Are you looking for a portable coffee espresso maker and searching for an honest review of the Wacaco Nanopresso? Before you take the Nanopresso plunge you want to know about the quality of the cup it produces first right? You will be doing your research on how it works, the value for money and the pros and cons?
We purchased a Nanopresso 18 bar coffee maker and have used it everyday over the last two years. It has produced two cups every day, that’s 1,460 cups in total and so we know this little machine in and out and we are here to tell you the good and the bad. We provide an honest review and let you decide if the portable Nanopresso is right for you.
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Table of Contents
How it Works
It’s important first for you to understand how it all works. This was the first question I had and I found myself searching YouTube for Nanopresso demonstrations and a review. So below I have prepared the same for you. Watch this quick guide on how to put the Nanopresso together and an understanding on the essentials.
This demonstration is made with the additional Barista Kit attachment. We are lungo lovers and so we purchased this kit together with the Nanopresso. However, in terms of process it is the same for both the long and short coffee options.
As you can see, you fill the coffee into the empty capsule or pod, fit that into the base and seal it tightly. Next you add the boiling water to the reservoir and screw into the bottom of the Nanopresso. With two hands begin pumping and this builds up the pressure within. Wait for the little pop sound (my favourite bit) and boom… the coffee begins to flow.
The Taste Factor
While the taste will largely be influenced by the type of coffee grinds you purchase. But it is also effected by the pressure or bars of the Nanopresso.
And herein lies the magic of the hand pumping system of the Nanopresso. The pressure, all 18 bar (261 psi) that is created through this process draws out the flavour of the grinds. As the water is pressed through the coffee grinds and filter, all those creamy notes are extracted along the way.
The result is a single or double shot of coffee, with a perfect body, aroma and crema on top. As coffee enthusiasts, our honest feedback is five star when it comes to taste.
Value for Money
Okay so in a dollar nutshell, this little machine has definitely earned it’s place in our nomad lives. The Nanopresso will set you back around $70 USD and the Barista kit at $33 USD. If you think about how much you would spend on a cup of coffee in a cafe, it’s not difficult to figure out that you are saving in the long run.
And if you compare the Nanopresso + Barista Kit alongside the extended Wacaco family, the Minipresso and the Picapresso then you are buying mid-range.
- The Minipresso by comparison is an 8 bar portable coffee maker with a smaller water reservoir. The mini is great for the coffee amateur.
- While the Picapresso is the same pressure at 18 bars with the same sized water reservoir but at a higher price of $130 USD. The main difference with the Picapresso is that it takes a finer grind and gives slightly better body to your coffee – geared towards the coffee connoisseur.
But hey quite honestly I think the Nanopresso produces the perfect medium to strong coffee, body and aroma – depending on the grind you buy ofcourse.
Cleaning Your Nanopresso
The Nanopresso is easy to clean as there are pieces that can be pulled apart and disconnected as we’ve shown you in the video above. A quick rinse and the machine is good to go for another another day. It’s a good idea to let it completely dry before packing it back together, particularly if it is going to be kept away for some time.
You’ll also want to take care with the small rubber pieces after cleaning. There are two, the ring and the small disc. If these get lost the seal will be broken and there will be no more cups of creamy coffee for you!
The pump mechanism can completely be pulled apart for cleaning and in two years we have done this once. I think this was a result of my husband’s curiosity more than need for a clean.
Travelling with a Nanopresso
We have stripped a few of the pieces away from our kit as we travel full-time and need to keep our travel gear stream lined. The brush and the travel case were the first things we removed, the case looks great but ultimately it’s not necessary if you are tight on room. The Nanopresso machine is pretty robust and the case was just extra stuff we didn’t need.
The exterior integrated coffee cups and extra pod/capsules also didn’t make the cut. The coffee cups are great and honestly don’t use a lot of space, but we weren’t using them and so it was just another item. Now we travel with one tidy little combined Nanopresso and Barista kit unit.
An Honest Review – Pros and Cons
Here we go, the nuts and bolts of it all. What bits will you love and what bits of this little machine won’t quite add up to that perfect cup. Lets break it down below…
The Cons
- It doesn’t heat the water, so you need to have access to a kettle
- If the coffee grind is too fine it can be difficult to pump and can also spill out the sides
- It isn’t totally practical if you are making coffee for a group of people
The Pros
- The Nanopresso is robust and compact perfect for the nomad or traveller
- It is easy to clean and put together
- The price is very reasonable and great value for money
- It doesn’t use pods and therefore each cup produces less waste than pod machines
- With the Barista kit you have the options for a single or a double shot
- The coffee tastes great – in our opinion better than well-known brands of bench-top coffee pod machines
In summary, that earns this Nanopresso portable coffee maker + Barista Kit a solid 4 1/2 star review from us.
Well I don’t know about you, but all this talk of coffee has me craving a cup. I’m off to make another one… coffee number 1,461 for our little Nano. But if you have got to the end of this Nanopresso review and you still have more questions, drop them in the comments below.
However, if we HAVE clarified your questions, what are you waiting for… click the links to add the Nanopresso and Barista Kit to your shopping cart today! Improve your coffee loving nomad ways forever.
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