Take-along drinking buddies and a seat for the baby

It’s easier to brew your own coffee while traveling or tote your tot to a restaurant with the following new products, all tested by the author.

-- Judi Dash

Classy cafe

Why endure ordinary coffee from those humdrum hotel room coffee makers when you can have rich French press coffee -- without calling room service? The Unbreakable French Press Carafe brews coffee right in the water so the full flavor is released. Just pour a scoop or two of ground coffee (measuring scoop included) into the 12-ounce carafe and add boiling water (maybe from the hotel drip coffee maker or from the bathroom spigot if it’s hot enough). Wait five minutes, slowly press the included plunger and pour. Sediment is trapped at the bottom of the carafe by the depressed plunger. Don’t ruin the taste with that atrocious powdered creamer. And I suggest taking your own coffee, not using the foil packets hotels usually provide.

Unbreakable French Press Carafe (EF223) is $14.85; Magellan’s; (800) 962-4943, www.magellans.com.

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Wine service

Travelon’s Wine Backpack/Shoulder Bag is a nice hands-free product for toting all the makings for a romantic picnic. The padded black nylon pack has built-in cushioned cradles for two bottles of wine and elastic bands for holding four wine glasses (not included), with plenty of extra space for napkins, cheese, crackers, a little cutting board and perhaps a crusty baguette. An internal plastic-backed zippered mesh pocket can hold your corkscrew and other utensils. A roomy external zippered pocket is a good place to keep keys, a wallet and other personal items. The pack has padded back straps that can be stashed inside a zippered compartment when not in use. A detachable padded shoulder strap also is included. Or use the attached carry handle. All that’s missing are the ants.

Wine Backpack/Shoulder Bag is $34.99; Travelon; (800) 537-5544.

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Takeout tot

When your baby comes along, you’ll be grateful for Graco’s Travel Lite Table Chair, a compact folding high chair (without legs) that uses long locking clamps to hook onto most tabletops. Rubber grips protect the table surface. A three-point buckle restraint keeps Junior in place, and a removable tray and vinyl padding make cleaning easy. Designed for children weighing less than 37 pounds who can sit up unassisted. Fits on tables 5/8 inch to 2 1/2 inches thick. Should not be used on glass tabletops.

Travel Lite Table Chair is $34.99; (800) 345-4109, www.gracobaby.com.

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Take a really big gulp

The Platypus, a popular flexible plastic drinking bottle that folds flat when empty, has grown up -- way up. The container, made of heavy-duty but featherweight clear polyethylene-lined plastic, is now available as a 2-, 4- or 6-liter Water Tank, great for camping or stashing in the trunk. A zippered top opens for no-hassle filling and cleaning. A corner spout with a screw-on plastic cap makes for quick pouring, and nylon webbing handles allow for easy carrying. The base flares for stability. When empty, the tank folds nearly flat.

Collapsible Water Tank is $12.95 for the 2-liter size, $15.95 for the 4-liter, and $17.95 for the 6-liter. Cascade Designs; (800) 531-9531, www.platypushydration.com.