ROK SOLID
I’d been in the market for a good portable
coffee machine since placing the order
for my new camper. The thought of
waking up in the bush to drink instant
muck was too much to bear. The only
question: a 12V espresso maker or a
manual machine that I could use at
home as easily as in the outback?
The answer came when my home
machine went to the big cafe in the sky.
Its replacement had to be portable, easy
to use in remote areas, and above all,
make excellent coffee. The Rok Espresso
Maker seemed to fit the bill.
This stylish unit (do I detect a hint
of retro flair?) comes in a robust travel
tin, along with a stainless steel, handpowered milk frothing device should
you want to turn your espresso into a
latte or cappuccino. The frother does a
surprisingly good job, by the way.
To use the Rok, add pre-ground coffee
to the filter attachment with the included
combined scoop/tamper, click the filter
into place, and pour boiling water into
the pot above. Then, lift the arms, wait
about one minute, then slowly pull the
arms down to press the water through
the ground coffee. Experiment with the
water level and speed with which you
lower the arms – this will determine the
coffee’s ‘crema’ (the thick, foamy stuff
that forms on the top).
The mechanism works incredibly
smoothly and the Rok’s simple
construction has no internal components.
Overall, it’s a refined, well-developed unit
that nonetheless comes with a 10-year
warranty – longer than most cars! The unit
takes up very little bench space, at home
or in the camper. And provided you use
a quality grind, the coffee is as good – if
not better – than what you’ll pay $5 for
in a cafe. As such, the Rok has become a
permanent part of our family travel kit.
– Max Taylor
Rok Espresso Maker
RRP $199
WHERE Online
MORE INFO www.espressounplugged.
com.au
RATING
5
ADVENTURES
97