Wacaco’s Nanopresso is a popular, hand-powered, portable espresso machine for around $84; The model reviewed comes with a portable espresso maker and a Nespresso adapter. The capsule adapter is an add-on.
At 6.4 inches tall (a little taller than the height of a dollar bill), it’s a small enough machine to take with you on the go. It makes espresso with the help of the proprietary built-in pump.
Depending on how much or what kind of coffee you’re using, there is a separate attachment to screw on.
Read on to find out what we thought of the pint-sized portable espresso maker.
Is Wacaco's Nanopresso Good?
The Wacaco Nanopresso is great for those who want espresso on the go and are not too picky about the specifics.
If you want a portable shot of strong, rich coffee and have access to boiling water, then you should consider this.
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How the Wacaco Nanopresso Works
There is a water chamber that screws off the bottom. It holds 2.7 oz (80 ml) of water.
Enough for two healthy shots of espresso. You must have hot water on hand yourself.
The top part is what holds the coffee. It screws off as well, so you can enjoy your espresso.
In the middle, you can slightly twist the knob, and the pump pops out. This is where you can pump pressure into the device.
In my experience, it delivers enough pressure to make a cup of espresso. However, 18 bars of pressure are unnecessary, seeing as you typically need 9.
Some users online have complained about blowing the seal due to too much pressure.
Wacaco says that you can remove the pressurizer spring; however, this will void the warranty if any damage occurs.
This little guy is not suited to handle more than 14 bars of pressure.
Some users online have complained about blowing the seal due to too much pressure. Wacaco says that you can remove the pressurizer spring; however, this will void the warranty if any damage occurs. This little guy is not suited to handle more than 14 bars of pressure.
Common Drawbacks & Workarounds
Wacaco says that you can remove the pressurizer portafilter (a sort of spring), however, this will void the warranty if it blows the seal. Which is a common complaint in the bad reviews left online. This little guy is not suited to handle over 14 bars of pressure without the pressurizer.
Removing the pressurized portafilter is for espresso connoisseurs who like to tweak their settings. By removing it, you can dial in the grind. Like all espresso, be prepared to spend some time getting it right.
Furthermore, don’t expect to get the same crema as you normally would from an espresso machine. We’re guessing you’re not going to want to share a close-up on Instagram.
Buyer Beware: The Nanopresso only comes with the regular coffee chamber for coffee grounds. Be on the lookout for the Nanopresso to come with the Nespresso accessory, called NS adapter (like here).
It’s very light. The device weighs 0.75 pounds. That being said, there isn’t much thermal material. It’s well built, but made of plastic. Despite looking like a thermos, it loses heat quickly.
It’s not dishwasher safe, and the Hong Kong manufacturer says it’s not microwave safe.
Since the coffee temperature is lower than normal, we recommend a darker roast to compensate.
You’re not getting much coffee with this espresso machine. To go through all the steps and only receive a shot with wispy crema is a little disappointing.
That being said, if you’re in a position where you need espresso on the go, it delivers.
It’s very light. The device weighs 0.75 pounds. That being said, there isn’t much thermal material. It’s well built, but made of plastic. Despite looking like a thermos, it loses heat quickly.
It’s not dishwasher safe, and the Hong Kong manufacturer says it’s not microwave safe.
Since the coffee temperature is lower than normal, we recommend a darker roast to compensate.
You’re not getting much coffee with this espresso machine. To go through all the steps and only receive a shot with wispy crema is a little disappointing.
That being said, if you’re in a position where you need espresso on the go, it delivers.
An extra accessory (Amazon link) will help you get a double shot. This will help you get a decent Americano.
Double Shot Wacaco Accessory
To go through all the steps and only to receive a shot with wispy crema is a little disappointing.
Using Your Own Grounds in the Wacaco
The portable espresso machine comes with a coffee-ground scoop. We feel it’s more suitable as a tamper.
Where it gets tricky is if you want to use your own coffee grounds. Normally, you would use finely ground coffee for an espresso machine.
However, if you add finely ground coffee to the Wacaco Espresso Maker, then coffee drips off the side and it doesn’t come out well.
