On more than one occasion, I’ve embarrassed myself by brewing coffee outdoors and spilling a freshly made cup onto an unsteady camping table. Not to mention, light packers would scoff at the weight of my coffee gear — a necessary sacrifice to avoid instant coffee. Savoring high-quality joe in the open air feels special, though, hence why I bring a coffee-making setup every time.
Finally, I’ve found the easiest option: The MiiR Pourigami. Put together, the pyramid-shaped dripper fits atop any trusty travel mug. Taken apart, this Miir Pourigami resembles a card holder, slim enough to fit into my pants pocket. It functions like other pour-over setups, meaning I can still dial in tasting notes. If you’re like me and think about coffee no matter the circumstances, this nifty setup lets you play barista in any environment.
A look at the Miir Pourigami
Right out of the box, the Pourigami looks sleek. Disassembled, the brewer consists of three thin stainless-steel trapezoids. I can’t imagine the pieces bending or chipping — crucial, as I’m prone to breaking camping equipment. Handily, the dripper stores flat, occupying a rectangular size smaller than 10 by 16 centimeters. Weighing just shy of 8 ounces, the brewer isn’t featherweight, but it offers great portability nevertheless. Contained in an unassuming synthetic case, the Pourigami seamlessly fits into any bag.
Honestly, I’m terrible at paper origami, but assembling this brewer into the pyramidal shape is a breeze. It only takes me about 20 seconds to slip the three indents into the respective slots — there’s no confusion to the construction. The completed dripper holds steady without a wobble and comes apart just as easily.
Put together, the interior forms a triangular pyramid shape that can accommodate any #2 cone-shaped filters. I find that Miir’s own filters, available for purchase online function most reliably, creating steady streams without slipping. Not to mention, the brand’s paper-based filters are compostable, a small but satisfying environmental win. A compatible filter is easy to find, making the Miir Pourigami simple to set up and get to brewing.
Brewing with the Pourigami
If you’ve used pour-over vessels like a V60, Chemex or a Kalita Wave, the Miir Pourigami is familiar territory. The dripper requires a hot water source, the aforementioned paper filter, and a cup or carafe to catch the coffee. A kitchen scale and thermometer help brew with utmost accuracy, but I’ve produced solid cups while eyeballing proportions outdoors.
It’s best to follow a brewing ratio to extract the most out of the brewer, especially when familiarizing yourself with its flow. The Miir brand suggests 21 grams for single-origin beans and 23 grams for blends, each extracted with 300 milliliters of water. Using water heated to 90 degrees Celsius, I’ve found these proportions reliable, as long as extraction is completed by the three-and-a-half-minute mark.
Compared to my V60, the Miir Pourigami takes longer to drain, so a coarser grind helps keep water moving. As a result, the vessel is best suited for full-bodied cups of medium- and dark-roasted coffees. The grind quality is crucial: You’ll want a coarse yet uniform consistency. I’ve used both the portable MiiR Coffee Hand Grinder and the Baratza Encoreto great success; I would avoid utilizing a blade grinder for this setup, though. Away from home, I’ve asked coffee shops to grind beans — I request a consistency one click coarser than a V60. Pre-ground coffee is the most convenient way to brew on the move.
The Pourigami’s steep interior makes saturating coffee grounds easy – no need to carry a gooseneck kettle alongside. I’ve used jet-boil-powered camping kettles and even cooking pots to make excellent cups of coffee, making sure to use hot water that’s off the boil. As long as I’m timing the process, using the Miir Pourigami is undemanding.
What does Pourigami filter coffee taste like?
As with all pour-over coffee, the beans strongly influence the flavor. I’ve produced the best-tasting MiiR Pourigami cups using medium-roast blends — think grocery-store beans like Stumptown’s Holler Mountain Blend. Such bags respond well to the requisite coarser grind and are forgiving in outdoor scenarios. The Miir Pourigami translates gentle notes of acidity and sweetness, seldom leaning into burnt flavors. The coffee turns out light-bodied, similar to other filter setups, but I’ve never brewed a cup that tastes weak or watery.
If there’s one downside to this dripper, it’s that the coffee occasionally turns out too acidic, a sign of under-extraction. For this reason, I avoid brewing delicate light roasts with the Pourigami — not that I’m packing fancy beans for camping anyway. A bold, balanced medium roast cup hits the spot after a night in a tent.
Is the Pourigami worth it?
At home, I’m not often assembling my Pourgami, instead settling on the trusty espresso machine or extracting delicate cups of V60. When I’m brewing outside of the house, though, the Pourigami is my top choice. In addition to camping, I’ll pack the brewer away in my suitcase for air travel, making the occasional cup on the go.
Before acquiring a model, I used to camp with a bulky plastic V60 dripper, which I inevitably fractured among camping equipment. The AeroPress certainly fares better in terms of durability, but it can be difficult to find a sturdy surface suitable for firm plunging. Compact and durable, the Miir Pourigami wins on logistical ease, making it easy to incorporate into a car-camping, backpacking, or even a bike-packing setup.
Sold for $35, it’s a thoughtfully designed coffee gadget that justifies the price point. The inventive design isn’t a trade-off for coffee quality. I’m happy to use the Pourigami several days in a row – the steel material is a breeze to clean. Whether at home or on the move, the brewer doesn’t occupy much space, making it a reliable favorite.
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