . The container has a total capacity of 15 oz (0.45 L). Convenient dimensions of 8.625 in. x 3.25 in. x 3.25 in. ensure that you can easily fit this mobile coffee and tea maker in your everyday accessories. Finally, the ergonomic grip and rubber base keep your coffee in your hand no matter where you take it.

Bodum   Travel Press  Features:

• YOU GET PROFESSIONAL COFFEE  or TEA PRODUCTION ON THE GO:  Completely replaces the traditional three cup French Press process, so take it anywhere without worrying about the quality of the drink you will make.
• ACCESSORIES HELP TO MAINTAIN THE TASTE AND THE TEXTURE OF YOUR DRINK:   Comes with a mesh and silicone filter made especially to reduce the sentiment in your drink. You get great texture every single time!
• BUILT TO LAST AND PROTECT:  The double wall of stainless steel   ensures   the safety of your grip regardless of how hot your beverage is, and the vacuum seal keeps your beverage hot until you get ready to drink it.
• INTUITIVE PROCESS:  It only takes four minutes to make a great cup of coffee or tea. The process is also incredibly easy, so you never have to use brainpower that should be focused on something more important.
• EASY TO CLEAN:   The   Bodum   Travel Press is completely safe for your dishwasher. This includes the rubber base and the silicone band.

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Bodum insulated travel french press coffee mug [review].

May 30, 2016 By CoffeeSphere 3 Comments

The name Bodum is synonymous with French presses. The Bodum Insulated Travel French Press Coffee Mug works the same way as a traditional French press does, but with one extra and important feature: it is a mug and a coffee maker. No need to purchase an expensive coffee maker and a separate commuter mug to brew a to-go cup of coffee.

In case you are wondering what is a French press, basically, it is a coffee pot with a plunger made of fine mesh. This is how you use a travel French press coffee mug in 4 simple steps:

• Add 1 and 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of freshly ground (coarse to medium ground) coffee to the mug.
• Pour in hot water leaving about 1-inch from the rim, preferably water temperature between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal extraction, according to the  National Coffee Association USA . Rule of thumb: let boiling water sit for one minute before pouring.
• Stir it with a spoon and it let sit for 3-4 minutes. Then add sugar and or milk to taste.
• Carefully depress the plunger until it is fully depressed. Screw in the tight-fitting lid.

Your coffee is hot and ready!

Here’s what we like about it:

• Keeps coffee hot for over 2 hours (very well insulated)
• Easy to use
• Perfect size at 15-oz
• Very well made and sturdy
• The plunger fits snugly inside the mug, preventing spills when drinking the coffee
• It functions as a French press and a travel mug – so we get a coffee maker and a mug – 2 in 1
• Portable and great for local road trips and overseas trips
• Affordable price at $28 for a coffee maker and an insulated travel mug

The Bodum Insulated Travel French press coffee mug has the best insulation compared to all the other travel French press coffee mugs we have tested. However, the very thing that is a plus also become quite a pain. Why? We couldn’t drink the coffee once brewed because it was too hot. We had to wait for several minutes before attempting to drink the coffee. The fact that the lid stayed close when the plunger was depressed made it difficult to cool down the coffee to a drinkable temperature. It is not a huge problem because it’s better to have hot coffee then a lukewarm coffee.

To solve the small problem, we usually let the coffee sit for at least 8 minutes before depressing the plunger.

We tested this travel French press coffee mug in a few locations. We even were able to use it during a road trip from New York City to Boston. It fits well in a Honda CRV cup holder. The coffee was still hot after two hours on the road when the temperature outside was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

This travel mug is recommended for those who are traveling to remote places or to countries with undesirable coffee. This coffee maker/travel mug is also suitable for camping, RVing and on road trips.

The Bodum Insulated Travel French press coffee mug is available at  Bodum’s official website  and Amazon.com .

It is made of stainless steel and the rubberized band around the mug comes in four colors: black, white, red and green.

Let us know your favorite ways to brew coffee while on the road. Leave a comment below!

Note: The Bodum Insulated French Press Coffee Mug was provided for this review. Opinions are our own.

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Reader interactions.

June 11, 2016 at 12:02 pm

Good coffee but it leaks!

I bring one to work. When I’m finished with the coffee, I dump the grounds in the wastebasket, seal it up, and put it in a plastic bag or in my briefcase to take home. Invariably when I get home the inside of the bag or case is wet with drops of brown liquid.

To verify, fill it up with water, empty it (or not), close the spout, and turn it upside down. Do it with either the press top or the cup top and the same thing happens. That, plus the fact that it’s a bit too well insulated, as you point out, and the usefulness is limited, in my opinion.

June 27, 2016 at 1:58 pm

Thanks Gil for sharing your Bodum’s travel French press coffee mug experience with our readers. 🙂

November 3, 2016 at 9:17 am

This is a must have thing for a Coffee Lover who just wanna have his own and perfect Coffee everytime and anywhere.

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Bodum Travel French Press Review

I’d not been convinced of the utility of a travel French press, until I bought one!

Reviewing the Bodum Travel Press I found it is the fastest way to make good coffee and take it on the go, the seal around the filter stops grounds escaping while you drink and the double walled insulation keeps your coffee hotter for longer.

