I use this filter every day to prepare myself a cup of loose tea at the office.
Perfect for coffee and tea in the backcountry. Performs well. Easy to clean. Stores nicely in mug. Convenient lid serves as a place to set the filter when you remove it. I was skeptical at first, but I love it.
I bought this to feed my caffeine habit during a 30-day NOLS course. This little thing makes killer coffee, is easy to clean, and doesn't add more waste to your outdoor adventures. For tea drinkers, the filter sits perfectly on the lid while it waits for a second steep. For car camping, I still bring a big old press pot, but the MugMate is also great for hotel travel, where you might want a good cup of coffee in the morning, but the pre-packaged coffee-like substance doesn't cut it.
Yucky weather today so finally experimented indoors and got this right ... for me at least. MugMate is a perfect mate for my Primus 4 Season Mug. Two small scoops of fresh coarse ground coffee. Steep for 3-4 minutes. Perfect!
Put four tablespoons of coarsely (and freshly) ground coffee into this MSR filter. Add 12 ounces of water, and wait about four minutes for your coffee. Very simple. [...]
Worked great. Good coffee, easy to clean (just let it dry and tap it). Fit every mug I own.
This little filter makes the best cup-o-joe I've ever had in a trail brewer and with the size and weight its a home run!! I carried a french press for years and have been minimizing my weight due to a back problem, and bought this to try and was not dissappointed in the slightest - wish I'd done it sooooo much sooner. I guess the only downside would be IF your mug is too wide for the flanges to rest on the edge of the mug so it won't sink into the brew. I use a normal size mug, so no problems. I worried about its durability, but have had to pack it in a pocket unprotected and it suffered no damage. It makes tasty brew and you can vary the strength to your liking of course, and since you can see the coffee as its brewing, and even pull the filter out to check, you can get the right kick to your java everytime. A little pricey, but worth it!! If you're a die hard java drinker or even a coffe driker that doesn't want to go without on a backpakcing trip, there is no reason not to pack this little guy whatsoever.
Used to use this a lot when I was an active Sierra Nevada backpacker, and it brews a great cup o' Joe. A lot more satisfying than the coffee bags, and you can just toss the grounds into the bushes. I got the most use out of it at home, though--I used this to brew my morning coffee for many years (went thru two of 'em), until I found a quicker, easier-to-use contraption. Would still prefer to use it if I'm traveling or tramping about and needed to consider space and weight.
As I like to brew my own tea, I have been primarily brewing my own tea at work. Those little tea balls leak leaves and pop open at the worst times. This filter works incredibly well with only the finest grounds sifting through. The 'cap' which can seem useless is excellent for setting the filter in to dry without leaving rings on your desk or getting dirt in the filter if you are out in the field. You can stick a little bag of loose tea in it (or just pour some in) and rubberband it closed and stick it in your bag or pack for later. Its light, been banging around loose in my bag and pack for several months now and seems pretty sturdy(I wouldn't want to put a lot of weight on it) and has served me well over a hundred cups of tea. Solid product and worth the asking price. Making my other tea strainers obsolete.
This little unit makes some great coffee!!
Whether brewing some joe before a summit bid on Annapurna or making coffee on Monday morning after spending all weekend free-soloing Half Dome, the MSR Mugmate will always be by your side. Featherlight design and epic functionally put this mud maker in the top of its class. Could be used as an expedition spaghetti strainer or even gold sifter in a pinch. With this caffeine cooker in your bag of tricks you will always be amped for your next adventure.
French press is the only way to go for me. The MugMate lets me have high quality coffee wether I'm backpacking or car camping, solo or group. It nests inside my titanium mug to brew a single cup or can be used to filter "cowboy coffee" into each person's mug in a group setting. No limits to how much coffee I can make like with the jetboil or snowpeak french press set-ups. A rubber band keeps the lid on and the filter safely stored inside my mug.
Sole coffee drinker on an extended backpacking trip meant no need for a press or a big pot of cowboy. The mugmate was perfect for that one big cup. Steeps nicely, compact, and cleans easy (sit out to dry, dump grinds in one lump, dip in boiling h2o next use to clean). Since it just had its first run I'm still unsure about durability, hence only 4 stars. Was nervous I'd crush it in my pack.
Works for a great cup of coffee or loose leaf tea. Tea leaves are a lot easier to clean out, but once the coffee grounds dry they shake out fine. I doubt MSR did anything more than put a stamp on a generic filter that can be found elsewhere for about 1/2 the price, but the fact remains that if it fits your cup it work well. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is that it is obvious they put their name on someone else's product.
I originally purchased this for an easy way to make coffee while camping. However due to "cost-saving" measures of my employer, the only coffee that is now available is just pure disgusting. So I've been using this filter exclusively at work with my own beans. I absolutely love it! Several coworkers have also purchased their own, too, after using mine. Thank you for such a great product!
This is perfect for making a cup of coffee or espresso, just pour the boiling water through the grounds. When you are done steeping it for a minute or two, just dump the grounds, and rinse out with some water. I lost the lid long ago because the two are not connected. No big deal but best to cover the cup with something to keep dust out of the cup while it steeps.
Haven't used this on trail yet but I will be soon. I must say it makes a darn fine cup of mud! Coffee is a must for me and I don't care for instant and the starbucks via are a bit spendy and have messy trash (but they do taste good). I am acctualy using this product right now at my desk and I am very statisfied with my coffee.
