I’m an airline pilot and there’s a captain I frequently fly with who has one of these. It might not be great coffee, but it helps to put its use in context… It’s 5am, we’re on the plane before all the coffee shops are open, after minimum rest at the hotel the night before, and the captain offers you espresso. It feels like the best coffee of all time. Plus, it easily beats the tepid brown fluid we refer to as ‘coffee’ from the galley.
if you really need coffee at an unpropriate time, maybe consider getting some caffeine pills for athelets (really handy when you need it!) or just some good instant - instants don't taste great but I'd imagine it would not be too far from an underextrated 20 ml longo. As James mentioned the coffee this thing makes is just "better than your average hotel coffee," so does good instant!
It feels like this is "the thing before the things that get it right" - there's always a product that seems to be almost there and interesting but then gets hopped over fairly soon by the ones that crack the shortcomings. As an aside, that's a beautiful looking city!
exactly how wacacao got to the picopresso. the mini and nano were just not great, and they were a savvy enough company to adapt and make the product enthusiasts really wanted.
true! it's a first of its kind (I think) and that'll get other companies brewing up ideas to compete which means it'll only get better. I can only imagine it be challenging to have an all in one brewer that can get up to temp and maintain that temp in that small format and charge
Oh yeah, that reminds me to bring coffee when I give birth this time! The hospital food is really pretty good and a good value, EXCEPT the coffee. $2 for a tube of instant coffee crystals and a cup of hot water!
I work in a remote oilfield in the far north of Alaska. There is something profoundly magical about having a freshly brewed espresso in my truck in the dead of February when it's -40 outside, bonus points if I can blow a colleagues mind by sharing one with them. If you the reader happen upon this and you're on the fence about this brewer I couldn't recommend it more. I just purchased the upgraded brewing basket and I truly look forward to exploring this machine further and I'm sure James will review the add on at some point as well.
oilfield worker here. About 15 years ago, on a couple of offshore rigs in Australia, a few of us put some money together and bought a cheap espresso machine to use in our office. Coffee was replenished each time someone had a crew-change. We were lucky that we had fresh milk delivered often too, well, not everywhere... Anyway, it may not seem like a big deal, and may not have been the best coffee or machine, but it was just something different, and nice to have. It also meant we got a lot more visitors to our office than before... Nowadays, It's not uncommon for the galley to have an automated machine that does everything, but our little coffee "collective" still holds a special place in my memory. Mind you, very dark days when a machine died (the rig electrician and rig mechanic tried to save it - especially as they were part of the coffee group, but to no avail), and we had to wait for a new one, it changed the mood a lot, and it wasn't just the lack of caffeine.
I'm a shift worker in the emergency services and I've had one of these for a couple of months now, I can honestly say it's been a life saver(i work in the ambulance service)! When stuck out in the middle of nowhere at 3am in desperate need of a good coffee, this is the perfect thing to keep me going
I have one and have for about 6 months. I wanted one for home use and on the go because we have a small kitchen and I’m still a newbie to espresso. So I figured this would be a good toes in the water option. I have enjoyed it and even bought the pro basket accessory. And just like you I have had good, bad, and ugly shots. The major issue I had recently was after 6 months of use the seals busted and water started leaking out of the top above the coffee basket. Now I will say we contacted Outin and they had me try some troubleshooting and replaced the unit and the new one runs even better than my first one. So maybe I got a defective unit originally. Overall I love the Outin. It’s been a great way to introduce others to espresso. And the bring anywhere feature allows me to never go without. I give it as a product 4/5 stars
I had a similar quality problem with the seal bursting both with the smaller basket as well as the new bigger one where the shower screen detached. The coffee is not great and it's sour most of the time. But it's easy to use and does suit my purpose.
I had a basket split too. I got the pack of 5 more and the big metal basket. The lights are failing. I warm the machine thoroughly before I extract and keep extracting until I've used my pre boiled water.(Boiling again in the Putin) It's good for teaspresso too. I will get a brevoy machine to compare but expectations of the outin were pleasantly satisfied. (I'm easy doe) ☕🧉🫘
I didn't realise this was a bone of contention before I started watching Mr Hofmann. Personally I neither swirl or stir. I had disturbing the crema on my coffees, so slip the spoon in & do a gentle sculling action. Mixes the coffee & you'd never know a spoon had been near it. Would like your slogan of a T though.
when you see a world barista champion doing something, it's at that point that you realize that a lot of James's preferences are just that: his personal preferences.
