Wacaco Minipresso Review: Is This Portable Espresso Maker Good?

Here’s what makes the Wacaco Minipresso so special.

Portability

When you think of espresso, you probably immediately picture those huge machines used in coffee shops or those home models that still take up quite a lot of countertop space, right?

Well, Wacaco has completely revolutionized this (1)!

“This tiny, bullet-like gadget lets you brew espresso on-the-go, without the need for a power outlet.” Wired

Because it relies on manual operation, you can literally use it wherever you are as long as you have access to boiling water. When camping, you could use a portable stove, whereas one of the best thermoses will do if you’re just out for an excursion.

But the portability of the Wacaco Minipresso goes beyond this: it’s also incredibly compact and light. 

Weighing only 0.8 pounds and measuring less than 7 inches in length, you won’t even feel it in your backpack.

The Minipresso is also surprisingly durable and sturdy even if it’s mostly made of plastic, but don’t worry: it’s entirely BPA-free.

Finally, you won’t even need to carry a separate vessel to drink the coffee since the Minipresso features a built-in espresso cup.

Definitely one of the best travel coffee makers!

Easy to use

The Wacaco Minipresso streamlines your on-the-go brewing experience with its straightforward process. All you need to do is:

• Add up to 8 grams of fine coffee grounds
• Use the included scoop to press them lightly
• Pour hot water into the tank
• Screw it in and flip your Wacaco Minipresso upside down
• Keep pressing the piston at the speed of one pump per second to extract the coffee.

PRO TIP: if you only want the best of the best, consider pumping some boiling water through your Wacaco Minipresso before adding the coffee grounds.

You might need to do it a couple of times before familiarizing yourself with its small parts, but we’re confident that this sequence will become automatic for you.

While the Wacaco Minipresso isn’t dishwasher safe, it’s painless to clean as you just need to rinse its components.

PRO TIP: to ensure a consistent flavor and promote its longevity, we recommend descaling it after around 30 uses by letting all of its parts soak for 15 minutes in a solution of boiling water and one tablespoon of vinegar.

The best espresso without a traditional machine

Instead of capsules or popular tricks to make stronger drip coffee, the Wacaco Minipresso focuses on the most important thing for espresso (2):

“Sure, there’s also the crema, the size of the drink, and the concentrated nature of the coffee, but in the end, it all comes down to pressure.” Perfect Daily Grind 

This little portable espresso maker reaches a whopping 8 bars.

While, technically, it’s one fewer than the industry standard of 9 bars of pressure for the perfect espresso (3), it’s the closest you can get to it with such a portable machine.

In fact, the shots that you obtain with the Wacaco Minipresso don’t disappoint. 

You can get up to 1.7 oz of espresso topped with an Italian café-style crema.

Need more? You can always purchase the separate Wacaco Minipresso Kit to make larger lungos or double espressos.

Value for money

As well as its portability, we believe that what sets the Wacaco Minipresso apart from other espresso solutions is its value for money.

This portable espresso maker is incredibly affordable! Plus, because it’s durable and clearly made to last, this small investment will allow you to enjoy the cheapest espressos for many years and adventures to come.

Don’t forget that, by removing any need for paper filters or costly single-use capsules (which also makes it an eco-friendlier choice!), all you need to pay for is your usual ground coffee. That’s it.

Who should buy the Wacaco Minipresso GR

As you’ve probably already figured out by reading the core of our Wacaco Minipresso review, we believe that this portable espresso maker would be the right piece of equipment for anyone who wants to enjoy some espresso on the go and, occasionally, at home.

This doesn’t necessarily need to be the most extreme hike (although it’s certainly rewarding to know that you’ll have a delicious shot of espresso waiting for you at the end!): it could be your office or a holiday.

Overall, we especially recommend it to solo travelers or wanderlust-filled couples.

Who should NOT buy the Wacaco Minipresso GR

The Wacaco Minipresso is definitely not the right kind of portable coffee maker for you if you’re more used to traditional drip coffee. In that case, stick to the AeroPress (here’s how to make coffee using the AeroPress).

We also don’t recommend it if you’re planning on making espresso for more than one or two people every time, as it could get a bit time-consuming. In that case, a small espresso machine for your countertop or your RV home should do.

Finally, you might want to consider some other Wacaco espresso makers, too. While the GR stands for ground coffee, the Minipresso NS lets you use Nespresso capsules. You could also check out the Nanopresso which, as the name suggests, is even smaller.