A coffee aficionado's way to travel, this brew-and-drink portable press from Bodum makes fresh coffee even fresher. Designed to brew on the go in French-press style, the piece features the Bodum logo, "Give Up Bad Coffee For Good." Its makes great coffee in just four minutes, and its durable plastic construction means it's handy for travel, camping, and commuting. The design includes insulated double walls and a spill-resistant lid. Also great for loose-leaf tea, it holds 16 ounces and fits most car cup holders. Models with a clear tumbler and a rubberized grip are also available. --Emily Bedard
From the Manufacturer
Awards and Accolades
In 2004 the Bodum Chambord coffee press received the American Culinary Institute's award for best French press coffeemaker.
The American Culinary Institute judges food preparation products such as mixers, waffle makers, and electric teakettles. These products are judged on criteria important to consumers such as ease-of-use, safety, and the quality of the food produced. The institute also judges food preparation products used in restaurants and hotels, including institutional mixers, large-volume coffee machines, and food slicers.
Instructions for Use
1. Place pot on a dry, flat, nonslip surface. Hold handle firmly, then pull the plunger straight up and out of the pot.
2. For each 1.25-deciliter/4-ounce cup, put 1 rounded tablespoon or 1 Bodum scoop of coarse-ground coffee into the pot.
Caution: Use only coarse-ground coffee. Fine grind can clog the filter and create high pressure. Place coffee maker on a heatproof, nonslip surface.
3. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the pot. Leave a minimum of 2.5 centimeters/1 inch of space at the top. Stir the brew with a plastic spoon.
Caution: Metal spoons can scratch or chip the glass beaker and cause breakage.
4. Place the plunger unit on top of the pot. Turn lid to close off the pour spout opening. (Does not apply to the Brazil models.) Do not press down. Let the coffee brew for at least 4 minutes.
5. Hold the pot handle firmly, with the spout turned away from you, then using just the weight of your hand, apply slight pressure on top of the knob to lower the plunger straight down into the pot. Lowering the plunger slowly with minimal pressure produces best results. If the filter clogs or it becomes difficult to push down the plunger you should remove the plunger from the pot, stir the brew, and then slowly plunge again.
WARNING: Using excessive force can cause scalding liquid to shoot out of the pot.
6. Turn the lid to open the pour spout and then pour coffee.
7. Unscrew the filter assembly and clean the plunger unit after each use. All parts are dishwasher-safe.
Safety Instructions
Not for stovetop use.
Check glass beaker for scratches, cracks, or chips. Do not use a pot that is scratched, chipped, or cracked. Install a replacement beaker before using the pot again.
Keep children away while using. Hot water is a hazard to small children!
Do not allow children to use this coffeemaker.
Scald Hazard
Excessive plunging force can cause scalding hot liquid to shoot out of pot.
Do not plunge with force.
Turn lid to close spout.
Use only coarse-ground coffee.
Company History
In 1944 Peter Bodum, the father of today's owner, Joergen Bodum, started Bodum in Copenhagen. Times were difficult at the end of World War II; there was hardly any trade and people were out of work. Peter Bodum managed to wholesale a very small variety of housewares products by Danish manufacturers.
After the war Peter Bodum got an import license for kitchen and tabletop products; he traveled all over Europe and ended up importing kitchen and housewares to Denmark. As in the rest of Europe in those days, a lack of products in Denmark meant a market existed for almost anything to be sold. He specialized in glassware from Eastern Europe.
In the '50s Peter Bodum started developing his own products. He collaborated with the Danish architect Kaas Klaeson for a range of coffeemakers. At the time, industrial-design-type kitchen products were very rare. The first Bodum product to hit the market in 1958 was the Santos coffeemaker--based on a vacuum coffee brewing system. It became an instant sensation not only in Denmark but in all of Europe. Bodum still produces the original Santos design to this very day.
Bodum grew steadily during the '60s, but sadly, in 1967, at the age of only 57, Peter Bodum passed away. His wife managed the company until 1974, when she offered her 26-year-old son Joergen to join her in the management of the company. Joergen quickly brought on board Carsten Joergensen--then a teacher at the Danish School of Art in Copenhagen--and soon put him in charge of overall design for Bodum, including everything from products to corporate design, exhibitions, shops, buildings, catalogs, and advertising. It turned out to be a very long and fruitful collaboration. The two men began to fulfill Bodum's credo--"good design doesn't have to be expensive"--in lots of different ways.
In 1974 the first fruit of Joergen and Carsten's collaboration was introduced: the French coffee press Bistro. It was also the first incorporation of the new Bodum design language--beautiful simplicity and excellent materials for everyday life. Many more variations of coffee presses followed. Since 1974 Bodum has produced over 50 million French presses, taken the leap from "coffee" to "kitchen," and developed and produced a large variety of beautiful household and tabletop designs.
In 1979, when he took over the company, Joergen Bodum decided to move to Switzerland in order to be more centrally located in Europe. He chose the Lucerne area, where Bodum's head office has been located since the early '80s.
In 1980 Bodum Switzerland and its design unit, Pi-Design, were founded. Then, in 1986, the opening of Bodum's first shop in London marked another milestone in the Bodum history. It was designed not only to be the perfect showcase for the large variety of Bodum products but to embody an even stronger presentation of Bodum as an international brand. Many more shops in many more cities all over the world followed: Paris, Copenhagen, Zurich, Lucerne, Tokyo, New York, Dallas, Okinawa, Auckland, and many more. To this day there are 52 Bodum stores worldwide.
