Coffee is the fuel of many cyclists. It’s what keeps the legs spinning and the heart pumping. Whether it’s before a ride or after, a coffee-loving cyclist will tell you that there’s no better drink (well, except for maybe a beer).
But the struggle for the coffee-loving cyclist has always been how to brew while on a ride. Some stash a hand grinder into their jersey pocket, and strap a stove and a brewing device to their rack, because enjoying coffee outside isn’t just a fun pastime; it’s a lifestyle.
Making it easier to live that lifestyle, partnering with fellow Portlanders Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Nutcase Helmets has released its latest helmet, the ‘POUR’tlander, a helmet adorned with the bold colors of the Portland flag. But unlike other helmets, this one isn’t just for protecting your brain; the ‘POUR’tlander doubles as a coffee brewer.
“We’ve been riding bikes with the team over at Stumptown for a while now. We love what they do and had been looking for a way to collaborate. The ‘POUR’tlander
seemed like such a natural fit. Honestly, I’m surprised we didn’t think of it sooner,” says Marketing Manager Tom Rousculp.
Working with Stumptown Coffee to develop the helmet, the ‘POUR’tlander is made to help coffee and cycling enthusiasts brew with precision. The result is a unique brewing experience and flavorful result. “The natural shape of the helmet creates some nice restriction in the grounds bed, creating a cup that not only has elements of a traditional pour over but also notes from emersion methods as well. The result is a cup that is sweet but also savory,” says Stumptown’s Head Coffee Roaster Steve Kirbach. “It’s such a personal experience, I feel like there is a little bit of me in every cup. Sometimes you just like to feel wild and unfettered.”
No matter where you are, you’ll always have your brewing device with you, allowing for the perfect cup of coffee, anytime. “It works so well,” says Rousculp, highlighting the practicality of the helmet for cyclists focused on only packing with the bare essentials. “With the ‘POUR’tlander there’s one less thing to pack on campouts from now on.”
The ‘POUR’tlander takes inspiration from the simplicity of other pour over devices, and you don’t need much more than water, ground coffee and your helmet to get started. If you’re new to coffee brewing in a bike helmet, Nutcase also has a detailed brewing guide that you can follow:
1. Get your gear together
Gather up your camp stove, coffee mill, filter, coffee beans, and favorite camp mug, and head out to your local park.
2. Prepare your pour over helmet
Flip your helmet over with the top ventilation hole placed over your mug. Place your basket filter inside your helmet.
3. Rinse your filter
Boil water with your stove. Pour the hot water through the filter to rinse out any residual paper flavor.
4. Measure and grind your beans
Grind 23 grams of your best beans (about 3 tablespoons) with your coffee mill. Hand grinding can be hard work, but don’t worry, your sweat-equity will pay off.
5. Saturate the grounds
Pour just enough water, now about a minute off the boil, over your grounds to saturate, allowing the coffee to “bloom.” Wait about 20 seconds.
6. Pour up to mid-helmet
Once the coffee has bloomed, pour water up to mid helmet level, taking care not to wet your foam pads.You don’t want to get any off flavors from the built up sweat in your cup.
7. Remove helmet and enjoy
Once you’re satisfied with the amount of coffee you’ve brewed, remove your helmet and toss your filter. Take a step back, breathe deep from the steam rising off your cup, take an Instagram (#coffeeoutside, after all), and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
To get you started on a spring of #coffeoutside, Nutcase Helmets is also offering a 8-ounce bag of Stumptown’s Hair Bender with every purchase of the ‘POUR’tlander now through April 3.
Anna Brones is a staff writer at Sprudge.com. Read more Anna Brones on Sprudge.
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