Coffee & Espresso · Head-to-head
Wacaco Picopresso vs Staresso SP200 Classic Portable Espresso Maker
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Portable Espresso Makers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Picopresso makes the closest thing to a café double shot in a portable maker, with a full kit and a 2-year warranty. The Staresso SP200 is cheaper and more flexible, taking grounds or capsules.
Wacaco Picopresso
Buy itA hand-powered espresso maker built around a wide 52 mm basket for full double shots.
- 52 mm stainless steel basket with an 18 g ground capacity and a naked portafilter.
- Up to 18 bar of pressure by hand, with 80 ml of water capacity.
- Comes with a tamper, scoop, brush, distribution tool, funnel and protective case, plus a 2-year warranty.
- Does not heat water, so you need a kettle or hot water source.
- Wacaco recommends an ultra-fine grind, which usually means a capable grinder.
- It takes practice to dial in grind, tamp and pumping.
Staresso SP200 Classic Portable Espresso Maker
Buy itA cheap, electricity-free maker that works with both ground coffee and capsules.
- Takes ground coffee or capsules.
- Staresso rates it at up to 20 bar with a segmented pressure design.
- Stainless steel pump, tank liner and powder cup; brews in about one to two minutes.
- Staresso publishes no ground-coffee dose or weight on the product page, and its FAQ says it makes one 35 ml cup at a time.
- Needs hot water from another source.
- No warranty term stated on the page.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Wacaco Picopresso Our pick | Staresso SP200 Classic Portable Espresso Maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Espresso enthusiasts who want real double shots away from home and will grind fresh. | Budget buyers who want flexibility between pre-ground coffee and pods. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Power | Hand pump | Hand pump |
| Max pressure | 18 bar | Up to 20 bar |
| Coffee | Ground only | Ground or capsules |
| Dose / basket | 18 g, 52 mm basket | Not published |
| Water | 80 ml, bring hot | About 35 ml cup, bring hot |
| Weight | 350 g | Not published |
| Heating | No | No |
| Warranty | 2 years | Not stated on page |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Wacaco Picopresso if
espresso enthusiasts who want real double shots away from home and will grind fresh.
Know before buying: does not heat water, so you need a kettle or hot water source.
Pick the Staresso SP200 Classic Portable Espresso Maker if
budget buyers who want flexibility between pre-ground coffee and pods.
Know before buying: staresso publishes no ground-coffee dose or weight on the product page, and its FAQ says it makes one 35 ml cup at a time.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Wacaco Picopresso - A hand-powered espresso maker built around a wide 52 mm basket for full double shots. Choose the Staresso SP200 Classic Portable Espresso Maker instead if budget buyers who want flexibility between pre-ground coffee and pods.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Portable Espresso Makers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).