Finding the Best French Press Travel Mug: An Expert Guide
Welcome to the premiere online source for unbiased reviews and comparisons of the top Best French Press Travel Mug options available today. If you’re reading this, you’re likely researching which portable coffee solution is right for you or a loved one. While travel presses might seem similar at first glance, they vary in price, features, and even some lesser-known brands offer surprising quality. This guide isn’t here to sell you anything; as someone passionate about coffee, especially the french press method, my main goal is to answer your questions and help you determine if a travel french press is the right fit for your needs.
In my own home, I use various coffee brewing methods, and the french press is one I return to often. I particularly appreciate the rich body that quality pressed coffee provides – a quality you simply don’t achieve with paper filters. At home, I prefer brewing in thermal french press pots featuring vacuum-sealed double walls. I don’t typically keep brewed coffee in the beakers for long, but the insulation helps keep the water hotter during the critical 4-minute brewing process compared to glass or plastic alternatives. With a french press travel mug, however, the pressed grounds remain in the mug while you drink, making the plunger and filter screen’s performance even more critical.
For those interested in combining convenience with their lifestyle, perhaps while living in a travel trailer, finding the perfect travel coffee setup is essential. The right gear makes enjoying your favorite brew on the go much easier.
Of all the travel coffee press options currently available, my three favorites stand out:
Close up view of a stainless steel french press travel mug holding coffee
These are my top picks because they offer excellent insulation and filter coffee effectively, even with the movement of tipping the mug between sips.
Among the decent, more budget-friendly options, The Zyliss Travel French Press Mug is typically the most affordable. It resembles a standard coffee mug but features a basic press/plunger with a filter screen integrated into the lid. If you’re looking for a travel mug that feels more like a traditional coffee cup and don’t want to spend much, it’s worth considering.
Before you make any purchase decisions, let’s delve into the detailed reviews I’ve compiled on some of the top options available.
Full Reviews of the Top Rated French Press Travel Mugs
Below are my detailed reviews of the best-rated french press travel mugs on the market today. This section includes the following models:
This review section will be updated as new models are introduced and tested.
The Espro Travel Coffee Press (optional tea filter sold separately)
Espro has been producing impressive travel presses for several years. Their original product is simply called the Espro Travel Press. In 2018, they introduced a second version, the Espro Ultralight, which is slightly larger and lighter, perhaps aligning better with some users’ needs.
You can find product specifications and pricing 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/
The Original Travel Press by Espro
Espro Travel Coffee Press in stainless steel on a white backgroundThe original Espro Travel Press is exceptionally well-made. While it’s somewhat more expensive than most other travel french presses, its construction uses premium materials and specifications. Most notably, it excels at keeping your coffee hot thanks to its robust build and double-wall vacuum insulation, complemented by a well-insulated, substantial lid. You shouldn’t expect to need a replacement anytime soon.
This mug is on the smaller side, brewing approximately 12 ounces of coffee per use. However, if you prioritize well-filtered french press coffee, this model is arguably unmatched. All Espro french presses feature some of the best filtration designs I’ve encountered. They incorporate multiple filter screens that are significantly tighter than typical filter screens found on most other french presses. The standard coffee filter can also be swapped out for a loose leaf tea screen if that suits your preference.
The Ultralight Coffee Press
Espro Ultralight Travel Coffee Press with loop cap standing uprightIntroduced in 2018, the Espro Ultralight was designed to complement the original Travel Press. The goal was to create a coffee press that was slightly larger and lighter while retaining the same high-quality filtration screens as the original model. The Ultralight is taller, somewhat more slender, weighs less, and features a new loop cap, allowing it to be carried much like a hydration bottle. While I generally appreciate the solid build of the Espro brand, I find the extra size of the Ultralight appealing. It’s convenient for activities like hiking where you can bring coffee initially and then switch to water later without needing a second bottle.
A Note on Both Espro Models
Both Espro coffee presses are relatively pricey compared to other travel mug french presses on the market. However, they remain very affordable when compared to high-end french presses or coffee makers you might use at home on a weekend morning. A unique feature of both models is the option to insert paper filters into the french press plunger, allowing you to enjoy coffee free of unfiltered oils, which some people prefer for personal taste or perceived health benefits. Espro is the only brand I know of that offers this level of filtering flexibility.