I have had one for almost a year, and it is worth it! First of all - try the Nano Basket kit; it provides you with an 18-gram basket, funnel, and tamper. Yes, still some temperature issues could be, but just give it a try. The second point is preheating. Yes, if you are away from civilization - it won't be an option, but just add 15-20 mill of water, heat it, and let it pass through. If you are not away from the kettle, just boil some water, run 1-2 preheating sequences, and enjoy your espresso. The third point. If you want to use the original basket, the small one, you need to play a little with the amount of coffee and grind size. In my case, it took a week to get good shots (good for me and several coffee friends). Also, regarding water amount, you really need to either use the same amount of water every time or use scales and stop brewing. My way of brewing for a small basket is ~6 grams of lightly roasted coffee from a local roaster, ground with Timemore C3 esp to 0.8.1 size, and ~45 mills of water (50 mills mark in the water tank). It will be at least a good shot, not perfect, but really good. For Nano Basket - 18 grams of coffee, 0.8.1 grind on Timemore C3 esp, and stopping brew at 25-27 grams, some leftover drops will give you ~30 grams of espresso. Preheating is a must for both. In terms of how I use OutIn. I've brewed coffee on a train, the best ever coffee I've got during my train travels. I've spent several weeks, in total, at hotels, and OutIn espresso was not only better than the one in the hotel but also better than any coffee I could buy somewhere nearby. Also, I had some great experiences brewing coffee on the top of the mountain and seeing the sunrise. The most valuable for me was to brew espresso during blackouts (we have some issues with electricity here in Ukraine) So, in conclusion, OutIn is worth buying, but it has some specific features and requires some tweaking. If you want to get good espresso on the go everywhere - use OutIn
Thank you for the tips. I recently picked up a Outin, and the plus kit, after a trip where I suffered because I could not get my morning espresso, and your post got me from ok to decent espresso with the nano. Looking forward to my next trip already.
Hello James! I use this as an airline pilot almost all the time i fly. The difference between this and an instant coffee is incomparable. A few of my colleagues have it as well and all of us are satisfied to have bought it. We predominantly use the Nespresso pods since it's very convenient in the cockpit to just make the coffee and throw the pod. Haven't tried it yet with my own coffee beans.
With all the pilots commenting on this thread and having flown a plane myself, I'm starting to think that a compact espresso maker might be a good option for plane manufacturers to include in the cockpit. :-)
"make the coffee and throw the pod" - in my mind i'm picturing a pilot throwing their used nespresso pods out of the plane above a city and hitting random passers-by lol
This man has ruined me! After many many years of enjoying instant, finally gave in (thanks to James's videos) to a V60, a cheap and cheerful hand grinder and some beans from an independent roaster. Yes, I can tell the taste difference, yes it's amazing, yes the instant now tastes terrible. Can I afford enough fresh coffee to feed my needs? No. So now I'm doomed to wince with every cup of coffee bar the odd time I can treat myself. Damn you Hoffmann! Still, love the videos, learned a lot, amazed at how coffee can taste, so I guess you're forgiven. Mostly... All the best, Pete.
The curse has been passed. As a recently unemployed person sipping Target coffee from a Keurig fill basket, I can confidently say that it's hard to have tasted the good life for a bit.
@@RyanSpargo I feel your pain. I don't work at the moment due to... reasons, and have just made a cup of the cheapest instant the local shops sell. Treat yourself when you can, you'll enjoy the achievement that bit more. All the best to you.
feel that bro. feel that. and yet, still feel that V60 its kinda hard due to the pour over thinghy so i'm searching for a faster and more pratical way (neuron too slow when in the morning). i just bought from a local roaster in rome (yes, not evry italian like ristretto) a 15 € bag of rwanda coffee, and cant wait to get depressed for using it instead of a regular kimbo xd
Another airline pilot here. I use this device every single day and I love it!! The trick to brew your coffee in the air is double press the button after your first try, and then it will instantly brew. it requires a little bit more time in the air because of the pressure difference, most of the time the cabin altitude is 8000ft. It really works just give it more time.
