Ehhh, neat, but if you're going to go to that trouble, just get one of those metal cone filters, a SS wide mouth container and two mugs.  

Boil 20oz of water in the SS container, remove from fire for 30 seconds (200*,) take 25gm (6 rounded Tbs) of ground coffee and put it in the SS container, stir for 4 minutes, take cone filter and place over 10oz mugs and pour coffee into them.

Clean SS container and tap out filter and rinse.

You'll have a grand tasting cup of Joe with minimal fuss and clean up.

Chris

OP said he was looking for a French press.... personally, I just use the Cafe Bustelo instant espresso......

 

That's because most people don't realize how easy it is to make a good cup of coffee.

How does a French Press work?  It's a glass vessel with a plunger made up of three pieces that all need to be cleaned and taken apart.

Other than that, the metal cone filter works almost as well as a Bodum's filter if one pours slowly and is easier to clean up while back packing and/or camping and where water might be in short supply.

Chris

Was about to buy the Aero Press and yesterday I found a GSI Enamelware Percolator on sale for $10 at REI.  

Problem is, on the inside there's a little chip of enamel that came off.  Does anyone know if this is dangerous or not?

Plenty of interesting ideas in here, but I have simplified even more than a french press. All a press is, is a way to screen out your coffee grinds after it steeps for a few minutes. So,  I just throw my grounds in the pot after it boils, let it steep for a few minutes or however long, let the grounds settle some, then pour it through a mesh filter into my cup. If you really travel light, most grounds settle out and you can just pour the coffee right into a cup anyway with no filter.

When I do this, if I want the coffee to brew a bit longer, I might keep it closer to the flame so it stays warmer and brews stronger for a few minutes, but I don't brew it much longer than 5 minutes anyway.

There are any number of mesh filters, or plastic filter cones that take a paper filter that you can use. Coffee grounds in hot water is the same whether you have a french press or a percolator. You just have to filter it a bit as you pour it out.  If you want to have a few cups of coffee over the next hour, just pour it through your filter into a separate pot unless you like it getting super strong and bitter as it steeps for an hour.

Granted, it's not so fool proof and simple as a keurig, but it is not rocket science either, and if you keep an eye on it, you can still make decent coffee. If you use a cone with paper filters, it will be just as clear as your drip coffee at home. Mesh filter let a little bit of sediment through, but at least you don't have to carry anything extra.

On a different note, even when you pre-filter water in the field, you must know that in an hour or so even muddy water will have most particles settle out in an hour, and you can pour off the much cleaner water easily. Of course you should still filter and treat accordingly, but let gravity do it's thing when you can. I'm  not advocating drinking from muddy water, just that particles naturally settle out, making the next steps in filtering easier.

ETA: I know the OP asked for a French Press, but we're putting simpler suggestions out there. Chris' example below is spot on and works.

The difference between via and aero quality tho....  aero is worth the weight.  Don't have to bring all the accessories/stirrer/scooper etc

That would not be the method I would use.... I regularly make 16+oz cups with it..  just brew some jet fuel and add water.

Use more?

Aeropress > drip cone > french press

I have all 3 lined up on my counter.  Only use french if making a bunch if coffee at once, and I secretly go "mehhhh" to myself.  

And yeah I have an adjustable grinder.  

Percolater is kind of a pain in the ass, not rec'd compared to aero or just cone drip