VSSL JAVA User manual

OWNER’S GUIDE
BREW EPIC COFFEE,
ANYWHERE

VSSL JAVA INSTRUCTIONS
GRIND SIZE ADJUSTMENTS
EXCEPTIONAL BACKCOUNTRY
COFFEE IN 4 STEPS
1. QUALITY GRINDER
2. FILTERED WATER
3. BEAN TO WATER RATIO
4. COFFEE FRESHNESS
BACKCOUNTRY BREW
METHODS
1. AEROPRESS
2. POUR OVER
3. COWBOY COFFEE
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
PARTS REFERENCE
WARRANTY /
REPLACEMENT PARTS
ABOUT VSSL
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CONTENTS

YOUR 4-STEP
GUIDE FOR USING
THE VSSL JAVA
Press the release button while pulling on the
end cap to remove. Once removed, fill with
the desired amount of coffee beans.
Place end cap onto grinding bolt,
press on firmly to ensure closure.
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1
REMOVE AND FILL
STEP 2
ATTACH
Fill with the desired
amount of coffee beans
up to the fill point.
~ 20G TO FILL POINT

3
YOUR 4-STEP
GUIDE FOR USING
THE VSSL JAVA
Unscrew the carabiner attachment. Pull up
and flip over to operate as a grinder handle.
Extend the grinder handle as required for
grinding assistance.
STEP 3
UNSCREW AND FLIP
STEP 4
EXTEND + GRIND
Attach handle knob
for additional griding
assistance.

GRIND SIZE
ADJUSTMENT-
COARSE OR FINE
First, remove the grind catch then:
Turn clockwise for finer grinds
Turn counter-clockwise for coarser grinds
For a quick reference, starting with your
adjustment dial at default, turn
approximately 10 clicks clockwise for
grinds suited for pour over. Turn an
additional 10 clicks clockwise for Aeropress.
And if you happen to have forgotten your
brew equipment, there’s always Cowboy
Coffee! This requires extra coarse grinds,
which are achieved by rotating 10 clicks
counterclockwise from the default setting.
Just keep in mind that the carabiner end cap
should be attached while you’re grinding.
The VSSL JAVA has 50 different grind
settings, so adjust as needed to get to the
perfect consistency for your brew method!

5
EXCEPTIONAL
BACKCOUNTRY
COFFEE IN
4 STEPS
Fresh grinds = more flavor.
Fresh grinds deliver an undeniable boost
in flavor profile. That’s why a top-quality
grinder like the VSSL JAVA is a must-have.
The key part of the grinder is its bean
cutting tool, the ”burr” (or burr mill).
VSSL JAVA uses a best-in-class
stainless-steel burr grinder, which always
mills your beans to a consistent size and
shape. It’s easier to cut and takes less
time and energy. Blade grinders can
result in lumpy, irregularly sized grinds,
which mars the taste of your cup.
The VSSL JAVA is a premium handheld coffee
grinder designed specifically for outdoor use.
STEP 1
USE A QUALITY GRINDER
STEEL BURR:
IT’S ALL ABOUT GRIND
CONSISTENCY
IT STARTS WITH FRESH GRINDS!
Here’s how to get the best results

EXCEPTIONAL
BACKCOUNTRY
COFFEE IN
4 STEPS
Coffee is 99% water. If your water tastes bad,
your coffee will taste bad, too. A good filter
removes unwanted tastes from your brew.
Keep it simple: With beans filled to the
fill line, your VSSL JAVA will give you 8oz
of strong coffee, regardless of your brew
method.
STEP 2
FILTER YOUR WATER
STEP 3
BEAN TO WATER RATIO
BEAN-TO-WATER:
YOUR QUICK GUIDE
PREMIUM STAINLESS STEEL BURR