I’ve actually found myself making coffee in this instead of my normal French press if I know I’m going to be busy, having the coffee stay hot and having one less dish to wash is ideal.

Quick Bodum Travel Press Review

• Cost efficient and convenient

Price & Reviews at Amazon

I love it, I’m a complete convert to its usefulness and it makes a really tasty cup of coffee. It’s strange that the plunger stops so far from the bottom but it’s not the end of the world, by far the quickest way to take good coffee on the go in the morning.

Can You Put Milk In It?

Let’s start with one of the more important questions, can you put milk directly into it?

I’m pleased to say that yes, you can put milk directly into the Bodum Travel Press, in fact they tell you to put milk and any sweetener in the bottom with the coffee before you add hot water.

The problem with this is it alters how the coffee brews because the milk will lower the overall temperature of the water you add to the flask. But if you’re only adding a little milk it won’t actually change that much, you’ll just need to add water that’s closer to the boil instead of leaving it for a few minutes.

You can add any type of milk you see fit to it, almond, oat, coconut you name it.

Pros and Cons

What review is complete without a pros and cons section?

Very convenient, I don’t commute to work any more but I did have a few errands to run in the car one morning so I made a coffee in this and took it with me to see how it would hold up being sloshed around in the car. It did really well! It stayed hot all morning, tasted good, fit in my cup holder, ideal.

Rubber Seal to stop grounds escaping I – was pleasantly surprised that no grounds made it through the filter and the coffee under the filter is sort of trapped there so even though it will continue to brew it doesn’t mix with the coffee above the press. It actually let through less fines than my regular french press does which was interesting, definitely a cleaner cup.

The only time it failed was when I held it fully upside down to see what would happen, the grounds came through and it was disgusting but as long as you don’t drink it like you’re downing a beer you’ll be fine.

Hardy Construction – The double wall outer is for insulation to keep it hot but I must say that it makes it very sturdy at the same time. This would easily handle a beating and being dropped without being properly damaged.

Ergonomic Design – Generally I hate the word ergonomic, it belongs in design labs not real life. But damn the lid is comfortable to use. The press fits down flush with the rest of the lid, the mouthpiece gently clips into place and doesn’t fall on your nose while you drink, but nor is it hard to open and close. Great design, very comfortable.

Low Price – It’s under $20 and for that you get a convenient way to take coffee with you to make in the office or to drink on the go.

Filter Doesn’t Unscrew – I would have liked to be able to take apart the filter at the bottom of the plunger to clean it but you can’t. I understand this is to make sure the rubber seal stays completely efficient but I like taking my french press apart.

Large Gap at Bottom – There is supposed to be a space at the bottom of a french press, the plunger is meant to stop to leave a space to allow the coffee grounds to sit so they don’t get squeezed through the mesh or over extracted.

But this has a huge gap, way bigger than it needs for the size of it, I can’t figure out why they would have done this but it’s a bit annoying. Not the end of the world but it’s a strange design feature.

The 2 Best Ways To Use It

Having been using this myself and looking into how other people use it I can say there are two efficient ways to use the travel press.

1. Take Coffee to Make At Work

If you’re pressed for time in the morning (pun intended) and don’t have time to make coffee you can throw the grounds into the bottom of this, screw the lid on and put it in your bag to take to work.

It’s sturdy enough to make the trip and once you get there you can get hot water and make your coffee. Then you have a quick empty of the grounds at work and you can take it home to make sure you properly wash it.

This saves you having to have an at work french press that keeps getting miss-used by others and left dirty in the sink.

It also saves boiling water in the morning and cleaning a french press before you leave and cleaning a thermos when you get to work.

2. Make Coffee Before Work

Slightly more prep but this is how I use it and the standard way most people use it, you weigh out your coffee and your boiling water, you press it down and you take it with you when you leave the house.

You need to keep it upright so you’ll have to hold it rather than put it in a bag when it’s full of coffee otherwise it will slowly start to leak out the mouthpiece and as I said if it goes full upside down the grounds will start to escape.

But the double wall both keeps it hot inside and keeps it comfortable to hold on the outside, no burning your hand required.

Doesn’t It Over Brew?

I wondered this initially too, if you leave the coffee in it won’t it over brew and keep getting stronger and more bitter?

Fortunately it won’t, the coffee doesn’t really escape back past the filter once it’s been pressed down, if you poured it for long enough it eventually would but you don’t want it too. Once it’s pressed down it won’t extract any more flavor.

Interestingly coffee tastes different at different temperatures so if the last of your coffee tastes different it might be because it’s colder rather than extracted more.

Is It Dishwasher Safe?

Yes the bodum travel press is completely dishwasher safe, it should be kept on the top shelf of course but this does make clean up easier. But because it can’t be unscrewed you’ll get surprisingly far with a solid rinsing of it.

Can you microwave it?

I’ve hunted high and low for this information and unfortunately, I can’t say for certain. It does have metal components such as the filter. I’m certain that you definitely don’t want to microwave metal.

So I assume it wouldn’t be safe which is good because microwaved coffee is not a good time.

Does it come with a second lid?

