If you wantportabilityand milk foamingcapability, as well as the option to use pods without buying an add-on, then this will do very nicely for you. You can thank Magimix, Sage, Krups, and others for that, as they also make some great machines that use Nespresso pods. Beyond just brands, you can find models with steam wands that can conjure up Cappuccino or ones that press out a cold brew on top of the usual single-serve hot coffee makers.

In fact, we feel like it’s precisely because this machine is so simple and the technology is boiled right down to the essentials, that it’s easy to tweak and see immediate results. Within a few days, you do feel like you’re learning a lot about honing in on that perfect espresso.The Staresso coffee machine also has the ability to froth milk. This is a nice addition if want to enjoy milk-based espresso drinkslike latte or cappuccino on the go. Although, you do still need to find a way to heat your milk up. 3. Two Coffee Shot Glasses While single serve coffee makers are primarily designed for coffee, there are models available that offer options for brewing tea, hot chocolate, or other hot beverages. The lifespan of a single serve coffee maker can vary depending on various factors, such as the brand, usage, and maintenance. Also, the tamping tool is pretty terrible. Firstly it’s made of flimsy plastic. But to add insult to injury, it’s far too small for the basket so it takes quite a few goes to tamp the whole thing down.

To get the best results, you need a full setup including a kettle, quality hand grinder, and coffee scale. If you start with cold water, the machine will need 8-12 minutes to heat up before it’s ready to go, but you can also use hot water if you have it on hand. Then it’s just a matter of pressing a button and your coffee is automatically pumped. The Conqueco heats to 194F with a pouring temp of 158F, extracting with 15 bars of pressure. But with great organization comes great rewards. By dosing, freshly grinding, pre-heating, pre-infusing, and then carefully brewing, you can yield an espresso far superior to many you’ll find from traditional espresso machines at the same price.

It is worth noting that Lattissima One does not come with a steam wand for making micro foam, but it does have its own automatic ‘Rapid Cappuccino System’ to dispense milk straight into your cup. This capsule machine won’t allow you to experiment with freshly ground beans and artisan filter flavors, either, which is the case for all of the machines featured in this guide. Some machines only pull single shots, a concession that allows for a more compact design. If this doesn’t sound like enough to get your engine running, make sure to choose a travel espresso maker that offers a double shot. If you plan to make the most of this portable espresso maker while on the road, you’ll need a manual grinder like the 1Zpresso J-Max (that’s what we use when we travel). Or, if you’ll only use it at home, an electric grinder like the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is a good option. Whatever you choose, it needs to be capable of grinding well for espresso– not all grinders excel at the finer end of the spectrum. Do they know what they’re talking about? Why not do a grinder review? I’m sure it would be much appreciated. Staressoclaim their espresso makes creates between 15 and 20 Bar of pressure, and I’m sure it theoretically can. But in reality, you’re getting a smidge north of 15 bar. This creates a good espresso, but not a great espresso.