The World’s First Portable Single-Serve Coffee Maker

You’re out hiking, waiting at the airport, or stuck in a meeting, and suddenly you crave a properly brewed cup of coffee — not instant, not cold brew, not some over-roasted gas station sludge — but a clean, full-flavored English-style filter brew. The problem? You don’t have a coffee machine, a French press, or even a pour-over setup. And no, dragging your home setup around isn’t an option.

The solution is simple: the Grower’s Cup, a portable, single-use coffee brewer that works just like a tea bag and makes a proper filtered coffee in minutes — no machines, no electricity, no mess.

What Is the Grower’s Cup?

The Grower’s Cup looks nothing like a traditional coffee machine. In fact, calling it a ‘mobile coffee bag’ is more accurate. Designed to replicate the ease of making tea, this single-serve brewer lets you pour hot water directly over ground coffee held inside a dissolvable filter pouch. The coffee steeps, then drips through a built-in filter into your cup — resulting in a clean, flavorful brew similar to a classic filter or drip coffee.

The Backstory: From Missing Filter to Breakthrough

The idea came to Danish inventor Ulrik Rasmussen, 46, from the town of Middelfart, during a frustrating morning when he discovered his coffee machine was missing a filter. Frustrated and desperate for coffee, he spotted some tea bags and had an epiphany: why not brew coffee the same way you brew tea? He cut open a tea bag, added coffee grounds, and started experimenting. Over the next nine years, he refined the concept into what is now the Grower’s Cup — the world’s first truly disposable, mobile coffee brewer designed for instant, on-the-go filter coffee.

How It Works

Each Grower’s Cup contains 18 grams of medium-ground coffee and is designed to brew two cups. Here’s how it works:

• Pour 300 ml (about 10 oz) of hot water (ideally around 90–96°C / 195–205°F) over the coffee pouch.
• Let it steep — the water filters slowly through the coffee grounds and built-in filter.
• Once brewed, enjoy directly from the pouch or pour into your cup. Each pouch makes roughly two standard servings.

It’s designed to mimic the flavor clarity of a French press or pour-over without requiring any equipment. The entire brew process takes just a few minutes and requires nothing but hot water.

Varieties and Pricing

Grower’s Cup is currently available in 12 different single-origin and blend varieties. Each pouch is priced between $1.70 and $2.50 USD. The specific coffee origins or roast levels aren't detailed in the source, but the range suggests options suitable for different taste preferences — from light and fruity to deeper, more traditional English-style roasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Grower’s Cup actually brew coffee?

The Grower’s Cup uses a built-in dissolvable filter pouch containing 18 grams of ground coffee. You pour 300 ml of hot water (around 90–96°C) over it, let it steep, and the coffee filters through into your cup or directly out of the pouch. It functions similarly to a tea bag but is engineered specifically for coffee extraction.

How many cups does one Grower’s Cup make?

Each pouch contains enough coffee for approximately two standard cups (around 300 ml total brew). You can either drink directly from the pouch or pour into a separate cup.

What temperature water should I use?

For best results, use hot water at around 90–96°C (195–205°F), similar to what you’d use for a standard drip or pour-over coffee. That ensures proper extraction without over-extraction or bitterness.

How long does it take to brew?

The brewing time is similar to steeping a tea bag — roughly a few minutes, depending on your preferred strength. The longer you let it steep, the stronger the brew, though the exact timing isn’t specified by the maker.

Where can I buy Grower’s Cup?

Grower’s Cup has been launched in the UK market and sold out quickly. It's designed as a travel-friendly, disposable brewer for on-the-go use, but availability may vary by region. Check specialty travel gear or coffee retailers for updates.

Is it environmentally friendly?

The article doesn’t specify the materials used or whether the pouches are biodegradable or compostable. Being single-use, its environmental impact depends on the packaging materials — something to consider if you're eco-conscious.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Filter Coffee

For fans of the clean, balanced profile of the Grower’s Cup, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera — a bright, juicy Ethiopian offering with floral and citrus notes, perfect for pour-over-style brewing. Or go for the FrontStreet Yirgacheffe, known for its delicate berry tones and tea-like body, ideal for those who prefer a lighter filter experience. Both beans highlight the nuanced extraction that filter methods, like the Grower’s Cup, are designed to showcase. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.