Make sure to hit that like to show some appreciation! All engagement helps loads. Even those poop heads who seem to have notifications turned on just to immediately dislike my video. You may think you're harming the performance, but they help, too. So thanks, my loyal trolls. I appreciate you letting me live rent free in your head ;) kisses
The best upgrades for the picopresso are: A 51mm IMS basket (requires 51mm tamp), a shower screen, the stand, and the scale that fits under the stand perfectly. I Always preheat the pico while I grind my beans and prep the puck. The grind and dosage (in and out) together are going to make the majority difference in your final espresso. The gauge isn't going to make a difference in regards to pressure built, but it is another piece of conductive metal to steal heat from the water. If you get your dose and grind correct with your bean and basket size, the pressure will naturally fall into place and produce a thick and tasty espresso. The IMS basket and shower screen are a must. No more channeling, superior flavor and body (due to ability to grind finer and produce more pressure and extraction). I use a J ultra by Izpresso, which I highly recommend. I enjoy all beans and roasts, but this setup allows me to get such a balanced espresso with lots of body and sweetness. Just thought I'd share some beta for the pico noobs 🤙
Thank you for sharing! Would you be willing to share links to the IMS basket and showscreen you use in your set up? I have been using the picopresso as my only espresso making device for about a year and would be keen to try those upgrades (depending on price).
Hugo’s work is outstanding, shout-out to the videographer. And thank you Lance for the review and putting the extra work of buying the add-ons, people underrate your methods and opinions in an unfair way.
At first the price of those upgrades made my eyes water, but I appreciate the perspective of someone buying in low and building out their kit. Not enough ability to do that in the espresso market. Also I love that their whole approach allows you to put away your espresso machine in a drawer of cabinet. With limit counter space, a easily collapsable stand like that is a major plus for me.
Funny, here I am looking at manual machines because of how wildly inconsistent my Barista Express is to the point of being incapable of doing consecutive shots...
@@cenciende9401 it was mostly because the video headlined "budget" The Barista Express, certainly have its quirks. Works fine for me though. But I am not experimenting. Using the same dark roast from the same roastery. Now I just hit the grind and two shot(no weight), and get good and pretty consistent results. I have tried experimenting with different medium and light roast, and that was more interesting than pleasing.
Had my Picopresso for almost a year, now. Gotta say that the compact size on this thing is severely underrated. This is great for taking to work or at home if you just don't have space (or are living in a van down by the river). The pressure gauge is something I might get as a birthday or Christmas gift to myself just to see if the (perfectly enjoyable) shots I'm getting without it line up with bars of pressure, but it would absolutely be a "fluff" purchase. Being an Italian Roast ride-or-die type girl, I have zero need to upgrade the basket. The stand looks nice - I like how it breaks down, and the shot mirror is a nice touch. Again, a fluff purchase, but one I can see making in the future. My current costs on my entire Picopresso set up are about $220 for the base unit and grinder, and another $30 or so for a milk heater/frother unit. Getting the stand and pressure gauge would up that to a whopping $350 total. The Sworks accessories are right the hell out. That just seems like egregiously priced purchases that don't even fit my use case. They might be worth it to someone, but I am not their market for this. For those asking about how portable can it actually be; I do just fine with my relatively inexpensive Timemore C3, and that equipment combo does just fine for me to take into work and make espresso at the break table. On the rare occasions I travel, it's been perfect. God knows I have no interest in buying a Starbucks style drink that has a "we're in a hotel" surcharge attached, or in having to get all the way dressed and ready for my day BEFORE I've had my coffee. What this thing is NOT going to do is turn me into a house barista at parties. Since I don't have a living situation conducive to throwing parties/having more than one or two people over at a time, this is not exactly a drawback for the foreseeable future. In closing, if you are looking for home espresso but you are on a budget and you have nowhere to put it, this is an excellent little machine. It doesn't need all the added shiny stuff to be excellent.