Countless mornings over four years w. this little gem. Works best w. a narrow cylinder cup or mug.
I use this filter mainly for backpacking and car camping. So compact, light weight, and not so bulky. Great for tea without bag. With coffee you will need the lid on to soak in water; otherwise, the ground will float to surface.
I tried it out at home and returned it. Using the exact same coffee, grind, weight and water as I usually do with pour over or drip, this filter made weak coffee even after a good 5 min steep. It also floats in an unstable way and is too small to pour through.
Makes a perfect cup! Cut mine down so it nests inside of my GSI mug. Drill a couple holes in it and used a very loose zip tie which allows it to hang off the side of the mug but now it’s small enough to nest inside of the mug. Nice dark cuppa coffee.
I love this thing. It makes a great cup of coffee without any bulk or weight. I just can't figure out why MSR would put a cap on it that doesn't stay on. What was the point of that? Now the cap is just sitting at the bottom of my gear tub.
could not get this filter to fit my Nalgene wide mouth bottle.No one at the store could tell me anything. Right size,wrong bottle, not enough information.?
Bought this before heading out on a 10 day Adirondack back country fishing trip. I have to say this thing worked great. Makes a good cup of coffee or tea. Perfect for those cold mornings and evenings in the mountains.
Hard to imagine brewing a better cup of coffee in the middle of nowhere for less weight in the pack. Pair this with a titanium double wall mug ... and you won't ever bother with those nasty "coffee singles" again.
Fabulous for either mug or potful of brew, and easier to clean than many tea-brewing solutions. For out largest teapot, we place a spoon crosswise first. Splendid for at home or while camping.
Used MSR Mugmate on a 21 day Grand Canyon float trip.Best coffee filter I have used and so simple. Bought my own as soon as I got home. Get one for your drybox or backpack. 5 stars for sure
This is really the most sensible coffee maker avail for backpacking or canoe camping. You can make the perfect coffee every time (no grounds). Its affordable, efficient and lightweight.
It makes a fresh, hot cup of coffee every time, 2 or more times every day for over 7 months. Still works like new. I have a wide cup and would like the ears wider.
MSR is great!I use it mainly for loose tea but works great for coffee. A little pricey yes but it will last forever!Love it.
This filter works so well and makes such a great cup of coffee, this is all I use at home as well as on the trail.
Great for loose tea!
I am not that much of a coffee drinker (max of 12 times a year maybe) but many of my camping cohorts are! And since I'm one who likes to get up and going in the mornings, I'm usually the one to start the coffee and breakfast! So I normally know a decent cup of coffee haha
Ok, I've used this filter several times over the past year. Here is what I've learned:
Pros:
1) It's very lightweight, and if you practice once at home, you'll know the amount of coffee you need for your taste. I like mine strong: 2Tbsp for a 12 oz mug.
2)You can knock out the used grounds into your trash-baggie, then let the filter rest somewhere to dry out while you break camp (on a tree limb is great, just don't forget it!). The dried grounds knock/wipe out easily. Remember to clean the thing when your trip is over, to make sure the mesh stays clear for next time.
Cons:
1)It takes a while, so be patient. Pour a bit of hot water in to wet the grounds, then add bits of water as it drains through. You'll have to lift the filter up once or twice to see how much water you've got in the mug. Once you've got a full mug, let the filter sit in there a few minutes to get strong (if you like strong coffee)
2)The little lid is pretty much useless unless you use it to hold the used/wet filter while you drink your beverage. I just sit my mug lid on top of the filter and put the whole operation out of harm's way for a few minutes. Leave the little lid at home.
3) Baggage-checking this thing for air travel ruined it. It got pretty crushed up. Solution (thanks from another review): put it inside your mug and use a rubberband to keep your mug lid on and the filter safe from crushing. Or (my idea)put the whole thing inside one of your clean socks.
4) Expensive, do some looking around and you can find other brands of the same thing $5-8 cheaper.
I've had this for several years -- so long that one of the tabs broke off. I was going to toss it but realized I could make it fit my use case better with an easy mod: I cut off the other tab to make it fit better in my mug (it used to wedge in at a slight angle, which is probably why the tab broke). Of course, without the tabs I had another problem: how to elevate the filter high enough above the mug bottom so gravity could do its filtering work. A drill and a titanium tent stake that I have to carry anyway for my Caldera Cone (and the tent) were the solution: I drilled small holes beneath where the tabs used to be, and now I can run the stake through the holes. The stake rests atop the mug, and makes it easier to lift the filter and pour in more hot water without getting burned as the mug fills with coffee to the height of the bottom of the filter. (I recently realized that I could probably use the Caldera Cone to prop the whole filter above the cup, so I can get more water in there without lifting it, but haven't had time to experiment with that yet.) Suffice to say, the stake works better than the tabs and it extended the life of the filter indefinitely. Important note: the filter works best if you have a burr grinder or buy pre-ground coffee so you can get an even grind size that isn't so fine it clogs the mesh. I find it filters rapidly and the coffee is plenty strong. I haven't found anything else that works as well without a weight or bulk penalty, plus I like not having to throw away coffee filters. Now, if AeroPress made an ultralight version for backpackers, I'd be tempted to give that a try.
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