The UK model comes with a second lid that doesn’t have a plunger in it but this model is no longer available in the USA unfortunately.

Does the plunger go all the way down?

No, as I said there is quite a large gap at the bottom, which is strange and a bit annoying but 15 oz is still big enough to give you a good amount of fresh delicious coffee.

Final Verdict

The Bodum Travel Press is a great weapon in your coffee arsenal. It would also be a great gift for a coffee lover incidentally. Surprisingly useful and surprisingly effective, a great buy in my opinion.

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5 Best Travel French Press Mugs 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

A good cup of coffee at least once a day is a must for coffee lovers, and a trip or outdoor activity shouldn’t be a reason to miss out. Though instant coffee is always convenient, inventions such as French press mugs can help you take your favorite brewing method on the road.

But what makes a great French press mug? Here, we review some top French press mugs, looking carefully at  portability, overall design, ease of use and cleaning, and more so you can find the best model. Keep reading for our comprehensive reviews, and take a look at the buyer’s guide if you still have questions.

• Comparison of the Winners (updated in 2024)

The 5 Best Travel French Press Mugs

• 1. Bodum Stainless Steel Travel French Press – Best Overall

The Bodum Stainless Steel Travel Press could be described as a traveler’s best friend because of its efficiency in all aspects. It’s made of durable stainless steel, and it’s cylindrical, which is a very compact shape that’s easy to pack.

This press weighs only 14.4 ounces, making it convenient to travel with. It has a double-wall insulator and a vacuum seal to maintain the coffee’s temperature and to shield your hands while you’re holding it.

The lid is spill-resistant, so you can keep it in your bag without having to worry about leaking. The filter is efficiently designed to brew smooth coffee and even tea.

The plastic around the mouthpiece peels off easily. Other than that, it’s very efficient and well suited for travel.

All in all, this is our pick for the best travel French press coffee mug.

• Compact and durable
• Lightweight
• Double wall and vacuum
• Spill-resistant lid
• Mouthpiece peels off easily
• 2. ZYLISS Travel French Press Coffee Mug – Best Value

The ZYLISS Travel French Press brews any type of hot beverage, from coffee and tea to hot chocolate. It features a double wall insulator and a vacuum seal to maintain your beverage’s temperature for a longer period.

The mesh filter means the beverage brewed turns out very smooth and grit-free. The cylindrical shape makes it easy to pack and travel with. It weighs only seven ounces, so traveling with it won’t be a hassle. In addition to all the attractive aspects, it is also more affordable than most French press mugs. The lid of this press leaks a little bit; it should therefore be tightened.

• Efficient filter
• Preserves temperature longer
• Easy to pack
• Leaks slightly
• 3. OXO BREW Venture Travel French-Press

The OXO BREW Venture Travel French Press features an aesthetic carafe made of clear tritan. The material is shatter-resistant, and its see-through property allows you to observe the coffee level.

It has an ergonomic handle to pour coffee easily, and a double filter mechanism to ensure that the coffee is very smooth. The device is easy to wash, and it’s dishwasher safe.

It is rather heavy, weighing 15.2 ounces, and the protruding handle makes it difficult to pack. This French press does not include a double wall or a vacuum seal, so the coffee cools off relatively fast.

• Ergonomic handle
• Efficient filtering mechanism
• Easy to wash
• Not compact
• No insulation
• 4. Stanley Travel French Press Mug (16oz)

The Stanley Travel Mug French Press is made of stainless steel, and its lid is made of plastic. The inside is BPA-free, so your coffee’s taste will not be influenced.

The press is easy to clean, and it is dishwasher safe. Carrying it around will be easy because of its cylindrical shape and foldable handle. It can also fit into a car cupholder.

It’s relatively heavier than most French presses, and there’s no double wall for better insulation. The plastic lid isn’t very strong, so it’s likely to break easily. The lid isn’t very tight, so the press leaks when placed upside down.

SEE ALSO: a roundup of our favorite coffee mugs of all time .

• Dishwasher safe
• Lid isn’t durable
• 5. Honey-Can-Do Travel-Size French Press Mug

The Honey-Can-Do Travel Size Single French Press is designed beautifully, with a glass exterior and colorful rubber at the top. The interior glass layer helps your coffee preserve its original taste, and the cylindrical shape makes it easy to pack and carry . However, it isn’t dishwasher safe.

It’s considerably heavy, with a capacity of 13 ounces, and the glass exterior is vulnerable to breaking.

The filtering mechanism is inefficient, so the brewed coffee is full of grit. The coffee in this French press will cool off rather fast, because of a lack of insulation such as a double wall or a vacuum seal. This may also cause it to leak at the top.

This French press has more shortcomings than benefits; it is therefore not recommended.

• Nice design
• Preserves original taste of coffee
• Inefficient filtering mechanism
• Hard to wash
• May leak on top

Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best French Press Travel Mug

To get the most out of your French press travel mug, you may want to take the following factors into consideration.

A French press travel mug made of strong material, preferably stainless steel, is best. Your French press mug should incorporate a mechanism, like a double-wall, to ensure that your coffee stays hot longer. The type of lid not only helps preserve heat but will prevent leaking. A vacuum seal lid is best, as it allows you to keep your French press mug in your bag or anywhere else without spilling your coffee.