About as perfect a summation as I could imagine and one I whole heartedly agree with. Had my PP for about 8 months and use it daily at home and when travelling. It really does everything I want without giving up a large section of kitchen worktop permanently over to an aluance that is only used twice a day. I'm an all or nothing kind of guy so either want a budget solution or I will go balls to the wall and get a high end beauty of a machine. Buy it once, buy the best, keep it forever. After my research I was salivating over a £1400+ beauty of a machine but when sitting back thought... All that just for 2 cups a day? How could I justify that to myself? After that I just wanted to go budget to try out the experience but boy was I wrong. The PP has been a perfect solution for my needs turning out some really great cups. All these bells and whistle add ons could really push it into another market. Nothing here is necessary at all. The gauge is pretty tempting tho but even that in itself is more than 1/2 the cost of the PP itself which stings somewhat. Maybe I'll put that on a birthday list tho ha ha. The PP really has been an eye opener for me and am still thoroughly enjoying it. Amazing little device for the money. I really think all these go faster stripes add ons are diminishing returns in the end of the day. But that's me perhaps...... 🤷🏻♂️
To be fair to them a little bit though; They are doing a lot of R&D for nieches or riskier products, like the kind of Adapter-basket that shrinks the extracting diameter while still fitting into a 58mm portafilter. Lost of them are bets that may never give them any money, so you are also paying the price of them investing into adventures. It brought a ton of cool stuff and improvements to the espresso world, so the money ain't wasted. It is very expensive for what you get in terms of the product though.
@LanceHedrick nice review, but I feel like it was missing some of the more geeky details you typically go into. Like with all manual espresso machines, I'm curious what sort of temperature loss you can expect with this thing, especially with the added pressure gauge, which adds quite a bit of mass to it. That sort of stuff.
issue is there is simply no way for me to measure this. I wanted to, but taking temp below the gauge is an impossibility since no measuring device fits below. I can only measure inside and that doesn't take into account post gauge temp. All I can vouch for is the taste of the espresso with a pre heat and boil was nice. Are you losing an extra degree? perhaps. Can you taste that? No. no one can.
As someone who's a complete stranger to coffee brewing, this little espresso maker has really caught my attention. It's so much cheaper than other major espresso makers while still making good espresso. It looks great for folks like me who're curious about the hobby but wary of the barrier to entry. Reminds me of the Aeropress in its value and simplicity.
I'm a digital nomad currently and the picopresso without any upgrades is my daily driver for espresso, right now I'm in Buenos Aires with lots of amazing coffee shops and I must humbly say the expressos I make with this little machine don't come much behind those in the coffee shops. Pair it with a nanofoamer and it's the perfect travel setup. Just needed a smaller scale than my timemore black mirror haha.
It’s not gonna cut it for me. With all those upgrades, it’s not so budget-friendly anymore, in my opinion. You get a Flair Neo or even a Flair Pro 2 within a similar price range and get a way more capable, less flimsy and still portable espresso maker!
They're add ons. I appreciate the compact size of the standalone picopresso and this it doesn't need all this extra stuff to function. Great camping/traveling rig. I wouldn't want to lug around a Flair personally. The stand and all that are totally separate entities as the "machine" it perfectly capable without all the upgrades.
I made daily espresso for almost a year with this never failed on me. Helped me understand lot of things about expresso, changing pressure with grind size and really feeling and tasting the extraction. I upgraded with IMS huge basket.
This would be perfect for someone like me who's been experimenting with filter coffee for the past 2 years but hasn't made the jump to espresso. Great low-risk way to dip the toe without having to heavily invest up-front.
Stay on filter! I have spent way too much money on espresso and still enjoy filter so much more. I only make espresso for others (mostly milk beverages that I do not enjoy myself). Filter can be so so good without spending a lot of money on your setup.
for AEROPRESS GO lovers: yes the JoePresso's single-hole basket is compatible with PicoPresso. They are both similar in weight overall. The Aeropress + JoePresso adapter limits you to 2-4 bars of pressure without breaking your glass, so if higher bars are preferred go with Wacoco instead.
I have a picopresso and upgraded the basket and added the distribution screen that fits below the shower screen. Works really well and im excited to try the pressure gauge and possibly the stand. I dont have a lot of space in my apartment so this looks like a great way to set up quickly and tear down when youre done.
With the prices on espresso machines decreasing like they are, I'll keep waiting for a little while. Maybe I'll pick up the next Flair(-competitor?) that will be producing excellent coffee for a small price :)
I’m not sure if it’s you or Hugo who picks the music but maaaaaannnn is it always fantastic, and so varied. One week it’ll be smooth jazz, another chill step, and now we get the Burr Man Blues! It always subtly fits the theme of the videos and never drowns your distinctive drawl. I know the music comes after the recording but I’d swear Lance’s loquaciousness sounds more Southern with a slide guitar behind it.
