Staresso SP300 Espresso Maker

The great outdoors is fantastic, 4-hour old thermos flask coffee is not. The Staresso SP300 Espresso Maker is a portable gadget that tries to bring a proper coffee shop experience into a compact, travel friendly design, and it mostly succeeds. This manual espresso maker uses a hand press system to generate pressure, so there is no need for electricity, making it ideal for enjoying a brew away from the mains.

In terms of design, the SP300 feels sturdy and well put together, with a practical, travel friendly build that is clearly made for regular use. It does not use pods and instead works with ground coffee, which will appeal to anyone who prefers more control over flavour and grind size. The segmented hydraulic extraction pump mechanism can generate 15-20 pressure, which is essential for espresso, without too much effort on your part. The strong built in stand works with you to build up the pressure is an easy way. You can get a rich, concentrated shot with a nice layer of crema, especially once you dial in your grind and technique.

One of the things we really like is the hands-on experience. There is something satisfying about manually creating your coffee, and the process is simple enough once you get used to it. It is also easy to pack at just 3.2 x 4.3 x 7.4 inches and 1.5lb, making it a solid choice for travel, camping, or even office use. The basket takes up to 22g of coffee and the water tank will take up to 180ml.

On the downside, the manual operation does mean it takes a bit of practice to get consistently good results. It is not quite as quick or effortless as an electric machine and cleaning can also be a little fiddly. You will need to rinse the parts properly after each use so making more than one or two cups at a time can become a hassle.

This handy travel buddy is a capable and convenient portable espresso maker. It rewards a bit of effort with genuinely good coffee, even if it is not the most effortless option. RRP £75.29

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