WACACO MINIPRESSO: PORTABLE ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR ADVENTURERS

I’ve been taking my Wacaco Minipresso on adventures for years, and here’s everything I love (and don’t love) about it.

Making coffee in the backcountry is not terribly difficult. After all, even a decent pack of instant and some water will do the job. But pulling a real shot of espresso? That’s a whole other story.

Fortunately for adventurous espresso lovers, Wacaco has mastered the art of portable espresso that doesn’t compromise on quality. I’ve been trekking with my Wacaco Minipresso GR for years now, so I think I have some valuable insights to offer.

In this Minipresso review, I’ll discuss my experience with this travel espresso machine so you can decide if it’s the right option for you.

The Full Wacaco Minipresso GR Review

There are currently five models of the Wacaco Minipresso portable espresso machine, which I can assure you is as confusing for reviewers as it is for consumers. For this review, I will be primarily discussing my hands-on experience with the GR version. However, I’ll start by explaining the five options and some key differences between them.

How I Rated It

• Brewing Capability
• Ease Of Use
• Espresso Flavor
• Build Quality
• Value For Money

3.9

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What is the difference between Wacaco Minipresso GR and NS?

The Wacaco Minipresso NS uses Nespresso coffee capsules, while the GR uses ground coffee beans. A third version, the Minipresso CA, uses Tchibo Cafissimo coffee pods, but these are much less common in North America.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t love this system. I like to brew with freshly ground beans 95% of the time, but there are occasions when a capsule would be more convenient. I don’t want to buy a whole separate device for those occasions. I much prefer how Wacaco has designed the Nanopresso, which can be outfitted with an NS adaptor.

Second Generation Models

The Wacaco Minipresso NS2 is the second generation of the NS, released in 2023. It uses the same brewing process but is smaller and lighter. It has a more premium look and features a more sustainable wheat-derived copolymer for its plastic shell.

The new Minipresso GR2 was added to the lineup in 2024 (1). Like the NS2, it is smaller, lighter, and more eco-friendly than its predecessor. But the biggest upgrade to the GR2 is the adjustable basket, which can hold between 8 and 12 grams of coffee.

Wacaco is currently still selling the older and newer options, with the second-generation models priced $5 higher. Both the NS2 and GR2 received Red Dot design awards in the year of their release. 

Does The Wacaco Minipresso Make Real Espresso?

Yes, unlike many portable “espresso” makers that just make a strong serving of coffee, the Minipresso generates enough pressure to make a true espresso (2). It’s rich and full-bodied and even sports a thin layer of crema on top.

The brewing mechanism is a small piston, which you pump by hand to generate an extraction pressure of about 8 bars (116 psi). 

I’ve always appreciated how easy it is to generate pressure with the Wacaco pumping system compared to other portable espresso makers I’ve tried. I can easily operate it one-handed, even after a long day hiking or rock climbing. The same cannot be said for the “bicycle pump” style designs that require two hands and some bicep power.

Small Filter Basket

Many reviewers have complained about the Minipresso’s small capacity, but I’m not going to be one of them. A small capacity goes hand in hand with an ultra-portable device. 

The filter holds 8 grams of coffee, which is exactly the amount needed for the classic Italian 1-ounce single shot (3). I also feel compelled to mention that that is even more coffee than the 5 grams found in a Nespresso capsule, so the Minipresso is one up on your Nespresso machine.

Do you want to pull double shots? You have a few options. The Wacaco Picopresso holds 18 grams, while the Nanopresso with the Barista Kit upgrade holds 16 grams. Then there is the new Minipresso GR2, which can hold up to 12 grams – not quite a double shot, but closer.

How To Pull A Shot 

Brewing with the Minipresso is necessarily intuitive at first glance, but it’s quick and easy once you’ve done it a few times.

The brewer consists of five parts. The main body contains the piston hand pump. Then there is the filter basket, lid, espresso cup, and water tank. You also get a small plastic coffee scoop.

Here is a brief summary of how to make espresso with this machine, but I definitely suggest reading the included instructions for more details:

1. If you have the time and hot water to spare, you’ll get the best coffee by first preheating all the parts by rinsing them with hot water.
2. Unscrew the built-in espresso cup and lid and remove the filter basket.
3. Fill the filter with one scoop (about 8 grams) of medium-fine ground coffee. Tamp the grounds with the back of the scoop.
4. Put the filled basket back in the device and screw on the top.
5. Unscrew the water tank at the base, fill it with just off boiling water, and screw it back on.
6. Invert the whole thing, and unlock the piston by turning it to the left. Set the espresso cup below the outlet head.
7. Pump three times to pre-infuse the coffee, then wait 5 seconds.
8. Continue pumping until espresso comes out the bottom.
9. Stop when you have between 30 and 50 mL of liquid, depending on how intense you like your shot.

Cleanup And Maintenance Needs

Unlike a standard espresso machine, the Minipresso is very easy to clean and maintain. You don’t need to worry about descaling, backflushing, or electrical parts breaking down.