Outin owner BG: Healthcare worker who used to drink Starbucks and has no prior experience with making coffee. Didn't want to go to Starbucks every day (also it was giving me acid reflux with all the milk I like with my coffee) and I don't have kitchen space for a whole espresso machine. I could see the Outin falling into the category of "good enough" for a coffee/espresso connoisseur but I still enjoy the espresso output from the Outin. It's better than the instant I used to drink before Starbucks and I think whatever the Outin pulls is just as enjoyable as Starbucks. What's also really great is my acid reflux has greatly improved after making my own coffee. Setup: Outin and manual hand grinder; I boil my own water and usually stick to medium-roast whole coffee beans (Purity "Flow", Illy "Classico", local roaster of Kona beans and another blend). Why not the Picopresso if I'm boiling my own water? Because I don't want to be doing the pressure pump labor when I'm already grinding my own beans. Review of video: I was so excited that James did a review on a product I own and it made my day! I was always curious about "what would a professional espresso connoisseur think of an Outin espresso?" Well, now I know! Apparently so-so overall (as a portable machine) and in my newbie book, pretty good espresso😂! Would love a short video on exploring how to make a better espresso with the Outin and a review on the double shot basket add-on for this product (I swear it has less crema in the double than the single shot and the puck is sooo different, I'd like to know why). I know, a very niche video topic to cover and why on earth would James put so much effort into a "lemon" but I can only wish 🙃
I have one for 9 months now and purchased the 18g basket which really improved the quality of the coffee that came out. I bought it to avoid drinking the awful coffee at the office and until this day am really happy with it, it won’t replace my portafilter but it is definitely better than most espressi you can buy 😄 I also have my handgrinder with me when I travel or am at the office 👌🏻
I think the world is ready for a Withnail & I style travel documentary where Tim Wendelboe and James travel to far flung places in search of the ultimate espresso but disaster strikes at every corner and they are constantly pursued by an enigmatic "Uncle Monty" style figure that hides in the shadows, an ominous cloud of dark roast discontent.
I've had it for almost a year and it's been a life saver at work. It has saved me a lot of cash and if you use boiling water it's fine. I bust it out in the kitchen and over 10 people have bought one since. You're right, it's not perfect but it's their first model and it is definitely a step in the right direction. I absolutely love it.
I work in construction. This has been amazing for me. I make myself iced lattes with it at 4am at the job site. Really love this thing. I even started carrying more grounds with me to have another drink at my lunch later in the day. I personally think it’s the best you can get for how portable it is. Working in DTLA will cost me 12 dollars to get a coffee anywhere here. This thing paid itself off in less than a month for me.
James I wish you reviewed it with the Basket Plus. It's a 16g-18g basket. It's an option if you want a bigger coffee dose. I also disagree with preheating being a challenge. You just brew without the basket first into the plastic cup which is perfect as it doesn't draw much heat. Then you dump the hot water back into the water heater and make coffee the second time with the device preheated. I think the results are noticeably better and generally worth doing. I'm a little surprised you never even attempted this to comment on whether that makes the coffee more acceptable. I've also started travelling with a bag of pre-ground which obviously isn't the best but it makes the workflow and carry much better as I no longer need a scale or grinder. Either way it was a great video but hoping for a part 2!
It honestly would never have occurred to me to do that! Definitely sounds like a good work around, but I would be a bit frustrated if I'd bought one and it couldn't just... heat up the water like it was supposed to, first time. Glad to hear it makes it more useable though!
@@keithsheffield9154 Barely. You're heating up water that is already pretty hot once more so the battery is being drained marginally. I'd rather have 3 good shots than 4 bad ones.
@@Whitepawprint Maybe because I'm so used to manual espresso, that I'd intuitively want to preheat everything once. Just comes with the territory of not having a big machine. It also does work fine without preheating for darker roasts.
I've had mine for a few month now. I'm a musician on the go a lot of the time. Sometimes there's good coffee around most times not. I bought the OutIn for those days. I did get the 18g basket (it's been available for months now) and it is pretty decent. I like it for the ease of use and portability. It is better than most random bad coffees.
I have owned this unit for a few months now and happy with my purchase. My original interest was in the ability to use room temp water if necessary. However, using the built in heater will drain the battery quickly compared to using preheated water. The optional basket is an improvement, as is the ability to use more than one dose of water for more volume. It is also my only brewer which can use pods as an option if desired. If you take the time to dial in an acceptable bean / ratio. It does a decent job. Way better than hotel coffee.
Oh, wow. Finally a product I can comment on: I've had one of these for the better part of a year and use it pretty much daily. The larger basket is a really good option, as is preheating. I work in a restaurant and I've made dozens of coffees at work. (Even nespresso pods and heating up the milk with a 1/2 pan and a 1/4 pan are better than the terrible drip options in the restaurants I've worked.) I got this as a gift because I had added it to my Amazon wishlist with the intent to do more research before spending so much money on a coffee device, but the choice was taken from me. Luckily, it's worked out to be the best option that I have to make coffee. One of the cool things that nobody else seems to have mentioned is that if you're using hot water, the battery in this thing lasts for months. I last charged mine in May and I make 1-3 double-shots per day.
