Minipresso GR, Portable Espresso Machine, Compatible Ground Coffee, Small Travel Coffee Maker, Manually Operated from Piston Action

I bought this about a month ago and wanted to wait to write a review until I'd used it for a while. I was slightly nervous of buying it because of the price, but I have to say that I'm really impressed. I work in an office in central London where all the surrounding chain cafes turn out so-so espresso for between £1.50-2.00/shot, and was fed up of that. This really has solved that issue and pretty soon I'll break even on the investment of buying it vs the cost of buying coffees out all the time. It's a really, really small and nifty device, extremely quick and easy to use and clean, and crucially - makes very good espresso, easily as good if not better than the espresso sold in many cafes. Yes, it takes a few days to get used to, and without question it won't suit everyone; it is a (bit) messy and requires careful cleaning to get the best from it, and if you're looking for espresso right up there like that from a proper machine, sure you'll be disappointed - but this is basically a 20cm long bike pump that makes coffee, so give it a break! All I can say is that it works well for me and really is quick and easy to use, allows you to select your own coffee type of choice, and so to my mind is well worth it. I now use it at least daily, if not twice a day, during the working week, and envisage my taking it on holiday too: I could imagine anyone who regularly goes camping, etc. finding it especially useful.

... after trying the Staresso and the Handpresso. This is the one for me. Easy to use and clean, it makes a solid espresso shot and is the perfect partner for my Aeropress. What impressed me from the beginning is the build quality and how tactile the Minipresso is. Don't be mislead by the plastic material. This plastic is a sturdy one and it surely can take a hit (if it happens). When the device is cold, you could even think that parts of it are metal just by the way it feels. Even though it is marketed with a priority on outdoor use, for me, living in a small bedsit, it is my go to espresso maker. And I couldn't ask for more! It simply is ingenious! I like my little espresso making ceremony. I am always rewarded with a lovely espresso shot, or two. I had it for a while now and I am still experimenting with the grind (if I use coffee beans and my Hario grinder) and the water temperature. So far, however, the best espresso with A LOT of crema was produced using the Lavazza Crema Gusto ground coffee. Initially I only wanted to stick to coffee beans and grind my own, but I have to say the Lavazza changed my mind. So it will be the coffee beans and grinding for the Aeropress and ground coffee for the Minipresso. I can't wait to see how the company extends their product portfolio and of they will be able to improve an already great little machine. I like to call it the bullet, btw., because of it's shape. :-)

I'm not sure how long it will last, but for now, I'm very happy with it. It's extremely straightforward to use - no unnecessary steps or extra accessories that make the process time-consuming. And the coffee it produces is excellent. I've tried all the popular home coffee-making alternatives on the market, and this is by far the fastest method with the best results (even though I know it's sold as a portable solution). Very happy overall. If it proves durable, it will definitely be a 5/5 stars product.

Actually makes a very smooth espresso! I use mine for the office as our coffee is really bad i.e. instant kenko etc. very impressed with it, very compact and the coffee flavour is excellent. Only downsides are that it can be a little bit messy, and if you're using 'instant boiling water' i.e. like they have in office taps, the espresso doesn't come out as hot as you'd like.

Firstly. I love my Minipresso GR but it does have one flaws with liquid buildup in the nozzle. This results in it being a bit messy. To fix this issue I made some minor changes to the device. The main change was to add a rubber O-ring to seal the inner tube which separate the outer nozzle housing with the filter to prevent the liquid buildup. While the result from the second change might be personal preference, I find that i get a better result by removing the rubber knob responsible for building pressure in the unit and instead firmly compress the coffee in the pod to generate the pressure resistance. This was done by simply disassembling the nozzle. All things considered. I use this to brew coffee at work on a daily basis and would not wish to be without it.

I have owned an Aerobie Aeropress, for a few years, and I fancied trying something that might give me something a bit closer to espresso taste, but without spending a lot of money and taking up counter space. I do think the price of this is attractive for the cleverly designed object Further, good espresso relies on expensive grinders, and reading the reviews it sounded like I could get away with my modest grinder for this one, and that seems to be true. I do prefer the coffee that comes out of this device more than from the Aeropress. The reason I give it only 3 stars is that it is fiddly and messy, and you can only put a rather small quantity of coffee in at a time, so I need a double shot, which all makes it very time-consuming, especially if you are giving several people double shots. A useful feature of the Aeropress is you can put in whatever quantity of coffee you grind, whereas with this you have to put the right quantity of coffee in, but I suppose that is a general feature of all such devices. The used grounds are rather annoying to get out, I have to use the handle of a teaspoon to get them out. You tend to end up with mucky hands and spilled coffee grounds on the counter. The main skill you require to gain is putting the right quantity of coffee in to the correct level, and tamping it to an appropriate amount. You can read elsewhere that if you overtamp, it is too difficult to push the water through the grounds, but if you undertamp the coffee is weak and disappointing.

Before purchasing this one, I made the mistake of being smug when I purchased a cheap version of a well known voucher site. Boy, lesson learnt. I have the lucky stance to be able to compare this to a similar product. The quality is unbelievable, the accessories are durable and don't feel in any way cheap. The thread screws on really nice, this might seem a low priority but after sampling the cheaper version I promise it is worth the extra money! It is easy to clean and comes with a brush to facilitate this. It is so nice being able to make a proper coffee when out and about in a few seconds. Verdict - worth every penny!

Purchased for my espresso mad son for his 21st and he loves it - uses it daily