The best travel French press mug doesn’t weigh much and has a compact shape. This will make packing it a simple process.

RELATED POSTS: Which thermal coffee mug is best? We put them to the test.

The last thing you want is grit in your coffee. For this reason, you should opt for a travel French press mug with a fine filtering system. The filter should also be free of any agent that will influence the taste of coffee.

• Extra Features

There are additional features of a French press mug that make it more suitable for traveling . You will be surprised to find out how the smallest things can make a huge difference. Look for small details such as the handle, ergonomics, insulation, and an extra lid to further prevent leaking.

SEE ALSO : Our favorite coffee brands for brewing French press coffee .

The Bodum Stainless Steel Travel Press really stands out from the others mentioned above, because it features far more benefits than shortcomings. Therefore, it’s the most efficient travel French press mug. The ZYLISS Travel French Press and Coffee and Tea Mug is the most budget-friendly and is almost as efficient as our first pick.

Whether you’re traveling , camping, or commuting, you shouldn’t have to miss out on rich, flavorful coffee. With the help of our reviews and buyer’s guide, you have the knowledge to purchase the travel French press mug tailored to your needs.

RELATED READ: You can also read our breakdown of the best French presses here . And there’s a new solar-powered French press you may want to check out!

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Bodum Travel Press Review: Compact And Affordable

• Author: Julia Bobak
• Last Updated: December 8, 2023

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Julia Bobak

Julia is a west coast canada-based professional coffee specialist who has spent nearly a decade immersed in the world of coffee research and professional brewing. she loves trail running, rock climbing, coffee, food, and her tiny dog — and writing about all of them. she starts every morning with a fresh americano from her home espresso machine, or she doesn’t start it at all..

The Bodum Travel Press is one of the simplest and most convenient ways to have coffee on the go. This versatile two-in-one product is both brewer and travel mug, making it the perfect compact and affordable way to bring coffee anywhere. Whether you’re crowded into a commuter train or solo in the backcountry, this coffeemaker-tumbler won’t let you down. 

Read on to learn all the important details about this portable coffee maker and find out if it’s the best option for you.

• Two-in-one system is both French press and travel mug.
• Double-wall vacuum-seal stainless steel construction keeps coffee hot for hours.
• Great value for money.

Being a coffee maker and travel mug all in one, it’s one of the most minimal and space saving designs I’ve seen so far. – Janie, Food Writer

The Bodum Travel Press Review

The Bodum Travel Press is a travel mug and a French press rolled into one, and the result is more than the sum of its parts. This easy-to-use travel coffee maker can brew coffee or tea on the go, and its stainless steel double wall exterior keeps your drink hot for hours ( 1 ).

Whether you’re trekking through the wilderness or stressing at the office, the light and compact Bodum Travel Press lets you drink delicious coffee anywhere. And since you won’t even have to buy a separate travel mug, the value for money is hard to beat. 

How We Rated It

• Aesthetic Appeal
• Ease Of Use
• Coffee Flavor
• Custom Brewing Features
• Portability
• Value For Money

Aesthetic Appeal – 4/5

The Travel Press isn’t as beautiful as some of Bodum’s other French press offerings, but that’s by design. This is a travel mug first and a travel French press second. The double-wall, vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction not only keeps your cup of coffee hot or cold but also provides a classy look ( 2 ).

This stylish design was excellent at retaining heat and well insulated to prevent fingers from getting too hot.

The Bodum branded silicone grip and matching lid are available in a variety of bright appealing colors.

Ease of Use – 4.5/5

The Bodum travel press is super easy to use. Just nail down two important criteria, the quantity of coffee and the grind size, and putting together a tasty brew as you dash out the house each morning is virtually foolproof. There are more advanced French press brew methods available of course, for those able to take more time.

The Bodum does lose a few marks for convenience because once the coffee has been steeped and pressed, the only way to add milk or sugar is through the drinking spout, and then there’s no way to stir. If you like your coffee sweet, avoid any hassle by adding the sugar along with the grounds at the beginning. Black coffee drinkers will find nothing to complain about here.

Additionally, Bodum has made all parts of this travel press dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze.

The hardest part might be waiting for your coffee to cool down, as brewing directly in an insulated mug produces a seriously hot drink.

Coffee Flavor – 3.5/5

Bodum Travel Press brews typical French press style coffee. It’s robust in flavor and has a heavy mouthfeel thanks to the presence of coffee oils in the cup.

The first 95% of your coffee will be delicious and rich, but my suggestion is to skip the last 5%. Though the filter is quite good, there will inevitably be some grainy fines in your cup at the end. Plus, because the grounds stay pressed at the bottom of the mug the whole time you’re drinking, the last few sips are inevitably overextracted. As a result, those last drinks are likely to leave a bitter taste in your mouth, if you’ll pardon the word play.

Custom Brewing Features – 4/5

One great feature of a press style brewer is that it can also be used to steep a delicious cup of tea. If you’re an avid coffee AND tea drinker, this will be very appealing. Brew a coffee in the morning, give the press a quick rinse, and then you can use the same device to make an afternoon cup of tea.