I’ve had one since Xmas 2023 and I love it. I bought the add on double basket which is far more premium in terms of materials than what comes in the box. It costs about £40 extra but comes w a nice aluminium tamper. I just confess I always use it with boiling water and the fact I use it twice a day and have only charged it once since January is amazing. The experience w the double basket is much better than w the single plastic basket or the nespresso basket. For my use case, taking it into the office to make better coffee than instant and saving money on buying coffee twice a day it’s perfect and would highly recommend.
Had this for now about 4 months and truth be told , yes it makes ok...or capital OK shots....temp is a slight problem as you can consume immediately, so I do enjoy the facts of yes it heats the water , yes its very portable as I sit outside or take it wherever, battery life , only 4 shots from room temp water. I do however use a kettle for heating and you absolutely get many many more shots back to back if serving more than 2 ppl...for me it works fine and yes I have the green one also. I have multiple ways of making coffee , 8 grinders , 4 scales , and no more room in my kitchen..omg!!! Again I do enjoy this a lot.....may all be safe and James..... Each video you make just entertains and informs me...thank you so much from Pennsylvania....
Hello James, your Videos are awesome. I for myself am a traveling nurse in Germany and I use it mostly cause the coffee in hotels is very bad. But the Nano is light to take with you and easy to set up. I like dark roasts, so the taste isn't really suffer that much. But the real game changer is the outing basket plus. maybe you would like to review it someday. Also I should mention, that I use it mostly with preheated water. At the hotel, at work on the ICU or even at home for the last few weeks. It's good, more decend than coffee in the most cafes I know and better than none, if your original Espressomachine has stopped working all of a sudden. so up until I got the money to buy me a new one, I rely on the nano. have fun brewing
I am so happy you reviewed one of these. It has completely validated my experience with it. OK so I bought mine because I travel for work and also work overnights... My options for coffee on my way to work was limited to only Starbucks which is unacceptable to me. I have a 1Zpresso J ultra hand grinder, the nano basket plus, a small gram scale and carry my small batch local whole espresso beans in a canister that let's out the CO2 (I check a bag). My bar was to beat a Starbucks iced latte which I do easily with this machine. But the shots are not enjoyable without sweetener and milk no matter what I do. Get the grind size too small, it won't brew, put too much in the basket, it won't brew. So I've settled on a semi happy medium of less input and a larger than ideal grind size. Does it meet the bar I set for it? Yes. Will I be using it for anything other than working on the go or camping without access to good coffee. Not in a million years. But it's a start in the right direction.
Hi James, nice to see this review. I bought this device 3 months ago for my holiday. We we’re going to a small house that only had filter coffee and I wanted to have something better. My experience with it is great. I do have to say, I’m more of a lungo drinker, so I filled the chamber with 80ml of water. We used it during the trips in the car and could just charge it afger use, so it was full of charge for the next run. I’ve used it also in some hotels where we had no coffee machine, only instant coffee. And most of the time I used the boiling water from a kettle, since that is faster to use. You press the button 2 times and it pours directly. Good to know, we only used nespresso capsules, that is way easier to use on a holiday.
This should have two modes: 1 - Battery operated - Gives an ok result that sacrifices a bit of quality owing to power constraints. 2 - Plugged in - Allows the unit to pre heat faster and achieve higher temperatures thus allowing a better end result. This for many is its use case. Or, you have the option of enabling higher performance in battery mode at the expense of battery life. Given the size of the unit, it would still be the ultimate travel companion where it’s likely use is a hotel room or camper van type scenario. I don’t envision many on the 7:35 to Waterloo breaking one of these out. I do however see a bunch of office warriors using these at their desk in the absence of better coffee locally. In terms of the power supply, the plugged in mode should be able to push way past 10w which is what the website claims is its output. Most laptop/phone power supplies push way past this and an extremely high percentage of customers will be traveling with such a psu. Future versions could conceivably also introduce a smart element that allows you to set parameters via a Bluetooth connected phone. Nothing too complex but certainly pressure, heat and time.
Finally! I've been waiting for ages for James to review this so as to finally decide if its worth getting this! It's very difficult to find reviews that you can trust, cause you think hmm, maybe they have been paid? But thanks so much for this review, hugely appreciated!
