Wacaco Nanopresso review (2024)

TechRadar Verdict

Impressively good espresso from a hand-powered machine? Wacaco’s Nanopresso proves the naysayers wrong.

Pros

  • +

    Great tasting coffee

  • +

    Espresso on the go

Cons

  • -

    Requires focus

  • -

    Boiling water required

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The Wacaco Nanopresso is certainly a bit of a wild card: a hand-powered machine resembling a souped-up Thermos probably isn’t what you had in mind when setting out to buy an at-home espresso maker. But we were so impressed by Wacaco’s Nanopresso charms that we couldn’t resist including it.

Simply put, the Wacaco’s Nanopresso is a pocket-sized machine with the ability to brew hand-pumped espresso. Whether you’re not able to entertain a blimp-sized domestic espresso machine or just on the go so much that home means more than one place, the Nanopresso is a surprisingly worthy contender.

Design

The first thing you need to know about the Nanopresso is there’s no battery or charging. Your espresso is created with up to 18 bars of pressure through hand-pumping, and the end result is comparable to what you’d be served in a cafe.

Lighter, smaller, easier to pump and yet twice as powerful as its predecessor (the Minipresso), the Nanopresso comes with a built-in espresso cup and lightweight case that’s moulded perfectly to house the device.

You can even use the bottom of the coffee scoop to tamp down your grinds, and if you’re a pod convert, pick up an NS Adapter from Wacoco so you just travel with pods instead.

Although the Nanopresso’s body and components are made from plastic, it feels very solid and robust, and ideal for traveling. Little touches, like the fact the screw thread for the water container just presses on and off, make the Nanopresso feel like it would last a good few years on the road.

Wacaco Nanopresso review (2)

Day-to-day use

If you’ve never used an outdoor espresso maker before, it takes a bit of time to work out what each component is for, so this is definitely not one to try for the first time at 7am on a weekday morning, but it’s great for taking high quality espresso with you no matter where you're going.

Over a month of use, we found this best for nomadic working and weekends away - in other words, all those times when you’re not sure if there’s going to be great espresso within easy reach.

If you’re on the road a lot, studying in libraries or merely changing offices regularly throughout the day, the Nanopresso was a neat gadget that’s used with minimal fuss. All you need is access to hot water and some kind of stable surface to set everything up.

The only downside we really noticed would be the same as having a vacuum flask with you, which is the drying time and re-assembling all the components back - but with such great tasting coffee, it’s a negative that’s easily outweighed by the positives.

Wacaco Nanopresso review (3)

Taste

After a few attempts, we were achieving gorgeously smooth, rich cremas with every shot, thanks to those 18 bars of pressure forcing hot water through the coffee grinds.

In fact, we feel like it’s precisely because this machine is so simple and the technology is boiled right down to the essentials, that it’s easy to tweak and see immediate results. Within a few days, you do feel like you’re learning a lot about honing in on that perfect espresso.

The fact Wacaco’s patented pressure system can achieve that 18 bar pressure is a serious game-changer for hand-powered espresso, and it means the Nanopresso is able to compete in flavor against the top end of the market.

If you’re into add-ons, Wacaco has also released a Barista Kit Double Espresso that we also experimented with whilst reviewing. The Barista Kit screws on to the Nanopresso to enable it to make two shots of espresso, although it means bringing another barrel of kit along - we preferred the stripped-back design of the Nanopresso for convenience.

Eco

The eco credentials of this small machine are impressive. From the off, the Nanopresso only requires you to boil water - the rest is done by hand.

What’s more, because it is so portable, if you’re looking to cut down on takeaway coffees (and all the disposable packaging that comes with them), the Nanopresso involves a lot less waste and money, and with a (comparatively) low initial spend anyway, it’ll only be a month or so before you’ve saved back the spend on a daily coffee habit.

Wacaco Nanopresso review (5)

Verdict

In look, price, and experience, the Nanopresso couldn’t be further than the top of the range espresso machines we’ve reviewed. And yet the taste is almost on par. It is more of a faff, it does involve boiling water and finding a flat spot if you’re outside, but the end result is seriously impressive.

It’s incredibly practical, has a low eco impact and it doesn’t require you to pay into a specific system - switch between pods or grinds, and forget about cleaning products all together - just old fashioned soap and water will do the trick.

After a month with the Nanopresso, it was the democratic nature of the thing that most impressed us. Whether you’re in a college cafeteria, a campsite or an under-equipped co-working space, the Nanopresso enables you to make flawless espresso by hand, using no electricity.

