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The Best Manual Espresso and Coffee Makers

Want a simpler, more portable alternative to an electric machine? We find out which models are worth the investment.

What You Need to Know

The best manual espresso and coffee makers are customizable and consistently produce complex, rich-bodied espresso and nuanced coffee. Our winning manual espresso maker, the Cafelat Robot Barista Manual Lever Espresso Maker, reliably pulls shots of silky and aromatic espresso. If you prefer strong, full-bodied coffee, the AeroPress Clear Coffee Maker is portable, easy to use, and most importantly, brews delicious coffee.

our winning manual espresso makers by Cafelat Robot and AeroPress

Manual espresso and coffee makers are appealing because they are typically lightweight, compact, and not as pricey as their respective electric versions. They’re also fast, making them ideal for people who don’t want to wait for a machine to warm up. For hobbyists, their customizability is the main draw: From the coffee grind size and brew time to the ratio of coffee to water, people can tinker with variables according to their espresso preferences. 

Joe Capatosto, an Authorized SCA Trainer (AST) whos been in the specialty coffee field for 17 years, generously helped analyze the manual espresso and coffee makers at Counter Culture Coffees education and training facility in Somerville, Massachusetts.

We spent weeks testing the three styles that fall in this category (lever, pump, and AeroPress) and consulted Joe Capatosto, the regional sales and marketing manager of Counter Culture Coffee, for expert feedback. Here’s what we found.

The Different Types of Manual Espresso Makers

Lever-style espresso makers sit on the counter with a cup positioned beneath. Each has a portafilter that contains a brew basket, much like electric espresso machines. You fill the portafilter with a measured amount of finely ground coffee and then tamp it into an even layer. After the portafilter is in place and you’ve added hot water to the device, you press the lever(s), causing pressure to build and move the water quickly through the tightly packed puck of grounds. 

Lever-style espresso makers (left) are designed to sit on the counter. Pump-style espresso makers (right) are smaller but must be held aloft while in use.

Pump-style espresso makers are roughly the size of soda cans. Similar to lever-style models, they have a portafilter with a brew basket inside. Each one has a pump on its side that you press repeatedly to generate pressure and produce espresso. 

Quality manual espresso makers generated sufficient pressure to produce espresso with velvety, beige-colored crema (right). Some werent able to create as much pressure, yielding either no or thin crema (left and center).

The best lever- and pump-style models can generate 9 or more bars of pressure, which is what the Specialty Coffee Association stipulates in its definition of espresso. That pressure creates sufficient force to brew a shot of full-bodied espresso with beige-colored crema.

What Are AeroPress Coffee Makers?

AeroPress is a popular brand of coffee maker that we’ve tested previously and really liked. The company has introduced new models, and we added them to our testing lineup.

AeroPresses have a brew tube to which you add finely ground coffee and hot water. After giving the mixture a stir, you insert a plunger and press down, forcing the freshly brewed coffee through a filter and into a vessel below. There are two sets of instructions: one for American-style coffee that yields about 10 ounces, and one called “espresso-style” that produces roughly a 2-ounce portion. 

There’s confusion about whether either method produces real espresso. The quick answer is no. They don’t generate enough bars of pressure (our testing backed this up). Both the American- and espresso-style batches were weaker than true espresso, according to data we collected on the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). However, the coffee is excellent in its own right, which along with its portability and espresso-like concentrate earns AeroPress a spot in the conversation.

Which Manual Coffee Maker Is Best?

After weeks of testing we generally cannot recommend pump-style espresso makers. They required so much arm strength that they were too hard to use.

Lever-style espresso makers are the best option for true espresso at home from a manual machine. Just know that you’ll need to tinker with them; small changes to the grind size and volume of water made a big difference in the flavor and texture of the resulting espresso. If the grinds are too coarse, hot water will pass through them too quickly and make underextracted coffee. If they’re too fine, the hot water won’t travel quickly enough, making the coffee taste bitter. To get the most out of your device, you need a burr grinder with multiple extra-fine espresso settings (such as our winner). You can do without multiple settings, but to make the best-tasting coffee and more easily dial in your brew, they’re a big help. 

Lastly, we found AeroPresses are best for coffee drinkers who want an affordable coffee maker that’s also portable and easy to stash away.

