Before this pandemic I traveled internationally, a lot. I bought one of these Wacaco devices in a kitchen shop in Bath. I then ordered a hand grinder off Amazon, because as is pointed out in the video, most pre-ground espresso coffee is not an espresso grind. I note the conclusion, but can I say that the coffee is better than what’s on offer in most hotel rooms and there is the joy of the routine. I wake up in hotels all over the world. Morning according to my watch, but my body rarely agrees. Then I have the enjoyment of grinding, while all the bits are warming up in the sink of hot water, putting it back together and pumping out a small, but hugely enjoyable espresso, usually sitting in chair staring out at whatever view I’ve got today. This device keeps me sane and sets me up for the day wherever I am. I can’t compare it to others, because I don’t have any. Some review points from a few years of use - occasionally the pressure won’t build. Usually 30-40 pumps empties the tank, but occasionally 100 pumps later, it’s clearly not working. Take it all apart, new water, put it back together again, give it a shake and it works. It doesn’t happen often enough for me to call it a fault, but I just thought I’d mention it. If you overfill it, it can force water out the join between the coffee and pump section. The espresso size is smallish, so I try to get the water to the max, but overfilling can be to allow it to come not far above the fill line. I don’t mean water sloshing over the top of the tank. So when pumping I tend to keep my hands above that join between the pump and coffee section. Finally when attaching the water tank, do it slowly and carefully. If you hold it at an angle or screw it down fast, you can cause boiling water to come out - all over your hands. I tend to sit the tank on a table and screw the pump section onto it, slowly and keeping it square. Hopefully someone finds my musings interesting and possibly useful

I don't even like coffee that much, but this guy is just so calming.

"Maybe a pod would be better" This is when you know things have really gone wrong.

I don't know if this is something you will understand in the UK, but you are the Bob Ross of Coffee. Thanks. I really enjoy your work.

I love how honest and real you are James. You've rekindled my love of coffee instead of just consuming it mindlessly. Thank you.

I love that a big part of your channel is that you’re always giving your true opinion.

if you're going to carry a thermos, might as well have hot coffee in that thermos

The Wacaco Nanopresso is the best investment I could've made at the start of my coffee journey cause it's led me to this channel which is not only informative but pretty addictive. It's a reasonably priced device and over the course of a few months I've gone from just wanting espresso at home to weighing my coffee and playing around with ratio etc - that's the Hoffmann effect. Certainly not going to go through the hassle of taking it outdoors, but ideal for home and the office.

I don't use my Nanopresso much anymore, but I spent a very long time dialing it in when I got it ~2018 and had incredible results. Genuinely, better and sweeter espresso than I've ever had ordering an espresso at a shop (and I don't mean trash chain coffee shops, but local small businesses that you would think would have everything dialed in!). I will admit that it did take a lot of time and patience to find the settings on my grinder and dose size that was ideal, though. Also, you mention being dissatisfied with the serving size, but they make adapter kits to double the capacity! You can even mix and match the components (the kit is for a doubled grinds basket and a doubled water chamber, but if you wanted to you could run double water through a single dose of coffee, or single dose of water through a double dose basket of coffee, whatever!) I think it's a great little machine that has a very specific audience, but it definitely isn't for everyone. In some ways I would compare it to a moka pot with how it's a finnicky little thing that has a learning curve, but once you get the technique down it has incredible results (though the coffees they are producing are totally different of course lol). the disclaimer I must add is I have not had the money to get into real espresso at home, so I cannot compare it to other espresso machines or a well-dialed-in espresso shot in general. But, I think if you ever wanted to expend the effort to mess with all of the variables you might be surprised at what it can do (totally fine if you aren't interested in that though!). I think it probably appeals to people who like fine tuning things. I had a whole spreadsheet where I logged ALL my variables when I was dialing it in, including dose weight, grinder setting, water temp, how hard it was to press, if it was a steady stream or sputtery, etc., lol! It really is a feat of engineering to me. The ability to remove the pressurization component is such a plus for those of us serious about coffee. Such a cool little device; I don't regret buying it because it's still always fun to show people! And it takes up such little space on the counter or in a drawer.