Like any other coffee press, the Bodum can also be used to make French press cold brew . Just add grounds and cold water in the evening, leave the mug in the fridge overnight, and press the plunger in the morning. You’ll have a great cup of cold brew on the go and will save a ton of money by skipping the coffee shop.

Portability – 5/5

This coffee press is the very definition of portable as it was designed as a travel mug first, French press second. It’s lightweight and fits inside an average cup-holder. It’s also great as a French press for camping .

The press lid is spill-resistant, but for safety reasons, it’s not airtight. If you expect your travel mug to do some gymnastics, consider buying the Bodum Travel Press Set instead. For a few extra bucks, this comes with a plain lid, turning your travel press into a standard travel mug.

A pour-over brewer might be lightweight and portable, but you’re not going to whip it out on the bus to make a cup of coffee. The Bodum, on the other hand, just needs the hot water added before you leave home. The steeping and pressing can be done wherever you are four minutes later.

A special feature of this travel press, compared with other portable brewers, is that it’s the only one that can actually brew while you’re on the go.

Value for Money – 5/5

This travel coffee maker is great value. Not only is it one of the cheapest travel brewers on the market, but it’s two products in one . You won’t even have to buy a separate travel mug.

Things we liked:

Things we didn’t like:

Do Not Buy the Bodum Travel Press If…

• You’re not into French press coffee – French press style coffee is unique because the metal filter, unlike paper filters, allows more coffee oils into your final cup. Many find this a selling point, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste. There is also some evidence that heavy coffee drinkers at risk of high cholesterol should avoid this style of coffee. ( 3 ) If oily coffee isn’t for you, but you still want to caffeinate on the go, try the Aeropress or the even smaller Aeropress Go .
• You need to serve multiple people – The Bodum Travel Press has a capacity of 350 mL. That might be enough to satisfy two people with small coffee appetites, but in general, this is not a brewer for a crowd. If you want that rich French press taste, and your friends do too, consider brewing in a larger French press like the Bodum Chambord coffee press or the Bodum Brazil before divvying it up into travel mugs.
• You’re not planning to drink it for a long time – Even though the insulated travel mug will keep your coffee hot for hours, prolonged contact with the grounds under the filter will eventually spoil your brew. This applies even more so for tea drinkers looking to avoid the bitter tannin taste that arises from over-steeping ( 4 ).
• You prefer a battery-operated coffee machine – Portability is one thing, but a coffee machine can save you from the hassle of using a manual brewer. The Makita battery-operated coffee maker is a good choice if you’re going camping or working on-site. The coffee it makes isn’t as strong as you’d expect it to be, but it’s good enough.

The Verdict

The Bodum Travel Press is a wonderful product because it satisfies the needs of many types of coffee drinkers. Are you a harried office worker running out the door to catch the bus to work? This is a great brewer for you. Are you an avid hiker looking for a lightweight, portable coffee maker for your next camping trip? This is a great brewer for you too. As long as you love French press coffee, and you want it on the move, you will be well served by the Travel Press from Bodum.

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The Best French Press Travel Mugs Compared & Reviewed

You are probably reading this page because you are researching french press travel mugs to buy for either yourself or for a loved one.

As you can expect there isn’t a ton of specs that set the various travel presses apart but the mugs do vary in price by a bit and there are a few brands that you may have never heard of before.

This website is not meant to sell you on anything – seriously – I have a passion for coffee, french press coffee in fact, and so my main goal here is to help answer your questions and help you decide if getting one of these things is even the right thing to do.

As you scroll down the page (this is a long page btw) you will find:

• Reviews – What I consider to be the best travel coffee presses on the market today
• Comparisons – Direct head-to-head comparisons of some of the best selling french press travel mugs
• Answers to FAQs – Many of the most commonly asked questions we get on this type of product
• Alternatives – We will finish up this page with our thoughts on why you might want to not buy one of these and instead try something different.

In my own home I make coffee many different ways, the french press method is one that I use a lot though.

I for one love the body that you get with good pressed coffee; you just don’t get that when you use a paper filter.

In my home I am partial to brewing in thermal french press pots that are constructed with vacuum sealed double walls. I don’t like to keep brewed coffee in the beakers for long after brewing though, instead I find the insulation of the french press keeps the water hotter during the 4-minute brewing process that it does using glass or plastic.

Using a travel mug french press however I have to keep the pressed grind in the mug while I drink the coffee so the plunger and filter screen become even more important.

Of all the travel coffee press options right now my three favorites are:

• The Espro Travel Press – ( Amazon ) ( My Review )
• The Stanley Classic Vacuum Travel Press – ( Amazon ) ( My Review )
• The Kohipress Kohi+ – ( Amazon ) ( My Review )

For me these are great because they are well insulated and they filter well even when I’m tipping my mug back and forth between sips.

Of all the options the cheapest decent option of them all is usually The Zyliss Travel French Press Mug ( My Review ).

It’s shaped more like a standard coffee mug but the lid includes a basic press/plunger with filter screen.

If you don’t want to spend much and are fine with your travel mug being more coffee cup styled then give it a look.