It’s far from a plug-in-and-go job, but the Nanopresso actually had us asking why coffee had become so complicated, when all you really need for a wake-up call is a small and mighty piece of kit like this.

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Wacaco Nanopresso review (6)

Ava Szajna-Hopgood

Ava Szajna-Hopgood is a freelance writer and marketing and communication specialist with a passion for the creative industries. She worked as Features Editor for Urban Junkies for two years writing weekly trends, restaurant reviews and travel guides.

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Wacaco Nanopresso review (2024)

FAQs

Is Nanopresso worth it? ›

Simply put, the Wacaco's Nanopresso is a pocket-sized machine with the ability to brew hand-pumped espresso. Whether you're not able to entertain a blimp-sized domestic espresso machine or just on the go so much that home means more than one place, the Nanopresso is a surprisingly worthy contender.

Which is better, Picopresso or Nanopresso? ›

If you prefer to have full control over your espresso, Picopresso is the ideal choice. For on-the-go espresso lovers who prefer ground coffee, Nanopresso is a great choice. And for those looking for maximum convenience and speed, the Minipresso NS2 is the right choice.

How fine to grind for Nanopresso? ›

Nanopresso comes with some new instructions. We recommend to add 8 gr of fine coffee grind into the filter basket and apply a hard tamp, really hard. Most of the pre-grinded coffee beans will work very well under those conditions, thanks to the 18 bar pressure (261 PSI).

How many bars can you put in a Nanopresso? ›

Built around a newly patented pumping system, the Nanopresso is capable of reaching, with the help of your hands, a maximum of 18 bars (261 PSI) of pressure for unparalleled coffee extractions qualities.

Does the Nanopresso make good coffee? ›

On the plus side this is hands down the best coffee I have ever had, on trail or off and that's saying something because I don't like cheap and nasty coffee. While this little unit contains lots of bits, it is easy to assemble, easy to use and easy to pull apart for cleaning.

Do you need hot water for Nanopresso? ›

Do I have to heat up the water? For a proper extraction it is best to heat up the water when making an espresso with the Nanopresso, but if you're in a bind, or if you want to make a cold brew, you can make an espresso with cold water too!

What is the best coffee for a Wacaco Nanopresso? ›

The Best Coffee for a Nanopresso

We always recommend using a blend if you're adding milk to your coffee. Our Il Caramello blend is lovely and smooth, while our Tall, Dark and Handsome blend packs a bit more of a punch with a fuller body.

What grind is best for Nanopresso? ›

Grind 8g of fresh, good quality coffee (Grind 16g if you are using the Barista Kit). You want to grind this relatively fine, somewhere between how you would grind for Aeropress and how you would grind for espresso.

Does Nanopresso make good espresso? ›

Basically, the Wacaco Nanopresso is easy to use, pretty easy to clean out afterward–though it does require a slightly deeper cleaning every month or so–and makes dang good espresso, all in one very portable little package. You can even get it in a variety of colors with a protective carrying case if you so desire.

When did the Nanopresso come out? ›

In May 2017, the company launched the Nanopresso, the most versatile and evolutive portable espresso machine on the market. WIRED magazine even named it the best of its class in both 2020 and 2021, cementing Wacaco's reputation as a leader in portable coffee technology.

How much pressure is in the Wacaco Nanopresso? ›

WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker, Upgrade Version of Minipresso, 18 Bar Pressure, Extra Small Travel Coffee Maker, Manually Operated, Compatible with Ground Coffee.

What happens if espresso grind is too fine? ›

Not only can a fine grind be harmful to the flavour and strength of your coffee, it can also damage your machine as mentioned earlier. Even commercial machines struggle with espresso that has been ground too finely, leading to pressure problems, slow downs and damage to valves and mechanical parts.

What pods are compatible with Nanopresso? ›

Thanks to the Nespresso adapter, the Nanopresso can use original Nespresso® capsules and most other compatible capsules to make the tastiest Nespresso. The advantage of using capsules is that the coffee is mechanically ground, measured and pressed with a higher precision than we can do by hand.

Can you use Nespresso pods in a Nanopresso? ›

[QUALITY ESPRESSO] The NS Adapter is a quality accessory, which allows the Nanopresso to use Nespresso** Original capsules and most of compatibles. Makes a great espresso with a rich crema on the go.

Can you use pods in Nanopresso? ›

The Nanopresso is up for any task! It can easily create a wide range of espresso styles: ristretto, single shot, doppio or cafe lingo, and can interchangeable use freshly ground coffee or encapsulated coffee pods.

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