I have one for more than a year now. It was a gift from my wife. She got it online directly from them, I believe. I'm very glad you pointed out the temperature issue, because it proves me I'm not insane. Whenever possible I use water freshly boiled in a kettle. And before the first shot I run a bit of hot water through it, otherwise the drop in temperature is noticeable in the end product. Once the internals get hot (I presume) the result are better and also consistent.
What a lovely destination! I've done espresso at destinations (airbnb at the beach, hotel) with a Flair Pro 2 and a Wacaco Picopresso. Brought a kettle along in both cases. The latter is more portable while the former yields better espresso. Espresso has less tolerance before it ends up being bad, so I think where the Outin Nano goes with the temperature would be a miss. You still need a way to heat water (stove, kettle), but my go-to travel brewer has become the Aeropress (Go Plus).
I have the Outin Nano for more then a year, i circle the globe twice with it. I use it with coffee pods when I travel and don't have much time to grind and prep the coffee. I like the taste of the coffee that comes out of it. Not the perfect espresso, but surely you would like to enjoy a coffee when you are skiing and found beautiful view over the mountain or down on the beach, at the right edge of lake...anyware you want to enjoy a good view. As for coffee extracted 4-5 maximum with the single press. And got 280 + extractions when adding hot water. Add the Nano Plus Basket, then chose a medium roasted coffee and fine tune the grind size....you are the expert...
Something that some folks carry around that would be both a companion for this brewer and a practical tool to have in general: a lighter! Using a lighter (ideally a jet lighter for a cleaner burn) to preheat the brew chamber/brew head might get you some more consistent results. This comes with the usual "fire is dangerous and destructive" caveat, of course. Another consideration if you're in a hotel is the hot water from the tap to get some sort of pre-heat going for both the heating chamber and the brew head.
I’m on the road about in my line of work and for me this is one of the most essential pieces of kit that I travel with. I’ve upgraded to the larger basket for a l double shot and with a decent grinder it’s become a morning life saver for me. It’s a £120 machine it will never compare in anyway to a high end espresso still but when you’re halfway up a glacier or in bush camp or yet another mid range hotel it brings joy to my day.
Yup, I have one. Things I found, as you did, water not hot enough, shot too small, too sour and after 6 months use the unit fails on it's first heat up and won't proceed to pull a shot. It will do plenty of shots if I use boiling water in it rather than let it heat up itself. I now pull an empty shot first with boiling water in the reservoir to preheat it followed by using boiling water again to pull a shot. Seems to produce an ok shot then. Crazy place I use mine - oil rig in the North Sea
I bought it this summer for travelling and I must say it was a pleasant surprise. I’ve now upgraded to the basket plus and you can definately get better body. Overall I found the machine quite consistent. Its easy to find the right grind (the basket is so tall that if you grind too fine nothing comes out. After finding the right grind size I can always get a good tasting espresso. The bad thing is now I have to carry this brick and a grinder everywhere I go.
@6:55 you might not be able to taste the espresso, but you can certainly appreciate the uncomfortableness James was clearly feeling being silly in public lol
Great video, as always. Would be cool to have something like this that worked a lot better, hopefully someone will make one for us. I found it particularly funny that you fussed at Tim Wendelboe for swirling his espresso! His reaction was hilarious as well. Hopefully, one day, you can embrace the swirlers.
Just got my hands on one! Great for vehicle touring. No more boiling water with a gas canister. Press the button- enjoy coffee - stretch legs - back to cruising.
I have the nano, plus the double shot basket. It doesn't make the best espresso. However, it's so much easier to use than my other portable espresso machine, a flair pro. I've used the nano camping and backpacking many times, and it's wonderful for those circumstances; I also like having it with me at work. My favorite was using it the morning of a solo winter backpacking trip. It was below freezing, and I was surrounded by snow and ice. Hot espresso that morning was AWESOME!! Love you, James!
Just received as a gift! Its incredible. If the heating steel deposit could have lines the water contact would be increased and also the speed of it. Also any kind of preheating would be so much better
i’ve only been on 2 flights in the last 10 years and the pilots second hand man made the pilot a picopresso shot. could hardly believe my eyes. the fact i was sat on the seat right at the front so i could actually see what they were doing as well was just so fortunate
We have it now since around a year and as digital nomads we love it. We bought it mainly because in some areas (like brazil) it is hard to find decent espresso. The Outin fixed this issue for us. We really love it.