Hahahaha! Incredible comment. Especially after one comment literally a minute before yours accused it of sounding like a cheap ad 😅 Hugo will love this
I'd love to see what you think of the 9Barista. It's what I went with after my hunt for a compact espresso maker and after a couple months I have no regrets. I went that direction, kinda because it approaches things from a totally different angle than these manual machines. Less flexible, but also less work. Delicious espresso all the same.
I love mine for the last two years! Have had an IMS basket for a while and may get the new Normcore 51mm basket. Thanks for your thoughts and review Lance!
Hey Lance, I really enjoyed the format of this video. The overlaid music, and the switching to and from shots of you to product/action shots was well done. Not that I don't enjoy watching you talk and review a product, but this complemented your monologue well and improved the pace of the video.
I’ve been thinking about the pico as baby’s first espresso maker. The stand kinda seals the deal for me. I’d still probably use two hands, as it looks a bit shaky, but it would be less chance of a mess. And the gauge is a reasonable price as well, especially when you price the whole package against the Flairs with gauges.
Love the Picopresso, I bought mine for a trip overseas where I didn't have easy access to espresso and was blown away by how portable it was and how good the espresso was that came out of it. If I didn't already have a Gaggia Classic Pro I'd modified (FYI I first found Lance looking up videos about modifying the GCP, lol) I would definitely consider the Picopresso with the stand as my main machine at home for the footprint alone (I find it annoying how much counter space coffee gear takes up and so does the Mrs). Great video btw, I'm definitely considering some of these upgrades (not the Sworks basket, that's crazy cash for that!). PS: Thanks for the nod to those of us who think 58mm baskets are the be-all end-all, I'm slowly coming around to 54mm thanks to the Pico!
Just got this to use as intended: portable espresso machine to travel with. I struggle finding good espressos abroad and prefer espresso over V60, which I usually travel with.
Honestly, I had better shots from my wacaco with an ims basket than my Gaggia Classic. Maybe its because you can get espressos where you normally couldn't and I'm biased but Im really getting great shot on it. I'll get the pressure gauge for sure.
I'm actually worried about upgrading to a machine like a Gaggia Classic or Barrista and possibly getting worse results. May just wait untill im willing to spend over a grand on a machine or go Gagguino.
Thanks, Lance ☕️😙👌 I especially like being able to see the effect of your pumping on the pressure gauge... I'll be sure to consider this every time I use mine... I've had a Picopresso for a couple of years, and I really love it. Yep, you need to play around with it and expect some variation, but the results are worth it, especially when you're out and about and can make or access boiling water. People are always impressed with the device and the coffee it produces! I added IMS baskets (two, so I could prep for back-to-back shots), but I often use the stock basket when pumping a conventional espresso rather than a turbo shot (see Brian Quan) mainly because the dosing funnel fits it better! 😂 I also machine a skinny, screw-top aluminium distribution tool that I store in the spine of the case... Squeezes in snug! As far as a daily driver, however.. I started using mine that way when the aluminium portafilter I hole-sawed through to go naked on my second-hand, salvaged, low-grade espresso machine broke. The Picopresso was doing well until the pump action wore out, and the silicon around the showerhead split around the side. No more high pressure! My retailer sent me replacements under warranty, but I knew if I used the Pico as my main espresso machine, I'd likely experience another failure... so, I made it a priority to get my first 'proper' espresso machine (BDB, under your advice!) Also, as you mention, Lance, the workflow on the Pico is far from efficient... This device has many parts (many more, now!), and they all need to be carefully rinsed and dried before packing away to avoid oil residue and mould... If I were starting out, I'd still go for the Picopresso for travelling and for the occasional home spro... but it wouldn't be long before I'd be looking for something more efficient and reliable... I wouldn't bother with the $$$ baskets and tamp, or the wonky stand (easy enough to keep the Pico steady without it - I tried different methods... thumbs, fingers, palms... so, I say find what suits you best and so the stand and, hence, the mat. The pressure gauge? Maybe, but I like the way you have to pump by feel, resistance, sound, and the look of the stream... Anyway, thanks again, Lance, and get pumpin' folks! 😊🙏❤
I have one of these (none of the addons) that I got for travel/camping. What surprises me is that it's universally better/more predictable at making espresso than my (admittedly old and cheap) upgraded Gaggia Classic. Because of this, I sometimes use it at home, too. I had a Nanopresso before this, and while it was good, I always knew it was a step down from my home espresso machine. Not the case with Picopresso!