What to Look For

  • Easy-to-Fill Brew Basket or Chamber: We liked models with wide brew baskets and chambers. We also appreciated that some espresso makers came with a dosing cup, a funnel-like tool that sat securely on the brew basket, creating a barrier that prevented grinds from spilling. Some espresso makers had narrow brew baskets and no dosing cups, causing us to spill the grinds and make a mess. 
Models with wide brew baskets and chambers make loading the grinds easier and less messy than those with narrow openings.
  • Sturdy Construction: For lever-style models, we preferred those with a hefty base that stayed stationary during the brewing process. We also liked the models with levers on both sides because they felt more balanced and stable than one-lever models. If a device was designed to sit on top of a mug or brewing vessel, stability was also essential. 
  • For Espresso Makers, a Wide Metal Tamper: We liked preparing our ground coffee with a sturdy metal tamper, which allowed us to tamp with more authority. We also found some tampers to be narrower than the portafilter, which required more tamps to make the coffee bed even and ensure optimal extraction. 
  • For Espresso Makers, a Pressure Gauge: We preferred models with pressure gauges (either included or for purchase separately) so that we could monitor the amount of pressure we were generating. This information was crucial to figuring out the optimal grind size and weight to pull a shot of espresso that had a balanced flavor and smooth, silky texture.
Pressure gauges allowed us to monitor the amount of pressure exerted as we pushed down the lever(s), helping us consistently achieve the amount of pressure required to make espresso.

What to Avoid

  • Pump-Style Manual Espresso Makers: They were difficult to use and clean. 
The models that rest on top of a drinking vessel make the brewing process stress-free. We disliked one model that had to be held in the air and splashed as we used it.
  • Lots of Small Parts: Some models had too many small pieces, which became a hassle to track down. We had to be extra-careful when cleaning to keep the pieces from escaping down the drain. 
Article

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  • Rickety Bases: We weren’t pleased that some models had lightweight plastic bases. We couldn’t stabilize them and experienced some wobbling back and forth as we exerted pressure.
  • Hard-to-Reach Nooks and Crannies: We had trouble cleaning some models because they had small crevices that were impossible to reach. Over time, coffee oils accumulated, creating unpleasant, rancid flavors.

The Tests:

  • Pull shots of espresso and brew cups of coffee using manufacturer instructions (for AeroPress, two sets of instructions) and standardized grind size
  • Record Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the espresso and coffee using a refractometer, which indicates its strength 
  • Espresso makers only: Dial in the variables to produce an optimal shot of espresso and assess how easy it is to make small adjustments to the brewing process
  • Measure the yield of each batch
  • Sample espresso and coffee and record tasting notes 
  • Wash all parts between uses
  • Recruit testers of varied experiences to make espresso or coffee from each model 


How We Rated 

  • Performance: We evaluated the quality of the espresso and coffee we brewed, including the flavor and body. 
  • Ease of Use: We evaluated how comfortable and easy it was to assemble, use, and disassemble each espresso and coffee maker.
  • Cleanup: We assessed how easy it was to clean each espresso and coffee maker.

FAQs

Yes, your coffee can benefit from preheating any parts that come in contact with coffee and hot water. Coffee typically requires a high temperature (200°F ± 5°F) to release optimal flavor and aroma notes. If they’re not preheated, the portafilter or the brew basket could cool down the hot water, resulting in underextracted coffee that tastes salty and sour. For most of the espresso makers, you disassemble the pieces and dunk or submerge them in a bowl of hot water. With others, you pour water into the device and then discard the water. It’s harder to preheat models that consist of many tiny pieces because you have to retrieve them all from the water and reassemble them. For AeroPresses, you simply pour water into the device and then discard the water. The manufacturer of one of the models in our lineup says it's not necessary to preheat the parts, but we feel strongly about the practice, as it eliminates temperature drop when pulling a shot of espresso.

Early in our testing, we ran into a few issues, including the amount of resistance we faced when pressing down the levers of two models. Regardless of how much force we tried to exert, we couldn’t lower the levers. We figured out that decreasing the amount of grinds and trying again helped solve the issue. Alternatively, adjusting the grind size to be a little coarser also decreased the resistance by allowing the water to flow more easily. Joe Capatosto, regional sales and account manager for Counter Culture Coffee, who leads coffee education classes at the company's Somerville, Massachusetts, training center, also emphasized the importance of coffee freshness. “Grind as you go,” he said, because “freshly ground coffee contains more CO2, which helps create more crema in the resulting espresso.” He also recommended using a hefty, solid tamper to ensure that the grinds are compact and flat, which helps build maximum pressure.