So, Imagine me, in tuscany, beautiful landscape, ancient farmhouse and a Wacaco nanopresso. Manually pumping Espresso every morning. The sight of my whimsical hands pumping the Wacaco made my wife buy me an OutIn, just in case we are on vacation in tuscany again. And with a lighter roast and boiling water, the OutIn makes far better espresso than the dark roast segafredo tar you get in Italy. And with cold water it is still better than most of the non-specialty stuff you can buy. The real revelation was at work though: We have horrible all-in-one machines in the office. With some random illy capsules, I can make coffee that is just as bad as the one from the machines of doom, but without leaving my desk.
@@peterkapunkt6783 I think you underestimate how bad the machines are. If I get up, I pull out the hand grinder and the Aeropress. And suddenly 15 minutes have gone by. It is a much beloved ritual, but sometimes that is just not possible. One of the main reasons I still prefer Homeoffice, since my beloved Sculptor, Gaggia and V60 are just one flight of stairs away. :)
@@gustabustamante well. It does more than a nanopresso. If you pour in the same temperature water in both, the resulting coffee is pretty much the same. The nanopresso makes you pump like a madman. I'd go for the outin since it can heat the water.
I have a Conqueco with the same idea and for me was a guilty pleasure with my ADV bike. Just ride though the woods, find a chill place and drink a hot cup of fresh coffee while listening the forest. Loved it.
He's not in coach - that's British Airways Club Europe (business). The seats are the same pitch as economy - they just don't sell the middle seat in the first few rows of the aircraft.
For those of you who have been adversely impressed by this review, here’s something to consider. I always use boiled water. I take a small camping stove with me. Everywhere. I bought my device on the 13th of July at The Thailand National Coffee convention. I charged it the same day. I use it to pull at LEAST 3, often 5 shots a day. And I both purge and pre heat. So let’s say that’s minimum 5 up to 7 battery blasts. Per day. Every day. The battery I am JUST recharging as I type this. Do the maths. Also using the basket plus, provided you get the tamping correct (takes some practice, and your grind is spot on, and you get the brew ratio right (both depending on the beans used obviously) this pulls shots better than 80% of the coffee I’d buy in a so called specialty coffee shop. Frankly I actually LOVE that a perfect pour is a rarity. Means I never get jaded and always get excited whenever I get one. If I had perfect coffee every day, perfect coffee would just become….coffee! But that’s my Taoist view of the world 😂
Ps fat finger miss type. Should have read “…..in so called speciality coffee shops” not “in A speciality coffee shops” it’s a nuance but somewhat changes the inference no? 🙏🌴😊
I bought mine to use for camping and have really come to enjoy it. I use regular coffee in it, though, and I already had a small, portable kettle (about the size of a thermos) that I used with my Aeropress. Yes, if you use the Outin to heat the water, you’re going to get maybe 3 uses before you have to charge it. But with preheated water, it lasts an insanely long time. I use mine more like a lazy person’s Aeropress (which, I know, for the price doesn’t make that much sense, but I like that I have the option of it heating the water for me, too). For me, just wanting a decent, easy cup of coffee while I’m camping, it’s been worth it (and I bought the bigger basket for it, too), and seemed like a more convenient option out of the others I was seeing while browsing on Amazon
I bought one mostly to use at home, as i have no expensive espresso maker, but also to use on my occasional weekends away in a hotel. I almost exclusively add freshly boiled water. What I got when compared to my favourite artisanal coffee shop was maybe a 6 out of 10 which sounds bad but was still better than I could make with my aeropress or get at a hotel. THEN... I bought the 18g adaptor for it and that made a huge difference. It comes with a new basket and a dosing ring and a solid tamper. The declumper is a little reminiscent of a bent paper clip but it does the job. The result I get now, using freshly boiled water, is IMHO about a 9 out of 10 compared to a well made espresso from a speciality shop.
I'm a trail runner and love my coffee. I throw this into my running vest and it's such a treat to enjoy a coffee on the top of a mountain. For the convenience, I highly rate this machine. That said I only use it for runs and hikes :) Great review James, thanks!
My girlfriend gifted me this coffee maker and I love it. In terms of the temperature concerns/battery logevity/portability addressed in the video, to me it doesn't feel like a big deal considering I would never actually use just walking around the street. I would use it when going places where I could actually get hot water but where I had no access to a proper brewer for example, like when travelling staying at hotels or even at a work venue. So in that case, it's perfect for me: its portable enough to carry in a backpack or something, if I put hot water it brews hot enough and the battery lasts for dozens of shots, comparing to when brewing from cold. I have used it in situations where I could only brew from cold, but if I am in a situation like that, away from electricity and with no access to a decent coffee shop or something, I would be desperate enough to accept a slightly sub-par espresso anyway.