Here is a video demonstrating how the Espro and the newer Ultralight models work:
The Bodum Travel French Press
The Bodum Travel Press is available in both Acrylic and stainless steel versions. The acrylic model is cheaper, but aside from the material, the mugs are essentially the same, with the plunger and filter screen being virtually identical.
Product specifications and pricing for both versions are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Travel-Press-Stainless-Coffee/dp/B008TYX1DW/
Here is a video demonstrating how the Bodum travel mug coffee press operates:
The Acrylic Mug
Bodum Acrylic Travel French Press Mug in a vibrant colorThe Acrylic version is constructed from BPA-free double-walled plastic. Note that the double wall is not vacuum-sealed but merely air-insulated. This design means the mug won’t keep coffee hot for an extended period, which is a common characteristic of mugs in this style and often not a major issue for quick consumption. The primary concern with this mug is its durability; being plastic, a poorly angled drop could result in cracking. Additionally, don’t expect this mug to be spill or leak-proof. It offers resistance to spills but shouldn’t be tossed carelessly into a bag unless you’re certain it will remain upright. This mug comes in a wide range of fun colors and is available in a single 15-ounce size. Exploring best islands to travel in october might involve packing light, so considering the durability factor of travel gear like this mug is important.
The Stainless Steel Mug
Bodum Stainless Steel Travel French Press Mug with lidIf you need something more durable that can keep your coffee hotter for longer (and are willing to pay a bit more), the stainless steel french press travel mug from Bodum is a popular choice. The higher cost is justified by the vacuum insulation between the stainless steel double walls. Otherwise, the mug is essentially identical in design and function to the acrylic version.
More Notes Pertaining to Both Bodum Presses
Both Bodum options feature a plunger built into the lid that remains in place while you drink from the spout. Both lids are also made from the same BPA-free plastic. My main complaint with either of these mugs relates to the plunger screen. It’s a standard screen, similar to what you’d find in a basic french press, which is acceptable. However, the screen doesn’t plunge all the way to the bottom, meaning water and coffee can slosh around beneath the screen after pressing. Because a significant amount of liquid can stay below the filter, sediment can slowly escape, resulting in coffee that isn’t as clean as it could be. Despite this, both Bodum travel coffee presses are generally considered a good purchase because they are reasonably priced, and the brand has a solid reputation for quality.
Stanley Classic Vacuum Travel Press Mug
In my opinion, the coffee press mug made by Stanley is a powerhouse. It feels substantial, is large, weighty, and appears built to withstand normal wear and tear for a long time.
Stanley Classic Vacuum Travel Press Mug in signature green finishIt is also highly effective at keeping coffee hot, capable of maintaining temperature for 4-5 hours. The fine mesh filter screen is better than most standard french press screens, though not quite as sophisticated as those used by Espro.
You can view product specifications and pricing on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Classic-Vacuum-Travel-Hammertone/dp/B00NONDBXI/
Unlike some other mugs reviewed, the Stanley mug is only available in its signature classic green and stainless steel finish. It comes in a 16-ounce size for brewing, although if used solely as a travel mug without the filter and grounds, its capacity would be closer to 18 ounces.
If you prefer drinking coffee through an easily accessible spout on the lid, this mug might not be ideal for you. Like the Espro Ultralight, the lid needs to be unscrewed to access the drinking opening, making it similar to drinking from a beverage or hydration bottle, typically requiring two hands.
I personally like this mug as a viable option for french press on the go. It’s larger and more affordable than Espro-press mugs, features a better filtration plunger than Bodum, is significantly more robustly built than Zyliss mugs, and operates like a standard french press, unlike newer entrants like Kohipress or Amovee. For those exploring how to become a traveller, durable and reliable gear like the Stanley press mug is often a practical choice.
You can also watch this video to see the french press in action:
This mug is clearly best suited for individuals who don’t require a simple one-handed drinking experience with a push-button spout (like those found on Contigo mugs). If an easily accessible drinking spout is a priority, you might prefer to look at the Kohipress or even the Zyliss, which are reviewed further down this page.
