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

Product Information

Manual espresso making can produce decent results. However, there are often limits to important factors, including ease of use, size and weight, and the quality of the drinks they brew compared to premium espresso machines. The Leverpresso Pro is a highly portable, manual espresso maker produced by South Korean brand HUGH. It’s a great tool once you get your head around the slightly unusual workflow of a manual lever espresso machine.

Wacaco | Picopresso | Pro-level Portable Espresso Machine

This is not technically a true espresso maker, however, most Italians use it at home, and they invented espresso. Wacaco’s previous version, the Nanopresso, used a small pressurized basket that could only fit about 8-12 grams inside.The Picopresso is a small, handheld espresso machine made by the Hong Kong-based manufacturer Wacaco, who’s also behind the Nanopresso mentioned in this article) The coffee was wonderfully smooth, with an intense flavor. Thanks to the ability to use the portafilter naked, where the spout is removed so the bottom of the basket is exposed, the coffee also had a complete crema on top. When we added sugar and gave the drink a stir, the crema formed again, which is exactly as we’d hoped. Also, despite its extra size, the Flair only has the same grind capacity as the Picopresso, so it won’t make larger batches either. But after 12 pumps, or when I see that coffee just coming out, I wait for 10 seconds and that allows the coffee to pre-infusion the basket.

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This device will make shots with a nice and bubbly crema. However, this espresso maker uses a pressurized basket, so even though the crema is nice looking, the extraction is not quite as high as some of its rivals. Its ergonomic design offers a comfortable brewing experience with easy-to-apply pressure, curved arms, and a conveniently positioned pressure gauge. All you need is your favorite espresso beans, a grinder, and some boiling water, and you’re good to go.The Cafflano Kompresso uses a naked basket and that means that it’s best for advanced users, who already have a good espresso grinder and some knowledge about the brewing process. However, if you know what you’re doing, you can get great shots! The holes from the Picopresso are a bit smaller and it has a little bit more of them. I guess the Picopresso basket have been manufactured similarly to VST or IMS baskets. I wish they had sent out some prototypes to reviewers so I could learn more before it goes on sale but seems that is not on the cards.

WACACO Picopresso Portable Espresso Maker Bundled with

The tamper has micro grooves and is made from metal, unlike the minipresso or Nanopresso which unclude plastic tampers. Most portable espresso machines have a smaller basket, making a bit messy when you add your grounds. Meanwhile, they often don’t have a standalone tamper, leaving you to make do with the bottom of a plastic spoon. We love the Nanopresso, and Wacaco has done a ground-breaking espresso maker again with the Picopresso. The coffee this little device produces is simply beautiful, while the well-thought-out design and excellent accessories make using the machine a pleasure. The standout feature is that it has an actual espresso basket inside, which can be used “bottomless,” meaning that your shots will look like they came out of a proper espresso machine in a hipster coffee shop. Wacaco Picopresso Accessories

PICOPRESSO PROTECTIVE SLEEVES

We’ve tested many portable espresso machines. However, the Picopresso’s thoughtful design and valuable accessories make operating it easy.

PRODUCTS RANGE - Wacaco

The Picopresso provides an enjoyable quality focus process using current tools of the trade to brew a standard Double Espresso. Its clever pump design makes it both super compact and lightweight for an espresso brewer as well as durable enough that it's ready for just about any adventure. Now, you can shop the full range of Wacaco products, including the Wacaco Picopresso. But now let's jump straight in and explore the full potential of this promising brewer. Weighing in at 336 grams (less than 1 pound), this is one of the smallest portable espresso machines that you will come across. Now it's at around eight to twelve pumps that I've consistently seen espresso appear on the bottom edges of the filter basket. And if it were way more than this, it would suggest that my grind was too fine. If it brewed sooner than those eight to 12 pumps, then I would consider my grind to be too coarse. The Mirage’s 53mm pressurized double filter basket offers plenty of room for error in grind size, making it a solid beginner-friendly option. HUGH has evolved from making a basic plastic model of the Leverpresso to this high-end stainless steel Pro-model.With the Picopresso there are no shortcuts. Each home brewer must master the art of manual espresso making by dialing in the correct grind size, tamping, and perfecting pulling technique – their reward; an authentic cafe-quality espresso that will rival any expensive high-end machine. Product Specification: I will take measurements tomorrow. But as far as I can remember the tamper size is pretty much the same. The Pavoni baskets are a bit wider on top so the fit is tighter. The basket of the Picopresso seems to have smaller holes and maybe some kind of coating like a VST/IMS basket. Their funnel is also very good and has the same inner diameter as the basket so you can tamp right through the funnel. Now this is a big change up from Wacaco's previous espresso brewers and makes a significant difference to the depth of flavor you can brew with the Picopresso. The filter basket is tapered so there will be a minimum dose that you can use, but it's really that maximum amount of coffee that you can dose to it being 20g that satisfies the double espresso brew ratio. You have that opportunity to benchmark the extraction of any coffee that you use on the Picopresso against that of an actual espresso machine. And that metal portafilter has two rubber disks as part of it. It takes a bit of trial and error to find the espresso grind that works just right. But once you’ve found that perfect grind it truly does give you a deliciously satisfying full-bodied espresso with a rich crema.