The Outin Nano moveable espresso maker. Photograph by Howard Bryman.

Within the aggressive market of moveable espresso brewers, the Outin Nano, a lighthouse-shaped gadget with a built-in pump and onboard warmth, goals to be a beacon of each comfort and consistency.

Most devices designed for brewing espresso on the go are manually pumped and can’t warmth water. In smaller handheld codecs, particularly, this tends to imply a herky-jerky circulation as brew strain drops between guide compressions. The necessity to warmth water externally additional sinks the prospect of some particular sips within the wild to an enterprise simply too cumbersome and doubtlessly wasteful to be value it.

With its means not solely to deliver a small and exact quantity of water as much as a constant and brew-worthy temperature but in addition to robotically ship that water at excessive, even strain by way of a mattress of finely floor espresso (or a capsule) on the single press of 1 button and in a package deal that matches in a backpack water bottle sleeve, the Nano blazes a brand new path.

Espresso mise en place: The Outin Nano setup. Photograph by Howard Bryman.

In the meantime, at house, any espresso machine value its salt not often prices lower than a number of hundred {dollars}. Outin sells the Nano for $149.99 and the necessary Basket Plus accent for $39.90 — a compelling backside line for a degree of entry to espresso irrespective of the place one intends to brew it.

A Rising Startup

An impartial startup based in 2021, Outin’s mission is to make contemporary espresso simpler to take pleasure in within the nice outside.

Presently headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Outin launched the Nano in January 2023 and has fine-tuned it over a number of iterations since then. A full group devoted to the Nano’s continued improvement and assist now rounds out the ranks at Outin, which has additionally introduced in dozens of baristas and low professionals for suggestions and concepts.

Outin representatives are additionally displaying up in particular person with cubicles at commerce exhibits, together with the 2024 SCA Expo in Chicago this previous April. In June, on the World of Espresso occasion in Copenhagen, Denmark, Outin was a sponsor of the World Latte Artwork Championship. Clearly, the corporate is making each effort not solely to attraction to the backpacker set but in addition to construct a model and merchandise that earn the respect of specialty espresso aficionados and professionals.

The Nano Expertise

The appreciably sturdy and waterproof plastic fuselage of the Nano instilled confidence from the second I unboxed it and gave it an preliminary rinse. Brewing with grounds somewhat than capsules brings a few the Nano’s included further ins and outs into play which can be considerably fiddly at first, and could possibly be complicated for novices, however because the workflow grows acquainted, it’s actually fairly easy.

Outin offered the Basket Plus accent for my checks, and for the extra skilled or bold espresso lover, this can be a must-have. The Plus bumps capability as much as a most of 18 grams of floor espresso, and as an erstwhile person of conventional espresso tools, I can scarcely see myself falling in love with something that holds much less.

The metal basket on the precise is the “Basket Plus” a must have accent, in contrast with the inventory basket on the left. Photograph by Howard Bryman.

On the base of the metal Plus basket spreads a standard array of filter holes, after which, like a spouted portafilter, one other layer of metal directs the stream by way of a single vast gap towards the cup. The standard of espresso and crema are largely depending on the bean, dose and grind, though Outin asserts that the slight resistance of this constrained exit circulation gives some further stability to the brewing strain.

One other worthwhile accent (offered individually for $49.90) is the Nano Twin Stand, a good-looking, light-weight walnut holder that transforms the Nano from backcountry brew baton to a gorgeous stationary brew station. Notably in my crowded espresso nook the place area is restricted, I take pleasure in its look and performance — it doubles as a pour-over station, holding a pour-over brewer over a mug for drip espresso brewing.

The Nano brewer itself carried out flawlessly, and but the Nano isn’t essentially for everybody. Its settings can’t be adjusted, nor can a person know precisely what strain or temperature it’s making use of or when. Dialing in a espresso on a black field just like the Nano is consequently extra concerning the Nano than the espresso.

The Putin Nano moveable espresso maker performs exceptionally nicely for its value class. Photograph by Howard Bryman.

The usual process (with the Basket Plus) shall be acquainted to anybody who’s ready espresso earlier than. A gram scale is useful for dosing consistency and precision, and grinder can be crucial for getting the very best outcomes.

I weigh out 18 grams of entire beans, grind finely and cargo the grounds into the basket by way of the included dosing funnel. I stir with a WDT (Weiss Distribution Approach) instrument to evenly distribute the grounds and break up any clumps, faucet the basket on the counter to settle the fluffed-up grounds, press it with the tamper, seal the basket with its cap, thread it onto the Nano, pour some water within the prime and press the button.

Outin additionally sells further baskets, so the choice is there to deal with all these steps upfront and carry a number of further prepped-and-ready baskets for brewing on the go.

Cleanup is straightforward because the espresso is absolutely remoted throughout the basket, so the physique of the Nano wants solely a slight rinse after every brew. One can use the underside of the included plastic cup for knocking the spent espresso puck unfastened from the basket, making it simple to toss right into a compost bin, and all the opposite brewing items rinse clear in seconds. The Nano’s equipment, in the meantime, don’t fully escape some kvetching. The stand, which isn’t required for brewing however is a pleasant choice, is doubtlessly delicate; a substitute shipped promptly by Outin has held up properly, however the first one I examined broke throughout regular use. (The corporate says it’s growing a sturdier model.)

The Basket Plus’s included single-wire WDT instrument is somewhat anemic; it really works, however multi-needle instruments work significantly better. The steel funnel and self-leveling tamper included with the Plus are considerate and well-made necessities, however as a result of the tamper is a fixed-depth gadget, the dose and grind stay the one variables affecting puck density. And the multilayer development of the filter basket tends to carry a tiny little bit of water after rinsing, which leads one to wonder if it’s ever absolutely clear or dry.

An Total Winner

These minor quibbles apart, when paired with a becoming espresso, grind and dose, the Nano undeniably cranks out high quality espresso photographs.

For inexperienced persons and for capsule followers, the Nano is a slam dunk. The essential package is enjoyable, sturdy, simple to study and as packable as a flashlight. The Basket Plus can later present an academic platform to delve deeper into the craft and yield much more satisfying outcomes.

Professionals

● Transportable and handy
● Additionally acceptable for house use
● Able to producing excellent espresso
● Reasonably priced
● Self-heating
● Suitable with standard-size Nespresso capsules along with floor espresso

Cons

● Settings can’t be adjusted
● Requires the Basket Plus for greatest expertise
● Minor quibbles with extras and add-ons