WACACO Picopresso Portable Espresso Maker Bundled with Protective Case, Pro-level Specialty Coffee Machine, Compatible Ultra-fine Grind, Manually Operated Travel Coffee Maker

The Picopresso is absolute genius and the closest I can get to a portable device that delivers barista quality espresso. I own multiple portable espresso devices and this one leaves them all standing. I also have a pretty hefty espresso setup at home (yes I know a bit sad) and I therefore have high expectations when it comes to my daily shot or two. The Picopresso if used correctly can deliver trully exceptional results. When my home machine went in for its service a few weeks ago I used the Picopresso every day and was more than happy.However ,there are a few howevers. You need a good quality espresso grinder for your (fresh - dark/espresso roast) beans and preferably some scales so that you use the same amount of grind every time. I use approx 15g. You can go up to 18g but thats a matter of taste. Properly tamp the beans with the funnel removed from the basket. Ideally replace the supplied basket with a 51mm full size basket (La Pavoni Europiccola baskets fit) - but only if you are as fussy as me.Most importantly pre-heat every element before you make your coffee otherwise the results are going to be lukewarm. Avoid getting water inside the plunger. There's some great youtube videos out there.It's a bit of a faff when you start but well worth it once you get used to it. I regularly take mine to work with my coffee pre-ground.

Just pulled my first shot and it was rich and textured. I can already see/feel/taste how to improve it further. Very easy to use and simple to clean. I bought this to replace my previous set up . The base model of the other manual kit is much much more expensive. No downgrade in shots so the value proposition is brilliant. This makes good coffee from good beans ground properly and thats all you can ask for.

Initially I was unimpressed, it's a machine that has 5 parts (minimum) that require putting together & dismantling every use, I also thought it was overpriced. If my electric espresso maker hadn't stopped working I would have rarely tried it & If my back-up Nespresso, Kamira, Moka or Aeropress could produce real espresso I'd probably never have really used it. But in having to use it regularly to produce proper espresso I came to admire its ingenuity & build quality. One consideration is that it requires a hot cup to receive the brew & I maintain a heated cup while drinking a double espresso. A wonderful design & engineering accomplishment, an espresso machine that fits in your hand. Easily worth every penny.

Amazingly, this little device is capable of producing beautiful espresso. However, it is quite a hassle to use. I cannot imagine many people bothering with it very often. You need a grinder capable of producing extra-fine ground coffee (such a grinder will probably cost you more than this Picopresso costs). You will need to weigh the amount of coffee to get it just right (too tight, and the Picopresso is not capable of pumping water through it; too loose, and you get a nasty thin espresso). You have to pre-heat the Picopresso with boiling water, which is hard to do without getting hot water on your hands. Then when you pump the espresso, the Picopresso gets uncomfortably hot to hold. Finally, you have to wash and dry everything. Honestly, how many people are routinely going to do all this? Maybe the Picopresso is more of a novelty item. But if you are prepared to put in the effort, the Picopresso really works. So overall, my recommendation is that if you are a determined sort of coffee buff, you will love the Picopresso - it produces fantastic espresso.

It took a while to be able to produce a proper espresso mainly because my coffee grinder was unsuitable. Once I got a grinder designed specifically for espresso bingo! Lovely crema and perfect extraction.The good points are 1) small size so you can store it in a drawer and not have it staring at you all day from the worktop 2) small enough to take it with you on trips. But but but you will have to have access to hot water so camping trips and B&B are ok but one day hiking trips will require lugging a stove and a kettle. It may not be an issue for you.Overall, very happy with my Picopresso. Way better espresso than I get from most coffee shops in London. It also compares favourably with Nanopresso. Go and get one if you can.

This little gadget makes espresso nearly as good as my Sage machine - love the process, very satisfying. Great build quality, clever product, delicious espresso

The product makes good coffee while it works. For the first three months, I was really happy with the product. The coffee was good and it was easy enough to use and keep clean.However, after 3 months, the seals in the pump failed resulting in hot water being fired out at your hand as you try to pump coffee.I contacted Amazon who put me straight into Wacaco on 2 March. The return process was convoluted - it could have been handled in a single email but wasn’t. Although, they did eventually agree to replace my product. It’s now 21 March and no replacement has been received. I do have a tracking number which shows that they dragged their heels getting it prepared to ship and then they dragged their heels getting it picked up. Who knows when I will receive it. I guess what upsets me most is that they talk a good game on their website but when it comes down to it, the attitude you get is that they really don’t care.

Easy to take camping, to a hotel or a friend's house. The espresso is strong, has depth of flavour and develops crema.I needed to upgrade my grinder to get espresso out of it.