Is the Handpresso a Good Investment for Espresso Enthusiasts?

Question

I've read a lot of reviews before making the purchase and to my surprise, they seem to be a bit inconsistent. Let's find out, is it worth the money?

Answer 1

The Handpresso was first manufactured in 2008, and the price at which it sells incurs 60 pounds. People are curious about its ‘rich coffee flavor’ since it is basically a device that utilizes the concept of a bicycle pump to create pressure within it. It does have some drawbacks as well including a smaller sized coffee basket which is only capable of holding five grams of coffee and this leads to poor and inconsistent quality espresso on many occasions. This tells us that it was not intended primarily as a grinder but rather for use with ESE pods. While it is an affordable and entertaining device, the degree of effort that it requires is likely to not be worth the outcome and it is not the appropriate tool for those people who are serious about getting espresso.

Comments

I enjoyed the coffee from my handpresso for some 5 years. With aggressive tamping and filling to the brim the results are much improved, and good for an "almost" espresso on the fly. About a year ago it failed and I am a bit disappointed to have no way to get the parts to repair it, but feel an upgrade is due and the pico appears to be thw best option. Also, it is less likely to cause the pre flight security scanner attendant to call their manager to discuss whether it was allowed in hand luggage or might constituted a weapon given its club like proportions!

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The handpresso works best if you over fill the basket. 5g in tamp, then another 3 or 4 in and tamp again. It let's you actually build enough resistance and gets a nicer dose for the amount of water you need to use. Because the puck is so vertical and because I overdose the basket it's insanely sensitive to grind size and you're right on the limit of choking every shot.

It's a fiddly device and I much prefer the wacaco, but you can definitely struggle your way to a decent single from a handpresso.

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I have owned the Handpresso and currently own the Flair. With practice, as others have mentioned, one can do better than shown with the Handpresso. When I owned one they said not to tamp. I did get to the point where I got consistent decent pucks. Like others said, grind was crucial and had to be very precise. This all got me through Peru for a couple of weeks and through many car camping trips. At this time though, the end result is that this content is right that it is inferior to what is out now. It also had some durability issues and that is the main reason I no longer have one. Seals were not sold by Handpresso so you had to source elsewhere when they inevitably failed. The pressure switch broke off as it was plastic. A screw worked as a replacement. Finally, even with fresh seals, I could no longer get a proper seal. The Flair is great because, as others have also mentioned, it makes better espresso than most coffee shops. Yes, you are probably not going to take it backpacking or such. However, I use it for van camping 90 days a year and it is fantastic. Yes, I have even used it on the “floor” many times. In fact, this ultimately made me purchase one and then further recommend it to friends. The Wacoco does peak my interest but the Flair is nearly failure free. That is a priority when in the middle of nowhere seeking a moment of comfort.

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The Handpresso is really made for ESE pods. Pods may not be as good as coffee that you've ground yourself, but they are super convenient. The whole set up makes for a completely mess-free brewing experience, which I think is unmatched. In practice, I find that it helps to preheat the water compartment, and to "preinfuse" by holding the device in the flipped position for 5 seconds before opening the valve.

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I had a Handpresso we took on a monthlong cross-country trip across the U.S. and back through Canada.  It made good espresso but only AFTER REALLY figuring out the grind size and tamping. I cannot tell you how delightful it was to have a nice shot of GOOD espresso in really remote parts of the American West. My fave memory was pulling it out and making and enjoying espresso lakeside at Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies while my feet were dangling in the lake.  Also the chance to pick up good coffee from regional roasters. Again this was in 2010 when really good 3rd wave coffee was super rare to find.

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I have the Handpresso and get tasty results. They sell a slower screen that helps. Also grinding really fine slows the flow. Fill the basket, well
tamped, right to the top. I’ve got it to 25 - 30 seconds. I agree, you might need two shots to make a good Americano. Overall, I like it for holidays and any hotel room that only has instant.