On a trip to Costa Rica, we visited a coffee plantation and my husband’s face lit up like a child on his first trip to Disney. Experiencing the journey from plant to cup firsthand was a tiny step in his love affair with coffee, the process it goes through, and the joy he gets out of chasing his perfect brew. The tour guide at that space dropped some knowledge that over a decade later is still spoken in our home, reminding us that while the world may rank coffees, “the actual best kind is your favourite kind.” 

Well, his favourite kind is made with good beans, intention, savoured, and often experienced in an outdoor landscape…taking in the aromas created by the cup and the surrounding goodness of nature. 

Mat’s from Melbourne, Australia, where coffee is far greater than a drink in your cup. It’s engrained in the fabric of the culture. He’s a lover of the outdoor lifestyle; a camper, a hiker, a beach goer, and an avid traveler. To say the VSSL Nest Pour Over Kit hits each of those buckets is an understatement. This thermos-sized creation has now adventured with us to Joshua Tree National Park, Big Bear Lake, beaches far and wide, and has leveled up more hotel room coffee cups than I can count.

Designed from minds and experiences growing up in Canada, the outdoor gear team behind durable, light camping supplies now brings their engineering skills to stimulate the traveler’s coffee experience. Once again, they hit it out of the park. 

Easily carried in a backpack, the grinder is quiet enough not to disrupt nature’s elements, the reusable filter is environmentally friendly, and the cups are well-crafted and sturdy enough to hang out on any trail or rock and hold the epic flavours of that enticing brew. Needless to say, I expect this pour over system that turns users into brewmasters to continue to accompany us on future expeditions.

I interviewed my husband, Mat, to delve deeper into the goodness that is VSSL Nest + grinder bundle.

What piqued your interest in this item?

It’s a system with everything in one convenient parcel, including the ability to store the grinder inside the pour over kit. In it, you get two double-walled mugs, a pour over filter, and it all fits comfortably in one. I loved the ability to use it outside. Its portability and the robust construction are all positive aspects of its design. 

What did you enjoy about this experience?

I absolutely loved being able to brew a nice cup of coffee while deeply ensconced in nature. To experience one of my favourite pastimes in some of my favourite locations enriched the mindfulness element I get from each one. 

I really enjoyed the climate benefit of the reusable filter changing the game from adding bits of paper into the ecosystem. 

Having the capability to brew multiple cups while using the one unit allows for an added benefit. The grinder, which comfortably fits into the entire system, had easy to use settings, the removable hand grip knob was an ingenious creation, and the beans came out perfectly. 

Merging the outdoors and coffee making process together all within the confines of a compact container raised my pour over game. 

What would you tell another outdoor coffee lovers about the product?

The portable pour over is awesome and fits well with the changing terrain of all sorts of trails. While the price tag for the bundle might be on the higher end for the budget traveler, the quality and durability of the VSSL Nest plus the grinder elevates the quality of the cup and the full experience of the brew. Get the bundle or grow your stash one at a time. 

For anyone who enjoys their coffee and the creation of that perfect cup, in my experience I’d encourage adding the whole line to your brew making collection.

Highly recommended!

Stacey Ebert, our Educational Travels Editor, is a traveler at heart who met her Australian-born husband while on a trip in New Zealand. Stacey was an extracurricular advisor and taught history in a Long Island public high school for over fifteen years, enjoying both the formal and informal educational practices. After a one year 'round the world honeymoon, travel and its many gifts changed her perspective. She has since left the educational world to focus on writing and travel. She is energetic and enthusiastic about long term travel, finding what makes you happy and making the leap. In her spare time she is an event planner, yogi, dark chocolate lover, and spends as much time as possible with her toes in the sand.

Check out her website at thegiftoftravel.wordpress.com for more of her travel musings.

All photos courtesy and copyright Stacey Ebert, published with permission