Joe Capatosto, regional sales and account manager for Counter Culture Coffee, who leads coffee education classes at the company's Somerville, Massachusetts, training center, recommends dark-roast coffee that is ground a bit coarser than it would be for an electric espresso machine The coarser grind prevents the coffee from developing a bitter taste during manual makers' slightly longer brewing process. Dark-roast coffee tends to be a bit more oily, and it is therefore a bit easier to grind to the fineness required for espresso. AeroPress models are more forgiving than espresso makers because you don't have to be as precise with the coffee grind sizes, and you can use light-, medium-, or dark-roasted coffees with them. When grinding the beans, AeroPress suggests a setting as fine as you would use for electric espresso makers.

Both manual and automatic espresso makers have portafilters that let water pass through the grinds. A portafilter sometimes has a handle and a spout. Those without a spout are referred to as bottomless (or “naked”) portafilters; without the spout, espresso travels directly through the filter and into the cup with a bit less resistance, resulting in cleaner, less intense flavor and more crema. Some manual espresso makers have options for bottomless portafilters.

Everything We Tested

Good 3 Stars out of 3.
Fair 2 Stars out of 3.
Poor 1 Star out of 3.

Highly Recommended

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Best Lever-Style Manual Espresso MakerCafelat Robot Barista Manual Lever Espresso Maker

We were able to pull consistently well-balanced and full-bodied shots of espresso with this sturdy and straightforward manual espresso maker. Its extra-heavy base remained stationary regardless of the force we applied on its levers. Although the general process for brewing espresso is straightforward, there were two design features that posed a little difficulty as we were getting used to it. Unlike with most other models, you add hot water directly to the portafilter and then lock it into place in a groove on the underside of the machine; the groove is a bit hard to see. You must also hold the espresso maker’s arms up with one hand as you position the portafilter. Once we familiarized ourselves with the process, it wasn’t an issue, and we were impressed by the quality of the resulting espresso.

Model Number: n/a

Style: Lever-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 6 x 12 x 6 in

Weight: 5 lb, 15 oz

Accessories: Metal tamper, detachable metal spout, proprietary paper filters

TDS: 9.52

Portafilter Width: 2⅝ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $449.00

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We were able to pull consistently well-balanced and full-bodied shots of espresso with this sturdy and straightforward manual espresso maker. Its extra-heavy base remained stationary regardless of the force we applied on its levers. Although the general process for brewing espresso is straightforward, there were two design features that posed a little difficulty as we were getting used to it. Unlike with most other models, you add hot water directly to the portafilter and then lock it into place in a groove on the underside of the machine; the groove is a bit hard to see. You must also hold the espresso maker’s arms up with one hand as you position the portafilter. Once we familiarized ourselves with the process, it wasn’t an issue, and we were impressed by the quality of the resulting espresso.

Model Number: n/a

Style: Lever-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 6 x 12 x 6 in

Weight: 5 lb, 15 oz

Accessories: Metal tamper, detachable metal spout, proprietary paper filters

TDS: 9.52

Portafilter Width: 2⅝ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $449.00

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Best Manual Coffee MakerAeroPress Clear Coffee Maker

In a nice upgrade from the original AeroPress, this model is transparent, allowing you to see the coffee grinds interacting with the hot water. It’s easy to use. You simply attach the filter cap with a paper filter inserted, add ground coffee and then hot water, stir, and push down the plunger. Made of a type of plastic called Tritan, it’s 1.8 ounces heavier than its predecessor; it felt sturdy as we assembled, used, and cleaned it. Because its brew chamber has the same dimensions as that of the original AeroPress, it uses the same paper filters. It brewed full-bodied and flavorful coffee consistently. It brews up to 10 ounces of American coffee or up to 3 shots of espresso-style coffee (2 ounces each).