I actually got this because I couldn't afford a good espresso machine at home. Where I live everything is shipped in and really expensive and this little thing felt like a lifesaver!

Something about the way he says "I hope you have a great day" at the end of every video just strikes a chord in my soul.

I am always amazed at all these beautiful intros!!! They are so aptly made and are delicacies on their own!!! And coffee knowledge is pure gold nugget, with sprinkle of humor!!! No wonder, I am so addicted to all these videos Mr. Hoffmann!!!

I did about 100 espresso while being a survival instructor in the forest. We were boiling water on a propane cooker and we had a basic coffee grinder. It was surprisingly fine.

I got tired of waiting for you to review it, so I bought it and I love it! hehe. The grind must be finer. I've asked at my local coffee shop to grind for espresso machine and the coffee was as the one you extracted. I asked to grind it finer (they told me "paper fine") and the extraction was awesome. I also bought the "barista kit" that comes with a double espresso basket to get more coffee. FYI I'm not paid by anyone. I'm writing from Uruguay in south america.

Really, really good review. I love it. Honest and useful. The most important is the final result, the taste of coffee. More people like you doing reviews and life is easier. :)

I use this to make Americanos while traveling and it's worked great. I bought the Barista Kit for a larger shot then add more hot water to it. The grind fineness really affects the enjoyment of using the device as too course makes a bad drink and too fine can clog it. It's generally worked well over a couple hundred uses and I prefer this coffee flavour to a pour over. Years ago I used the Handpresso and I found this produced a much better tasting and hotter coffee and was easier to use and clean up.

I like instant coffee for the outdoors. No awkward gear to mess with, and very easy to clean up afterwards. And on a cold morning it just might be the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had.

I love that you and Chirs Baca upload at the same times usually, coffee binge.

Great video as always. I was having a hard day and I came across this. Your voice is soothing, and I got a chuckle out of the funny noises from the little brewer. Thank you!

James, you should keep the intro for all of your vids. Sets a great mood and adds the "human touch" to your persona. Nice job!

I take this with me to races (triathlons) away from home and I love it. I agree with there not being enough coffee to enjoy the moment, which is why I got the Barista kit that gives it the ability to produce a double shot or lungo-style coffee. I find it a great way of ensuring I get that essential caffeine shot in my system in a hotel room at 4am before the craziness of the race starts! I actually always take the Nanopresso, a portable dialed-in hand grinder and a bag of my favourite beans with me when traveling in case there is no access to good coffee :)

Its like milking a coffee-cow :D

What another fantastic product review! I love your honesty and the way you think. Last year, I almost ended up getting one of these but I'm glad I didn't because this is exactly what I would feel about it!

I've been using the Nanopresso for two years now as well (similar to GadgetViper), with the Barista kit and the double baskets, and with the pressure valve removed. It is very sensitive to grind setting, making it very difficult to dial in at times, and requiring a decent espresso grinder to find the sweet spot; and it's not always great on really light roasts for that reason, often resulting in an under-extracted shot; however, it does pull some decent, very drinkable shots, when you get it right. Better than any other home espresso machine I've tried by far. The puck can be pre-infused and pressure can be graduated based on extraction rate, giving you tremendous control. However, it takes a while to get to grips of, and it is very finicky. I find myself using it less and less due to the finickiness of it; however, for under $100, you're simply not going to get anything close to the quality of shots that you can get off this thing from anything else. I like your reviews, but I don't feel you gave this little thing a fair trial in this instance, but I understand there is a distinct learning curve.

Thanks for another spot on review, James. I have one of these with the barista kit and have produced some decent shots- not god shots but better than the espresso at many shops. I generally use it with the pressure valve removed and use one of the most primitive name brand low end burr grinders out there. I agree that the Nanopresso can be quite finicky. The Aeropress is still my favorite way of brewing but lately I’ve been returning to brewing with a Cona Size D siphon.

