Handpresso Espresso Expereince?

[bworp]

I'm thinking of getting a handpresso for fall camping and tailgating...:
http://www.handpresso.fr/products/wil...

It seems super convenient, has anyone used one?

[ferret]

The reviews I've read said it works pretty well, but yu need to pump it up to 70 times per shot. I can see it getting a little irritating if you want to make several at a time.

[bworp]

70 pumps... that takes a little of the enjoyment out of "relaxing" and enjoying a cup anywhere

[gerin]

Well 70 pumps is exagerated... You need to pump 30 times and it is more efficient when you do it properly and use gravity laws to help you out.

[chipman]

You might want to check out the AeroPress Coffee Maker . It uses real coffee, not pods. In two years I have not heard any complaints with it. Combine this with a hand coffee grinder and you got terrific campground coffee.

http://sweetmarias.com/prod.brewers.s...

Scroll down past the chemex brewer.

[bworp]

that looks cool, but what really caught my attention on the handpresso was the ability to do espresso

[chipman]

>the handpresso wild makes the same espresso quality as a 2000$ machine

Really? And with stale pods also?

[bworp]

anyone know if there is a company that makes a product that you can "pack" your own pods? It seems that there are a ton of convenient machines out there that do a decent job at "making" espresso, but many rely on pods.. I'd much rather grind my own beans.

[ferret]

Several companies make these. The cost of supplies is the weak link:

http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Pod-Mak...

[gerin]

This machine DOES NOT do E.S.E paper pods. It makes the soft pods (also called pads) such as the Senseo ones. The coffee is not enough compacted in those and they are way larger than E.S.E pods so they won't fit into the Handpresso

[chipman]

I don't think there is any such thing as a 'pack your own pod maker'. But, even if there was, the coffee would be too stale to make anything decent, especially espresso. Once you grind the beans, it goes on the stale clock, and it is a fast clock at that. Think sliced white bread left open to the air. That is how fast coffee goes stale.

[ferret]

Check my link directly above yours -- there are a few different models of pod maker available.

[chipman]

Yes, now that I've opened my eyes, I see there is such an animal. However, I still maintain that pod and good do not go hand in hand. You will still have to pre grind the coffee and just by that fact makes it unacceptable for anything much less espresso.

[chickendhansak]

The Perfect Pod Maker doesn't create E.S.E. Pods, according to what I read, so isn't suitable for the Handpresso.

[gerin]

E.S.E pods have been invented by Illy Caffè. The way they are made is not less than what is been done for ground coffee. The coffee is roasted, grounded and packed in controlled atmosphere very quickly to AVOID coffee to stale.

[chickendhansak]

Certainly the individually sealed E.S.E. pods are light years ahead of E.S.E. pods that come loose in a large container, e.g. Illy's own 18-serving box, which is going stale as soon as you open it.

[chuckl]

which $2K machine are you referring to? Will it make espresso as good as my Silvia with fresh ground beans? If so, I've been missing out. Have you done the comparison yourself? and what are your qualifications for making your statement?

[theleftbob]

a £2000 machine being referred to would include a 'pro' catering machine. The general basis of a 'real' espresso machine is the pressure used to force the water through grounds that are of the correct weight and grind. The pressure of a 'pro' machine is normally around 8-10 bar. The handpresso achieves 16 bar. This is due to the fact that the pressure decreases through the process. It achieves good crema only achieved by that pressure.
For coffee to go 'stale' it needs to be exposed to the air, hence why pods are in a sealed pouch. So if used in time they will be no more stale than 'fresh ground' beans in a store which have been sat in the hopper for some time!
My qualifications? 15 years or so of making coffee with a 'pro' machine, many different varieties of bean and machine. Oh, and I can smell 'bad' coffee before I enter the store.

I have one of these, got it yesterday. It's not as good as a pro coffee should be, but better than a lot i've had!! But, I can sit in the theatre, and have an espresso at any point, with no mess and only a quiet pschhht noise!!
It takes a varied amount of pumping, if you pump slowly without effort it takes about 40, if you pump hard/fast it takes about 15. less than a minute either was. 1 1/2 minutes to get an espresso!!!!

[LATrapp]

theleftbob, I see this is your first post- welcome!

Where do you find and how do you handle ~190+f hot water in a darkened theater?

EDIT:

Bleh, just saw that theleftbob's first and last post is from almost a year ago. I'm still curious though;)

[chickendhansak]

It would be interesting to hear if anyone has tried the new HandPresso Dome Pod, which allows you to use your own coffee rather than E.S.E. Pods. If the results are significantly better, it puts the E.S.E. Pod story (quickly and individually sealed in a special atmosphere, etc.) in a stale light, because all the other variables should be much the same (pressure, temperature control).

