The Wacaco Nanopresso is the best portable espresso maker out there. Tim Rogg from specialty coffee club 'The Right Roast' puts it through its paces, with a video review plus some great hacks.
Wacaco know what it takes to make amazing espressos on the go. Since the launch of the insanely popular Minipresso, they’ve been refining and developing the range. Being coffee aficionados here at WildBounds, we felt it was high time to put together a Nanopresso review and buying guide to help you through the growing range of accessories.
With that in mind, we got in touch with Tim Rogg from leading specialty coffee club, The Right Roast, via our retail partner, Bear & Bear. Tim has done a detailed video review of the Nanopresso and highlights a number of tips, tricks and hacks. Tim has made it his mission to visit independent coffee shops all over the world to sample their wares, so we could think of no-one better to put the Nanopresso through its paces. Jump to the end for Tim's unboxing video.
The Nanopresso is a compact hand-powered, portable espresso machine produces up to 18 bars (261 PSI) of pressure for a rich, bold, creamy espresso. It’s available in classic black or patrol orange and includes a case, cup and scoop.
Nanopresso Accessories
The Nanovessel
To get the most out of your on-the-go coffee experience, the accessories that Wacaco have developed are first-rate. The Nanovessel keeps your previously boiled water hot for when you need it. It has 3-in-1 functionality acting as a tumbler, tea infuser and water tank all in one! See the video below.
The Barista Kit
The Barista Kit is the perfect addition if you are looking to brew double espressos, as it provides additional grain and water capacity. It can be combined with the Nanovessel (photos below). There are a few pieces included in the Barista Kit. See the video below for a full contents run through.
If you are a Nespresso fan, then this is for you. It allows you to insert your favourite capsule varieties directly into the Nanopresso. It’s a great addition because it’s just an attachment, so you can keep a couple of capsules in reserve if you run out of grains and still have an espresso on the go.
The Minipresso
No Nanopresso review would be complete without mentioning the Minipresso too. Whilst it’s not as compact or powerful as the new improved version, it is more affordable, and still a fantastic way to get caffeinated on the move. This is the GR version that uses coffee grounds and not capsules.
This Minipresso NS takes only Nespresso capsules, which is a great option for someone who wants espresso on the go, but also prefers to keep things simple. You can use your favourite flavours of Nespresso wherever you want.
'The Right Roast' Nanopresso Unboxing
Tim Rogg runs specialty coffee club The Right Roast, which is a great place to get your coffee beans on subscription. He’s filmed a short unboxing video and gathered together a bunch of useful tips following a more extended period of use that he’s shared with us below.
Over to Tim:
"Whilst I’m not really an espresso guy – my preference is for filter coffee (as you can see by my videos) – I am into the Nanopresso and can see the benefits. After shooting the video I’ve used it a number of times and come up with some useful tips that I think will get you on the path to a great coffee".
Tim's Top Tips
Don’t grind your coffee too fine. It needs to be more like ground salt, and not fine like dust to get the best extraction.
Pre-heat the machine – simply pump some hot water through to preheat the Nanopresso. This will leave you with a hotter final shot, better extraction, and richer crema.
Pump every second, no faster. You can check to see if the pump speed is right by checking the colour of the water in the tank after use. If it is not clear and a bit murky, you have been pumping too fast and coffee is being passed back through.
Clean after every use. Wait a few minutes after extraction and your espresso puck will be nice and dry for an easy clean up. One whack of the filter basket should do it!
Make sure the nozzle is clean and clear for a perfect pour and crema.
Add a trickle of sparkling water to the water tank along with regular still water. This will help to create a quick release of carbon dioxide, which is what crema is composed of. You can get a nice extra frothy head on your shot this way!
