The Best Portable Espresso Machine - A Ridiculous London Day Out

Product(s) Reviewed

The video compares four portable espresso makers:

1. Wacaco Picopresso
2. Handpresso (originally from 2008)
3. UniTerra Nomad
4. Flair PRO 2

The main “best portable espresso maker” recommendation is not simply the best espresso, because portability and setup constraints matter.

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1) Wacaco Picopresso (used on a boat)

Key Features / Setup

• Comes with a travel case and includes:
  • dosing funnel, tamper, needle distribution tool
  • a basket plus parts for a “naked basket” style
  • includes a brush described as “possibly the most useless”
• Uses a hand pump to build pressure (no power required).
• Water source: a preheated Thermos (~96°C) (no kettle available).

Performance / Taste

• Espresso is “surprisingly good” and “genuinely… very capable.”
• Uses about a 15 g dose (called decent).
• Shot process: 8–10 pumps pre-infusion, then pump to build pressure.

Pros

• Very portable conceptually (“make espresso anywhere”).
• Produces good espresso despite no built-in hot-water system.
• “Everything you need except hot water and ground coffee” (compact and practical).

Cons

• Needs preheating for repeat use; first shot can be a little cool.
• Basket quality is disappointing (hole pattern not great). Video suggests swapping with an IMS basket (~£130).
  • The basket is described as somewhat cheap, raising concerns about longevity with frequent travel.
• No gauge/feedback for pressure.
• Durability concerns if tossed in bags or dropped (no feedback + travel abuse risk).

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2) Handpresso (used during city travel)

Key Features / Setup

• Much cheaper: £60.
• Pressure build uses a bicycle-pump-like mechanism.
• Includes a pressure gauge with a stated 16 bar target.
• Uses a small basket requiring about 5 to 5.5 g dose.
• No included tamper; the video notes people may tamp using the base of the handle (“gross”).
• Includes an adapter for ESE pods (Illy “Easy Serve Espresso”).

Performance / Taste

Espresso results are described as not good and unreliable:

• Only 10–15 g yield from ~5 g input.
• Tends to blow apart the puck, leading to channeled/uneven espresso.

Pod version is also described as tragic:

• No crema, looks bad, and the serve is very small.

Pros

• Fun, silly, inexpensive invention.
• Concept is easy to understand.
• Pod compatibility is a plus.

Cons

• Bad espresso quality relative to effort.
• Tiny dose reduces practical usability.
• Basket feels designed for pods, not freshly ground coffee.
• Pumping in public feels socially awkward.
• Overall verdict: technology feels outdated (from 2008, not improved).

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3) UniTerra Nomad (angular blue unit)

Key Features / Setup

• Price: $250.
• Water tank: 300 mL (surprisingly large for portability).
• Uses a portafilter-like tray with a filter basket and proprietary “True Crema Valve.”
  • Designed so even coarser / less-than-ideal grind can still produce “crema” and “okay results.”
• Pressure gauge:
  • Green zone: 6–10 bars for crema
  • Red zone above that
• Pressure build uses a “seesaw” lever.
• Comes with a tamper, but it doesn’t perfectly fit (side-to-side play).

Shot technique:

• About 8–10 pumps to get going, then pump to around 6–7 bars.

Performance / Taste

• Makes espresso described as “really good” and “tasty espresso.”
• Produces memorable shots, particularly in public/urban settings.

Pros

• Delicious espresso potential.
• Pressure gauge helps dialing in.
• More flexible water usage because the tank holds more water.
• The seesaw mechanism is praised as “whole-hearted endorsement” and “fun/easy.”
• Works for longer drinks (lunga / “sprover” half-espresso/half pour-over style).

Cons

• Tight spout-to-placement clearance; no easy way to use a scale under the cup.
• Cleaning is fussy, including:
  • cleaning liquid near spout/clearance
  • cleaning under basket
  • cleaning an additional gray tray
• Tank thermal behavior tradeoff:
  • 300 mL cools fast, limiting repeat shots.
  • Using less water reduces temperature stability, limiting lighter roasts/higher brew temps.
• Design is described as polarizing (could delight or offend).

