Isaila said

Travel Press Mugs

I went into David’s Tea to buy Davids Travel Press Mug, and the guy there told me they crush the tea? I had really wanted it, but bought a Timolino instead, which i really don’t like (see my review). Now I want to return it and buy the Travel Press Mug, but I was wondering if anyone here has anything to say about it. (Also, does pressing on the tea leaves actually make the tea taste different? I can see how it would for green or oolong, but for black tea or rooibos?)

17 Replies
Uniquity said

I’m not a fan of press style mugs but I think it’s a personal taste. I don’t like how it pushes on the leaves, potentially crushing and releasing more tannins. However, I’m super picky about bitterness and steeping. I prefer removable brew baskets which is time consuming in advance but yields the tea I like. If you don’t like the Timolino, definitely take it back. If you’re interested in trying it, it’s probably worth a go!

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That’s silly that the guy convinced you to get something you don’t like. I have a similar beef with the timolino’s. I DON’T WANT TO WAIT TO DRINK MY TEA lol. However, some people LOVE them.
I have never used a travel press, but I suspect that unless you’re brewing something super sensitive like a white or green you should be fine.
Also, if you get the travel press and it doens’t work for you either, you should totally be able to return it as well.
let us know how is goes?

Isaila said

Haha yeah i don’t know what I was thinking… i was sort of in a hurry though so it was sort of “okay, whatever you say…”
And yeah, I like knowing that I could return that too. I’ll definitely update it when I stop being lazy and actually go return it!

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The nice thing about the DT travel presses are that they come with a regular lid and the press lid! So if you like to throw some teas in and press them down – perfect! And if there are others that you prefer to brew then remove the leaves with a brew basket – also perfect!

So yeah, everyone is different. Go for what you think you will love :)

Isaila said

Ahh! That’s wonderful! I didn’t know that.

Totally! For me I’ve got my eyes on the Timolino because I want something that keeps my tea hot for 10 hours for a few reasons :3

That said, the travel press has been a constant companion! I actually don’t press the leaves any more, just because of when I use it – and it has become the perfect tea travel mug – plain but useful :)

Isaila said

Ahaha yes, then I think you’d like the Timolino. It really does keep it hot forever, which didn’t work for me but it could for someone else.

Uniquity said

Two lids? Is this a new feature? I got one for a close friend a year or so ago and I am positive there was only the plunger lid then! :O

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I got mine last summer (2011), in the tea box it had the press lid and then an extra plain lid :B maybe double check in store before you buy Isaila!~

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I have both the timolino and the DT travel press, and love them both for very different reasons. What I usually end up doing with the press (unless I’ve got a rooibos/herbal in it, in which case I definitely press!) I push the plunger halfway down and then unscrew and remove it, then drink. I like the extra layer of filtration that the press insert offers in addition to the mesh at the drinking spot.

The travel press is my “I have to leave the house but I need tea and I need it NOW” or my “I have to drive a fair distance so need a handle to grab” mug, and my timolino is my “i need to throw tea in my bag for later” or “Java’s going to want his own so I’d better make some for him too and it needs to be hot after the 45 minute drive to the barn” mug. Heck, I usually have something in both at once!

My timolino gets more use in the summer since it keeps things so cold for so long, and I hate when I go to drink my iced tea and it’s lukewarm because it sat for too long.

And like Uniquity, my press only had the press lid, but I find that the hole for the plunger handle only dribbles on me when I get to the last few sips of my tea. If it REALLY bothered me, I could easily get a 10 cent bolt and nut and stick it through the hole to plug it, but it really doesn’t bother me.

Both mugs have their merrits, but neither are for everyone.

^^ what shayne says. I actually prefer my Noble glass tumblr because it has a basket, which i prefer, but doesn’t keep my tea undrinkably hot for hours and hours. that being said, I have been thinking about getting a timolino to bring stews and chilis to work in since I dont’ have access to a microwave.

just be aware that the silicone seal on the cap will soak up the smell/taste of your food. I had to stop filling mine with Lapsang for that very reason. Other teas, not as strongly held onto as the Lapsang scent/taste.

Isaila said

ahh this makes sense. Okay. For the summer i actually find their iced tea tumbler to be very very leakproof.
The noble glass mug seems really nice, the glass just sort of scares me. Also, a lot of people say it’s hard to clean the cap.

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K S said

I have never seen the DT travel press. Does it really crush or press the leaf? My Bodum French press has enough clearance between the bottom of the glass and the screen that it never actually presses anything – it just looks like it. The rare exception is with some oolongs that expand forever. With those I just don’t press the plunger down all the way. The difference is I don’t drink out of the Bodum. I have to pour into another vessel.

the DT press’s press disc is domed – the edges are almost an inch lower than the middle screen part. so it doesn’t press things flat, but larger leaf teas will get squeezed slightly. With those types of teas though, I just press sooner than usual, so it doesn’t steep as strong and then pressing releases just the last little bit to balance the flavour out

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Isaila said

Okay. I returned the timolino and got the press. I only used it once, and then I sort of screwed it up so that there were leaves everywhere… So I’m going to test run it today.

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is the Davids tea press the bodum they are selling now? when you drink the tea…do you pour it into another glass before drinking? or does the press part keep the tea leaves from steeping longer then you want? these press tumblers are confusing.

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