Model Number: 90CL01

Style: AeroPress

Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 6¼ in

Weight: 8.25 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop, plastic stirrer, AeroPress paper filters

TDS: 2.76

Portafilter Width: 2¾ in

Yield: From 2 to 10 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $49.95

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In a nice upgrade from the original AeroPress, this model is transparent, allowing you to see the coffee grinds interacting with the hot water. It’s easy to use. You simply attach the filter cap with a paper filter inserted, add ground coffee and then hot water, stir, and push down the plunger. Made of a type of plastic called Tritan, it’s 1.8 ounces heavier than its predecessor; it felt sturdy as we assembled, used, and cleaned it. Because its brew chamber has the same dimensions as that of the original AeroPress, it uses the same paper filters. It brewed full-bodied and flavorful coffee consistently. It brews up to 10 ounces of American coffee or up to 3 shots of espresso-style coffee (2 ounces each).

Model Number: 90CL01

Style: AeroPress

Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 6¼ in

Weight: 8.25 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop, plastic stirrer, AeroPress paper filters

TDS: 2.76

Portafilter Width: 2¾ in

Yield: From 2 to 10 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $49.95

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AeroPress Original Coffee Maker

This was an easy-to-use, no-frills coffee maker that allowed us to make smooth, strong, and clean-tasting coffee. It was straightforward to set up, even for those who had never used an AeroPress before. You attach the filter cap to the bottom of the brew chamber, add coffee and hot water, stir, and push down the plunger. To clean, you unscrew the filter cap and push out the spent coffee grounds. It’s the first AeroPress that came to the market, and it has had a cult-like following ever since. It can brew a 10-ounce cup, which is one serving of robust coffee. This model is a bit larger than the travel-size version and smaller than the large AeroPress, which brews twice the amount of coffee.

Model Number: 85A01

Style: AeroPress

Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 6¼ in

Weight: 6.45 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop, plastic stirrer, AeroPress paper filters

TDS: 2.73

Brew Chamber Width: 2¾ in

Yield: 2 to 10 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $39.95

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This was an easy-to-use, no-frills coffee maker that allowed us to make smooth, strong, and clean-tasting coffee. It was straightforward to set up, even for those who had never used an AeroPress before. You attach the filter cap to the bottom of the brew chamber, add coffee and hot water, stir, and push down the plunger. To clean, you unscrew the filter cap and push out the spent coffee grounds. It’s the first AeroPress that came to the market, and it has had a cult-like following ever since. It can brew a 10-ounce cup, which is one serving of robust coffee. This model is a bit larger than the travel-size version and smaller than the large AeroPress, which brews twice the amount of coffee.

Model Number: 85A01

Style: AeroPress

Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 6¼ in

Weight: 6.45 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop, plastic stirrer, AeroPress paper filters

TDS: 2.73

Brew Chamber Width: 2¾ in

Yield: 2 to 10 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $39.95

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AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Maker

We liked this model because it was easy to brew bright, clean-tasting coffee with nuanced flavors and it was a breeze to clean. In addition to the syringe-like brew chamber and plunger, it came with a small scoop and a stirrer, which can all be packed into one compact canister that doubles as a brewing vessel. It uses the same filters as the original Aeropress. It also holds the same amount of ground coffee as the original AeroPress and functions in the same way, but its maximum water capacity is 8 ounces instead of 10 ounces, which means that its maximum yield is slightly smaller.

Model Number: 15A01

Style: AeroPress

Dimensions: 3¾ x 5½ x 3¾ in

Weight: 5.45 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop, plastic stirrer, AeroPress paper filters, plastic mug with lid

TDS: 2.84

Brew Chamber Width: 2¾ in

Yield: From 2 to 8 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $39.95

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We liked this model because it was easy to brew bright, clean-tasting coffee with nuanced flavors and it was a breeze to clean. In addition to the syringe-like brew chamber and plunger, it came with a small scoop and a stirrer, which can all be packed into one compact canister that doubles as a brewing vessel. It uses the same filters as the original Aeropress. It also holds the same amount of ground coffee as the original AeroPress and functions in the same way, but its maximum water capacity is 8 ounces instead of 10 ounces, which means that its maximum yield is slightly smaller.

