Wacaco Minipresso GR Review: Real Espresso, pumped by you!

There is no way around it; I enjoy drip coffee, cold brew, espresso, or any available coffee. I also want the coffee-making experience; however, espresso is one thing that causes issues. While drip coffee can be made with a cheap $10 coffee maker from a big box retailer, espresso requires significant pressure and care, making it a more expensive proposition when you need heavy-duty equipment to achieve it.

However, what if you remove the “machine” from an espresso machine and replace it with a manual process, that should make a less expensive option, right? That is where the Minipresso GR comes into play and why I am writing this review.

Why should you trust me? I have owned the Wacaco Minipresso GR for a couple of years and have gotten to know this miniature and manual espresso maker well. I enjoy helping people find products that are right for them to make their life easier, which is why this article exists. Want to learn more about me? Visit this link here!

What is the Wacaco Minipresso GR?

4.0

The Wacaco Minipresso GR is a small and portable espresso maker. Rather than rely on electronic components to build the needed 9+ bars of pressure to make espresso, they pump a small piston button with your hand. The process is simple, insert ground coffee in one end, hot water in the other, and press the button until you have up to 50ml of coffee.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 6.89" High by 2.75" Wide by 2.36" Deep
• Weight: 12.7 ounces
• Coffee Amount: 50ml

Pros:

• It makes fantastic (and authentic) espresso.
• Simple to use once you get used to it.
• You can use your coffee beans.
• Extremely compact

Cons:

• Not quite large enough espresso shot
• It can be messy.

See Price: Minipresso GR

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Who is this product for?

The Minipresso GR is perfect for someone who doesn’t mind a bit more work in the morning to get their shot of espresso. They enjoy making their coffee just as much as the coffee itself. The ideal person for the Minipresso GR also prefers to use their coffee grounds rather than pods and sometimes likes to make their coffee on the go.

How did I test this portable espresso maker?

I like to place anything I review into my daily life. This allows me to appreciate it the most and see how often I use it or if I end up opting for something else instead for one reason or another. This Minipresso GR lives in my coffee cabinet alongside my coffee mugs, coffee beans, and more.

What is the design of the product like?

While the packaging has more components, the Wacaco Minipresso GR consists primarily of three parts to make your espresso shot.

That would be the main pressure chamber (where you push the button to build pressure), the coffee chamber (basically a portafilter), and the cover that goes over the portafilter and is where your espresso is ejected.

What did I like about this product?

1. It makes fantastic (and authentic) espresso.

This was the one thing I wanted out of the Minipresso GR when I received it, and it held up to it. Even though you manually press the piston to build up pressure, it does get up to the force needed to get a great cup of joe. While it is advertised at 8 bars of pressure, and you generally need 9 bars to get great espresso, I would still put this in the camp of great-tasting espresso from my experience.

2. Simple to use once you get used to it.

While there is a bit of a learning curve in using the Minipresso GR, it is easy to use once you get the hang of it. It takes boiling water, placing coffee grounds into the portafilter, and covering it up. Then, press the button until all the water has been expelled into your coffee cup. It’s an easy, straightforward process that most people should have no problem with.

3. You can use your coffee beans.

I wanted the GR version of the Minipresso and not the NS. Pods are one of the worst ways to make a great cup of coffee and generally result in a stale and somehow expensive cup of joe. Instead, the GR (for ground) allows you to use your espresso ground coffee.

This means you can make your coffee from cheap beans or treat yourself to a better coffee, depending on your budget. This also means you don’t have to settle for whatever Nespresso-style pod you can find.

4. Extremely compact

When most espresso machines are massive pieces of hardware that take up tons of space on your countertop, the Minipresso GR is a breath of fresh air. Rather than take up any counter space, it fits easily into your cabinet or even a drawer for storage. It even comes with a storage bag to do just that.

This compact size also lends well to taking it on the go to make coffee in a hotel room or at a friend’s house.

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What did I NOT like about this product?

1. Not quite large enough espresso shot

I like my usual cup of coffee to be in the range of 12 ounces. If I plan on making a latte with my Minipresso GR, I generally have to make two shots of espresso from my unit to make the latte strong enough to enjoy. 

This shorter 50ml of espresso from the Minipresso GR must be more significant to make specialty drinks. Instead, this would be ideal for someone that wants to drink just that, a shot of espresso on its own.

2. It can be messy.

While many handheld espresso makers are marketed as portable units, you can take them in your car or hiking. They never show you the cleanup process. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t any clean way to get the coffee out of the portafilter. You generally want to rinse off parts of the espresso maker underwater, which could be more conducive to an on-the-go lifestyle. Instead, you will probably make a single shot and wait to clean it until you get home or back to town.

Do I use my Minipresso GR often?

As a primary espresso maker, the Minipresso GR doesn’t quite do it for me. I have been trying out other espresso machines (larger units), and they haven’t either. Instead, I have moved back to making standard drip coffee out of a coffee maker until I can find a better solution for espresso. That said, if you are on the go, these are fantastic espresso makers, and it works exceptionally well. However, I find that it isn’t worth the effort for me.

How is this product different from its competitors?

Minipresso vs Aeropress

While the Aeropress can make something similar to espresso (especially with the Prismo attachment), the Minipresso GR makes authentic espresso. This includes true crema and a much better-tasting espresso that you can utilize to make specialty drinks.

Minipresso vs Handpresso

The Handpresso is likely a better choice for someone that wants a more automatic experience. However, if you are looking for an espresso maker for the on-the-go and on a budget, the Minipresso will be your better option.

Minipresso vs Nanopresso

Both of these are made by Wacaco! The Nanopresso is the newer addition to the lineup and offers a modular design so that you can customize it with bigger portafilters, larger water containers, and more. However, if you want a simple (and more budget-friendly) experience, the Minipresso is the way to go.

Has this product changed over the years?

The Minipresso has mostly stayed the same over the years; rather than changing this product, Wacaco has released the Nanopresso, a modular (and more expensive) version of this handheld espresso maker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

While I do not use my Minipresso GR very often, the idea behind it is fantastic. It is high quality, allows you to have an espresso maker on a budget, and is fun to be a part of the espresso-making experience. If you drink smaller shots of espresso and enjoy the process, this would be perfect for you.