@@segamble1679 I will say that it's more 'needy' than my home espresso machine; needs hot water from somewhere, can't steam milk, etc - more fiddly in terms of a daily routine ... but the quality of the espresso is consistently great. If anything, it helped convince me it's time to get a new home espresso machine, haha.
I was very charmed by a lot of the features you listed off until you got to the price of each... that little tamper is adorable and definitely looks like it gives a great tamping experience but $75 is just way too much!
All u need for delicious espresso, Replace the basket, use a puck screen, ive put (cut to size) anti slip stickers on the button and sides. Amazing everytime.
I own about 15 different travel brewing options. If I'm going somewhere with running water, this thing is my first choice (no running water, I bring the Nanonpreso with nespresso pod attachment and reusable pods). I can get great espresso ouit of it with all the original parts. The pressure guage would be nice to have but I find with a nice long preinfusion, it's not needed. 9 pumps and i get a little ring of droplets around the outside of the basket. Then wait 15 seconds and pump 1 per 2 seconds. The sleeve would be nice. If you're making a few in a row or really preheat it well, it can get pretty hot. Nice to have the options individually, rather than some kind of accessory pack.
I have the picopresso with Swords basket, shower and tamper. While my expresso machine was being repaired, I used it every day for 2 months. It took longer to make coffee than in my normal semiautomatic expresso machine, but I could not believe the quality on that size and price point. I use it when I travel with a Comandante grinder, as most hotels have a water kettle or a coffee pot to heat up the water. It is a great product, and I would argue a great way to start with expresso, or to travel!
Using this little thing every other weekend coupled with my Comandante C40 (actually what’s really a pain is to hand grind 18gr of coffee for espresso! 😅)
What grind settings do you use for your K-ultra? I was messing with some light roasted beans at 2.8 and it pretty much almost choked - I kept hearing the pressure valve go off and it was very hard to get good flow.
It looks like a great portable option in its stock form, but once you start adding on bits like the pressure gauge and stand, you'd be creeping up to the sale price of the Flair Pro 2. For now, I'm planning to get a Flair 58x, but this will be something to consider without the extras, if I ever need something travel friendly.
It would be quite easy to make a spacer to increase the water capacity. You could 3d print one if you're set up for polycarbonate though abs or nylon may work okay.
For me, so much of enjoying coffee is in the preparation process. Putting this in that shaky rack and pumping while you hold on to everything seems very unenjoyable, but I think for a portable setup used during travel or something this could be so fun and novel that it would be worthwhile. Sometimes struggling more for something makes it better, just not every day in my kitchen (for me) haha
I agree on the deep puck. I think 51mm machines get a lot more shade than they deserve, especially now that there are better basket options than the Mr Coffee "4 cup" basket we all used to abuse in those machines.
I love my picopresso - I had a nanopresso for years (even as my main machine), and the picopresso is just better in every way, assuming you aren't using preground coffee. I could easily see it as a main machine. I find the workflow easy and kindof fun. In my mind, the stand doesn't seem super useful (especially since it's seems to wobble around as you pump anyway), but the gauge could be helpful. That basket though... I've been tempted, since at 49mm it would also fit my la pavoni, but damn $200 is hard to justify to myself. I'd *really* love to hear how it compares to my ims basket, though, to see if it's really worth it... (And to answer another question: for travel, I usually just bring my hand grinder as well. The last couple of trips, though, I was really really short on space so just preground enough for a week, which honestly worked really well)
Oh, and worth mentioning that the fake leather cover isn't just for looks - the machine can sometimes get pretty hot when you use it, so the sleeves make it much more comfortable to use!
Have had great results with the pressure gauge, stand and the Hugh IMS basket. Once tightening well the basket edges flatten out for a good seal. K6 Kingrinder for the beans. My shots come out with nice crema and the beans aren't even freshly roasted. Subminiimal for milk frother and my setup is cafe quality for home on a budget in addition to being ideal for travel. Not ideal if you are making for more than one at a time. Can't imagine a better bang for the buck.