7
EXCEPTIONAL
BACKCOUNTRY
COFFEE IN
4 STEPS
FOR THE PROS:
PRE-MEASURE YOUR BEANS
AT HOME AND BRING EXACTLY WHAT
YOU NEED, READY TO GRIND.
Ratio matters: For a 10 oz cup, fill your JAVA
with 20 grams of beans to the fill line. Now,
measure 320 millilitres of water in a Nalgene
(or other water bottle). 16:1 is our
recommended water to coffee beans ratio.
The beans’ aroma and flavor are protected
within their shells. But once roasted, they
start losing those compounds. We strongly
prefer freshly roasted beans. After
grinding, that loss of aroma and flavor
accelerates dramatically. Start brewing right
after grinding for the best taste and coffee
aroma possible.
STEP 4
COFFEE FRESHNESS
When adjusting from coarse to fine, previously
ground beans lodged in the burr set can hinder
the adjustment. Simply tap the JAVA unit while
holding it upside down to remove the grinds.

• Fresh grinds from the VSSL JAVA
• Aeropress brew kit with a filter, scoop,
and stirrer, as well as a pot to boil water in
• Mug: Check to be sure the mouth fits your
Aeropress
With the filter in place, screw the cap over the
end of the Aeropress. Place it on the mug.
Add the fresh grinds to the brewer. Pour in
boiling water until it’s halfway full. Stir for 10
seconds, then finish filling the brewer with
the rest of your water. Insert the rubber
stopper (plunger) and press gently, pausing
when you feel resistance, until the plunger
reaches grounds. Remove filter cap, push
plunger to eject used coffee and rinse seal.
* REFER TO YOUR AEROPRESS GUIDE FOR MORE DETAILS
BREW METHOD #1
AEROPRESS
RECOMMENDED
BACKCOUNTRY
BREW METHODS
BACKCOUNTRY BREW SPECS
OPTIMAL GRIND: FINE, SIMILAR TO SEA SALT
BREW TIME: ~ 2 MINUTES
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
STEP BY STEP GUIDE:

9
• Fresh grinds from the VSSL JAVA
• Cone, filter, and pot to heat water in
• Large mug to hold your brew
Place the filter into the cone and open it.
Add the coffee into the filter. Slowly pour in
enough of the hot water to wet the grinds.
Stir and wait 20 seconds. Slowly pour in about
half of your remaining water, then wait 20
seconds for the liquid to drain into the filter.
Add the remaining water and let the brew
finish filtering. Remove the filter and enjoy!
BREW METHOD #2
POUR OVER
BACKCOUNTRY BREW SPECS
OPTIMAL GRIND: MEDIUM COARSE,
SIMILAR TO ROCK SALT (JAVA DEFAULT SETTING)
BREW TIME: 3 MINUTES, 15 SECONDS
THE SET UP
STEP BY STEP GUIDE:
RECOMMENDED
BACKCOUNTRY
BREW METHODS

• Fresh grinds from the VSSL JAVA
• A mug, a pot to boil water, plus a splash of
cold water on hand
As the water is boiling, add the fresh grinds
to the pot. Leave the top open and wait 2-3
minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and
set aside. Add a splash (~1:16 cold to warm)
of cold water to help the grinds settle.
Slowly pour the coffee into your mug so that
you don’t disturb the grounds that have set-
tled at the bottom.
BREW METHOD #3
COWBOY COFFEE
BACKCOUNTRY BREW SPECS
OPTIMAL GRIND: COARSE IS BEST
(COWBOYS COULDN’T HAVE BEEN TOO FINICKY!)
BREW TIME: 2-3 MINUTES
THE SET UP
STEP BY STEP GUIDE:
RECOMMENDED
BACKCOUNTRY
BREW METHODS

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• Don’t grind anything other than coffee beans
• Don’t put liquid inside the grinder chamber
• If grinding becomes difficult, reverse
direction for a few turns, and then continue
• If it’s jammed, inspect the burr mechanism,
locate the obstruction, and carefully remove
• The carabiner should only support the weight of
the VSSL JAVA unit
USAGE TIPS
CAUTION: TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO YOUR
VSSL JAVA DO NOT PUT IT, OR ANY
COMPONENTS, IN THE DISHWASHER.
CLEANING
INSTRUCTIONS
* REFER TO DIAGRAM ON PAGE 14
We’ve made it simple to clean your VSSL
Java. Use the supplied brush to keep the
grind catch, adjustment dial and main
cylinder (hopper) free of debris.
Periodically residue can build up in the
catch, so a more thorough scrubbing might
be required.
CLEANING YOUR VSSL JAVA:

CAUTION: BE CAREFUL CLEANING THE BURRS, BECAUSE
THEY HAVE SHARP EDGES. A COTTON SWAB OR Q-TIP
TO CLEAN THE EDGES AND GROOVES SAFELY TO REMOVE
BUILD-UP. DO NOT WASH THE BEARINGS. SIMPLY REMOVE
THEM AND WIPE OFF WITH A DRY CLOTH OR BRUSH.
If residue begins to build up in the burrs, a
more advanced cleaning is needed. The
VSSL JAVA can be disassembled easily.
Here’s the step-by-step process:
1. On a clean, flat surface, remove the grind
catch (1).
2. Remove the adjustment dial nut (2).
Turn counterclockwise until it comes off.
3. Remove the adjustment plate (3) and burr (4)
from the hopper, along with the spring (5) and
lower bearing (6). The bearing sits in a frame
within the hopper. If needed, tap the bottom of the
hopper against a solid surface to remove it.
4. Now, remove the upper bearing (8) and bearing
washer (9) by sliding the grinding bolt out (10).
If needed, gently tap the top of the hopper against
a solid surface to remove the bearing.
5. Lay the parts out in order, so it will be easier to
re-assemble once the cleaning is finished.
Follow the diagram for help.
6. Clean each piece with a brush or buffing pad.
ADVANCED CLEANING
INSTRUCTIONS, CONTINUED:

Use a scrub brush to clean the inside of the hopper.
The push button release mechanism (11) can’t be
removed, but use a cotton swab or Q-tip to remove
build-up. The carabiner release (12) and carabiner
hinge (13) shouldn’t need cleaning, but may need
lubrication. A household, food-grade
lubricant will work. You can also lightly lubricate
the carabiner extension arm.
1. To begin, ensure both bearings are nested back
in place within the grinder body. Slide the grinding
bolt from the top to the bottom, so the threaded
end is at the copper band end of the unit.
2. Slide the spring over the grinding bolt. Slide
the burr over the grinding bolt, and then slide the
adjustment plate over the bolt against the burr.
Ensure the adjustment plate aligns so it fits into a
depression on the burr.
3. Press down on the adjustment plate to expose
enough of the grinding bolt threads so you can
begin screwing on the adjustment dial.
Note: Re-positioning the adjustment dial nut
flush with the top of the grinding bolt is the
default setting for medium-coarse grinds,
recommended for pour over brew method.
RE-ASSEMBLY:
CLEANING
INSTRUCTIONS
13

PARTS
REFERENCE

15
WARRANTY
All VSSL products are backed by a Limited
Lifetime Warranty, with exclusions. Your
VSSL JAVA unit is covered for life against
material and workmanship defects.
The burr mechanism is built for around 6,000
grind cycles. After that, consider replacing it.
Wear and tear on the burr mechanism is not
covered under the warranty.
Get the full details of your warranty online at:
https://www.vsslgear.com/pages/warranty
Available Replacement Parts:
Caribiner End Cap
Grind Catch
Burr
Grind Dial
Handle Grip
vsslgear.com/java/parts

ABOUT VSSL
JOIN THE VSSL
COMMUNITY
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.
As a VSSL owner, you’re now a part of an amazing
group of people who believe that being prepared is
essential to having peace of mind in the outdoors.
Make sure to follow us on:
It’s the best way to stay in the know about our latest
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VSSL® & VSSL JAVA®
ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF
SURVIVAL LIGHT PRODUCTS, LTD.
ABBOTSFORD, B.C., CANADA.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PATENTS PENDING.
SURVIVAL LIGHT PRODUCTS INC.
1338 RIVERSIDE ROAD
ABBOTSFORD, BC
V2S 8J2
CONTACT: [e-mail]

WWW.VSSLGEAR.COM