With more and more of its own stores in place, Bodum continued broadening its collection of beautifully designed everyday life products--from kitchen to home. Today Bodum offers its customers everything from the latest coffee- and tea-making products to tabletop, kitchen, storage, textiles, bathroom, and home office products. Some stores also have a café where Bodum's own selection of coffees and teas are served.
The Bodum Group is, and always has been, a 100 percent family-owned business. Today the company operates in 14 different countries with over 700 employees worldwide. Bodum has holding companies in Denmark and Switzerland as well as 12 sales companies, 3 production companies, and a design company called Bodum Design Group, located in Switzerland.
Amazon.ca Product Description
There is no need to compromise on quality of coffee when you are out and about. With the Bodum Travel Press, you can take your coffeemaker with you. The travel press was designed so that you can brew your favorite coffee or tea and drink right out of the same tumbler. The double wall construction inusaltes your beverage and keeps it hotter longer while keeping your hands cool. The spill-resistant lid keeps the heat in when you are not enjoying your hot beverage. The Travel Press is simple to use. Simply add one or two scoops of your favorite coarse ground coffee or the appropriate amount of loose-leaf tea. Fill with hot water and screw the lid in place with the press in the up position. Allow the coffee to brew for 4-minutes (tea should brew 3-5 minutes or to your liking) and then press. Once you have pressed, open the lid and enjoy a balanced and flavorful cup of coffee or tea. To clean it up, just rinse out the grounds and handwash for best results. The travel press is a perfect brewing method if you just need coffee or tea for one, as well as while you are travelling, at work, camping or just out and about. Fits in most car cup holders. This version is decorated with the Bodum "Give Up Bad Coffee For Good" logo.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
This is a great idea but in less than 9 months the plastic cracked just from the heat of the water. Customer service was brusque and unwilling to take any responsibility. Maybe the stainless steel one would be better.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:3.0 out of 5 stars 115 reviews
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 starsPretty CrappyJun 6 2007
By Nick S. - Published on Amazon.com
While I love french press coffee and am a fan of Bodum products, they always tend to be on the fragile side. The outside plastic on this travel press cracked within the first two weeks of using it. The material is less than what one would call "sturdy" and the press routinely lets stray grounds through even though I've been following the manufacturer's suggestions and using coarse coffee.
Great in theory, much less so in execution.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsThis Thing ROCKSDec 1 2006
By John Z - Published on Amazon.com
This thing brews great coffee, plus loose teas. make sure your grounds are coarse though, otherwise they won't be easy to get out of the mesh. Instead of my old press where i used to have to wait at home to brew then clean both the cup and the press, this is a two in one device, and i can just fill it and tke it on the road with me, and the coffee's still amazing. and the whole thing is dishwasher SAFE! yes! if you like great coffee and don't have lots of time, buy this!
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsGood for a travel emergency!July 19 2009
By John M. Gutzman - Published on Amazon.com
First off, I try to only drink coffee prepared with a french press. I much prefer it over other methods. When traveling though, I can't take my fragile press with me so when I spotted this travel press I had to purchase it. I did not get mine from Amazon though. A B&M had it for much less money. Sorry Amazon!
Anyway, I have a few gripes with this unit. First Bodum did not list the capacity of the unit on the item nor the instructions. I had to go online to find it was rated at 16oz. Since I'm currently traveling I haven't actually checked this with a measuring device. I think the actual usable capacity is a little less. This is important since you need to know the right capacity to put the proper amount of coffee into the press. I worked by trial and error the first few days and found out about 2.5 tbls worked for the amount of water I was using. Since I don't have a travel grinder I had to resort to using pre-ground coffee in the unit which leads me to my second complaint. Grounds getting past the press. I don't know if using a coarser grind will solve this and I always expect a little grounds in my pressed coffee, but this unit lets way too much though. I often have a single layer of grounds on top of the screen after I've pressed the coffee. I don't have this issue with my home press using just a spring loaded metal screen. The silicone ring just doesn't provide the tension on the sides to keep the coffee from getting past. The next item I have a problem with is that the unit is not sealed. For a unit that is both a press and a travel mug it is not very leak proof. There is no seal for the spout that you drink from. The hole in the lid where rod of the press goes though does not have an o-ring seal. The lid itself does not have an o-ring, but is very tight fitting. So be sure not to tip the unit over at anytime. Fourth issue is with the instructions. If you like to sweeten or cream your coffee, don't follow the instructions! They say to press the coffee first then add your additions through the lid. This doesn't make any sense! The hole is way too little to effectively add ingredients. I suggest you wait until the last minute of brew time, add your flavors then press. Much less messy!
Now for the good. The double walled construction keeps the coffee hot for a reasonable amount of time. Much longer then my glass unit, but not as long as a metal vacuum container. It brews an excellent tasting coffee. Far better and more sanitary then any hotel unit. Small enough to pack. In fact, on my backpack it fits in the holder for the sports bottle nicely, making packing the unit a breeze. Although I have only been using it for a few weeks the unit seems pretty durable. It also makes the perfect amount of coffee for one as well.
Even though this unit has some flaws, it does make some good coffee. Since I haven't seen any other travel presses with the same features as this one I'll have to say that I still give it a recommended. Try to find it for under $10 though. Much better value!