Sara Baird tests out the Staresso Coffee maker in the outdoors.
I love a good cup of coffee so much that I sometimes go to bed early to get to my morning cup sooner. Over the last few years, I’ve reduced my coffee consumption from drinking a 12-cup pot each morning to just one cup of good coffee. I am the only coffee drinker in my house, so I started looking for easy ways to brew one cup at a time. I’ve never been impressed with the single cup brewing machines and we travel often so I look for convenient ways to get that cup without paying a fortune or resorting to gas station coffee.
I have tried pour-over, cold brew with a coffee sock, and a French press, and found they each have different pros and cons. When Staresso reached out to ask us to try to Classic Portable Expresso Machine, I jumped at the opportunity.
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Staresso
Staresso is an international brand, that specializes in fashionable and convenient coffee and tea devices. They operate in the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea. They currently offer three versions of their Expresso maker on their website. These include the Staresso Plus, the Classic, and the Travel versions. In addition to the expresso machines, they offer a variety of coffee accessories.
Staresso Classic Portable Expresso Machine
Staresso markets this expresso maker as a way to enjoy excellent coffee anytime, anywhere. It can brew either hot or cold brew expresso without power or batteries.
The basket can hold 10g coffee grounds or a 5-6g expresso capsule. It will brew 30-50ml of expresso with a generous crema. It comes with a measuring cup for your coffee, and a small brush to clean it.
Using the Expresso Machine
The day the expresso machine arrived, I pulled it out of the box and gave it a quick wash. It was easy to take apart and put back together. The instructions that came with it were simple to follow. In addition, there are clear video instructions on the Staresso Website. I made a lovely cup of expresso within 15 minutes of receiving the expresso machine in the mail. It was as easy as measuring my coffee grounds and putting them in the container. I assembled the rest of the expresso maker and added the hot water.
I pumped the machine until beautiful frothy expresso poured into the cup. I gave this first cup to my daughter, who loves coffee so much that she owns a fancy expresso machine, she said it had a wonderful crema and was a great cup of expresso. Over the next few days, I played with making cold brew, americano, and an easy oat milk latte and found that the Staresso was as easy to use as the pour-over I usually count on.
Camping with the Staresso
The true test of how portable this expresso maker was was taking it tent camping. We are fortunate to live just a few hours away from Lake Superior and all the beautiful camping opportunities on its shores. We packed up and headed to Wisconsin’s Lake Superior South Shore for three nights.
The cool thing about the South Shore of Lake Superior is that there are places where the water is warm enough to swim in for longer than a quick dip on the beautiful sandy shorelines.
We found a little campground right on the shore, all the campsites along the shore were taken, but we had a cute little wooded spot not far from the sandy beach.
Our first night was a little rough, we started traveling in a camper five years ago, and it turns out that our tent was no longer waterproof after sitting in our garage unused for so long. We set up our tent shortly before a thunderstorm and soon realized it was raining almost as hard inside our tent as outside.
I spent the night crammed into the car next to my husband, who is just too tall to sleep in our car. I was grateful to wake up to see he had heated water for me so I was minutes away from a great expresso. Even in my stiff and sleep-deprived state, I was able to brew a rich cup of expresso.
Later that morning as we were adventuring away from our campsite, I decided it was a two-cup day. I didn’t have a way to heat water but made a wonderful cup of cold brew with ice-cold artesian well water.
It was both energizing and refreshing to drink while watching the waves roll in on the beach.
My Recommendation
The Staresso Expresso Maker is super simple to use and clean. It consistently brewed a wonderful cup of expresso. I loved that it came apart, making it easy to clean. I was worried about the glass cup included but I accidentally dropped it as I was cleaning it at our campsite.
It dropped a foot from my hand to the picnic table, rolled off the table, hit the bench, then rolled onto the ground. Thankfully, it survived without a chip. If choosing the Staresso exclusively for camping and travel, I would purchase the travel version with a stainless steel cup and a carrying case to avoid this issue.
Sometimes dealing with coffee grounds can be difficult when camping. I’m cautious of this when using our camper kitchen because I don’t want to get grounds into the grey water tanks. The way the Staresso comes apart made it easy to take apart and empty into the garbage as soon as it had cooled down enough to touch it. The Staresso has been coming on all my travels this summer and when I go back to teaching this Fall, I will bring the Straresso with me to work on days I don’t have time for coffee in the morning or an occasional second cup.
Have you tried a portable Expresso maker? I would love to hear where you would use one. You can order your own Staress Expresso Maker here and check out all of their products at this Staresso.com.
