Wacaco Minipresso GR2
Camping and Outdoors July 6, 2025
We’ve reviewed Wacaco products before and have always loved their concept, cleverly designed, ultra-portable coffee makers that let you brew quality espresso just about anywhere. So, we were excited to get our hands on the Wacaco Minipresso GR2, the latest update to their already impressive lineup.
Right away, you notice how compact the GR2 is. It’s about 30% smaller than the original Minipresso (now just 4.92 inches), making it even easier to toss in a backpack or glovebox. Despite the size reduction, the construction hasn’t been compromised, everything is solid, and it maintains that satisfying Wacaco build quality.
Like its predecessor, the GR2 is a manual espresso maker that uses ground coffee (hence the “GR” in the name). There’s no need for pods, which we appreciate from both an environmental and flavour perspective. All you need is hot water, your favourite grind, and a little arm power. The pumping action is smooth and intuitive, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it strangely satisfying to pull your own espresso. Real coffee snobs will want to experiment a bit with the small basket to get the right brew, the key is to no over extract but playing around with it in the beginning is all part of the fun.
The espresso it produces is genuinely impressive. Rich, aromatic, and topped with a nice layer of crema, infinitely better than most hotel, petrol station and even some well know branded coffee shop coffees. It won’t replace a high-quality home espresso machine, but that’s not what it’s been made for.
One thing to note is that the GR2 doesn’t heat water, so you’ll need a way to boil it beforehand. That’s standard for this kind of device, but worth mentioning for newcomers. The adjustable basket goes from 8g to 12g allowing you to customise your coffee strength. It will hold up to 60mls of water so it can make a single or double shot comfortably.
Overall, the Minipresso GR2 is a thoughtful refinement of a great idea. It’s smaller, smarter, and just as satisfying to use. If you’re already a fan of Wacaco or just want espresso without limits, it’s a no-brainer. RRP £59.90
- Ultra-portable, 30% smaller than the original Minipresso
- No electricity required
- Solid build quality
- Uses ground coffee
- Rich shots with crema
- Easy to use with a short learning curve.
- No built-in heating
- Individual shot at a time (takes a while in group situations)
- Requires physical pumping, fun for some, less so for others