The Kohipress Portable French Press Mug
In my estimation, this mug shares some similarities with the Aeropress but differs in that it doesn’t use paper filters. Instead, it filters like a french press using a clever one-way valve system designed to prevent your coffee from over-brewing.
Kohipress Kohi Plus Combo Travel Mug French Press showing internal mechanismThe Aeropress, on the other hand, typically brews through a paper filter, resulting in coffee similar in strength to strong drip coffee. The ultra-fine mesh screen on the Kohipress allows the desirable coffee oils to pass through, providing the body you expect from french press coffee.
Product specifications and pricing are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/KOHIPRESS-Original-Portable-Insulated-Stainless/dp/B075F9XDY7/
Many users favor the Kohipress style of french pressing primarily because of the valve located at the bottom of the plunger. Similar to the Stanley plunger, the Kohipress plunger is large and effectively serves as the chamber from which you eventually drink your coffee. At the base of the plunger is a filter screen that does an excellent job of keeping sediment out of your coffee. Because the only access to the drinking chamber is through the screen, grounds physically cannot bypass the sides of the plunger.
Once you press the plunger down and the coffee enters your “holding tank,” you don’t have to worry about over-extraction or bitter, over-brewed coffee. This is because the one-way valve prevents liquid from moving back and forth between the coffee chamber and the lower chamber holding the spent grounds. This makes the Kohipress unique among travel french press tumblers; I’d feel completely comfortable leaving my coffee in this mug with the spent grounds for hours at a time, and it never gets bitter!
The Kohipress is a relatively small brewer, yielding only about 12 ounces per brew. However, its vacuum-sealed double-wall construction is very well-made and will keep your coffee hot for hours. My biggest issue is that the final bit of coffee often doesn’t make it out of the grounds and into the drinking chamber. This means your 12-ounce potential brew is closer to 10-11 ounces of drinkable coffee, which can feel like it’s consumed too quickly.
For those who prefer a standard, easily accessible drinking spout, this mug’s design should be satisfactory. This brewing style is quite innovative, and the price point is not excessively high – it’s typically less than Espro models. However, if the price is still too high, Amovee offers a very similar style press at a much lower cost, though quality may be sacrificed as is often the case with budget options. When considering the best travel destinations by month, having a reliable and non-bitter coffee option like the Kohipress can significantly enhance your travel experience.
Here is a demonstration video showing how the Kohipress works:
Is the Kohipress one of the Best French Press Travel Mugs? Yes, I believe it is. However, it’s not my absolute favorite primarily due to its size, the small amount of wasted coffee, and its price relative to capacity. At this price point, I feel it should brew more coffee or eliminate the issue of wasted liquid, but that’s a personal preference.
The Amovee Travel French Press Mug
Call me skeptical, but I find this mug remarkably similar to the Kohipress reviewed above. The stainless steel model, at least, appears virtually identical. Both share the same fundamental design, feature double-walled thermal insulation, and have a similar capacity of roughly 12 ounces.
Amovee Portable French Press Thermos in stainless steelThe Amovee is generally cheaper, and some argue it’s not as well-made. However, for only a slight price difference, you might lean towards the Kohipress. The significant price advantage comes with the plastic version of the Amovee travel mug coffee press, which is considerably less expensive!
You can check product specifications and pricing on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/AMOVEE-French-Travel-Coffee-Tumbler/dp/B078M5GJ95/
While the stainless steel Amovee is only slightly cheaper than the Kohi+, the plastic version is among the most affordable travel presses available anywhere. This makes it an excellent gift idea for a friend or family member, or even a good purchase for yourself if long-term durability isn’t your primary concern.
My same complaints about the Kohipress also apply to this mug: I find it a bit too small, and I don’t like that you can’t access the last bit of coffee at the bottom. However, considering the plastic version is almost half the price of the Kohipress, it stands out as one of the best french press travel mug options on the market for its value.
I don’t have a demonstration video specifically for the AmoVee, but honestly, its operation is exactly the same as the Kohi+ featured above. You can refer to that video unless you are solely focused on a budget-friendly option. If budget is your top priority, the next mug on this list isn’t necessarily the best performing, but in my opinion, it offers the best value for the money among travel coffee presses.
