Hello all.

I'm a fairly new home barista, using a Nuova Oscar and a Mazzer Super Jolly, both found on Ebay for great deals. I'm fully hooked now and have been searching for a portable system to travel with. I'm on the road a lot for work and would love to be able to make high quality espresso anywhere, anytime. I realize it's a tall order, but I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with the MyPressi or similar device? Any input at all is greatly appreciated. If you have a system that you travel with, I'd love to hear about the pros and cons.

Worst case, I'd like to be able to pull great shots, best case, I'd like to do the same AND steam-or at least froth-milk.

Thanks in advance.

b
e
n

..or...

There have been threads concerning the Mypressi Twist. If you fly you cannot carry the compressed gas cartridges.

Hi Ben.

i use the twist and the aeropress and have to say they are both great for travel (and home) use. so long as you have access to hot water you cant go far wrong with them. the twist is a little bit fiddly as you have to pre-heat the water chamber (and the cup too if you want it piping hot). but, the extraction is really good. i sell a lot of commercial machines and it compares really well to many of them. as randy said in the post above you cant fly with the n20 cartridges but they are readily available in a lot of catering supply companies.

The aeropress is much easier to use but, doesnt exactly do espresso extraction. Rather, its an espresso strength shot you get from it but no crema as you will never attain 9 bar of pressure when pushing the coffee through the filter. on saying that though, i make americanos with it all the time and a double shot topped up with hot water is better than most filter and drip systems ive used

if your within a tight budget i would recommend the aeropress but if you can go up to say, £150 then the twist is the baby for you.

You will also need a decent hand grinder, i use the porlex ceramic grinder and it does really well as i need to grind for espresso and for filter, the adjustment is pretty simple to use (its a click system with a sort of squarish wing nut that lowers and raises the lower burr). i usually grind espresso at either the 2nd or 3rd click and filter at the 5th or 6th. the grind is very even and clump free. so much so that i have sold that model to a few cafes for their decaff beans

if you can, i would go for the steel porlex (body), as the plastic one has some static issues, especially if you are grinding indoors.

if you shop around on-line you will find both systems on sale as a travel pack that will include a hand grinder.

frothing milk is gonna be your bigger challenge. the new twist (i think) comes with a milk frother but ive never seen it let alone used it so couldnt comment on it (however the guys at mypressi are very up on good products so i imagine it wont be too bad). i would think that for travelling the best you will get would be a plunge style frother in a pitcher, which would be microwave safe to heat up the milk. your other option would be the little hand held frothers with a spinning whisk on the end, but, ive never used them either.

you can get electric steamers which would work like the wand on your machine but your looking at upwards of £100 to get a decent one and im not sure how travel friendly they are.

hope that helps!

Marino

The hand-held wisk frothers are cheap, and they make something like cappa foam. Not microfoam, but ok. You still need to heat the milk.

I use a PonteVecchio Export and hand grinder for travel and home. Great espresso anywhere there is an electric outlet. Not sure if you can get a 12v adapter for the car.

Another alternative is a Caravel espresso maker and a submerisble heater. Could also heat the milk for a hand frother too I guess.

PC