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If you spend any amount of time on the road or in remote areas, you’re likely used to going without a great morning cup of coffee. And maybe you don’t spend a lot of time away from an accessible kitchen, but the space you’re working with is too small for a regular coffee-making setup. Either way, we have a solution for you!
A portable espresso maker is a game-changer for convenient coffee. If you love a compact hit of caffeine to start your day, there’s nothing better (or easier). With a little bit of hot water and some ground coffee, portable espresso makers produce a delicious cup of espresso. They’re super compact and lightweight for easy packing, and they’re more durable than you’d think! Super easy to clean, too.
If a portable espresso maker sounds like the right addition to your kitchen or travel gear, we’re here to help you find the best match. Portable espresso makers will vary in all kinds of features including overall size, weight, capacity, power source, and extraction pressure. You’ll want to think about each feature to guarantee you make the right choice.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best portable espresso makers in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Nespresso Pick: Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker with NS Adapter
Electric Pick: Outin Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine
Upgrade Pick: Leverpresso Hugh V4 Lever Portable Espresso Maker
Budget Pick: Wacaco Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine
We are very big fans of the Wacaco Picopresso Portable Espresso Maker. Of course we are, it’s our top pick. And for good reason! Its shot quality is actually quite exceptional considering the compact size — it produces a rich taste and smooth texture whether you’re making one shot or a double. Oh right, it has the capacity for a double shot! Talk about convenient caffeine.
This espresso maker also has one of the most travel-friendly designs out there. All of the materials are incredibly resilient, it comes with a hard travel case, and it weighs less than one pound. Perfect, right? Since the tamper and funnel are built right into the design, you don’t even need to keep track of any loose parts.
There are a few things that might not wow you about this option, but none of them are dealbreakers in our opinion. First, the side arm pump style can be a bit awkward until you get used to it, so if you’d prefer to avoid that part, a lever-style machine might be better for you. As a manual option, it also can’t heat water for you. You’ll need access to a kettle. Otherwise, the slightly high price is the only potential deterrent.
All in all, the Wacaco Picopresso Portable Espresso Maker has a lot to offer for a very reasonable price. You’re paying for durable construction, café-quality taste and texture, and the best portability this arena has to offer. Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it?
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very happy with the Wacaco Picopresso Portable Espresso Maker. The compact size and included travel case make it super easy to carry around anywhere they’d like to go, and it produces a pretty wonderful shot (or double shot) of espresso. The pump arm can be a bit awkward to use at first, but they’d all choose this one again for its durability, shot quality, and convenience.
Buy If…
You’ll be taking your espresso maker to some rougher terrain
You’re looking for café-level espresso
You want the option of brewing a single or double shot
Compact convenience is what you’re after
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a tight budget
You’d prefer to avoid any awkwardness during extraction
You won’t always have access to hot water
Dimensions: 4.2” x 3.1” x 2.8”
Weight: 0.8 lbs
Colour: Black
Capacity: 80 ml
Manual or Electric: Manual
Extraction Pressure: 18 bars
Warranty: 1 year
The Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker with NS Adapter has a lot to offer. It has one of the friendliest prices you’ll be able to find right now, but it still brings a ton of great features to the table. Like the built-in cup. We know it sounds small, but you’ll be surprised by how much you appreciate it when you don’t have another cup handy!
This espresso maker is also incredibly durable, so it will fare well no matter where you take it — whether it goes to the office with you every day, attends camping trips, or rattles around in your glovebox for last-minute caffeine hits, this thing will hold up well. Of course, the main draw of this option is its compatibility with Nespresso pods. You’ll never have to be without your favourite flavours again.
There are only two things that might sway you in a different direction. The side arm pump can feel awkward to use, especially if you’re new to that style of extraction — you’ll get used to it, but you’re allowed to not want to. Also, there is a fair amount of thermal transfer that occurs during the extraction process, so unfortunately, your water won’t be as hot coming out as it was going in. Not great for fans of hot espresso.