I'm in the U.S. Navy and I bought this thing for using while on my ship at sea. I used pre-ground supermarket espresso and I thought the end product I got out of this device was pretty decent. It was good enough for me, and it was much better than the awful (and typically burnt) coffee readily available on the ship. But I lost one of the little orange rubber gaskets when I was rinsing the thing out over a sink. The dam gasket fell straight down the drain, never to be seen again...

Thank you for the video, i was one of the people asking for it :). I actually got one at home and when i travel alone or only with my gf i like it. For bigger groups this is not a solution for sure. Kind of nice to get an espresso when you don't have a place to prepare a moka. Great channel btw, really enjoy your videos.

I think this how reviewers must review products the way like James does. Fair, straight forward and calm..

This video is really just an excuse to listen to James talk poetically about drinking coffee on a hillside at sunrise, and I am all for it

I am a bike packer, early morning photographer and espresso lover and really appreated your honest review. Interesting about the pods, I'm not a pod lover for environmental reasons but I see the value of consistent convenience. I have just returned an aeropress, it was a huge piece of tacky plastic. I think that I will give this a go but will manage my expectations. Thank you.

Thanks for the review. My experience has been different when using the Barista Kit. I grind for espresso. 16 grams in. I do not fill the reservoir fully with water. I also use water straight off the boil. It comes out very nice. No problems getting water to pass through the puck. I use at home on a regular basis.

Thank you for the review. I was looking at this espresso maker for my son who loves to camp. I was glad to hear your impression.

Your videography skills are stunning!

I've been using the minipresso for about a year or so now, which is their older version and a little bit cheaper. I think part of it for me as well is that it's a bit more budget and also good for multipurpose, so it can be both my travel/camping coffee maker and also used at home. I found the small size is great as well when you don't have a very big kitchen and have bought their 'barista kit' which gives you a couple spare baskets and a bigger tank which helps with longer shots. I agree it's definitely a limited market for it, but definitely a good product!

Good on you for acknowledging that it could be marketers blasting your comments sections. I just got into this channel but you seem like a genuine person which keeps me watching.

Hey James! I love your videos and your reviews. I still consider myself a bit of a beginner and you’ve helped a lot. I have had a nanopresso with the nespresso pod adapter for about 6-7 months and I bought it for the purpose of military deployments. My experience with it has been similar to yours. I don’t love using it and cleaning it is a bit tedious. The coffee it brews from the pods I got is better than anything else out here however, like you said in the video, it’s just not enough coffee to enjoy and not enough caffeine to really get me going. These things have led to me drinking the other trash coffee that’s around here. I bought 40 pods and I’ve used less than half of them over 4 months. I like the form factor and the build quality is better than I expected but I hate cleaning it. The foil and grounds from the pods gets stuck in the crosshatch pattern of the brewer so you have to clean it after every use meaning, brewing a double batch is that much more of a pain (brew-clean-brew-clean). I won’t be using it when I get back home to my home setup. Speaking of which, I’m about to purchase my first espresso maker based on your videos and reviews. Thanks again and keep up the awesome work.

Ive had mine for two years but recently moved on to the flair. Here are some thoughts: I used the double shot basket with the normal water base so it was closee to a true espresso ratio. I also used a baratza encore to grind my beans. The double shot kit came with a better tamp than the little scoop. I thought it made pretty decent espresso after a lot of practice. What I really loved is that I was in college, and would come home on the weekends, i would love putting it in my backpack and bringing it back and forth. Overall I really like it but your issues are valid.

I have it and love it. I use the Lume grinder. I use it twice every day with the Barista Kit double-shot baskets. The reason being, I’m a nomad, perpetually traveling and have been for the past five years. I’ve learned to tamper very lightly. My grind is typically medium-fine/fine. The main thing is not to pack the basket hard, do it very lightly, and you can get some great espresso shots out of it. Also, take your time on the pumping on the first 15 pumps or so, ensuring a reasonable flow rate without backing it up. Also, I take out the pressurizer for espresso fine grind(pro mode). Cheers! (Edit auto-spellcheck mistake)

Thank you. I've been waiting for this. I have it and I'm happy with it. I'm glad that I have an opinion from someone I who I respect.