Have your say
Do share your impressions of the Staresso Expresso maker in the comments below. What have been your experiences or thoughts when it comes to enjoying coffee in the outdoors? To read more of Sara’s experiences with outdoor products and services check out our Reviews Page.
I am an adventurer at heart, always looking for the next opportunity to learn something new. I spend my winter days working with high school students to explore their interests and develop passions.
I spend my evenings and summers developing new hobbies and being outdoors as much as possible. I enjoy camping, hiking, cross country skiing, and biking.
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
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Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
This looks so handy and compact compared to some others I’ve tried. This also looks a lot easier to clean than some others. I’m definitely like you when camping now I need my morning caffeine hit.
I wonder if we could get this in the UK or if it’s only available to buy in U.S.
I have loved coffee all my life whether it is instant or brewed. Nothing like coffee to wake you up in the morning ready to face the day. Staresso express coffee maker sounds like a convenient portable machine to use in a car or while camping. Glad this stuff is sturdy and did not chip on falling. I have never used a portable expresso machine and would love to buy it and use it for a break in between our long car drives. 🙂
I’m an instant coffee type of gal but surrounded with gourmet coffee drinkers whom I can think of would find the Staresso completely useful. Loved reading about you giving it a trial-go during camping. Its good that they have a stainless steel version vs glass for rougher conditions!
I am coffee addict too – so the Staresso expresso maker is something I am interested in. I usually prefer a drip coffee. So for the rare occasions when I want a good espresso, I don`t want to bother with a machine. I would not use it for camping though, because usually I go hiking with a tent. Then every gram counts.
I am one of those people who can’t do anything in the morning before having a cup of coffee. And I like good coffee. But when I go camping, I have to drink instant coffee, which is so bad. I definitely think that Staresso Expresso maker could solve my problem and provide very good coffee on a camping trip as well. I like that it comes in a travel edition as well, with a stainless steel cup rather than a glass one. Easy cleaning is definitely a plus when it comes to brewing coffee on the go.
I’m not a coffee drinker, but I enjoy camping. I can see how great is this product for campers. It’s easy to assemble and clean, and you can make a cold brew with it, too. I’m sure some of the adults in my son’s Boy Scout troop will benefit from Staresso.
If I was someone who camped often, this would be a must have for me! Have to have my coffee!
This is cool that it’s easy and has no mess. Never used this but would love to get it because I’m a coffee person.
We do love good coffee when we travel. If we do a long road trip, we travel with a smaller espresso machine. But not as small as this handy looking Staresso machine. Good to know the travel version is a bit more rugged. Great idea to practice making the espresso just the way you want it before you leave home. We have lots of “two cup” days so having good espresso is perfect.
Oh my! This is perfect even for traveling. I love the idea and just may get one. It’s cute, too, which is a bonus!
Your detailed review of the Staresso Portable Espresso Maker is incredibly informative and relatable. Your experiences from using it at home to camping by Lake Superior provide valuable insights into its convenience and performance. Your recommendation and personal anecdotes make it a must-read for coffee enthusiasts seeking a versatile brewing option.
Hhhhmmm….to be honest, I haven’t enjoyed coffee in the outdoors. It’s something I should try out. I hope I love the experience. Thanks for sharing about the staresso.
Brilliant and informative post for a coffee addict like me! I’ll definitely be looking into this!
This sounds like a game changer for espresso away from home. I can’t go without coffee, and my last trip wasn’t a coffee maker in our hotel room. The Staresso would have been a life saver!
Th Staresso Expresso Maker looks like a nice addition to anyone’s kitchen. I don’t drink coffee, but this could be a good gift for someone.
Usually, we drink coffee from an ancient-looking machine that’s probably older than me, but this time, this is quite the step up. Thank you!
One of my favorite personal traditions to start the summer is camping and I love to make and have my own coffee outdoors. Im so happy they operate in Japan too! I can have this easily.
This is a great product recommendation! I’ve never heard of the Staresso brand before, but I will purchase some for my family and I for our next camping trip. Thank you for sharing another great article!
Ooh we go camping often with the Cub Scouts so this would be a great way to have fresh coffee while we are out in the wilderness, too!
Have not tried making coffee in the outdoors, though What a great option for people who want to make espresso at home or on the go. Waking up outdoors with a portable espresso maker and having a cup of espresso would be amazing!
My husband would love this for when we are camping. Thanks for sharing this, I will have to share this with him as well and see about getting one.
Ooo I need this! I love coffee like you and always look forward to my morning cup of joe. The Staresso sounds like a great invention! I love that it is portable and very easy to use. I am glad that when your cup fell that it didn’t break or chip. That shows me that it is well-made and ready for any adventure the day has!
great…. that a portable coffee making machine that can be use every where. camping is the right place. i think i need to get one.