One thing I have learned from traveling all around the world. When it comes to coffee snobs and so-called 'experts'. They will say the ALL coffee is terrible unless it is from them, or from someone or something that they admire. I was at a tasting in turkey and a vendor was trolling these 'barista world champions' by switching around the names of coffees and brewing devices. Almost every single one of them disliked the 'unpopular devices' and loved the brew that came from the expensive ones. She then revealed that she had played a trick on them. They were so butthurt it was hilarious.
Technically a gadget for most of us... But being an airline pilot, brewing at 36'000 feet with the sun rising a fresh espresso is something magical at 5am. This is how you transform a gadget into a must have. While it isn't the best espresso it is by far much better than the crap we sell on board. Plus, I don't need cabin crew to bring me hot water to brew, I brew whenever I want, freedom is key! Cabin crew now come for coffee, I reversed the normal order. I own the French version called Handpresso but it also has similar issues. We need the Comandante version of this espresso grinder. The best office needs the best espressos, end of story. James, get in touch and come with us and enjoy the best sunrise you've seen with a 'good' coffee!
I would imagine it probably isnt reaching 90c at flight altitude, due to lower atmosphric pressure. I think the hardest aspect of designing a truly portable espresso brewer is water needs a lot of energy to heat up, and bigger battery will occupy a lot of space.
@@mixswistIt would be interesting to see at what temperature the pump actuates. Many airline cabins were pressurized to maintain the equivalent altitude of 10,000ft (3050m). The boiling point at that pressure is 194°F (90°C), so it is entirely possible that the water boiled at too low a temperature to activate the pump. edited to add. It seems that most airliners now pressurize to 8,000ft which would indeed give a 92°C (198F) boiling point.
@@url00 There are plenty of altitude vs boiling temp charts and converters online if you want to verify this (I used one for the above post). In the US, many products have "high-altitude cooking instructions" that recommend increasing the cooking time to compensate for the lower boiling temperature. The internal cooking of an item often relies on the max temperature reached by the outer section. This will remain at the boiling temp until enough water has been boiled away.
@@url00So because water categorically cannot be above its (current) boiling point - since it’ll just soak up energy until it becomes steam - if a heat sensor is looking for a certain temperature to trigger the next stage, and the water’s boiling point is below that temperature, the next stage won’t activate.
I received one as a Christmas gift to take cycling. I've only tried it once on a muddy track - using a nespresso pod. It worked - not as good as a roadside cafe. It's a lot of weight to carry around. It takes up the space of a water bottle & it needs some sort of protective case. Maybe more suited to an overnight hotel stay than a muddy bike ride.
Hi James. I have this mini coffee maker. I use it in the car. I travel a lot for the Republic and I find it nice to make a coffee while driving. I use capsules - it's practical. The coffee from it is not great, but I can't stop at the gas station and drink from the machine. I actually like it in the car. Thank you for your videos and greetings from Prague.
I really like mine - have to use the double brewer (Nano Basket Plus). It makes a much better cup. I alway superheat. Try it again with the upgrade?! Love your vids
I haven't used or tasted this but that fact this thing can pull a good espresso (your words) from just cold water and ground coffee , on the go, anywhere, is extremely impressive imo. Deserves more props than you're giving it
1:16 was the water tank perhaps not ‘locked up’ by a small vacuum as the airplane reached top of climb I.e. at cruise altitude and lower pressure? Maybe if the water was poured in at the cabin altitude of approx. 8000ft it would work.
I've been using the Outin Nano for two months, and I must say it's a really impressive device. The coffee texture it produces is noticeably better than most of the nearby cafés.
I took it primarily for hiking. I know, is not the best but in the woods it's a pleasure to have a warm cup of coffee especially in the winter! The color of this fits for my taste in the woods..so I wouldn't take it in a city or a flight but definitely my opinion is that this is for hikers or maybe camping but then I would do a V60 or something else .. Thanks!
went hiking across europe and new zealand with this. was a game changer. Best espresso's I've tasted in that environment. I did boil my water to keep it running over the multi-day hikes as well as using the nano-basket plus for double shots. highly reccomended
As a fellow Slovenian I was delighted to see you go to the festival. I know a guy who has one of these and he made me a latte macchiato with it. It was good, but I think, that if you need to see the real result you have to drink just the espresso. I was still however amazed by this (small) setup.