Model Number: 15A01

Style: AeroPress

Dimensions: 3¾ x 5½ x 3¾ in

Weight: 5.45 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop, plastic stirrer, AeroPress paper filters, plastic mug with lid

TDS: 2.84

Brew Chamber Width: 2¾ in

Yield: From 2 to 8 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $39.95

Recommended

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AeroPress Coffee Maker XL

This model brewed twice as much coffee as the original AeroPress, for a total of about 20 ounces of strong coffee. Unlike smaller models that are meant to brew directly into a single-serving mug, this model comes with a large shatterproof carafe. The larger volume aside, it employs the same mechanism to extract coffee, where you assemble the parts, add coffee and hot water to the brew chamber, stir, and press down the plunger. When you position the brew basket and plunger on top of the carafe, the top of the model is about 24 inches above the counter. For shorter testers, it was challenging to create enough leverage when pressing straight down on the plunger. The edges of its irregularly shaped carafe were a bit difficult to clean. It’s a good option for those who want to make more than one serving of Aeropress coffee at a time.

Model Number: XL001

Style: AeroPress

Dimensions: 4⅜ x 4½ x 8 in

Weight: 10.1 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop, plastic stirrer, AeroPress paper filters, plastic carafe

TDS: 2.67

Brew Chamber Width: 3 in

Yield: From 4 to 20 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $69.95

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This model brewed twice as much coffee as the original AeroPress, for a total of about 20 ounces of strong coffee. Unlike smaller models that are meant to brew directly into a single-serving mug, this model comes with a large shatterproof carafe. The larger volume aside, it employs the same mechanism to extract coffee, where you assemble the parts, add coffee and hot water to the brew chamber, stir, and press down the plunger. When you position the brew basket and plunger on top of the carafe, the top of the model is about 24 inches above the counter. For shorter testers, it was challenging to create enough leverage when pressing straight down on the plunger. The edges of its irregularly shaped carafe were a bit difficult to clean. It’s a good option for those who want to make more than one serving of Aeropress coffee at a time.

Model Number: XL001

Style: AeroPress

Dimensions: 4⅜ x 4½ x 8 in

Weight: 10.1 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop, plastic stirrer, AeroPress paper filters, plastic carafe

TDS: 2.67

Brew Chamber Width: 3 in

Yield: From 4 to 20 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $69.95

Recommended with reservations

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Wacaco Picopresso Portable Espresso Machine

This little pump-style espresso maker brewed full-bodied, rich espresso with a thin crema that we loved. Unfortunately, we didn’t like using it. Strangely, it wasn't easy to rest on a mug, as its user manual had suggested. The pump was located on the side, and we had to hold the device up in the air with one hand while pumping with the other hand to produce pressure. It was hard to aim the espresso into the mug, and it often splashed onto the countertop around our mug. It’s cleverly designed for compact storage: All the pieces fit inside the device for storage, so it’s no bigger than a small mug when not in use. Its accessories were well-made and useful, especially the sturdy metal tamper.

Model Number: Picopresso

Style: Pump-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 2¾ x 4⅛ x 2¾ in

Weight: 1 lb

Accessories: Metal tamper, travel case, brush

TDS: 8.94

Brew Chamber Width: 2⅖ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $129.90

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This little pump-style espresso maker brewed full-bodied, rich espresso with a thin crema that we loved. Unfortunately, we didn’t like using it. Strangely, it wasn't easy to rest on a mug, as its user manual had suggested. The pump was located on the side, and we had to hold the device up in the air with one hand while pumping with the other hand to produce pressure. It was hard to aim the espresso into the mug, and it often splashed onto the countertop around our mug. It’s cleverly designed for compact storage: All the pieces fit inside the device for storage, so it’s no bigger than a small mug when not in use. Its accessories were well-made and useful, especially the sturdy metal tamper.

Model Number: Picopresso

Style: Pump-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 2¾ x 4⅛ x 2¾ in

Weight: 1 lb

Accessories: Metal tamper, travel case, brush

TDS: 8.94

Brew Chamber Width: 2⅖ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $129.90

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Flair Classic Espresso Maker with Pressure Kit

We managed to make rich, dense, and full-bodied espresso with this model after adjusting the weight of the ground coffee from the amount recommended in the instruction manual. It was then straightforward to use. To pull a shot, you insert the portafilter into the device, add hot water, secure the piston on top of it, and press down the lever. A pressure gauge helpfully indicated how much pressure we were generating; we were impressed to see that we reached the 9 bars of pressure required to brew genuine espresso. Although the brew basket is narrow, the enclosed dosing cup helped us add coffee grinds without making a mess. The sturdy metal tamper made it easy to pack the finely ground coffee into an even layer. The espresso was strong and rich, with a classic, espresso-style velvety texture, but it took trial and error to achieve those results. This model has just one lever, which attaches at the back and arcs over the top. When we pressed down on the lever, the model felt off-balance and unstable. There were too many small parts, including the tiny disk that functioned as a basket filter, which was easy to lose

