Kickstarter

Backcountry Barista is the inaugural product in the launch of a new backcountry outfitter, trailZing: 

The tagline is "Backcountry luxury with minimal compromise." I have grown tired of waiting for gear manufacturers to solve the issues that impede my enjoyment and well being in the outdoors. I have designed several prototype products that are creative, functional, and fun. Honestly, Backcountry Barista is not the best idea in the TrailZing hopper, but it is the easiest to pull off without overpromising. I'm excited to share these product ideas and prototypes with the community.  Thus far I've gone solo... web development, marketing, product development, and product testing. I hope my ideas are ready to breathe in the real world now. Your support, questions, ideas, and enthusiasm are the reason why I'm here.

Backcountry Barista solves a persistent problem that plagues hikers, cyclists, and other outdoors people: it is hard to get an excellent cup of coffee in the wild. The options --  cowboy coffee, french presses, portable grinders, teabags, coffee concentrate -- are heavy, expensive, or sawdusty. These hard choices irk ultralighters with refined taste buds.

Say you're a coffee snob, but not the outdoors type. In that case, have you ever needed a cup of brew only to be faced with a ratty old drip machine and instant coffee crystals? Or worse, a rickety vending machine which spews out molten -- yet watery -- coffee substitute? Imagine reaching into your bag and pulling out your own beloved coffee beans and grinding them on the spot. All you need is hot water.

This 4 oz riff on disposable spice grinders is designed to create an outstanding cup of trail coffee. The durable polycarbonate base contains an adjustable grinder, which is ideal for releasing volatile aromatics without singeing the beans. A tightly sealed (but refillable) body prevents the degradation of coffee bean oils. With dual grind adjustment you can go coarse or semi-coarse.

I've been working with a spice grinder manufacturer in Africa but need to refine the prototypes (which work great!). At the very least, eligible backers will receive a lightweight, trail-worthy grinder.  It takes four minutes or so of grinding to get a strong cup, but the slow pace is actually somewhat relaxing. Nevertheless, I hope to develop lightweight mechanisms to speed it up. Aside from purchasing materials, that is primarily what the money is going towards: prototyping costs. 

In the event that the Backcountry Barista surpasses its goal, I will use the additional funds to prototype other products for TrailZing (which backers will have access to view in advance.)