All in all, the Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker with NS Adapter is the perfect travel companion for folks who love a Nespresso pod every morning. Since it works with coffee grounds as well, is incredibly durable, and comes with its own cup, it’s perfect for everyone else, too.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker with NS Adapter. The built-in cup is a helpful addition when they’re camping or on the road and don’t want to create extra dishes. The versatility of using ground coffee or Nespresso pods also makes them really happy. Their main issue is the heat lost between pouring in hot water and pouring out espresso.
Buy If…
You love Nespresso pods
Durability is a priority for you
A budget-friendly price tag would be nice
You won’t always have access to a cup
Don’t Buy If…
You prefer a lever-action espresso maker
You like your espresso very hot
Dimensions: 2.4” x 2.8” x 6.7”
Weight: 1.5 lbs
Colour: Black
Capacity: 80 ml
Manual or Electric: Manual
Extraction Pressure: 18 bars
Warranty: 1 year
The Outin Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine has a lot going for it. Since it’s powered by a battery instead of your muscle power, extraction doesn’t cost you any effort at all. And more importantly, it can heat up cold water to brew temperature — you won’t be dependent on a kettle all the time! When it comes to convenience on the road, there’s nothing better than that.
This portable espresso machine also has another huge mark in its favour — it’s one of the only options that come in a variety of colours. Finally, you’ll get to match your espresso maker to your stylistic preferences. Sweet! Since it can perform perfectly well with ground coffee or Nespresso pods, you won’t ever be limited there either.
There are a handful of reasons this option won’t be ideal for everybody. First, extraction is dependent on battery power, and if you’re out in the wilderness without access to an outlet, you’ll be out of luck completely. Also, it’s longer and heavier than most other portable espresso makers, so it won’t be as easy to carry for long distances. The high price tag is another potential dealbreaker.
Overall, the Outin Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine is an outstanding choice if you’re looking to maximize convenience and minimize your manual input. It produces a steamy cup of delicious espresso every time, and you even get to choose your favourite colour! Perfect, eh?
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have wonderful things to say about the Outin Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine. They greatly enjoy that they can use it with ground coffee or Nespresso pods depending on their preferences, and it produces an outstanding flavour and crema no matter what. The battery holds for a long time if using hot water, too. It only lasts for 3-4 shots if it has to heat the water itself, though.
Buy If…
You won’t always have access to hot water
You’d prefer not to be involved in the extraction process
You’d appreciate an aesthetic appeal
You’ll want to use Nespresso capsules and ground coffee
Don’t Buy If…
Affordability is a priority
You’ll be carrying your espresso maker for long distances
You don’t want to worry about a battery life
Dimensions: 2.8” x 2.8” x 9.1
Weight: 1.5 lbs
Colour: 5 options
Capacity: 80 ml
Manual or Electric: Electric
Extraction Pressure: 20 bars
Warranty: 1 year
The Leverpresso Hugh V4 Lever Portable Espresso Maker is a pretty special option. It’s certainly one of the most luxurious portable espresso makers around, and we mean that in two ways — it has a stunning design that looks great on every countertop, and it performs in a way that will make you feel like a barista. That’s the magic of a lever system.
This espresso maker is also the ideal choice for people who care a lot about the quality of their espresso. You won’t find a better machine for a reliably superior cup of espresso in both taste and texture thanks to the pressurized filter. That’s just a fact. And since it easily makes a double shot with a larger-than-normal capacity, you’ll get to enjoy it even more with every extra sip.
There are a few reasons you might feel that this isn’t the right espresso maker for you. First, it has a pretty high price tag, so there are definitely better options for budgeted shoppers. It’s also designed with more of an aesthetic in mind over durability, so it isn’t ideal for camping or other remote activities. Lastly, the lever action extraction has a bit of a learning curve, and you just might not want to deal with that.
