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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

MSR Espresso Star

So, say you like your morning espresso (yum!).  :)  But that little tiny backpacking espresso maker just falls between the pot supports on your stove.  :(  What to do?

Well, let's take the example of the MSR Whisperlite.  With a Whisperlite, it's really no problem if you've got an MSR Espresso Star.
An MSR Espresso Star
Just lay the Espresso Star across your pot supports, and you're good to go.
An MSR Espresso Star on a Whisperlite Universal
Of course, there are other stoves besides a Whisperlite that have pot supports that might be a bit wide for a little espresso maker.  So, I thought I'd try it on another stove.  Here's the MSR Espresso Star on a Primus Omnifuel.
An MSR Espresso Star on a Primus Omnifuel
Obviously, I haven't exhaustively checked every possible stove out there, but if you've got a three legged stove where the legs are evenly spaced (120 degree angles), radiating outward from a central point, then the MSR Espresso Star will most likely work.

Now the bad news:  These are now available second hand only (eBay, Craig's List, etc).  The MSR Espresso Star is a nifty little gadget, but apparently it didn't sell well enough to be retained in MSR's product line up.  Having struggled with jury rigging an espresso maker on my winter stove, I was delighted to find one on Craig's List.  Search, and you might be able to pick one up too.

Thanks for joining me on another Adventure in Stoving,

HJ

Technical Appendix -- Weights
MSR Espresso Star . . . .  19g/0.67oz

The MSR Espresso Star
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14 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 1, 2012 at 12:42 AM

    That looks very useful, what espresso maker do you use?

    My espresso maker is neither small or light, and I'm looking for something more appropriate for hiking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hikin' JimMarch 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM

      Hi, Jim,

      I'm using a GSI mini espresso maker: http://www.rei.com/product/401117/gsi-outdoors-mini-expresso-maker-1-cup

      HJ

      Delete
  2. Andrew BishopMarch 4, 2012 at 1:28 AM

    Thanks, Jim

    That GSI coffee maker looks pretty nifty. Bit on the heavy side, though. I have been settling for 'cowboy coffee', putting the ground coffee into the pot, letting it settle, then pouring through a tea strainer.

    Andrew

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hikin' JimMarch 4, 2012 at 8:21 AM

    Hi, Andrew,

    Yes, it is a bit heavy, but it does make nice cup of espresso! Normally, we only take it on shorter, easier trips. For serious trips, we just go with instant coffee.

    HJ

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJuly 22, 2012 at 5:04 AM

    Hi from Australia

    This si just what I am looking for. I can not believe they no longer stock it. I mean it probably cost them 30 cents to make so what cost was it to them really, make the stove stock the parts for when they may be needed. On saying that I am now going to make some of these in the garage and flick them off. I am sure that it will not be at all difficult to make. Thanks for posting because it is exactly what I need. I always take the stove top esp when in NZ and doing long alpine trips, the coffee hit in the morning really gives you the start you need. Phil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hikin' JimJuly 22, 2012 at 2:20 PM

      Hi, Philip,

      Glad it's helpful. Much of what I try to do with my blog is to show people what's out there. The design is simplicity itself. I'm sure there's a way to replicate it.

      Alternatively, you could take some wire "gauze" of the type used in a laboratory with a bunsen burner and lay that across your burner. Should work reasonably well.

      Regards,

      HJ

      Delete
  5. JoostAugust 30, 2012 at 5:16 AM

    Came across this, the other day: . Even heavier than the espresso star, but readily available and designed to fit the Trangia stove system. According to the comments, it fits the Trangia package with a little modding, is actually a bit lighter than indicated (74g vs. 104g) and will work fine on other stoves like the MSR Whisperlite (and thus, presumably, on just about any stove with three pot supports).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hikin' JimSeptember 7, 2012 at 1:01 PM

    It doesn't appear as though your link showed up. Sounds like an interesting product though.

    HJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JoostSeptember 11, 2012 at 6:32 AM

      Let me try that again, then: http://www.globetrotter.de/de/shop/detail.php?mod_nr=121956

      Delete
    2. JoostSeptember 11, 2012 at 6:35 AM

      BTW, cutting up a "dollar store" wire pot stand is a much cheaper solution: http://www.outdoorseiten.net/forum/showthread.php?44781-Kocherstern-f%FCr-Trangia

      Delete
    3. Hikin' JimSeptember 17, 2012 at 4:59 PM

      Thank you for the link(s). Even at 74g it's a bit heavy, almost four times the weight of the Espresso Star. Looks like a good product, though.

      The wire cut out looks cheap and practical! And I think it would be reasonably light. I like that option very much.

      HJ

      Delete
  7. adventure!September 20, 2012 at 11:46 AM

    Wow, wish this was still available! Wonder how well it would work on a Trangia with a Clickstand.

    The "espresso maker"* I've been making is an Esbit model, the Kaffeemaschine. It uses a self contained stove/stand and burns Esbit tablets (obviously). Not a bad gadget.
    http://urbanadventureleague.blogspot.com/2012/04/camping-gear-corner-esbit-coffee-maker.html
    http://urbanadventureleague.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-revisited-esbit-coffee-maker.html

    *I put "espresso maker" in quotes because no stovetop unit makes true espresso. True espresso needs to be extracted at a pressure of 9 Bar, where a stovetop unit will only get up to 1.5 Bar. It'll make a strong, espresso-like coffee, but it's not the real thing. Yep, I'm a coffee nerd.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hikin' JimSeptember 20, 2012 at 6:55 PM

      I don't think the Espresso Star would work with a Clikstand. The Espresso Star needs pot supports that radiate outward from the burner head which a Clikstand doesn't have.

      HJ

      Delete
  8. Hikin' JimMarch 10, 2017 at 2:27 PM

    Hi, Lisa,

    It's never too late for good coffee!

    Hey, have you seen the Aerobie Aero Press? I haven't tried it, but it's like $30, and I think it's the lightest option out there for espresso on the trail. Check out this article which mentions it: http://www.thegearcaster.com/2013/05/the-great-backcountry-coffee-off.html.

    HJ

    ReplyDelete

My apologies to real people, but due to Spammers I have to moderate comments. I'll get to this as rapidly as possible but do understand that I like to hike and there's no internet in the wilderness. Take care and stove on!

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