Model Number: Classic

Style: Lever-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 12½ x 6¼ x 10 in

Weight: 5 lb

Accessories: Dosing cup, stainless-steel tamper, carrying case

TDS: 9.45

Portafilter Width: 1⅗ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $229.00

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We managed to make rich, dense, and full-bodied espresso with this model after adjusting the weight of the ground coffee from the amount recommended in the instruction manual. It was then straightforward to use. To pull a shot, you insert the portafilter into the device, add hot water, secure the piston on top of it, and press down the lever. A pressure gauge helpfully indicated how much pressure we were generating; we were impressed to see that we reached the 9 bars of pressure required to brew genuine espresso. Although the brew basket is narrow, the enclosed dosing cup helped us add coffee grinds without making a mess. The sturdy metal tamper made it easy to pack the finely ground coffee into an even layer. The espresso was strong and rich, with a classic, espresso-style velvety texture, but it took trial and error to achieve those results. This model has just one lever, which attaches at the back and arcs over the top. When we pressed down on the lever, the model felt off-balance and unstable. There were too many small parts, including the tiny disk that functioned as a basket filter, which was easy to lose

Model Number: Classic

Style: Lever-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 12½ x 6¼ x 10 in

Weight: 5 lb

Accessories: Dosing cup, stainless-steel tamper, carrying case

TDS: 9.45

Portafilter Width: 1⅗ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $229.00

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ROK EspressoGC

This model was relatively easy to use and brewed smooth but thinly textured espresso after a few rounds of trial and error. The espresso had a thin layer of crema. After inserting the portafilter, we lifted the two levers slowly and then pressed them down by applying equal amounts of pressure. We faced some resistance when handling the levers, which was expected. However, the narrow, lightweight base made maneuvering more precarious. We noticed that a large amount of water remained in the portafilter after we pulled the shot of espresso, resulting in a slightly lower yield than we anticipated. The remaining water splashed and became a mess to clean once we unscrewed the portafilter from the base.

Model Number: N/A

Style: Lever-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 8 x 11¼ x 5 in

Weight: 3 lb, 13.4 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop that doubles as a tamper

Tds: 6.75

Portafilter Width: 2⅜ in

Yield: 2⅕ oz

Price at Time of Testing: $229.00

  • Performance
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This model was relatively easy to use and brewed smooth but thinly textured espresso after a few rounds of trial and error. The espresso had a thin layer of crema. After inserting the portafilter, we lifted the two levers slowly and then pressed them down by applying equal amounts of pressure. We faced some resistance when handling the levers, which was expected. However, the narrow, lightweight base made maneuvering more precarious. We noticed that a large amount of water remained in the portafilter after we pulled the shot of espresso, resulting in a slightly lower yield than we anticipated. The remaining water splashed and became a mess to clean once we unscrewed the portafilter from the base.

Model Number: N/A

Style: Lever-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 8 x 11¼ x 5 in

Weight: 3 lb, 13.4 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop that doubles as a tamper

Tds: 6.75

Portafilter Width: 2⅜ in

Yield: 2⅕ oz

Price at Time of Testing: $229.00

Not Recommended

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Flair NEO Flex Espresso Maker

This lightweight manual lever-style espresso maker made roasty and dark espresso that was viscous. It came with two portafilters, one bottomless and the other a flow-control portafilter. The latter has a valve at the bottom that allows users to manually adjust the pressure needed, which helps novices kick-start the learning process. The flow-control portafilter helped pull shots more easily, but it was hard to clean the valve because we had to take every small piece apart and clean each piece individually to make sure no residual coffee remained. The bottomless portafilter took a little more finagling to dial in the coffee but, once we figured out the right amount and correct grind size, it was easy to use. Though the two-legged base of the lever can be attached to a circular plastic base, it wobbled off base and felt unstable when we exerted a lot of force on it. The tamper was plastic, requiring us to tamp more than twice as hard as some other models to make the coffee as compact as possible.