But, before you go running off to buy anything lets dig into the detailed reviews I’ve drafted on all of the best options out there.

Full Reviews of the Top Rated French Press Travel Mugs

• The Espro Travel Press ( Jump to the Review )
• The Bodum Travel Press in Stainless or Acrylic ( Jump to the Review )
• The Amovee Travel French Press Mug ( Jump to the Review )
• The Stanley Classic Vacuum Travel Press ( Jump to the Review )
• The Kohipress Portable French Press Mug ( Jump to the Review )
• The Zyliss Travel French Press ( Jump to the Review )

This review section will grow as new models are introduced.

The Espro Travel Coffee Press (optional tea filter sold separately)

Espro has been making a really awesome travel press for a few years now. It’s simply called the Espro Travel Press but in 2018 they came out with a second version which is slightly larger and slightly lighter called the Espro Ultralight which may be a bit more in tune with what you are looking for.

You can see product specs and pricing here on Amazon.

The Travel Press: https://www.amazon.com/Espro-Travel-Coffee-Press-Stainless/dp/B00UTO8YKU/

The Ultralight Coffee Press: https://www.amazon.com/Espro-5116C-BS-Ultralight-Insulated-Stainless/dp/B011WTW618/

First of all it will keep your coffee hot! It’s got a very sturdy build with double wall vacuum insulation. Couple that with a well insulated “beefy” lid and you shouldn’t expect to have to replace this anytime soon.

The mug itself is on the smaller side as it only makes approximately 12 ounces of coffee at a time but if you like your french press coffee well filtered then this is as good as it gets!

All Espro french presses include the best filtration designs I’ve ever seen. They include multiple filter screens that are much tighter than normal filter screens found on the vast majority of french presses.

The filter can also be swapped out with a loose leaf tea screen if that’s more your style.

The Ultralight Coffee Press is a bit taller, slightly more slender, weighs less, and includes a new loop cap so that you can use the travel mug much like you would a hydration bottle.

I’m usually all into the bulk and strength of the Espro brand but I do really like the extra size offered with the Ultralight and if I ever do set out on a hike I can bring coffee with me and then switch over to water later in the day without bringing more than one bottle!

A Note on Both Models You’ll find both Espro coffee presses to be spendy relative to the other travel mug french presses on the market but overall they are super affordable compared to top of the line french presses and coffee makers you might use on a normal Saturday morning at home.

Both coffee presses also offer you the option of inserting paper filters into the french press plunger so that you don’t have to drink unfiltered coffee.

For some people the coffee oils are a turn off based on personal preferences or due to health concerns. Espro is the only brand that gives you this flexibility.

The Bodum Travel French Press

The Bodum Travel Press in Acrylic is a bit cheaper than the stainless steel version but other than the material is basically the same mug. The plunger and screen in fact is virtually identical.

You can see product specs and pricing for both versions here on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Travel-Press-Stainless-Coffee/dp/B008TYX1DW/

The main problem that you find with this mug is not the insulative effect of the mug but rather the durability. Being made from plastic a drop that lands in just the right way could result in a crack.

You shouldn’t expect this mug to be spill or leak proof either. It will resist spills but don’t think about tossing it in your bag unless you are sure it will stay right-side-up the whole time.

This mug comes in a wide variety of fun colors but it can only be had in one size, 15 ounces.

It costs more for a reason though because this much is vacuum insulated between the stainless double walls.

Other than that the mug is identical.

More Notes Pertaining to Both Presses Both options sport a built into the lid plunger that doesn’t come out when you drink from the spout and both lids are made from the same BPA-free plastic.

The biggest complaint I have with either of these two mugs however has to do with the plunger screen. It is a basic screen that you’d find in a cheap french press (which is fine) but the screen isn’t able to plunge to the very bottom meaning you can’t prevent water/coffee from sloshing around under the screen when pressed.

Because so much water can remain under the filter screen lots of sediment can slowly escape the filter and your coffee isn’t as pure as it should be.

Nevertheless, the two Bodum travel coffee presses are still a good buy because neither are overpriced and the brand has a quality reputation.

Stanley Classic Vacuum Travel Press Mug

The coffee press mug made by Stanley is a beast if you ask me. It’s hefty, large, heavy, and it should hold up for a long time under normal wear and tear.

You can see product specs and pricing here on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Classic-Vacuum-Travel-Hammertone/dp/B00NONDBXI/

Unlike some of the mugs on this list the Stanley mug only comes in one color, the classic green and stainless look that is only found with this brand.

It also only comes in a 16 ounce size although if you take the filter and grind out and only used this as a travel mug it would be closer to 18 ounces.

If you are a fan of drinking your coffee through an easily accessible spout on the lid then this won’t be for you. The lid unscrews to reveal the drinking spout like the Espro Ultralight so drinking from it is kind of like drinking from a beverage or hydration bottle in that you have to have two hands free to get the job done.

I actually really like this mug as an option for french press on the go though because it is larger and cheaper than Espro-press mugs, it’s got a better filtration plunger than Bodum, it’s built way tougher than Zyliss mugs, and it operates like a standard french press unlike relative newcomers to the space like Kohipress or Amovee.