Flappy bird profile right there, I think that introducing the gauge add-on they have basically expose the biggest issue of the picopresso which is the pressure consistency
HiBREW Portable H4A is pretty good too and doesnt even need to heat up water if you have access to a car charger or ac.. Probably better for someone that is traveling
Appreciate you moving the coffee conversation forward. I have the nano and have been considering the pico. After watching all the reviews, I need to step up my espresso-making skills a bit to really put the pico to good use.
I own a Nanopresso ... this one alone can produce good quality espresso (but with a milder body compared with machine), I can't wait to have one of this. Definitely will produce even better than Nanopresso.
200 dollars for a basket is insane. For those who might want something similar, use a hugh. The hugh can pull some incredible shots. If you know how to tinker, you can make a hugh work
It's one of the few espresso machines I recommend if someone doesn't want milk drinks and wants a small, easy-to-use espresso machine. I actually recommend this over a Flair Pro 2 unless you're willing to do a heat sleeve mod. Of course, if you have a bit more of a budget, then... I still recommend it. Air column piston espresso machines make incredibly delicious espresso that I would say is actually *better* than a spring-lever assisted group head purely because the air has a more predictable pressure curve depending on the piston diameter. So... uh... yeah... It's a great espresso machine that I usually recommend to people *just* getting into espresso who don't care about milk drinks and want something they might be able to store away or travel with.
One of Pico's greatest point is that the machine can easily change the pressure and pre-infusion time to brew light and dark roasted beans. The quality of espresso is outstanding, even comparing with esp from expensive machine. However, the water tank volume is a little bit small, if you prefer mordern style esp with light beans. For the pressure kit, I bought it, however, the pressure pin seems not stable at all, and keep going down.
How to make this better: 1. Turn that “button” into a torsion device (such as a knob or even a manifold). Less messy and also easier to maintain a steady pressure sweetspot. 2. Add a security pressure valve (that could open at 9Bar, maybe?). That wat you could put force on it without the worry of making it blow off.
I find the the pressure is too bouncy and flow more consistent. For this reason I see the pico is better as a flow profiler than pressure (I don't even think the pressure gauge is needed). I use a metronome app to profile my shots as a simple app will allow you to make an increasing or decreasing beat. Mirror that beat with the pump action and now you've got a flow profiler that is repeatable so long as your pressure is not above it's pressure cap. The pump releases x amount of water each time so if you're under that pressure cap then it's just about the timing of the pump action to dial in the flow. (I also use a lab jack which is a little table with a scissor jack. I pull shots at my chest height instead of hutching over, way more comfortable.)
For those of us that might like to try this “deeper narrower puck” principle: Is there available a 54mm or less basket that fits a 58mm bottomless portafilter? Can’t be that hard to make! Maybe not much of a market, though.
Enjoyed the comprehensive overview of all the purchased options and your expert opinions on what was favorable versus just nice to have extras; made the review grounded in honesty and not market fluff.👏 My Espresso Forge is still my go to but when we need a quicker cup, the Picopresso is indeed handy, now perhaps more so with the pressure upgrade. The Picopresso does have the benefit of travel mobility, though I've only used it a few times at the office and it mainly stays home as backup duty! Now if Wacaco can come up with an industrial version upgrade💪 to the Picopresso pump mechanism to decrease potential chances of long term failure or modularize with replacement parts, I think that would be a real market gamechanger.
Sorry. Off topic. I saw your basket video with the $200 baskets. Seems there could be controversy in the shower heads as well & how they could differ in getting water on the pucks. Espresso seems to be going crazy right now. How much better can one get it to taste without losing their minds trying?? Thanks
I love the Picopresso. I drink pour over 90% of the time, but sometimes I feel like an espresso tonic. No machine is worth it for that. I'm glad that Piccopresso exists.
Such a shame Rok never preserved with a third iteration. They had a pro kit with a pressure gauge but it was limited release. Still dont think you can beat a 2nd hand Flair pro 2 for best priced portable espresso.