As mentioned before, there is a spring device inside the top cap. This is to add more pressure to the coarser coffee grounds, much like a pressurized portafilter does.
You can remove it when you use finer coffee grounds. In our experience, it didn’t make a difference. Either way, it made a mess or leaked from somewhere.
It makes less of a mess with coarser grounds, which makes it weaker. It takes a little bit of practice to dial in the espresso with the Wacaco.
When I first started, I ground the coffee with a pour-over coarseness. It turned the crema pale, wispy, and sparse. The end result with regular coffee grounds was simply not good either. This was after 2 tries, but it got a little better after each time.
Pictured here: Espresso shot with a Sunbeam EM0480 grinder set to 11. The coffee was tamped very hard. It started coming out in a solid stream at the 7th pump.
Wacaco Espresso with a Nespresso Capsule
You can find Nepresso capsules for the Wacaco just about everywhere, from Costco to Target.
With the capsules, it’s much easier to get a shot.
Drop a capsule in the chamber. Squeeze the chamber to pierce the aluminum top cover of the capsule. Screw on the chamber.
With the water in the bottom chamber and everything ready to go, you can begin to pump in pressure.
The first thing you’ll notice, in comparison with ground coffee, is that it is more difficult to press down. You can do it with one hand, but two hands make life easier.
When the coffee starts to come out, you’ll see that it comes out smoother than with coffee grounds. The coffee is something more comparable to actual espresso.
The espresso contains 25 grams of water and 5.5 grams of coffee. As a reminder, most espresso to water ratios are 4 to 1, but most call for a 2 to 1 ratio.
The Wacaco is 5 to 1. Which is why you’re getting a weaker cup of espresso. It’s extracted well enough in the Nespresso capsule, so it tastes like a strong cup of mini-coffee.
Click to find out if this single-serve coffee maker is worth 1/3 the price of a Keurig
Is the Nanopresso Easy to Clean Up?
If you decide to use loose coffee grounds, then cleaning is a bit more tedious.
Whereas with the capsules, you remove, throw out, and rinse. Either way, you have to take it apart to rinse it off. Then leave it out to dry before putting it back together.
The Wacaco Nanopresso cannot be washed in the dishwasher.
It’s especially inconvenient if you’re camping or need to make espresso for a large group. We couldn’t imagine having to pump the espresso out, rinse everything out, and repeat.
PROS
- Made of plastic but feels well built
- Light & compact
- No electricity needed
- Delivers the recommended amount of pressure
CONS
- Not quite espresso, but a strong rich coffee
- Learning curve
- Must have extra accessories for extra shot and/or Nespresso capsules
- Lots of parts
- Must have access to hot water
Check out our review of the best travel coffee makers for every situation.
Who is the Wacaco Manual Espresso Suitable For?
For
- Office dweller
- Traveller without access to decent espresso (but access to hot water)
- Outdoorsy type that doesn't mind the work for 1.5 oz
Not For
- Coffee snobs
- Those trying to replace their espresso machine
- Don't like to fuss with gadgets
With all the parts, it may seem a little overwhelming. There are a lot of parts that screw together.
Especially if you want to tinker with the pump & portafilter. If you choose to buy more accessories, it adds up.
On paper, the Wacaco Nanopresso portable espresso maker is great. It’s compact, feels well built, and delivers 261 psi to make espresso.
I can imagine using it if I needed to travel to a country that didn’t have good espresso or if I was stuck at work without access to a proper espresso.
The Wacaco delivers what it promises.
To know if the Wacaco Nespresso is suitable as a gift, ask yourself:
- Is this for someone that deeply understands coffee?
- Are they particular about the taste and mouth feel of espresso?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, this or any other portable espresso maker will not currently suffice.
We wouldn’t gift this to a coffee snob.
Nanopresso vs Minipresso
If you’re torn between the Nanopresso and the Minipresso, we recommend the Nanopresso.
The Nanopresso is an updated version that allows for more pressure and is easier to pump.
They both are able to use capsules (NanoPresso requires an additional piece), weigh approximately the same, and are the same size.
The Nanopresso delivers more espresso vs the Minipresso.
If you’re interested in using your own coffee grounds, then go for the Nanopresso.
