ProView – GSI Outdoors Pour Over Coffee Kit Review

I am just your basic granola gal. I love sleeping outside and I love a cozy cup of coffee. Like any dirtbag, I also love gear. I like knowing about any latest GORETEX material, the newest feathery down jackets, and whatever new gadget has been made ultralight. 

However, as much as I like new and creative, lately, I find myself gravitating towards whatever is simple. Especially when it comes to making my coffee in the backcountry. I don’t care as much for bells and whistles at 6:30AM, when I am groggy and under-caffeinated. I want a setup that is easy. I just need it to get the job done. 

GSI is a company that prides itself on efficiency and durability and those are two words I would absolutely use to describe their gear. The Pour Over Java kit and Halulite Tea Kettle is a no fuss and straightforward way to brew your morning cuppa.

Features

The Pour Over Java set is a simple design. There is a silicone pour over that rests on a disk, which collapses into itself when not being used (complete with a lid). It’s compact and easy to set up or packaway. It comes with a reusable mesh coffee filter, which is easy to shake clean and reuse within minutes. 

The coffee grinder is ceramic, with an alloy handle. The handle is made to come on and off, and the conical burr is adjustable, letting you set it for different coffee bean grinds. 

The Halulite Tea Kettle is made from ultralight aluminium (15.2 oz), with a heatsink, and small pour spout. It holds 1.8 liters and makes enough water for a crowd.

Function/Performance

Pour overs are one of my favorite ways to make coffee while camping. They are quick and foolproof. This pour over makes a tasty cup of coffee with whatever beans and grind you prefer. The reusable filter is easy to shake out and clean (surprisingly so) and the lightweight set makes it a good option for all sorts of trips, even backpacking. There isn’t anything “new” about this product, but that’s partially what I enjoy about it; it’s user friendly. 

The grinder I was less impressed with. The burrs themselves do the trick – it grinds the beans well enough. However the handle doesn’t “lock into place” well to provide a good grip when using. It was fidgety and jiggled whenever I was using it. That made it annoying to use. I appreciate the idea of a detachable handle, but the trade off and design doesn’t seem worth it. I would prefer a handle that functions well and is slightly “bulkier.”

The tea kettle is my dream come true. As an avid lover of cozy beverages outside, this kettle’s lightweight material and heatsink heat up water super fast. In several minutes you have boiling water ready to use. Made for stove use (not campfire), be mindful that the heatsink is best used on steady stoves such as a two burner. It is precarious to balance on smaller backpacking stoves. 

The Final Word

As someone who puts her coffee set ups to work, I look for simple and efficient gear that will hold up over time. GSI’s Pour Over Kit and Kettle are durable pieces of gear that are a great place to start for anyone looking to caffeinate outdoors. Apart from the grinder’s fidgety handle, the kit is easy to use and clean, giving you more time to enjoy the views. 

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