ESPRO Ultralight Travel Press Review

The ESPRO Ultralight is the lighter-weight version of the original ESPRO. While still not technically "ultralight" at 10 ounces (this probably won't be your pick for your next thru-hike), it's still a clean and compact all-in-one brewer/mug that will easily get a lot of use whether you're car camping or commuting to work.

Performance Comparison

The ESPRO Ultralight is a decently lightweight and durable travel French press with an innovative double filter to eliminate muddiness.

Photo: Jared Ross

Brew Features

The ESPRO Ultralight Travel Press features a double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel mug to keep your coffee hot for hours. The press has two interlocking micro-filters that keep muddiness and residue to a minimum, and a silicone gasket creates a vacuum seal in the mug to ensure extraction will stop once you press. If you want to filter out even more residue, you can add an additional paper filter. It can be used as a French press or a pour-over, and you can even use it with loose-leaf tea. This is ESPRO's ultralight model, and at 10 ounces, it proves a worthy device for travel, car camping, or even a luxury backpacking option.

You can use a paper filter in between the interlocking microfilters on the ESPRO to eliminate any French press muddiness. And the silicone gasket around the outside of the filter stops extraction completely when you press your coffee.

Photo: Jared Ross

Taste

In our blind taste-test, the ESPRO Ultralight did remarkably well, especially for a French press. One of our taste-testers doesn't like French press coffee, and even they were impressed by how little muddiness got into a cup of coffee made with this press. We were impressed by the lack of bitterness and balanced flavor produced by this device.

In taste tests, the ESPRO Ultralight consistently out-performed most other French presses in our review.

Photo: Jared Ross

Ease of Use

The ESPRO Ultralight performed well in this metric. Few methods of making coffee are as straightforward as using a French press. This press also has the added benefit of doubling as a travel mug. After you press your grounds, you can just start drinking; no extra cup is needed. That said, this press has the added step of joining — and then cleaning — the two microfilters. It's also more involved to remove the grinds and wash out the skinny vessel than clean a simple pour-over device.

While the ESPRO Ultralight proved difficult to clean without running water, it is shamelessly easy to use for making delicious coffee. Simply add your grounds, pour hot water, give it some time to steep, press your coffee and voila - you're done.

Photo: Jared Ross

Group Cooking

The ESPRO Ultralight isn't really designed to make coffee for a big crew, and given the difficulty with cleaning this device, it earned below-average marks in this category.

The ESPRO Ultralight makes 12oz per press, so it isn't ideal for large groups, a fact compounded by the fact that it is rather difficult to clean without running water.

Photo: Jared Ross

Portability

We love how portable the ESPRO Ultralight is. It is lightweight for a travel mug and press combo and is as slim as a baguette. If you're looking for a decent option for travel, car camping, or even quick backpacking trips — you'll be impressed with how little space it requires.

The ESPRO Ultralight is rather trim and decently lightweight, perfectly portable for a travel French press.

Photo: Jared Ross

Weight

At 10 ounces, the ESPRO Ultralight isn't truly ultralight, but it is light enough for car camping, less demanding backpacking trips, and travel. Remember that this weight is all-inclusive — you can sip directly from the mug/press without needing to bring a separate drinking vessel.

The ESPRO Ultralight isn't the lightest model in our review, but for car camping, this mug/press combo is unlikely to weigh you down.

Photo: Mary Witlacil

Value

The ESPRO Ultralight counts among the more expensive options in our review. However, it is a well-conceived press that eliminates most muddiness and finishes extraction when you press it. If you love the simplicity of a French press but could do without a muddy mouthfeel, and you want a versatile mug that can make coffee as well as tea — then this device could be a great value for you. Additionally, most "ultralight" products lack durability, but this mug should last a long time with its stainless steel construction.

Conclusion

The ESPRO Ultralight Travel Press is a solid travel French press with an innovative double micro-filter that reduces muddiness and stops extraction when you press it. You can even add supplemental paper filters to clean up your brew even more. If you crave a mug that will keep your coffee hot for hours, and a press that can also handle loose leaf tea, then this just might be a match for you.

Durable, innovative, fairly compact, and easy to use - the ESPRO Ultralight is a fantastic travel French press for folks who prefer the simplicity of a press without the grit.

Photo: Jared Ross