The Zyliss Travel French Press
Also known as the Cafetiere Hot Mug
This might surprise dedicated coffee aficionados, but the Zyliss travel french press mug, also marketed as the Cafetiere Hot Mug, is a popular french press coffee mug combination despite lacking any truly outstanding features.
Zyliss Hot Mug Travel French Press showing the press mechanismThis unit is not leak-proof, it’s not vacuum insulated, it’s not exceptionally durable, it doesn’t produce the absolute best french press coffee, and it’s not particularly stylish or “cool looking.”
Its primary advantage is its price point. It’s inexpensive and performs the basic function adequately for the vast majority of users.
Product specifications and pricing are available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/ZYLISS-Travel-French-Coffee-Single/dp/B00F9ZTL6U/
Essentially, the Zyliss mug is made from BPA-free plastic with air-insulated walls. This construction prevents the exterior walls from becoming hot to the touch and helps the coffee inside stay warmer for a little longer, though probably not more than 30-60 minutes. The reality is, if you’re using this mug, you’re likely using it at home or at work where extended heat retention isn’t strictly necessary.
The Zyliss looks and feels much like an oversized standard coffee mug, fitting in perfectly at a dining room table with the morning paper. This makes it a great entry-level option for combination mug/coffee press devices. The plunger mechanism for pressing the grounds down is straightforward to understand and clean. While not innovative, it functions just like any standard plunger you’ve used before.
Take a look at this demo video to see how simple the Zyliss “HotMug” is to use:
The Zyliss french press coffee mug has a capacity of approximately 12 ounces. However, unlike the tall and slender Espro Ultralight, it is shorter and wider. For its price, I find it difficult to give this mug anything less than a positive review.
Are There Other Options to Choose From?
Yes, naturally, there are other models available on the market. Above, I’ve reviewed what I consider to be the best value options in this category, but there are other perfectly acceptable models available across various price points. Some alternative mugs you might want to research include:
- 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
I plan to provide full reviews for these products in the future if there is sufficient demand. Now, let’s move on to direct 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 conduct a thorough review comparing the popular models from Espro and Bodum. Reading this article should make the differences clear and obvious, making it much easier for you to decide which one is a better fit for your needs.
The Espro Travel Press vs the Ultralight Coffee Press: Espro has achieved significant success with the original Travel Press since 2015. However, in 2018, they released the Ultralight, a very similar product. Both function as french press travel mugs and use identical plungers, but one is slightly more expensive. If you want to understand the distinctions, be sure to read this comparison article!
Frequently Asked Questions
Our readers frequently ask questions about french press travel mugs. We’ve done our best to categorize these questions and group them into easy-to-follow Q&A blocks. Scan the list below to find answers to common questions you might have about making french press coffee using a travel mug or while traveling.
1. Do French Press Travel Mugs Make Good Coffee?
I would anticipate that anyone considering purchasing one of these mugs likely has considerable experience making french press coffee at home and has brewed many batches. As you probably know, when making french press coffee at home, the grounds are pressed to the bottom of the carafe. You then either leave them there while drinking multiple cups or pour all the coffee into a serving carafe immediately to prevent over-extraction.
With french press travel mugs, however, you cannot easily remove all the grounds from the bottom after pressing; if you could, you wouldn’t need an all-in-one press/mug design in the first place. While many highly-rated mugs utilize dual filtration and/or extra-fine screens to minimize fine particles and create a tighter separation between the coffee and the pressed grounds, the inherent nature of a french press mug almost guarantees that your coffee will be more heavily extracted than standard french press coffee. The grounds remain present throughout the drinking process, and the repeated movement of the grounds at the bottom each time you lift the mug encourages the release of extra bitterness and fines. I would argue that even the best travel mug french presses will yield coffee that isn’t quite as refined as what you’d get from a standard home unit like a Frieling, Espro P7, or Bodum Chambord.
