What Makes the Picopresso a Good Choice for Portable Espresso?

0 votes
by (120 points)
In my search for the best portable espresso maker, I have come across the Picopresso and wish to know more about its strengths and how convenient would it be in actual use.

1 Answer

0 votes
by (580 points)
The Picopresso is a powerful, yet small, espresso maker that comes with a sleek carrying case complete with a dosing funnel, a tamper, and a needle distribution tool. It pumps pressure into its working parts and grows espresso anywhere there is hot water. Even though it is best warmed up beforehand and it too has an improvement resistant basket, people continuously receive good espresso. It can be acquired at a price of £130 in the UK, which is acceptable for an espresso maker, although its build quality might sound feeble. It is a quirky gadget perfect for making great espresso in the most unexpected locations.
by (100 points)
I am an airliner pilot and since couple of months i am using Picopresso. It is really very good for long layovers and long flights, hotel rooms even long waitings between flights. Very compact and very easy to carry and cleaning. And its espresso is i can say very satisfactory especially if your water is hot enough. I only changed the basket with an IMS basket which is not so expensive. Thanks for the content…
by (100 points)
I use my picopresso daily at work, make it in a hospital and get lots of weird looks. It's fantastic. They're coming out with a pressure gauge attachment apparently in the next few months. It really is hard to beat
by (100 points)
I own the Picopresso. It is brilliant. The instructions do recommend pre-heating the chamber and discarding the water before pulling a shot. So far not a hint of a worry around longevity
by (100 points)
I have an older version of this picopresso (the minipresso). Coffee isn’t amazing with it but I’m absolutely crazy about it. I hike a lot and I have made espressos on top of mountains or in really remote places and it really hits differently when you’re soaked or frozen to have a nice espresso!
by (100 points)
I've had the Picopresso for about 4 months now. It took me a while to dial it in and get the workflow right. I use it in my coworking space most days and also took it on a hike, the results are incredibly consistent. I did some test runs at home with a scale to know how many times I need to pump to get to my target output, for me that's 10 for preinfusion and 20 more to get ~34g out. I'm using 17g and a puck screen. Without puck screen I'd use 18g.

It's worth noting that you absolutely need a capable espresso focused hand grinder (1ZPresso JE-Plus in my case). I tried with a pour-over focussed hand grinder (1ZPresso JX) but all you'll get is battery acid. So, if you don't already have a hand grinder for espresso, that will likely more than double the cost.

Also, especially for several shots back to back, the Picopresso body gets very hot, so you may want to get some form of sleeve. I cut a bamboo sushi rolling mat to size, removed a couple of bamboo sticks and tied up the ends, it fits perfectly around the Picopresso and it still fits into the carry case.

Taking it to weird places, for really boiling water you can always get a mini camping kettle/pot stove, mine holds ~500ml (also enough for two Aeropress cups) and can run on solid methanol fuel tablets or other solid fuels. It's a similar size as the Picopresso and very light. To speed up the boiling time bring hot water in a thermos.

It's kind of weird pulling out a hand grinder and espresso maker on a mountain or a beach, but these are also some of the most memorable shots I ever had, and somehow that environment makes them taste even better.

It's also a cheaper entry point to espresso, just be prepared that it's a steep learning curve, so don't give up easily. If it doesn't taste good and you're inexperienced, it's probably you (or the grinder) that's to blame.
by (100 points)
I got the picopresso clearly for making good coffee at work (we have only these coin-insert machines which are disgusting). I can say picopresso has changed mywhole work experience. I also got it once for camping and a couple of times hiking and at hotel room. Honestly, I love picopresso. I have ordered a better basket now anf waiting for it. really excited
by (100 points)
I've had the picopresso for a couple of months now.  Took me a while to dial in the grind/grams/speed of pumping...but now I'm pulling (pumping?) some great espresso shots with this little thing.  It blows my mind that I can get such good espresso for so cheap.  Bravo Picopresso for bringing espresso home
by (100 points)
We bought a Picopresso for family holidays recently and loved it. Agree about the basket needing an upgrade (and the pointless brush)but I thought the build quality was great. The thread for the water cover was fiddly though.
My engineer brain marvelled at how everything fits.
Love the Pico.
by (100 points)
The Picopresso is an engineering marvel. It takes creativity to make something work in such a tight space, and as pointed out, every piece can be stored inside itself!
by (100 points)
As someone traveling for a living, size matters when traveling by air. I 100% agree the picopresso needs to be preheated. Hotel rooms usually have a coffee maker that you can use to heat your water. 10/10 recommend if you're away from home a lot but still want better coffee than you could otherwise get.
by (100 points)
The little brush from Picopresso is actually quite useful for brushing off powder stuck in the screw to avoid leakage issue while applying pressure to the pump.
by (100 points)
“Take it somewhere stupid.” One of the most entertaining content I’ve seen in awhile, regardless of the subject.

I own the picopresso, but still prefer exploring local coffee shops when I’m on the road.
by (100 points)
I'm dissapointed in the noticeable lack of briping for contrast (where the bripe is clearly the pinnacle of non-espresso portability).
by (100 points)
I used to daily drive a nanopresso with the "barista" basket/tank and a removed pressure valve! Definitely a bit too fussy for a day to day coffee maker (cleaning all the parts was a pain), but for a cheap small option the results were great. The picopresso is definitely tempting for a backpacking coffee setup...
by (100 points)
I’ve had a Picopresso (and the Nano and Mini) from the pre-launch and I really like it. It is very grind-fussy and heat-dependent but does make delicious shots.
by (100 points)
I own the picopresso, I work night shift on the roads and I can be in remote areas. The fact I can make decent espresso anywhere (with a good grinder) and how portable it is won me over. I love it.
by (100 points)
I have a Staresso, similar in concept to the Pico, but it's more self-contained. Love it and simple to clean.
Welcome to Akaguide Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...