Reddit mentions of mypressi TWIST Handheld Espresso Maker

I know it doesn't look like much, but you might want to try the Mypressi Twist. It has gone through taste tests and done extremely well, and very much a "real" espresso machine with 9 bars of pressure.

Some things to note are that 1 - setup is a bit time consuming as there's significant heat loss since it doesn't produce it's own heat. You're going to need to prewarm everything (soak in hot water) to compensate. 2 - You're going to constantly need to buy N20 cartridges. Not sure how much that is a concern for you.

With all that said, it really does make same fantastic espresso - beautiful crema and all.

Edit - you can find the N20 chargers for around $15 for a pack of 24. This comes to about 62.5 cents per charge - each charge gives you 4 double shots.

Espresso machines are vastly, mind-bogglingly difficult and complicated machines. You are pulling the very essence of coffee out of a compressed puck of very finely ground beans. There will be at most 60mL of fluid extracted from 16 - 21g of coffee.

There is no room for error. The water is being forced through the puck at roughly 9 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level. Any imperfection in the grind or distribution will result in water gushing through, channeling, and over-extracting your espresso, giving you an undrinkable shot.

The temperature must stay steady between 90 and 95 C. If it leaves that tight range you will either burn the coffee or leave yourself a sour, undrinkable mess. And the steadier the temperature, the better.

Every little environmental factor can radically change your drink. Did it suddenly become overcast and humid? You have to "dial" back in your grind. Do you have a high pressure system come through? Dial back in. Did the AC turn on in your house? Dial back in. Is someone baking in your kitchen? Dial back in. That means you are wasting a lot of coffee, throwing it out instead of drinking it.

To steam milk you either need to bring the large brass boiler containing your brewing water over 100 C (which would only yield tepid steam, it really should be hotter), or have a secondary device built into your machine to hold water at that temperature.

The cheapest setup I even feel vaguely comfortable suggesting would be a MyPressi Twist V2 ($149) and a Baratza Preciso ($325). That would be a comfortable starting point (but note you would need a supple of N2O cartridges and a kettle to boil water in) but you would only be able to make espresso and americanos because you wouldn't have any way to steam milk.

Espresso is a very expensive hobby. There isn't really any point in doing it to "save money" because in all but the very long run, it will cost you tons.

video head to head

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3294505

• handpresso @ 5:50
  
• twist @ 15:30 (grind too fine)
  
• twist @ 21:15 (proper grind size)
  
  
  
  A detailed head to head
  
  http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machines/457127
  
  > the Mypressi shots were the clear winners. The Handpresso shots were certainly acceptable - you won't wince when drinking them and you won't get any bad offending notes on your palate, but the resulting shots were thin and lacking.
  The Mypressi shots were thin as well, but more of what I'd call a traditional single shot calibre.
  I'd drink both but if both were offered, I'd reach for the Mypressi first.
  
  
  
  I wouldn't spend more to go with the Handpresso unless I was camping and didn't want to carry compressed air cartridges :)
  
  _____
  
  However in the handpresso's favour, i will say you're wrong about which is more expensive:
  
  
• $99 http://www.amazon.com/Handpresso-HPWILD-Hand-Pump-Portable-Espresso/dp/B0013UEFHA
  
• $149 http://www.amazon.com/mypressi-TWIST-Handheld-Espresso-Maker/dp/B003XT6AX6/