Is the Wacaco Picopresso worth it?
The Picopresso, while capable of cafe-quality shots, can be finicky and challenging to work with. There is a learning curve to this device, but the reward is well worth the work for coffee-loving backpackers and travelers. The authentic cafe-quality espresso is comparable to that produced by high-end machines. Noted: Commercial pre-ground coffee will not work well to extract a nice espresso with crema.Espresso Quality The Picopresso produces real espresso, comparable to what I can achieve with more traditional espresso makers like the Stone Coffee Machine or the Aram Espresso Maker.A 3. It won’t be quite as rich or aromatic as a higher bar machine, but it’s perfectly acceptable for your occasional latte. Fortunately, it takes more than pressure to make good espresso.Our favorite espresso machine is the Breville Bambino Plus. It’s easy to use and has excellent temperature consistency (important for pulling top-quality shots). We also highly recommend the Breville Barista Express Impress, which has a built-in grinder and a tamping arm.ARE MANUAL ESPRESSO MACHINES BETTER? If you are an espresso aficionado, you may prefer a manual espresso machine for the amount of control it gives you. The trade-off is that the quality depends largely on your skill level and can be inconsistent from shot to shot.
What are the benefits of using a Picopresso?
With 18 bars of pressure, it makes creamy shots with strong flavors and aromas that go beyond what other models can achieve. The brand says it’s akin to a lever espresso machine: rich, syrupy and balanced. It’s manually operated and easy to clean, after you take apart its many small components and give them a rinse. The ideal level of BAR passing through your coffee grounds should be around 7-11 BARs of pressure, though some espresso machines will be able to hit higher BAR. Machines capable of hitting 9 BARs of pressure will have the ability to produce a rich and concentrated espresso shot.While 9 bars is ideal, good espresso can be made within a range of 7 to 11 bars. Some modern machines allow pressure profiling, where pressure changes during brewing.For espresso, we recommend starting with a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:2. For a double shot, this means using 18 grams of coffee to yield about 36 grams of espresso. Unlike other brew methods, espresso is highly concentrated, achieved by pushing pressurized hot water through a very fine grind.Performance: a quality espresso machine for home is not necessarily defined by its bar rating but by its ability to maintain steady pressure. Coffee results: if designed properly, a well-built 15-bar espresso machine can perform just as well as a 20-bar machine.Nine bars is considered ideal for high-quality espresso, though you can also get solid extractions from seven or eight bars. If you’re thinking of using more bars than that, reconsider! It’s all about balance in the world of espresso, meaning too many bars can be just as damaging as not enough.