The Bottom Line
I didn't hold out much hope for a portable, hand-held espresso maker. Until I tried the mypressi TWIST. Time after time, it delivered single, double or triple shots of high-quality espresso at a time with a crema (the tan-colored foam that rides the crest of an espresso) that took me back to the coffee houses of Europe. The downside is the machine operates with the use of nitrous oxide (N2O) cartridges -- usually making 4 to 8 shots -- which can get to be a bit pricey. Given its retail price of about $169, this is definitely a luxury item, but if high-quality, at-home espresso is a must, this is the way to go.
Pros
- Easy to use, fast and there's a how-to video on the website.
- The crema is high-quality, the kind you'd expect from a commercial machine.
- Quiet and doesn't take up a lot of room like big $600 machines.
- The unit packs up into less than shoebox size to go wherever you go, even on a plane.
- Nitrous oxide cartridges are recyclable.
Cons
- Nitrous oxide cartridges can get to be a little pricey.
- Not designed for a party of espresso-drinkers, but it can be done.
- It seems like a lot of work for a shot of espresso, but when you're a die-hard ...
- While the unit can be used anywhere, you also must have access to boiling or very, very hot water.
Description
- The mypressi TWIST is the world's first portable, personal espresso maker that delivers espresso anytime, anyplace.
- Uses fresh ground coffee or standard ESE pods and requires no pumping, priming or compressing.
- Requires no external power, but uses standard recyclable nitrous oxide (N2O) cartridges.
- Measures 10.5 inches L by 3.5 inches W by 3.5 inches H.
- Weighs 38 ounces / 1.1kg.
- Can be used with a milk frother to create espresso-based drinks, such as lattes, cappuccinos, mochas and more.
Guide Review - Review of Mypressi TWIST Portable Espresso Maker
The mypressi TWIST is a portable, hand-held, personal espresso maker. It operates without electrical power, instead using a nitrous oxide pressure cartridge, which is reusable for up to eight single shots or four double shots of espresso. The unit includes three different coffee baskets to accommodate fine and semi-fine grinds and a pod basket for premeasured espresso, plus two showerheads. Since it is a personal device, it's not suitable for an espresso party, although it can be done. The machine delivers espresso that equals the kind produced by a commercial machine, and won the Specialty Coffee Association of America's (SCAA) 2009-2010 Best New Product award. This is how it operates: A nitrous oxide cartridge is inserted into the pressure chamber, the basket is filled with coffee, the upper compartment is filled with boiling water and, while holding the device over shot glass(es), a pull of the trigger delivers one or two shots of espresso. The espresso can be turned into other drinks -- cappuccino, lattes and others -- and there are recipes on the mypressi website.
The manufacturer provided a sample of the mypressi TWIST, which was returned to the manufacturer when testing was completed.