2. Are Travel Coffee Presses Hard to Keep Clean?
When I brew french press coffee at home, I typically steep the grounds for about four minutes before slowly pressing the plunger down. I then immediately pour all the coffee into a serving carafe. Often, my next step is to begin cleaning the french press before the oils have a chance to adhere firmly to the glass beaker or the plunger and filter screens. When the french press is still wet, everything cleans off very easily – just discard the spent grounds into the trash or compost and rinse the components under running water. It’s a quick process.
However, if everything dries out, cleaning requires soaking, scrubbing, and sometimes resorting to a dishwasher. Taking your french press on the go as a travel mug means that after you finish drinking your coffee, the grounds will remain in the mug until you can get back to a sink. This could be minutes or hours later. Therefore, yes, these devices can be more challenging to clean compared to your home coffee press. I usually advise people buying a french press travel mug to leave a small amount of the last bit of coffee or water in the press to keep things moist and perhaps shake it occasionally. This helps make cleaning a bit easier later when you finally have access to a sink. If you discard the last liquid and allow the inside of your filtration plunger/lid to dry out, cleaning can become a significantly bigger chore than you’d want, especially when traveling or commuting.
Alternatives
Okay, so there are clearly several well-reviewed and best-selling combination travel mug french press coffee makers available, but there are far more options out there than even I’ve detailed on this page. I wanted to take a moment to briefly go over some alternative methods for making coffee on the go besides using a dedicated french press travel mug.
When it comes to brewing coffee while traveling, camping, or simply on the road, I often prefer using devices that are extremely simple, durable, affordable, and excel at their specific function.
A Dedicated French Press & Thermos Can’t Be Beat
One straightforward option for making french press coffee on the go is to use a separate, smaller french press and then immediately pour the brewed coffee directly into a high-quality carafe, thermos, or tumbler. Some of the best compact coffee presses include those made by Coffee Gator, Frieling, and Espro.
If you’re like me and enjoy having two to three cups of coffee each morning, you’ll often find the combination brewer mugs to be too small. When I travel, I frequently bring a 32-ounce stainless steel french press from Coffee Gator. After brewing, I pour the coffee into my thermal coffee bottle, from which I can pour 2-3 large cups over the next few hours.
Moka Pots Plus Hot Water Make Awesome Americanos!
Another useful technique in my household, especially when camping or hiking, involves bringing a 3-6 cup moka pot along with a large thermal carafe or beverage bottle. A moka pot is a sturdy device that can last for generations with occasional gasket replacement. It brews directly over an open flame or stovetop, and you can use regular ground coffee, making it easy to plan for when traveling.
The coffee produced by a moka pot is concentrated, similar to an espresso shot, and just as strong. Mixing it with hot water from your thermal carafe yields a fantastic cup of coffee comparable to an espresso-based Americano or strong drip coffee. Since many travel presses tend to over-extract, and it’s common practice anyway to transfer french press coffee from the brewer to another cup, this is a great alternative option.
Don’t Forget About the Aeropress
Lastly, I must mention the Aeropress because many people, even avid coffee drinkers, aren’t familiar with it. The Aeropress is a method for making single-serve coffee that results in a brew similar in strength to french press coffee, but it’s typically filtered through a paper filter disc. The Aeropress is very affordable, constructed from heavy-duty, food-grade plastic, and brews coffee directly into your cup. If you can heat water using a kettle, stovetop, or open flame, the process is simple: fill the Aeropress chamber with coffee and water, then press the water through the filter into your cup. It’s perfect for traveling. For some, it’s even better than french press coffee because it provides a cleaner cup, free from most of the coffee oils that some people dislike. Most individuals who don’t prefer french press coffee dislike the body or sediment in their cup. When you over-extract your coffee, which many lower-end travel mug coffee presses tend to do, the coffee can become a bit too bitter anyway.
There’s no denying the convenience of an all-in-one brewer and mug, so if you are determined to get a combo coffee maker mug, I encourage you to reread all my reviews carefully. I still consider the Espro Ultralight to be my personal favorite option in this category; it’s large enough to satisfy, you get the full amount of coffee it brews, it makes excellent coffee, and it generally avoids over-brewing your coffee. If you’re still undecided, be sure to check out the direct head-to-head comparisons of various mugs that I’ve published on this site. You can find the main index for those comparisons here.