“Place” Fit

The speaker says it’s “made to go everywhere,” but it really needs:

• a flat surface
• access to hot water
• ideally a sink for cleaning

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4) Flair PRO 2 (used on a roof/park-like setup)

Key Features / Setup

Described as a more “manual espresso machine” style:

• metal base/frame + lever
• modular brew chamber
• gauge on the unit
• basket + puck screen

Requires:

• hot water (commonly via something like Jetboil)
• grinder/coffee

Performance / Taste

• In the nicest conditions (table/chair/roof), it produces good espresso.
• Lever/gauge provides better pressure control feel than the others.

Pros

• Well-built / robust: “metal everywhere that counts.”
• More integrated and consistent brewing experience.
• Produces excellent espresso (leans toward being the “best espresso maker” overall).
• Pressure feel and gauge help user control.

Cons (especially portability)

Portability is questioned:

• works best with a table
• feels unsuitable for cramped situations (e.g., bus/cable car)
• without surfaces, pulling shots in the wild would be difficult

In the lineup, it’s considered disadvantaged by practicality, not by espresso quality.

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Comparisons & Overall Ranking Logic

The speaker separates priorities:

• Best espresso quality: likely Flair PRO 2
• Most portable: Picopresso
• Worst results: Handpresso
• In-between / flexible but quirky: Nomad

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Specific Final Verdict (as stated)

• Best portable: Wacaco Picopresso (but “needs a few tweaks,” especially basket improvements)

• Best espresso maker: Flair (but not the best portable in real-world conditions)

• Handpresso: dismissed as “just out” / not a good experience

• Nomad: sits in the middle—capable and fun, but awkward/quirky

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Unique Points Explicitly Mentioned (Consolidated)

• Espresso in unusual/beautiful places doesn’t necessarily taste better, but it’s often delightful and enjoyable.
• The video’s central theme is the portability boom and why espresso is hard to solve outside proper setup.
• Picopresso
  • compact travel case + included tools
  • needle distribution + dosing funnel
  • requires preheated water; first shot can be cool without preheating
  • basket quality concerns; possible IMS swap (~£130)
  • lacks pressure gauge feedback
• Handpresso
  • £60 price; bicycle pump + gauge
  • 5–5.5 g dose is too small
  • results are channeled/unreliable; puck blows apart
  • includes ESE pod adapter (Illy “Easy Serve Espresso”)
  • pumping in public is socially awkward
  • not worth effort due to poor espresso; outdated design
• Nomad
  • $250
  • 300 mL tank
  • True Crema Valve helps with coarser grind
  • gauge with green (6–10 bars) and red zones
  • included tamper fit/play issues
  • seesaw pressure mechanism praised
  • cleaning is fussy; needs sink/flat surface
  • thermal stability tradeoff affects lighter roasts/higher brew temps
  • can do lungo / “sprover” style drinks
• Flair PRO 2
  • best espresso quality in the lineup
  • requires table-like setup; portability questioned
  • robust metal build; lever + gauge enable control
  • most convincing when the environment is “luxurious” (table/chair)

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Speaker-Specific Views

Only one narrator is present, but their perspective shifts based on test location:

• Picopresso: impressed by output despite flaws; durability and lack of gauge criticized
• Handpresso: strongly negative on espresso quality vs effort; fun but outdated
• Nomad: positive about espresso and fun mechanism; negative on cleaning, thermal tradeoffs, and “needs flat surface + sink”
• Flair PRO 2: best espresso quality but worse portability due to setup needs

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Concise Recommendation / Verdict

• Choose the Wacaco Picopresso if you want the best combination of portability and surprisingly solid espresso—but preheat and consider basket improvements.
• Choose the Flair PRO 2 if your top priority is maximum espresso quality and you can use a proper setup (table/space).
• Avoid the Handpresso unless you specifically want a fun, pod-based novelty; brewed results were described as poor for the effort.
• Choose the Nomad as a middle-ground option: capable and enjoyable, especially for its seesaw lever, but it’s awkward in real travel conditions due to cleaning and brew-temperature constraints.