Espresso Anywhere: A Review of the 9 Best Portable Espresso Machines
Why not enjoy a real espress on the go with a Portable Espresso Machine
Are you the kind of traveler who can’t go a morning without her or his espresso? Do you get frustrated when ordering coffee out, only to be presented with something barely resembling the beloved bean-based beverage?
Well, we have some excellent news for you—gone are the days of settling for lukewarm lattes and tepid cappuccinos ruining your work whilst away from home.
With the new breed of portable espresso machines, you can make your favorite caffeinated treats,fresh and wherever life takes you. In this post, we’ll review the best portable coffee machines you can bring along on all your adventures, whether that’s camping, in your backpack as a digital nomad, or in your car on your way to work (not while driving, please!).
Get ready to step up your coffee game … even in those tight backpacks or trolleys!
Portable Espresso Machines To The Rescue! (Yes, they exist! 😁 )
A portable espresso maker is just what it sounds like: a compact, handheld espresso machine. These machines need to be pumped manually (some are electric) to pass hot water through finely ground coffee beans, resulting in a thick and delicious espresso, very close to what you’d expect from a gourmet cafe!
Travel espresso machines are frequently likened to French presses, although there are several significant distinctions. Portable coffee makers, for example, often feature a considerably smaller chamber for fresh coffee beans, similar to what the professional espresso machines have in coffee shops. This results in a stronger, espresso-like taste, brew.
Another distinction is that portable espresso machines often produce pressure using metal filters with microscopic pores. This pressure drives hot water through the coffee grinds, resulting in a rich espresso-quality shot.
Table of Contents
Best Portable Espresso Machine Reviews
WACACO Minipresso Portable Espresso Machine, Manual for Ground Coffee
One of the market leaders, this popular espresso machine uses only ground coffee.
WACACO Minipresso Portable Espresso Machine NS, Manual (Capsules)
This espresso maker is compatible with NS capsules and makes espresso easily.
STARESSO Portable Espresso Maker MINI w/ Carrier Box - Manual w/ Espresso Pods & Ground Coffee
Working with both capsules and ground, it can deliver 18 bars of pressure for a very good esppresso.
Espresco - 12V 24V Battery Coffee Maker w/ Travel Case - Compatible with Nespresso Pods & Ground Coffee
WACACO Picopresso Espresso Maker w/ Protective Case,Manually Operated,Ultra-fine Grind
The smallest espresso machine on the market, with a pressure range of up to 18 bars. Ideal for easy carry.
Staresso is a high-quality, metal manual espresso machine that is both portable and reliable, perfect for outdoor.
The Cafflano Kompresso is a less expensive, lightweight and portable espresso maker. Pretty slow to deliver.
Portable Espresso Machines - Review
1. WACACO Minipresso Portable Espresso Machine, Manual (Ground Coffee)
This adorable, tiny portable espresso maker does not require electricity to operate. To operate the pump, all you need is your hand.
Built on a newly patented pumping technology, the Nanopresso can achieve a maximum of 18 bars (261 PSI) of pressure with your hands for unsurpassed coffee extraction quality.
It’s not simple to get the ideal espresso shot. The Nanopresso works best with finely ground, hard-tamped coffee. Nanopresso, with its revolutionary design and simple operation, will let you make flawless cups with a lovely and deep crema layer every time.
When compared to earlier versions, the Nanopresso uses 15% less force to pump (1st generation Minipresso). When necessary, all portafilter components may be readily detached for thorough cleaning.
Accessories are available like the minipresso kit and the minipresso carrying case.
2.WACACO Minipresso Portable Espresso Machine, Manual (Capsules)
Extremelly similar with the one above, this mini espresso coffee maker is compatible with NS CAPSULES*. This is preferred by people who want more convenience and a cleaner, and less messy after usage.
Making espresso is a breeze. Simply insert any suitable capsules into the outlet head. Fill the water tank with hot water. Pressurize and extract great espresso with abundant crema by unlocking the piston from its travel position and pumping a few strokes. It is necessary to add boiling water.