Overall, the Leverpresso Hugh V4 Lever Portable Espresso Maker is our top recommendation for folks who take their caffeine doses very, very seriously. You truly cannot find better if your priorities are lever extraction and the best-tasting espresso ever.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 3.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have tons of positive things to say about the Leverpresso Hugh V4 Lever Portable Espresso Maker. It makes the best-tasting cup of espresso they’ve ever had, and they absolutely love how compact it is. They also love the sleek appearance and the lever-action extraction, although it can take some practice getting it right.
Buy If…
You’re an espresso aficionado
Lever espresso machines are your ideal
You prefer a double shot of espresso over a single
A luxury aesthetic is important to you
Don’t Buy If…
You’ll be roughing it with your portable espresso maker
You’re new to espresso-making
You’re shopping on a budget
Dimensions: 3” x 3.4” x 7.7”
Weight: 1.6 lbs
Colour: Black
Capacity: 120 ml
Manual or Electric: Manual
Extraction Pressure: 9 bars
The Wacaco Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine has a lot to offer considering its especially low price tag. If you’re shopping on a budget, this is definitely the one to get. It’s surprisingly durable and will hold up well to any type of travelling you’re doing. Since it’s also very compact and lightweight, you won’t have any trouble carrying it for long distances or storing it in tight spaces.
We also really appreciate the convenience of this espresso maker, and we think you will too. Since it doesn’t require any power and offers a quick extraction time, you’ll always be able to make your espresso when you’re ready for a hit of caffeine. Since a cup and scoop are included and stored inside the espresso maker, you’ll never need to pack extra accessories, either!
There are two main things that might sway you away from this espresso maker. It doesn’t offer the same level of flavour extraction as more advanced espresso machines, so if you are a major espresso lover, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Also, this option only has the capacity for a single shot, so if you’re more of a double shot drinker, it won’t be an ideal option.
All in all, the Wacaco Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine is the best choice if you want to save money while enjoying a supremely portable travel companion for a daily caffeine fix. It has all of the accessories you need, too. It’s an all-in-one!
Performance: 4/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a good opinion of the Wacaco Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine. As one of the smallest and most affordable espresso machines they looked at, they’re pleasantly surprised at how efficient it is at making espresso. It’s also super durable and easy to tuck away in any bag. The espresso quality isn’t as high as with other portable units they’ve used, though.
Buy If…
An affordable price tag is your main priority
You don’t want to carry extra accessories around
Extreme portability is what you’re after
You want to make espresso anytime, anywhere
Don’t Buy If…
You prefer a double shot of espresso over a single
Espresso quality is important to you
Dimensions: 2.75” x 2.4” x 6.9”
Weight: 0.8 lbs
Colour: Black
Capacity: 70 ml
Manual or Electric: Manual
Extraction Pressure: 8 bars
Warranty: 1 year
The cost of a portable espresso maker will typically fall between $75 and $250. Most people don’t need to spend more than $180 to get a perfect fit, though. Generally, more expensive portable espresso makers offer a larger capacity, better durability, electric power instead of manual operation, and a fuller flavour with better texture. They may also offer capsule compatibility.
The capacity of a portable espresso maker tends to fall between 70 ml and 120 ml. Any model with a capacity of 80 ml or over will be able to make a double shot. Espresso makers below that mark can only make a single shot at a time.
The vast majority of portable espresso makers are manual, meaning they rely on an external source of hot water and require some form of manual effort to extract the espresso, either with a side arm pump or a lever. Electric models are capable of heating water and extracting espresso without any input from you, but they’re also more expensive and reliant on their battery life.
Most portable espresso makers work via a side arm pump that you use to create pressure and then extract the espresso. They can be a bit awkward to use at first but are more beginner-friendly. Lever-style espresso makers are more versatile and dependent on the user for extraction quality.
Since portable espresso makers are designed for travel, their size and weight should be a factor while you’re making your decision. If you plan on carrying it around for long distances, you’ll want to go with the smallest and lightest option, even if that means sacrificing some other features. Generally, they’ll weigh between 0.8 and 1.6 lbs.
The rare portable espresso maker will come with a travel case, and if you’re going to be walking through rough terrain or working in a hazardous environment, it’s a nice protective measure to look for.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.