Hi James, loved the review, great seeing you outdoors for once. I'm a big fan of the Nanopresso, however, out of the box, with the single shot basket and little time to really get familiar with the product you'll have lack luster results. The double shot (Barista Kit) makes a huge difference, I've had my Nanopresso for almost two years and it's always on. I'm guessing your an extremely busy guy, but if you get a chance, watch my 'Nanopresso Part 2 - Barista Kit' video, you might enjoy it. With regards to drinking espresso in the woods, you're totally correct, it's over too quickly. That's the beauty of the Barista Kit, a double shot and some hot water and you've got a good size Americano to enjoy. Anyway, have a great day, and thanks for making great videos.

Spot on review. This seems like the perfect product for Instagram. Looks impressive in photos out in the woods.

Mate, after working as a barista for a couple years, and I would like to say that you explain and demo stuff 1000x better than some expensive fancy barista courses. 👍🏻

Great review I’ve been using this device for past 18 months while traveling. You’re spot on.

I purchased one of these a few years ago and use my JetBoil to heat water on hikes. Day hikes I usually won't bother with all the gear, but having this in the morning of multi-day hikes is a great way to start the day. I use a hand grinder and agree that dialling in can be a bit of a challenge when you first start off, but I can get pretty consistent results now. I also recommend getting the barista upgrade and use the double basket. I originally bought Nanopresso for traveling as it can be hard to get good coffee in lot of places around the world, and quickly paid for itself. It is also a fun talking point when meeting people.

Ah, the squeaky sound that makes my morning...

After watching this review, I feel like I would enjoy this for making iced americanos if I were on vacation.

Love this channel! Always looking forward to the next video!

First time watcher. Good honest review. Thanks.

dude the production quality on this video is incredible. Cheers from the U.S. fellow coffee m8

Very happy that you reviewed this item, though a bit sorry you didn't find it as fun as I do. Two things that could help the enjoyment factor, a double-sized basket (16 grams, as opposed to 8 in the single), and a larger water reservoir (both part of the "Barista Kit" add-on). I use this both at home and when traveling (together with my hand-grinder), and often end up making some form of Americano to extend my morning coffee enjoyment. I agree that dialing in the grind for this is a very different proposition to other kinds of espresso machines, and that did take me a while to get to grips with. I found I was grinding finer than poor-over, but not as fine as other espresso machines. I also found that tapping the basket to help the coffee settle worked better than tamping, once I got it sorted, I found the ground coffee definitely better than the capsule for strength/flavour, but maybe that's just me. In any case, this has been an affordable (and space-saving) way to get espresso into my tiny kitchen, and anywhere I end up on the road. But now I am curious, maybe I should be looking at the Roc or Flair machines... though I think they would use counter space I don't really have. Hmm... more food (or should that be beverage) for thought. Thanks again for all your videos, really do enjoy them!

My portable coffee solution for the outdoors is either my Aeropress with a nesting portable grinder or my collapsing Sea To Summit X-Brew which is basically a silicone V60 pourover sort of thing with a metal filter. I actually find the latter to be the better option for the exact reason you mentioned - it makes a great mild sipping coffee. I typically bring grounds for that in a zip lock bag or use the grinder if I'm being overly obsessive.

Hey James Really nice conrent for coffee lovers/geeks I believe the handpresso is worth a review from your side. My colleagues love it and it has some good reviews from other coffee professionals. Keep it up!