Model Number: NEO Flex

Style: Lever-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 11½ x 7½ x 10½ in

Weight: 4.51 lb

Accessories: Flow-control portafilter (in addition to bottomless portafilter), dosing cup, plastic tamper

Tds: 9.65

Portafilter Width: 1⅗ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $99.00

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  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup

This lightweight manual lever-style espresso maker made roasty and dark espresso that was viscous. It came with two portafilters, one bottomless and the other a flow-control portafilter. The latter has a valve at the bottom that allows users to manually adjust the pressure needed, which helps novices kick-start the learning process. The flow-control portafilter helped pull shots more easily, but it was hard to clean the valve because we had to take every small piece apart and clean each piece individually to make sure no residual coffee remained. The bottomless portafilter took a little more finagling to dial in the coffee but, once we figured out the right amount and correct grind size, it was easy to use. Though the two-legged base of the lever can be attached to a circular plastic base, it wobbled off base and felt unstable when we exerted a lot of force on it. The tamper was plastic, requiring us to tamp more than twice as hard as some other models to make the coffee as compact as possible.

Model Number: NEO Flex

Style: Lever-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 11½ x 7½ x 10½ in

Weight: 4.51 lb

Accessories: Flow-control portafilter (in addition to bottomless portafilter), dosing cup, plastic tamper

Tds: 9.65

Portafilter Width: 1⅗ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $99.00

  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup

Staresso Classic Portable Espresso Machine

This portable espresso maker was compact. It had the smallest brew basket in the lineup, so it was nearly impossible to load the grinds without spilling. There’s a pressure valve underneath the brew basket that we could tighten or loosen to build up or decrease the pressure to brew the espresso. Then, we repeatedly pushed down the pump on the top of the model until we couldn’t feel the resistance anymore. Though the espresso had a bit of crema, the espresso was harsh-tasting and had noticeable grinds. The device’s plastic scoop, which also doubled as a tamper, was tiny and reminded us of something from a dollhouse; transferring coffee grinds and using it as a tamper were incredibly difficult. Cleaning this model was a hassle because there were too many tiny pieces, including the metal filter, the brew basket, and the pressure valve. Each time we took apart the model to clean it, we were afraid of losing its components.

Model Number: SP200

Style: Pump-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 2¾ x 8 x 2¾ in

Weight: 1 lb, 1 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop/tamper

Tds: 3.97

Portafilter Width: 1⅕ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $69.99

  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup

This portable espresso maker was compact. It had the smallest brew basket in the lineup, so it was nearly impossible to load the grinds without spilling. There’s a pressure valve underneath the brew basket that we could tighten or loosen to build up or decrease the pressure to brew the espresso. Then, we repeatedly pushed down the pump on the top of the model until we couldn’t feel the resistance anymore. Though the espresso had a bit of crema, the espresso was harsh-tasting and had noticeable grinds. The device’s plastic scoop, which also doubled as a tamper, was tiny and reminded us of something from a dollhouse; transferring coffee grinds and using it as a tamper were incredibly difficult. Cleaning this model was a hassle because there were too many tiny pieces, including the metal filter, the brew basket, and the pressure valve. Each time we took apart the model to clean it, we were afraid of losing its components.

Model Number: SP200

Style: Pump-style manual espresso maker

Dimensions: 2¾ x 8 x 2¾ in

Weight: 1 lb, 1 oz

Accessories: Plastic scoop/tamper

Tds: 3.97

Portafilter Width: 1⅕ in

Yield: 1 oz

Price at Time of Testing: $69.99

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

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The Expert

Author: Valerie Sizhe Li

byValerie Sizhe Li

Associate Editor, ATK Reviews

Valerie is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. In addition to cooking, she loves skiing, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Valerie Li Stack is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. She’s interested in finding out how things are made—be it a kitchen gadget or artisanal food. Having grown up in a family that traveled extensively, she’s visited more than 50 countries—with more to come. Thanks to these travel experiences and the ability to converse in multiple languages, she’s become fascinated by the cuisines of different countries and regions and believes that food is a universal language that can connect people regardless of cultural background. As an avid skier, she dreams of hitting the slopes of all skiable mountains around the world. Prior to joining America's Test Kitchen, Valerie worked for Reviewed, USA Today, and other publications.

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