Reviews & Testimonials
Outside Magazine Online
The BrewMug™
By Hal Espen
Nothing is more essential for true adventure than strong coffee. (God bless all of those who have given up caffeine and who still show up for the trip—or worse yet, how about those tea swillers? We'll never understand you, but we try to love you just the way you are—still, until we've had our morning fix, WE HATE YOU!)
There are many nifty solutions for brewing a good cup in the backcountry, but it must be admitted that the technology generally tends to be overbuilt and clunky. But you won't find a more minimalist and elegant solution to the morning-jolt problem than Reg Lake's plain-jane Sunrise Moonrise BrewMug™. Weighing in at seven ounces it's light, I can personally certify it's idiot-proof, and it works.
Operating on the tuck-everything-inside principle of a nested Russian doll, the BrewMug™ is basically a big ol' plastic 16-ounce insulated mug with a snap-on top and base. Tucked inside the cup is a small plastic canister for storing ground coffee. Tucked up inside the bottom is the brains of the BrewMug™, an ultralight filter tube outfitted with a permanent cloth filter and a transparent "view port" and steam vent. The BrewMug™ is a stable, lucid, and cleanly engineered java-delivery system.
The final bonus is the pinch of legend that surrounds the BrewMug™, thanks to its designer. Reg Lake is one of the pioneers of North American whitewater kayaking, and he owned the first true whitewater specialty store in Northern California when the sport was in its infancy. A well-known and charmingly witty teacher and guide with innumerable first descents to his credit, the Washington State-based explorer is a familiar presence at Otter Bar Kayak Lodge & School, the wilds of Chile, and the waters of Puget Sound. $20. http://www.brewmug.com
Testimonials
Hey Reg!
No enquiry I just wanted to say hello. Every time I see the BrewMug™ on my desk I think of you and kayaking! I love your BrewMug™ and so do all my family and friends that I have given it to. Every one I tell the story to agrees that it is genius and you are to be commended for not only thinking it up but more importantly seeing it to fruition.
I hope all is well with you and I look forward to seeing you on the river again soon. I'll bring the coffee.
All the best,
JAM
I especially appreciate the above comments because John is VP of Procurement for a large coffee company and really knows good coffee.
Reg
Dear Reg,
Took our BrewMugs™ to Hawaii for two weeks. They worked great whether we were at the hotel or camping on the beach. Ordering two more for friends for Xmas.
Thanks alot,
Mark and Denise
Hi Reg and Chris,
I would like to buy a half dozen mugs to give to the construction crew on my cabin.
PS--I got a rave report today from one of the guys I gave a mug to last spring. He used it backpacking and loved having good coffee with such ease.
Lane
I received the mug - works great, Awesome design.
Keith
Hello Reg,
I like the mugs so much that I am using them for family birthday presents this year.
Best,
Suzanne
Reg
I'm home from the lake, and I brewed a mug of tea in your BrewMug™. Then I read your instructions and felt very neglected because you didn't mention tea anywhere in your instructions. Boohoo on you. Yet, your mug brews a great mug of tea in addition to being able to drip a great cup of coffee. All you have to do is invert the cone so the tea can steep in the hot water. I made four cups of tea just to test it. In fact, I used one of my favorite loose leaf teas to season the cup with its first cup of tea: Lifeboat Tea from Scotland.
Just as people presume I am a paddler because I navigated my way from Ketchikan to Bellingham, which is a wrong presumption because I rowed my way south. people also make the presumption that I am a coffee drinker because I run an espresso stand. No, I am a tea drinker. I guess I don't fit any standard template in life. That's fine with me. My perspective, experience and intuition have allowed me to have razor sharp assessments about what's good and real in life... and your mug is pretty darned good.
But please rewrite the instructions to include tea drinkers. You're writing yourself out of a huge market.
Nice mug. You've got something.
Dale
Of course Dale is right and I have heard from several others about how perfect it is for loose tea. —Reg
I got the 2 BrewMugs™ in the mail yesterday and tried one out immediately and again today. I am SOOO impressed and I want to place an another order.
Jo
Jo sells the BrewMug™ through her organization and the money supports River Runners for Wilderness. www.rrfw.org
Reg