James, It seems everyone knew I wanted one of these. For Christmas this year I received the Nannopresso and the Minipresso as well as a pod adapter and the Barista Kit. This kit comes with a larger reservoir and a couple of "double shot" baskets. I absolutely love it. It produces nowhere near the quality of any of my machines at home. But I travel quite a bit to 3rd world countries for my job and sometimes I just want an espresso on the go. It works well for me. There are some issues and it can be a bit of work but I quite enjoy having an espresso in the jungle or the desert or out at sea. Be in imperfect, but so far the best portable manual machine I have found.

Don’t even drink coffee but I seem to find myself drawn to these videos, it’s a real art and incredibly satisfying to watch 😂

I love how honest he is vs people who just do reviews to get people to buy one. For that i have subscribed.

While traveling across country on my motorcycle with a friend, we used the Jetboil with their French press set up. Quick setup and a couple of good-sized full bodied cups of coffee in the morning. A joy and the envy of others... even when we had to pack up and hit the road. Highly recommended!

For me, I have had this device for almost 5 years; its great for travel, as I like to bring my pods when I travel. Much more affordable than starbucks or bad hotel/home coffee.

Great work! I have no doubt this is a genuine and honest review. Thanks a lot! The thing that you're missing as you say it is the learning curve and user-friendliness 😊 I can easily imagine a person getting into coffee brewing starting with this device

Thank you. I was curious about this, and I'm equal parts sad, and grateful, that you've confirmed my assumptions.

Thanks for the review James!

James! Please do a review on the new Wacaco Picopresso! Really keen to hear your thoughts on this one! Cheers

I would never take the Nanopresso to the woods. Aeropress most likely. But man, the Nanopresso certainly passes the "is it as or nearly as good as most espresso I get in coffee shops, when made into a latte or cappuccino?" For the non-coffee expert, I think the answer is mostly yes. It certainly passes my threshold of acceptability. I typically use the barista kit and make a lungo, into which I pour in heated, frothed cream. Every non-expert I make it for, loves it. I love it. An Americano is nice, but I usually use other methods to scratch that itch. It takes 7 min to make that drink (most of that the kettle boiling); in fact, all prep and coffee grinding takes place during the kettle boil. Pre-heating the cup and Nanopresso components is easy, not-messy, and results in a final cup that is very hot (unlike Mr. Hoffmann's). Clean-up takes a minute. I've used it 100s of times. When I'm done, it goes into the cabinet. I love it.

Great video that moves beyond the level 1 interpretation. Keep going beyond the simplistic review with your videos! :D

I have the Nanopresso with the barista kit (double shot). I travel a LOT for work. This includes internationally and camping for weeks at a time teaching technical rescue classes. I carry a hand ceramic burr grinder with me and use a pretty fine grind. It is not as good as my home espresso maker, but I do enjoy waking up in my tent in the woods, turning on my camp stove, waiting for the water to boil, hand grinding out some excellent coffee, and getting a fresh double espresso. This last year I camped for almost 12 weeks for work and it made me feel much more human.

Hey James! I love your videos and your commentary. Would you ever do a review on the Nomad espresso machine? Also doing a series on portable espresso machines would be so cool.

I use that a lot when I travel. The biggest advantage is that it can create high enough pressure such that the cold water can extract considerable amount of caffeine to let me stay awake, Since I cannot have hot water when I travel. The size of it important as well, it can be carried around much more easily. For some people who travel deep into the wilderness the light weight feature is important.

Review perfectly thorough and fair. Did own the first version. I'm a big outdoor enthusiast. Shot very watery, didn't bother carrying it with me on my journeys. Went for Flair Espresso at home, and Aeropress or tea outdoors :D

Gotta say James, I'm digging your sound editing lately

Thought I had clicked on a mountain biking video from my stream at the start lol. Great intro as always!

It's not just you. I love espressos, I love my Pavoni and use it almost every day, but when it comes to travel and hiking, I also really want to take my time when I have a cup of coffee. Not just a few sips. I like to have something really warm and comforting, espescially during a rainy day. So I bought the Cafflano Klassic and for me it's just perfect (even if it has flaws, like beans trying to escape while grinding).