Obviously this mug is only going to work for people who are looking for an easier one-handed drinking experience (al la push button spout like Contigo) so if you really want an accessible drinking spout then maybe look to the Kohipress or even the Zyliss reviewed lower on this page.

The Kohipress Portable French Press Mug

This in my opinion is kind of similar to the Aeropress but it doesn’t use paper filters. Instead it filters like a french press using an ingenious one-way valve to ensure you don’t over-brew your coffee.

You can see product specs and pricing here on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/KOHIPRESS-Original-Portable-Insulated-Stainless/dp/B075F9XDY7/

In fact, most people like the Kohipress style of french pressing mostly because of the valve located at the bottom of the plunger.

Kind of like the Stanley plunger, the Kohipress plunger is huge and actually holds the coffee that you eventually drink.

At the bottom of the plunger is a filter screen that does a fantastic job at keeping sediment out of your coffee. It physically can’t go around the sides of the plunger and enter your coffee because there is no access to the holding chamber but through the screen.

Once you press the plunger down and the coffee enters your “holding tank” you never have to worry about over-extraction or over-brewed coffee because the one-way valve doesn’t let the water travel back and forth between the coffee chamber and the lower spent grounds chamber.

This is actually the only french press travel tumbler where I would be perfectly fine leaving my coffee in the mug with the spent grounds for hours at a time.

It never gets bitter!

The Kohipress is a small coffee brewer, only brewing 12 ounces at a time but it’s vacuum sealed double wall construction will keep your coffee hot for hours, it’s very well made.

The biggest complaint I have though is that the last bit of coffee never makes it out of the grounds into the drinking chamber so your 12 ounces of coffee is more like 10-11 ounces of drinkable coffee so it does seem to get drunk way to fast.

For those who like normally accessible drinking spout, this mug should not disappoint either.

This style of coffee press is pretty cool, there’s no doubt about that and the price isn’t too high either, it’s still usually a lot less than Espro but if you can’t stomach the higher price Amovee makes a very similar style press that sells for a lot less. Quality may be lower so it’s always a trade off.

Is the Kohipress one of the best french press travel mugs?

Yes, I think it is but it’s not my favorite due to it’s size, wasted last drops, and price tag. Paying near the top of the price range I feel like the mug should brew more coffee or not waste coffee… but that’s just me.

The Amovee Travel French Press Mug

Call me a skeptic but I don’t think this mug is any different from the Kohipress featured above. The stainless steel model is at least virtually identical. They both use the same design and are made with double walled thermal insulation and they are the same size, roughly 12 ounces.

You can see product specs and pricing here on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/AMOVEE-French-Travel-Coffee-Tumbler/dp/B078M5GJ95/

The stainless steel version of the Amovee coffee press is only slighly cheaper than Kohi+ but the plastic version is one of the lowest priced travel presses available anywhere. It’s one of those things that I think would make a great buy for a friend or family member or even for yourself if you don’t care so much about long term durability.

My same complaints apply t this mug too. I think it’s too small and I don’t like how you can’t get to the last bit of coffee at the bottom but for almost half the price of the Kohipress the plastic version of this mug is one of the best french press travel mug options on the market today.

I dont have a video to show you demonstrating the AmoVee in action but seriously, its exactly the same as the Kohi+ featured above. Check it out… unless you really want to go budget.

If so the next mug is on this list not because it’s great but because it’s the best travel coffee press for the money IMO.

The Zyliss Travel French Press

aka the Cafetiere Hot Mug

This might be slightly surprising to legit coffee snobs but the Zyliss travel french press mug is a combo french press coffee mug that is actually quite popular despite the fact that there’s nothing really awesome about it.

What makes it a great option though is it’s price. It’s cheap and it does the job just fine for the vast majority of people.

You can see product specs and pricing here on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/ZYLISS-Travel-French-Coffee-Single/dp/B00F9ZTL6U/

Basically the Zlyiss mug is made of a PBA-free plastic and constructed with an air insulated body meaning the side walls won’t get hot to the touch and the coffee inside will stay hotter longer but but probably not more than 30-60 minutes.

The simple fact of the matter is though that if you are using this mug then you are probably using it at home or at work so long heat retention is simply not necessary.

The Zlyiss looks just like an over-sized coffee mug and it feels like something you’d be sipping on at the dining room table over the newspaper so it’s actually a really awesome option for entry level mug/coffee press combination devices.

The plunger that presses the grinds down is easy to understand and clean and although it’s not particularly innovative it works just like any other standard plunger you’ve ever seen or used before.

The Zyliss french press coffee mug is approximately 12 ounces but it is not tall and slender like the Espro Ultralight, rather it is short and wide.

For the price there’s no reason to give this thing less than a glowing review in my book.

Are There Others to Choose From?

Yes, of course there are other models out there.

Above I’ve reviewed what I believe to be the best values in this space but there are other models which are just fine too from many different price points.

Some of the alternative mugs you may want to review specs on include the following:

• The Steel Toe French Press Coffee Travel Mug by Planetary Designs
• The Double Shot 3.0 French Press Travel Coffee Mug by Planetary Designs
• The Presse Coffee & Tea Making Tumbler by Bobble
• The Commuter JavaPress by GSI Outdoors
• The Travel Mug Coffee Press by Mind Reader

In the future if demand is high enough I’ll fully review these products as well.

