Imagine the perfect cup of coffee, straight out of your tent at dawn. Coffee is what provides the energy so many of us need to fuel our most challenging outdoor pursuits. Whether you’re summitting a peak or diving deep, chances are your day begins with a boost of caffeine. You aren’t the type to sacrifice on quality when it comes to your gear, so why continue to settle for mediocrity when it comes to our outdoor coffee experience?

Our mission? Create an unbreakable, packable, premium coffee hand grinder intentionally designed for outdoor use. We set out to elevate the importance of consistently ground beans (more on this later!) and provide an excellent coffee drinking experience, from your camp spot to your tailgate. Durable enough to proudly sport the VSSL logo, but functional enough that even the seriously caffeinated aficionados on our crew would be proud to own and pack one.

Taking epic coffee, anywhere—that’s our northstar. That principle was our catalyst. It guided our design process from start to finish. Of course, other hand grinders exist – but they include flimsy components, single-use functionality and, often, they lock you into one specific brew system by not including multiple grind settings. Our mission is to create a consistently excellent coffee experience in the outdoors, no matter how remote the journey. 

We wanted you to be able to choose from a wide variety of brewing methods, styles, and grinding consistencies, so your adventures can be fueled by the coffee that tastes best for you. This called for a grinder that perfectly balanced durability, versatility, premium components, and portability. 
 

Despite its necessity, we continue to settle for coffee way below our standards when on the road and in the wild. You wouldn’t sip mediocre coffee that’s too strong (or worse, too weak) at home, so why continue to sacrifice just because you’re in the wild and packing light? That’s why we set out to design and build the most innovative, premium hand coffee grinder possible – a gear and coffee lover’s ultimate necessity when it comes to brewing a truly great cup of coffee, anywhere.
 

When it comes to creating great coffee, start with freshly hand-ground beans because the boost in flavor is undeniable. A high-quality hand grinder is a necessity, not a luxury, because it preserves the delicate flavors of the beans so you can extract them in the brewing process. The true deal-breaker in brewing a great cup lies in the consistency of your grind. Predictable and precise are the keywords—you want to trust that your grinder will deliver your desired consistency, with the precision your brewing method requires. If you’ve ever made the switch from espresso to pour over, then you already understand the difference between too coarse a grind and too fine and how it impacts flavor in a major way.

It comes down to premium parts. The VSSL Java has a best-in-class stainless steel burr, which cuts the beans to a uniform shape and size instead of pulverizing them. The steel burr reduces the grinding time and makes it easier to cut, requiring less energy than a ceramic burr, with a consistently better result. The VSSL Java also has two high-grade mini radial ball bearing sets, ensuring you’ll never “wobble” as you grind. The pressure and force you exert will apply evenly and efficiently to grinding the coffee beans to your desired consistency. The adjustment dial has 30 distinct settings, so you can obtain exactly the right grind size. Take away any one of these elements, and you get a weaker, more inconsistent result. We did everything we possibly could to allow you to extract the maximum flavor and aroma in your coffee, anywhere you decide to sit down and enjoy a cup. That’s why an ultra-durable, ultra-portable, premium handheld grinder is a must-have.

We sent VSSL Java out to some coffee obsessed outdoor enthusiasts to get their take on our re-imagined hand grinder. 

Along with being one of the first to start your morning off right with perfectly ground coffee courtesy of the VSSL JAVA, we are also offering the following special reward tiers through Indiegogo. 

The VSSL Nomad Travel Kit packs an epic set up in a lightweight, heavy-duty canvas field bag you’ll love to carry on your adventures. Sporting the VSSL Logo, this bag packs a VSSL Java, a 12-oz custom MiiR Camp Cup, an Aeropress GO Travel Brewer…
 

You can get this kit by backing our Indiegogo campaign (see all the details by checking out our reward tiers). The bag has an adjustable strap and a padded insert, which protects gear and regulates temperature. Exterior pockets hold essentials, while an interior pocket can pack a scale for weighing coffee beans and water—for the truly serious backcountry baristas among us. The zippers, snaps, and buckles are made from the highest quality materials, and will stand up under the most rugged tests.

A throwback to the enamel camp cups of your father’s (or grandfather’s) camping excursions, this MiiR cup also boasts the VSSL Logo as well as the durability and functionality your journeys require. The Aeropress GO Travel Brewer makes it simple to brew outstanding coffee anywhere. It’s easy to use and easier to clean. 

All premium quality hand grinders will have a stainless-steel burr set, but that alone won’t make them tough enough for outdoor explorations. To get the versatility and portability your adventures require, we’ve built a grinder that balances easy-to-use first-ever features with high-quality, durable components. Like the clip-and-flip carabiner that attaches easily, but once released it flips up to become the grinder’s handle. And the push-button release that makes it simple to load beans into the grinder chamber. The VSSL Java is the most durable grinder built specifically for the outdoors. It also weighs far less and we’re offering it on Indiegogo at a price far lower than other premium grinders.
 

VSSL doesn’t just make quality outdoor gear, we also care about making an impact on our community. That’s why, since we first started, we’ve partnered with Communitas; a not-for-profit that serves young people with special needs. It’s often hard for these young folks to find good employment that is sustainable, so we decided to help make a change.

These exceptional people make up the majority of our warehouse staff and package and assemble our products after all the parts arrive at our facility in Abbotsford B.C. We love having them as a part of the VSSL family and we’re extremely proud of their work; we’ve maintained a defective rate of less than 1% in the entire history of the brand. Thanks for helping us make a difference.