Hey James, I've been following your channel for a few days and found the content highly interesting. I'm nuts about great espresso, and incidentally I happen to own a Wacaco Nanopresso. My rationale for getting one is that I travel a lot to the USA, and the kind of coffee they brew there just didn't matches my expectations. It's extremely hard to get a consistent Italian espresso experience over there - when espresso is even available. When some baristas make coffee, they will often use very acidic beans, so when there is texture and crema, the thing is undrinkable. The Nanopresso has allowed me to get a decent and consistent espresso experience on the road. This means nice espresso on the plane, nice espresso at conferences / events, and great coffee during breakfasts at hotels. I use it Borbone Respresso Blue or Gold pods by the way. The other use case is when we are on the ski slopes or at our children rugby tournaments. Funnily, it has also been a great ice breaker, talking a lot with flight crews when making coffee, and makes up for great anecdotes. Sure, the machine has some drawbacks, especially when you need to do several brews in a row - it kind of gets old. And messy too. But so far it has proved to provide a lot of value for the money. I would really agree with you that this is very niche, but it has served me well.

All points made are totally valid. I own this device and I enjoy the coffee it makes. I find finer ground helps and as you said darker roast. It was given to me as a gift so I might feel differently if I paid $70 for it but again, I enjoy the coffee it makes. I camp also and it works great outdoors. Wanted to drop my 2 cents for anyone on the fence about purchasing.

My experience is different. I got the Nanopresso with the barista kit, store it in its bag and use it with that configuration. My coffee is about a medium grind and I brew my espresso without removing any springs. It is pretty much my "go to" espresso maker now. With the barista kit you have two grounds holders including a cover that snaps in place. The theory might be to preload one grounds holder leaving it in the top part ready to brew and fill the other grounds holder and snap on the lid. I don't do that as I simply use the Nanopresso at home. I use the grounds holder lid as a stand for the tamper which came with the unit ... not the scoop. I brew both batches one behind the other while extracting the espresso into a preheated (in the microwave with water that gets dumped) mug, rinse all the components and put them on a paper towel to dry. It works for me. The only traveling I do with my Nanopresso is to a site with water and electricity (week long events for cooking, playing music, etc.). It never sees the woods. I think that would be inconvenient as soon as you brew your two batches of espresso. Cleaning or making additional batches wouldn't be easy. If I want espresso / frothed milk drinks I use my electric machine. For flavor I give the nod to the Nanopresso. For 16oz mugs I use a French Press coffee maker (as I do for my wife's tea ... amazing the way they brew identically). I haven't tried the Aeropress but that will probably be my next gadget.

I agree with you, to some extent though. I had the same feeling when I first got the Nanopresso and only had two single baskets to brew with. I do 2:1 for espresso and 12g makes only for 4 sips (I actually did weigh out my sips). But then I got the Barista Kit, which offers two double baskets, a larger water reservoir, a really nice tamper, and even extra space just enough to store the second single basket. So now, I prefill 4 baskets before I leave my house, 3 stored nicely inside the Barista Kit, and one in the chamber. I usually do the double baskets first, and leave the single ones on the side just in case I want MORE. Only problem with that is not being able to pre-heat the baskets in which case you have to brew every shot with ninja spirits. Would have been great if WACACO sold these baskets separately along with custom cases or something.

Excellent review, lots of great info, thanks so much! It sure beats the “product reviews” that are just functionally reading the manual

Had to watch this intro twice, perfectly sets the mood for a little coffee geekery 🤓 Nice work!

Best review of this product yet. I'll get an aeropress now, thank you :)

Glad you did this as I've had one of these for the last few months. I'm completely with you when using the pods, but my findings are different when using ground coffee. I'm grinding the same fineness as i do for my gaggia baby and I'm getting a really good shot. It needs 2 hands though as with the pods. I'm thinking there could possibly be some inconsistency in each batch maybe. Keep up the good work squire 👍

Hello James. I'm 100% with you on the opportunity to use this thing in the middle of nowhere VS having a larger cup of filtered coffee and enjoy the moment without rush or constraint, just having a good thermos filled with a good coffee is making my day. I don't get what need this little capsule is fulfilling.