The problem with this product is it doesn't seem to be discussed a lot on the serious coffee forums, not so much, it seems, because people have used it and think it's bad, but because they think it's bad on principle.

[gerin]

I have tried the Handpresso Domepod. It makes great results if your are a coffee connaisseur. What I mean is that the domepod diameter is smaller than a regular prta-filter, so it is harder to tamper properly the coffee in and then get a good crema. Also, the grind used for regular espresso is no good for the Handpresso; you need your coffee to be grounded finer. After couple tries I guess you can tweak enough to get the right "coffee receipe" to make the Handpresso Wild Domepod to work great.

[financialdistrictresident]

I am doing my Christmas shopping and thinking about giving a mypressi ($149) or HandPresso ($89) espresso maker as a gift. I have done some research here (this thread is from 2008!) and read a few reviews on amazon.com. Chowhound doesn't seem to have a separate coffee/tea topic, though they do have one for wine, etc. (which won't help me now). Any espresso lovers who have experience with these? Your thoughts?

[gerin]

Well I am from Canada. Handpresso has just arrived in Canada lately (well it was already known in Canada) but an "official" company is taking care of the distribution. I have tried only the Handpresso Wild (E.S.E and Domepod). In my opinion both are working great and even if people say that the coffee is mediocre from this machine, well if have taste the same coffee from a professionnal machine, from the Domepod and I had the E.S.E pods from the same blend, packed under controlled atmosphere, and you know what, I couldn't really say which coffee was coming from where. As of the MyPressi, I have just discovered that. It seems very great since you can use or ground coffee or pods with the adaptor (which you can't with the Handpresso; one does not convert in the other). The one thing though, the gas capsules you need to use bugs me a bit... They cost 15.99 for 24 capsules (each making 8 single shot or 4 double shot). If you are in camping and you are missing some capsules, your machine will not work. This is were handpresso is more convenient. But I am not partial since I haven't tried the MyPressi.

[financialdistrictresident]

Thanks, gerin.

The Twist arrived yesterday, just in time for Christmas (thank you, amazon.com)! I already had a picture of the Twist in a card, since delivery was anticipated AFTER Christmas. I will report back as soon as SO tries it.

[Alexandr3]

You're in luck, a new tamper custom-sized for the Handpresso was released and it's built by Reg Barber (so great quality)!

http://bloguedegeek.net/2010/04/28/ta...

[cgfan]

The only travel solution for espresso that seems even worth a try would be the recently revealed MyPressi Twist. If you look at even the promotional videos for any of the other solutions, be it Aeropress, the Presso, or the Handpresso, they all produce a very weak (if any) crema.

However take a look at the MyPressi Twist videos - not only the promotional videos but also of several "real" videos on the Internet. It's as convincing a pour as I've ever seen from a portable device.

http://tinyurl.com/ye7vptn

Many outlets are eager to get it on their catalogues. I believe Intelligentsia will be one of the first out the gate to offer it.

[financialdistrictresident]

Thanks, cgfan. I'll take a look. It's available on amazon.com. Would really like to hear from someone who actually uses it before I give it as a gift.

[cgfan]

Here's some reading, though you may have already seen this material. CoffeeGeek.com will be doing a review very soon, that is as soon as they get their own!

http://www.home-barista.com/reviews/mypressi-twist-second-look-t12595.html

http://www.home-barista.com/knockbox/mypressi-twist-t10686.html

http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machines/448637#448637

http://www.expressoparts.com/2009/11/...

[financialdistrictresident]

cgfan, thanks so much! This is very helpful. PS These links are the next best thing to a Chowhound Coffee/Tea topic . . .

[financialdistrictresident]

I ordered the MyPressi TWIST. Unfortunately it will probably arrive AFTER Christmas. I'll report back once we get it and use it.

[cgfan]

Would be very interested in hearing a 1st hand report from a CH'er!

[financialdistrictresident]

cgfan, thanks again for all your help. SO is very serious about his espresso and coffee so I'm looking forward to his report.

[chipman]

You're not the only one impressed with this handy little gadge.

http://www.home-barista.com/reviews/m...

[Alexandr3]

For those of you hoping that a tamper be released for the Handpresso, here's your dream-come-true! An exclusive Reg Barber tamper for the Handpresso!

http://bloguedegeek.net/2010/04/28/ta...

[cgfan]

...and Version 2.0 of the Handpresso is imminent!