Now, on to the comparisons.

Our Most Popular Comparisons of Best Selling French Press Travel Mugs

The Espro Travel Press vs The Bodum Travel Press In this article I thoroughly review the best sellers from Espro and Bodum. The differences should be clear and obvious to you after reading this article making it a lot easier to decide which is the better fit for you.

The Espro Travel Press vs the Ultralight Coffee Press Espro has sold the Travel Press to much success since 2015 but in 2018 they released a very similar product called the Ultralight. Both are french press travel mugs and they use identical plungers but one is slightly more expensive than the other. If you wanna know the differences then check this article out!

Frequently Asked Questions

Our customers have lots of questions and we’ve done our best to categorize those questions and lump them together into a group of Q&A style blocks that are easy to follow. Scan the list of questions below to find out a few pertinent things that you may or may not yet know about making french press coffee in a travel mug or on the road.

1. Do French Press Travel Mugs Make Good Coffee?

I would expect anyone looking to buy one of these things to have plenty of experience making french press coffee at home already. You probably have made a ton of batches of the stuff if you are reading this.

As you probably know when making french press coffee the grind is pressed to the bottom of the carafe and then you either leave it in there while drinking a couple of cups or you pour all of the coffee out of the carafe into a serving carafe so as to not let the coffee over extract.

With french press travel mugs however you can’t very well remove all of the grind from the bottom of your mug after pressing it; if you could you wouldn’t need an all-in-one press/mug in the first place.

Most of the highest rated mugs however use dual filtration and/or extra fine filtration so as to keep more fine particles out of your cup and keep a tighter separation between the coffee on top and the pressed grounds on the bottom.

Even still the very nature of a french press mug almost assures you that your coffee will be more heavily extracted than standard french press coffee. The grind is there the whole time you drink and the repeated jostling of the grind at the bottom every time you lift the mug to your lips dictates the release of extra bitters and fines from the bottom of your cup.

I would argue that even the best travel mug french presses will give you coffee that is not as good as you would get from a standard unit you might own at home like a Frieling, Espro P7, or Bodum Chambord.

2. Are Travel Coffee Presses Hard to Keep Clean?

At home when I brew french press coffee I usually steep my grind for roughly four minutes then slowly press the plunger to the bottom before pouring all of my coffee out into a serving carafe.

Frequently the next thing I do is to start cleaning the french press before the oils have a chance to “bond” to the glass beaker or the plunger and filter screens.

When the french press is wet everything cleans off extremely easy, just dump spent grind into the trash or compost bucket and then rinse the components under running water. It’s fast.

When everything dries out however that’s when you have to soak, scrub and sometimes utilize the expertise of the nearest dishwasher.

Obviously, taking your french press on the go in the form of a travel mug means that when you finish drinking your coffee the grinds in the cup will stay there until you finally get back to a sink… that could be minutes or hours so yes, these things can be a chore to keep clean compared to your home coffee press.

I always advise people who are buying a french press travel mug to plan on leaving the last bit of coffee in the press so things stay wet and shake them around a bit periodically so that cleaning is a little easier later on when you finally get to it.

If you dump out the last water and let the inside of your filtration plunger/lid to dry out then cleaning can be a much bigger chore than you’d like to take on, especially when traveling or commuting to work or school.

Alternatives

Alright, so there are obviously a number of really well reviewed and best selling combo travel mug french press coffee makers but there’s way more options out there than even I outlined on this page.

I wanted to quick take a minute to go over some of the alternatives you have to making french press coffee in a travel mug.

Of all the options for making coffee on the road, traveling, camping, or whatever I am usually a big fan of using devices that are extremely simple, durable, cheap, and very good at what they do.

A Dedicated French Press & Thermos Can’t Be Beat

One of the most obvious options for making french press coffee for instance is to actually use a dedicated (small) french press and then pouring that coffee directly into a top of the line carafe, thermos, or tumbler.

Some of the best coffee presses on the market are those made by Coffee Gator, Freiling, and Espro.

If you are anything like me you probably like having two to three cups of coffee every morning. If so you will always find the combination brewer mugs to be too small.

When I travel I frequently take a 32 ounce stainless steel french press from Coffee gator and then after brewing I pour that coffee direct into my thermal coffee bottle to pour 2-3 large cups from over a few hours.

Moka Pots Plus Hot Water Make Awesome Americanos!

Another trick of the trade in my household (especially when I go camping or hiking) is to take a 3-6 cup moka pot and a large thermal carafe or beverage bottle.

A moka pot is a sturdy device that can last for a generation if you swap out the gasket every few years. It brews directly over an open flame and you can use regular ground coffee making it easy to plan for when traveling.

The coffee it produces is dosed like espresso and it’s just as strong as espresso so mixing it with straight hot water yields an awesome cup of coffee similar to an espresso based Americano or drip coffee.

Many travel presses over-extract your coffee so it’s common to transfer your french press coffee from the brewer to the cup anyway so this is a great option.