I have the Picopresso for more than 2 years now. I wanted to like this product, but the pump system started to leak through the pump. The silicone gasket has a fissure now that make it leak through the thread. Contacted customer service, but they refused to believe until I sent them a video. Tried to do that, but it was very challenging to film the leak at the same time that you are pumping and trying not to wet the phone recording against a black background. End up giving up. I am using Flair and it is much more sturdy and consistent.
Just discovered your videos and love your no-nonsense but calm getting to the point attitude. I have been so tempted to buy the Picopresso but not sure if I will be able to pump it as I struggle to press down on the aeropress.
The Picopresso accessories definitely beg the question "why not just get a Flair?" The answer has obviously been "portability" but unless the Flair Go turns out to be critically flawed in some way (like the hinge on the lever is weak and snaps off easily or something), that's no longer an advantage. I think the Pico will still be king for sheer space efficiency, but getting all these accessories for a machine that has a really awkward pump method and already costs $130 feels silly. It would cost me as much to just buy all the accessories for the Pico I already have as it would to simply buy the Go in a few days (assuming the latter comes with a pressure gauge; Even then the entire setup for the Go would be cheaper than getting a filter fabricated for use with the pressure gauge on the Pico, holy hell); For people who don't already have the Pico, there's no point.
Can't get as deep crema with my Picopresso (compared to my original Flair) but the taste is just phenomenal. A marvel of engineering in such a simple contraption.
Hi from Denmark, first; thank you for very good content and videos👍. I bought the Picopresso about 3 weeks ago and after some trial and error with getting the right grindsize, i now get really good espresso. I my opinion it works just as well with light roasted coffe as well as dark roasted coffe(my favorite). The workflow is ok i think and i really like the fact that nothing electrical is needed or will break down. The stand could be something i might buy but other than that; im good.
I have my Picopresso since it was released (2 years already?!?)... First test shot of a 6-months-from-roast Scandinavian roast which I hated (wasn't for my taste) - came out perfect, with CREMA and was even tasty! My Pico did around 200 shots I suspect... and works same as day 1. It is a complete product, well made, includes all accessories to work with from the get go - for 100$... best espresso product of the past few years for sure. Your point around the deep basket VS a wide 58 basket - I totally agree, as you can truly feel the texture and sweetness is hightened on the Pico original basket. Amazing review and video!! Thank you for your work and professionalism ❤
Great video. I'm excited about all these portable coffee brewer and portable espresso machines. In my household, the kitchen is filled with cooking/baking appliances that there's no room for anything else. There is also no deskspace to have any machine in my room. Instead, I have a Hario Skerton Plus, and travel frenchpress to make some coffee, that I can take out and make some coffee than store away in my room when I am done. I've been looking around for an affordable portable espresso machines, but a majority of them do not have a pressure gauge for beginner to use. The only option I see was the Flair, which rival the same price as a budget espresso machine. So this video really got me interested in WACACO Picopresso with (some, not all) 3rd party add-ons, since it is still cheaper than the alternatives.
this little thing is a beast, i have a decent setup at home ... for work JMAX and PICIPRESSO is the daily driver ... And I dare to say that I enjoy the coffee out of this little thing more
Lance, you mention your opinion that a person should experiment with different ratios and times. Problem is, I don't know where to really start and what I would expect from a different ratio or time. Would be a nice follow up video for you to do. Thanks for this. We love to camp and this is just the ticket for our travels.
It’s my travel espresso machine. Very nifty when I’m in parts of Thailand or China or any place where getting a good espresso is harder than in Melbourne.
depends. I purposefully didn't state and only showed prices becuase I think many would opt out of the sworks basket, which is 200 bucks haha! The wacaco is $139. With stand and gauge you're looking at around $240 all in after shipping.