I am 55, have been drinking coffee in various guises since l was fourteen, in my kitchen currently are two machines, espresso, three types of pour over, two stove top units, two cold brew units, the list goes on and sometimes l yearn for filter, strong filter with good double cream and two cubes of brown sugar. Strong filter coffee is my go to when out doors. Thanks for a great review and a great channel.

Hey James, recent coffee hobbyist here and lover of the videos. My wife and I adore your stuff and she's always bummed when I watch one of your videos without her. Just wanted to give my .02 for this, because I picked one up and am having fun with it. I have my own espresso machine and grinder at home. When I'm home, that's what I'm going to use. But I picked this up after returning from quarantine to my office, having found that I missed the "ritual" of making my coffee. I missed stepping away from my work to take a moment to do something else, having a worthwhile excuse to do it. I could be productive and non-productive simultaneously. Finding that moment at the office had been harder, but this has helped me capture it - all economically, too. I have the "Barista" version, which increases my volume a bit, and I find it perfect for the office. You're right in that this is likely a niche device. But I think it has a certain novelty and enjoyment factor for someone who is looking to "step away" for a moment. I'm still somewhat a coffee noob, so maybe my opinion will change in time. Though in this moment, I do enjoy my Nanopresso.

I take mine away when I go on business trips, the coffee in hotels rooms tends to be very poor, this allows me to have vaguely drinkable coffee when I'm away from home.

You hit the nail in the head. I was just thinking “That is a lot of stuff to carry to get four sips of coffee” when you said it. I think it detracts rather than adding to the outdoors experience, especially if you go with company.

Video editing is absolutely bomb James

Thanks for your review, which wisely kept me from purchasing a Nanopresso (336g) to replace my trusty AeroPress (about 226g without any extras like stirrer) for backpacking/camping. But then I stumbled across the Staresso... Maybe something James would like to review at some point? One KZfaqr who reviewed it kindly pointed out to me in the comments that one can happily pump a cup of espresso without the glass holder and glass normally screwed onto the bottom. As I discovered upon receiving and trying it out today, this shaves about 217g off its weight while making it very compact and thus easy to carry in a backpack or suitcase. In fact, stripped down like this it only weighs 233g (plus 5g if you carry the handy scoop/tamper as well). That puts it in the same weight class as the Aeropress, and it‘s even a bit more compact. OK, you can‘t insert a Porlex Mini or Knock Aergrind in it, but for those toting pods or bringing pre-ground coffee with them on extended backpacking trips, it‘s an ideal solution. Ideal, that is, if easy to use and if it produces a nice espresso. Well, got mine today and must say I am VERY impressed! Used my Graeff CM800 dialed in around 4 (very close to „fine“) to grind about 11-12 g of organic espresso from the Hannoversche Kaffeemanufaktur (based in Hannover, Germany), tamped very lightly, pulled a shot... and WOW! Crema galore, plus full-bodied flavor! Fairly easy to hold with one hand while pumping with the other. No extra basket needed for pods (which I don‘t use for sustainability reasons), and a tiny brush with a poker is included for piercing the back end of pods after they have been dropped into the coffee basket. Easy to clean and fun to use. Not sure if the plastic threads on the housing will hold up over time, but everything feels sold enough, so if a bit of care is taken not to overtighten when screwing together, or not to push the plunger in some strange way, it should be just fine. So if anybody out there wants espresso on the go, apparently with a wee bit more yield in terms of volume than on the Nanopresso (correct me if I‘m wrong), then this might be your baby, especially in stripped-down travel mode. You can then pump straight into whatever camping mug you have with you anyhow. If, however, you prefer (like James) a bit more volume for sipping in the great outdoors, then the AeroPress gets the job done nicely, albeit not with anything close to espresso.