3. STARESSO Portable Espresso Maker MINI w/ Carrier Box – Manual, Compatible with Espresso Pods & Ground Coffee
The STARESSO Manual Espresso Maker can replicate the rich espresso flavor with a thick layer of crema found in an authentic Italian cafe. It is compact (5.9×2.7 inches) and only weighs 0.77 pounds, but it can hold up to 80 ml of water and a maximum of 0.35 ounces of ground coffee.
Surely a portable gadget, this brand is compatible with coffee capsules from many brands.
The Staresso includes an integrated pressure valve that delivers a rich, genuine flavor with each cup. This small espresso maker can produce up to 100 mL of espresso at a time.
Furthermore, the Staresso portable espresso maker is made of durable stainless steel and features anti-skid pads for stability, making it ideal for coffee lovers searching for a trustworthy, portable espresso maker.
4. Espresco – 12V /24V Battery Coffee Maker w/ Travel Case – Compatible with Nespresso Pods & Ground Coffee
With the push of a button, this strong, cordless, and portable coffee maker produces some of the finest espressos you can have on the go.
This premium Italian espresso maker features a temperature range of 205°F (96°C), allowing for rich and beautiful crema. It can serve up to 100 cold brews, 50 cups with prepared water, or 5 cups of hot espresso with cold water. The BrewBuddy runs on battery and this is done out, you can plugin the provided USB C connector to charge it wherever you are! You can charge in your vehicle, RV, or dorm room with 12V and 24V charging!
BrewBuddy is compatible with capsules such as Nespresso, L’OR, Jacobs, Lavazza, Café Royal, Illy, Kimbo and MORE!
The design is solid. Its safe, leak-proof design fits nicely into a car cup holder and can also be used for camping, trekking, backpacking, the home office, a picnic, and so on.
A portable carrying case is included. It will fit everything you need in a 3.7×6.7×10-inch size, so you can bring it on all of your experiences, from camping to hiking to fishing.
5.WACACO Picopresso Portable Espresso Maker with Protective Case / Ultra-fine Grind, Manually Operated
The Picopresso delivers iconic creamy shots with deep tastes and exquisite scents thanks to its ultra-fine grind.
Picopresso is the smallest and most portable espresso maker on the market, with very little compromise when making espresso.
Picopresso delivers an extraction similar to a lever espresso machine: rich, syrupy, and balanced, thanks to its wide commercial coffee basket and super-fine coffee grounds.
The naked portafilter on this specialty coffee espresso machine allows consumers to enjoy wonderful, creamy espresso poured directly through a regular 52mm, 18-gram stainless steel filter basket during the brewing process.
The Picopresso is the best compact espresso maker, designed for dependability. Its craftsmanship is second to none, since it is made from metals and strong materials.
For the greatest results, use fresh coffee beans. Manual operation only. No battery/electricity is needed.
6. STARESSO Portable Coffee Maker – Manual
STARESSO is an international company that specialises in trendy and functional coffee and tea accessories and has earned the German Red Dot Design Award, the IF Design Award, the Asia Outdoor Industry Awards, and several other awards.
This espresso machine is powered by physical force and does not require electricity. STARESSO professional coffee maker produces 15-20 bar pressure using segmented hydraulic extraction, allowing users to quickly create coffee maker gold extraction and become an instant coffee master.
To make the ideal cup of espresso, utilize fresh coffee beans, an appropriate grind, and the correct tamping strength.
This ensures that it always produces a rich espresso crema and that it can create double shots in one minute. It is composed of high-quality materials (BPA-free material and stainless steel).
7. Cafflano Kompresso, Handheld Espresso Maker
The company was started by Hansang Yoon, a South Korean coffee lover, who didn’t like the idea of buying high-cost takeaway coffee all the time. So he focused to fix this problem and developed the device.
The Cafflano Kompresso is a lightweight gadget made largely of BPA-free plastic. However, some of the components, like the portafilter are made of etched metal. It looks a bit like an Aeropress in a variety of ways. A chamber and a piston work together to drive water through the coffee puck using hydraulic pressure, just like an Aeropress.