I have had the Picopresso for a bit over 2 years now. It still makes great espresso for its size. I specifically like it for its portability, so I'm not very tempted to get any accessories that make it bulky. I bring it to the office/co-working space, take it on holidays, and even made espresso on a hike once. I get quite consistent and repeatable shots just with the bare-bones model. I did try to use a third-party better quality IMS basket (not the $200 mentioned here), but even though it seems to fit perfectly, it leaks, so it's unusable for me. The only extra accessory I added was a cover because I find it gets too hot to touch if you make 2 or more shots back-to-back, I even got a burn blister. I just got a cheap sushi-roll mat, cut it in half and wrapped it around it with the strings of the mat. That's as low-budget as it gets. For a daily driver at home, I prefer my Cafelat Robot (with pressure gauge). It's not as portable but still on the smaller side, and if you really get all these Picopresso accessories, it's probably in a similar price range. I'd say the Robot is affordable enough and built to last a lifetime. The Picopresso is built very well, no problems in the past 2 years, but unless the Robot, I'm not confident that it'll outlast me😬. To me, the Robot also has a much nicer workflow. Having said all of this, I do love the Picopresso, but again, mostly for its portability. One thing that a lot of reviews of lower budget/entry-level espresso makers forget to mention: you absolutely need an espresso-capable grinder. Without it you will be deeply disappointed, I would even go so far as to say that it is impossible to make a good-tasting espresso without a proper espresso-focused grinder. I tried with a good quality handgrinder for pourover coffee (1Zpresso JX) and the result just tasted like battery acid, even though in theory it can grind fine enough. But a proper espresso grinder (I have the 1Zpresso JE-Plus) will set you back another ~$200 or so for a hand grinder. So if you have the Picopresso and are unable to get a good result, don't blame the Picopresso. It'll likely be the grinder (or the beans). I'm just adding this because for many people the Picopresso is their first espresso maker, and espresso itself has quite a learning curve. So be patient, it may take a bit to get to a satisfying result, but the Picopresso can absolutely do it.
This is a *great* video. I love your work in general, but this video in particular stuck out as really really well put together. I think the music was great, and really helps tie together the rest of the editing!! Also, unrelated-I loVE that shirt
I don't have enough space near a consent in my kitchen so I can't install a huge espresso machine there. That's why I am doing pourover. If i ever wanted to dive in the espresso world the pricopresso would definitely be the machine i would go for. Small, convenient and doesn't need to be plugged to work.
i got the whole package for outdoor activity (minus sworks stuff) , i think it produces a very good espresso but i don't recommend it for light roasts .
@@LanceHedrick i tried with 2 times preheating it and used paper filter, and still got that sour taste on two different light coffee beans, so maybe i am missing something here . and i tried the sweat profile, longer preinfusion at 3 bar , then 9 bar, and then let it slowly decrease.
I'm looking to buy a picopresso once it's discounted again, but I can't see buying expensive accessories for it. I'd probably just go with the Flair 58 at that point.
Okay, It might be worth seeing this in its fully fleshed out form competing against a powered conventional machine of the same price. Maybe a few along the way of what you get stock, then with the pressure gauge and stand, and then with the screen and basket swap. It would be p interesting to see what it eclipses or doesn't at different price points with upgrades. The thing I'm especially curious about is a straight head to head of this versus the new flair neo. I know you've had them in a comparison before but I'd be interested to see them compared along the upgrade path and seeing how they trade blows across different price points
This is a very cool machine which more consistently makes better espresso than anything I ever used. My temp testing shows the temps are fairly low but super consistent (2nd preheat adds 5f, beyond that no difference). I do not think it has a place on the home bar because it is not durable enough for daily use; i obliterated the piston in one and the second is also on its last leg. Amazing machine tho.
$200 for a metal screen that probably cost $1 to make? Can we say price gouging! By the time you buy the coffee maker and needed options, we're at $400! Sorry, but that's insane for that device, not exactly a low price. I would rather buy the Flair 58 with the gauge and save $75!
Just happened across this portable espresso gadget thingy. Seems like an AWFUL amount of dicking around to get good espresso into a cup. And it looks like the golden brown nectar in the cup or glass may not even be hot with all the pissing around with pumps and pressurising going on. Then there is the EYE WATERING costs for all the add on accessories that will soon end up costing as much as a medium quality mini coffee machine. I think this gadget will appeal to train spotters and cashed up self confessed espresso heads mainly. Just go out and get yourself a mini ROCKET espresso machine because these days you're never too far from a power point. ⭐️ from me
Now a days you can get an espresso machine that can achieve up to 50 bars of pressure for a really cheap price and will make your life a lot easier just to make a small cup of espresso,
Been using the PP for the past year making coffee in office . Definitely can make good espressos . The stock setup is more than sufficient . No need for any accessories. If not , just get a bambino
The idea I'm trying to get across is many can't afford another set up. So why not just add a pressure gauge and stand for 100 and have a stable machine at home that doubles as a travel one? Of course not for everyone.