After brewing, just tap the coffee grounds from the filter basket and rinse the various components. It does have a fair number of bits and pieces, so make sure you keep track of everything. When you get back from your camping trip, you can give it a more thorough wash with soapy water. Unfortunately, it’s not dishwasher safe.

Coffee Flavor And Limitations

I’m always impressed with the espresso shots and coffee drinks I make with my Minipresso. I won’t claim that they are on par with the quality I can get from my home espresso machine, but they’re far better than typical camp coffee. 

The shots are sweet, rich, and flavorful, though not overly complex or nuanced. For the best results, I recommend using a good fresh medium or dark roast espresso blend. This is not the place for your expensive single-origin specialty beans.

The limiting factor is the pressurized filter, which makes it easier to pull a good espresso shot, even if your puck prep isn’t perfect (4). I think it’s a smart inclusion here. Not many of us are whipping out our burr grinder, coffee scale, and metal tamper on a backpacking trip. 

The pressurized filter ensures your shot will never be terrible, even using pre-ground coffee and tamping it down with the little plastic scoop. But it does put a cap on espresso quality. You’ll never get cafe-quality shots from this coffee machine.

An Impressively Portable Espresso Maker

The Wacaco GR Minipresso is primarily made of BPA-free plastic, although some stainless steel is used in the center portion that houses the piston. I know not everyone is comfortable with putting boiling water in plastic containers, but at least in this case, the contact time is very short.

Plastic is a practical choice when designing a lightweight, portable brewer, though I worry a little about its durability. While the main brewing portion seems sturdy enough for rough travel, I feel like the water chamber or espresso cup could crack with more adventurous use.

Shape, Size, and Weight

In my opinion, Wacaco has cornered the market for these on-the-go espresso machines. Every model is exceptionally small and lightweight. No other brand seems able to pack so much functionality into such a compact size:

Here’s a chart with the sizes and weights of the various editions:

Is The Wacaco Minipresso Worth Its Price?

The older Minipresso NS and GR are currently priced at around $55, while the newer GR2 and NS2 are about $60. They are the cheapest espresso makers in the Wacaco line. The Nanopresso is about $10 more, and the Picopresso is nearly double the cost.

I think that’s incredible value for money, particularly given that these devices are fairly unique on the market. In my experience, any budget brand offering a cheaper knock-off almost certainly lacks Wacaco’s expertise and quality.

It is backed by a 1-year warranty, which you can extend by 6 months if you register your purchase online.

Optional Accessories And Kits

There are three accessories compatible with the Minipresso, and this is where I think the value drops off a little. All three seem overpriced.

The Tank is an optional larger water container that increases the brewing capacity from 50 mL to 100 mL. The filter basket remains the same, so the drink is larger but weaker, similar to a lungo.

The Minipresso Kit includes the same larger water tank plus three extra filters, which doesn’t strike me as particularly useful. The idea is that you can prepare your filters before heading out the door, so you don’t need to pack coffee separately. But on a rugged hiking trip, that just feels like an expensive way to make a mess.

Finally, there’s the Carrying Case, which costs an additional $20 – over a third of the cost of the brewer. In my opinion, any coffee gear expressly designed for portability should include a carrying case, and it shouldn’t add 35% to the overall cost.

Don’t Buy The Wacaco Minipresso If…

• You want better-quality espresso: The Wacaco Picopresso was clearly designed for authentic espresso geeks. The quality of coffee it produces is so good that I even use it to make espresso at home. The trade-off is that it’s less user-friendly (and more expensive). You really need to hone your skills and invest in a good grinder to get the most from the Picopresso, but the results are stunning.

• Portability is less of a priority: If your idea of travel is more business class and less hiking trail, check out the lovely Flair Pro 2. Though larger than the compact Wacaco models, it disassembles for travel and even comes with a handy travel case. Like the Picopresso, it requires some practice to master, but it’s capable of delicious cafe-quality espresso.

• You prefer ESE pods: If you want the convenience of pod brewing without the environmental footprint of aluminum Nespresso pods, check out the Handpresso. It brews with ESE pods, which can be composted after use.

• You’re willing to settle for strong coffee: If you don’t need to make real espresso to fuel your off-the-grid adventures, you’ve got a myriad of options. You can go old-school with the iconic Italian Moka Express or keep it modern with the tried-and-true Aeropress.

The Verdict

No matter which edition you buy, the Wacaco Minipresso is practical, portable, and affordable. Despite the few complaints I’ve mentioned in this review, it is still my go-to travel espresso maker for when I’m headed off the grid. 

While Wacaco has developed some more advanced models in the years since the Minipresso’s original release, it continues to offer outstanding value. It delivers impressively high-quality espresso on the go while remaining the least expensive espresso maker in the line-up. I’m happy to recommend it to any espresso-loving adventurer on a budget.

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