The device doesn’t feel super solid like the other espresso machines on the market. In our tests, however, we applied a lot of pressure when we did the espresso, and it behaved well, without breaking.
One of the big CONs of this espresso machine is that it can take quite some time to prepare the espresso, some times even 10 minutes, which is very annoying. Having so many other options, it feels like it doesn’t make sense to go for this machine.
Benefits of a portable espresso machine - Why you should consider it if you travel often
1. Never miss a coffee in the morning
Portable coffee makers are a fantastic choice for coffee making in remote places or when on the go (car, workplace,etc).
Now you can make delicious coffee without taking up any storage space. Coffee lovers all around the world appreciate how portable these coffee makers are, which is one of the reasons why so many have flooded the market in recent years.
2. Easy to clean
Coffee can get messy if not careful with it, especially with ground coffee. Whether it’hly ground coffee, it may all be scattered around. Cleaning traditional coffee makers are time-consuming and complicated whereas the portable ones are easy to clean.
Most of the time you just have to rinse the coffee or capsule holder under a water jet and rinse it.
3. Affordable
Features to Consider in a Portable Espresso Machine
When shopping for a portable espresso maker, there are several things you should keep in mind such as the size and weight of the device, the brewing method it uses, the type of coffee it can make, its ease of use and cleaning, and any additional features it may have. It’s also important to consider your own personal preferences and how you plan to use the device, as well as to read reviews from other customers to get an idea of the product’s performance.
2. Power source
The market is split here and you have two choices.
One is the manual pump which most of the portable espresso have and the other one are the machines that you have to plugin, either into a car socket or a normal home plug.
It would not be an issue if you are heading to the workplace, but travelers will need anything that does not need electricity to work.
Have a think where you will use the coffeemaker when taking the decission which model to buy. If you will go for camping with limited or no electricity, then definitely go for the ones that do not require electricity input.
3. Ease of use
You want to make sure that the portable espresso coffee maker you choose is compact and lightweight and it is easy to transport and store.
They typically have a simple, user-friendly interface and do not require any special skills or knowledge to operate. It’s either a small pump or a button you have to press to produce the coffee. Some portable machines use manual pumping to force the water through the coffee grounds, while others are electric and automatically pump the water for you. Additionally, many of these machines come with easy to follow instructions and many even come with pre-measured capsules for coffee grounds.
4. Quality of the espresso used
Any coffee lover knows that the quality of this magical powder is key for any good coffee. Hence make sure you use recommended great quality coffee either, that is ground or capsules like Nespresso. This way, you won’t be dissapointed by the end result of these mini machines.
Our TOP Choice
☕️ 🥇
This mini “monster” can deliver a very good espresso and takes up minimum space in your backpack or gear. You don’t have to charge it, it’s light it comes with a carrying case and it’s priced fairly. We believe this is the best portable espresso machine on the market in 2023.
WACACO Picopresso Espresso Maker
Last words before buying the portable espresso machine
If you’re looking for a quality portable espresso machine to help you get your coffee fix on the go, then this blog post is for you. We’ve reviewed the 10 best machines on the market, considering factors such as price, portability, and ease of use. So whether you’re an avid hiker or simply want to be able to make coffee in your car, there’s a machine on this list that will suit your needs. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start enjoying great coffee anywhere and everywhere!
FAQ about Portable Espresso Machines
The tiniest portable espresso machines are approximately the size of a tiny water bottle and may fit easily into a pocket or handbag. The larger versions are approximately the size of a big travel mug.
The answer is…it depends. Are you going on a camping with no access to electricity? Then maybe you should go for the hand pump one. If you know you will be travelling in places where you can plug in, then you can easily go for the electric one. Overall, we belive the electric pump delivers a better and juicier espresso.
No, the espresso coffee does not need the use of special espresso beans. Many people prefer to grind their own coffee beans for the most fresh and flavorful results, although pre-ground espresso is also widely available at most grocery shops and online sellers.(see Lavazza and so on). Just keep an eye on the label “espresso”, which means the coffee is extra coarse, ready to go in the machine.