I use the Aeropress for a long time now as my only source of coffee in the woods and at home. Can't really complain, but I also exclusively drank supermarket coffee up to this day. Can't mess it up to badly 😂.

Youre awesome James! YOure good at giving me the skinny on the items like this. Just what i needed basically.

I love it when you talk about the make of a product, how the parts feel, and how durable it is. I almost wait for that part in every video and I laugh when it's bad, though it didn't happen this time. For the Wacaco Nanopresso, watching that pump action and the coffee come out with it was such a turn off simply because, for me, part of the joy of espresso is the way it looks during a typical extraction. Thanks for the review!

I love mine! You can get the so-called "barista kit" which has a larger basket and water reservoir. I always use that, never the standard one. Honestly don't know why the standard is so small, way too little capacity. But anyway, I grind rather fine for mine and it works really well. But certainly slightly coarser than for an espresso machine. I have it at work and use a hand grinder. It kicks ass compared to our on-demand machine, which is probably by large due to my full control of the beans I use. It also gives me a small 5-10 minute break when I want coffee, rather than the 1 minute it takes to get it from our machine. I like spending energy for making a nice coffee, it's almost meditative :-)

"If you want a good quality pod..." you can't leave us hanging there!

Idk which I like more - your funny and engaging review or your immaculate head of hair.

I bought this machine and I used it in my trip to Kenya. It was useful but not perfect. Not all Nespresso pods were good for it; some of them “exploded” and all the coffee was spilled into the cup! So be careful in choosing the right pod of Nespresso. Overall is a quite good product, well built but for espresso addicted. Thanks James for your honest and always accurate review.

"i wanted to take my time" the best sentence in the video, honest!

After much research on espresso makers, I decided this one was the one. I ordered it, came 2 days later. Read the instructions, made a double (barista kit). I was surprised how good it was. 3 hours later, Im going to make another. This time unpressurized.

I was not a coffee people until our family went to Whistler last Christmas. It just felt wrong not holding a cup of coffee in morning. Then I bought some grounded coffee from the village and this little coffee maker. It is a great budget-friendly product to start with and seeing the brown liquid dripping out of it was satisfying for a beginner. But just as James said, I hated to clean it and make a second shot since my wife started to join me. Now is April and I’m on a Flair Pro 2 with 1zpresso J Max, look what coffee did to me.

Love your reviews, love my nanopresso and I know the feeling about being up on the hill and wanting to get a full cup of coffee to enjoy. Where my nanopresso gets the most action is usually when travelling and staying at hotels in america or maybe spain or greece and wanting my daily dose of espresso in the morning, this and a roll of pods packs really well and has been a joy to use on those occations. Also when I go on longer hikes and stay at huts that usually have a large pot of boiling water on I’m able to scoop out a cup of hot water and extract an espresso without electricity or heavy machinery with very little effort, but for the shorter hikes I’d rather “pack” coffee in the thermos or dare I say, a pack of nescafé or a starbucks branded variant :)

God, I could just watch a full video of the first 14 seconds. Sounds like an amazing way to start the morning - Wake up, smell fresh coffee, watch pixels on my computer imitate nature

“Hey, hey... maybe it’s just me...” 😂 No James, you’re not the only one who needs a good dose of caffeine at morning. Great video 😉 thanks for sharing!

I have been using the Nanopresso with the barista kit adapter to take the double basket for over a year. It did take a fair bit of trial and error before I got it right but now I wouldn’t be without it when I’m travelling. I use a small hand grinder on a relatively fine setting with a dose of about 15 grams and a fairly light tamp with the pressure valve installed (contrary to what the instructions recommend) and about 30- 40 ml of water in the small, supplied water reservoir rather than the larger reservoir that comes with the barista kit. I also preheat the unit before use. I agree, it is a lot of effort, but I personally think it’s worth it. I am very happy with the coffee it makes. It is very espresso like in character but with an underlying sweetness that I don’t often get from regular espresso.

So delighted by the nature shots!