I checked out a few of the early reviews of the Outin before buying, and I went straight for the upgraded basket as a result. The pro basket is not pressurized and has a capacity of 18 grams. I have one coffee right now that seems to be a little denser and I'm brewing it with 19 grams. I'm no expert, but I'm often getting shots that I prefer to those I get at a couple of different good local coffee shops. I found preheating the basket and the collar that locks it in place is absolutely necessary. I just hold the unit over the spout of the kettle as it reaches boiling temp and preheating only takes a few seconds. I pour the freshly boiled water in but I don't send it to pumping right away, I let the Outin finish the heating and pump when it's ready, which usually takes 15 to 20 seconds more. Since I'm starting with hot water, I don't worry so much about quantity in, and I just stop the shot when it's time by sliding a cup in to catch the remainder that I don't want. The beans I'm using range from medium to quite dark, I might feel differently if I were using lighter roasts. As someone else recommended, I also spend a fair amount of time prepping the puck with WDT and then shaking and tapping before tamping.
Purchased this 2 weeks ago to replace hotel coffee. I travel a lot and I'm constantly up extremely early and hotel coffee does not cut it. It brews consistent with a super-automatic machine, meaning its good strong coffee but is missing taste and details of a true espresso. For my travel needs and the fact that I can have both a pod solution (5.3 grams in for those wondering) and manual while not leaving my desk within 5 minutes works for me, especially at this price point. I'll use it until something better comes along. And you're right the cup actually does come in handy
My wife and I have one too. We have the travel case that holds everything needed. To be honest we use the Nespresso capsules... but the reason is it's a convent method of having good espresso, while doing 75mph (120kmh) on the highway, without needing to stop at a rest area. The capsule makes for easy cleanup and preparing for the next shot. And because of our FB posts about it, friends of ours also got one and use it all the time.. especially when camping.
0:29 I don't know why but I immediately thought of that old Twilight Zone episode with William Shatner seeing a yeti out on the airplane wing mid-air, only now it's James sat with an espresso...Just staring...Staring Britishly...
I have one on the same colour! I travel a lot and I suffer when I don't get a good coffee in the morning. I found that, using capsules it's way more consistent than using ground coffee. Also found that a clear roast and long extractions gives me less painful results. In terms of temperature, yes, I do agree needs pre-heating, but still, many hotel rooms, or even on my campervan, you can get boiling water pretty easy, and still get a good espresso shoot when pre-heating is part of the formula. Against my previous travel companions, the aeropress, I think its better, I like more espresso coffee. On my van I used to have a nespresso pod machine that required 220v to operate, so was either me need to plug in into the grid, or use the inverter and waste a lot of energy during the process. Not perfect, but still the best one out there at the moment.
I’m an airline pilot and there’s a captain I frequently fly with who has one of these.
It might not be great coffee, but it helps to put its use in context… It’s 5am, we’re on the plane before all the coffee shops are open, after minimum rest at the hotel the night before, and the captain offers you espresso. It feels like the best coffee of all time.
Plus, it easily beats the tepid brown fluid we refer to as ‘coffee’ from the galley.
Context is a powerful influencer for sure.
if you really need coffee at an unpropriate time, maybe consider getting some caffeine pills for athelets (really handy when you need it!) or just some good instant - instants don't taste great but I'd imagine it would not be too far from an underextrated 20 ml longo. As James mentioned the coffee this thing makes is just "better than your average hotel coffee," so does good instant!
Mateee I’m a pilot too! This looks like the perfect thing to have. I’m buying one soon!
@@foragingadventures we get adequate rest. But like everybody else we need some time to wake up sometimes. Hence good ☕️.
@@gienneq9285amen brother, safe travels!
Seeing James Hoffman on your flight and then noticing he's actually making espresso would be hilarious.
I would ask him for a taste...
I would ask him for a taste...
…and failing miserably..
That would be hilarious.
"I hope you have enough for everyone"
I wonder if the airport security is like: What on Earth is that unidentified contraption?!
It feels like this is "the thing before the things that get it right" - there's always a product that seems to be almost there and interesting but then gets hopped over fairly soon by the ones that crack the shortcomings. As an aside, that's a beautiful looking city!
Indeed. Second mover advantage is a very real thing
I want to visit this city now!
Good point. Hopefully they make it a bit cheaper too.
exactly how wacacao got to the picopresso. the mini and nano were just not great, and they were a savvy enough company to adapt and make the product enthusiasts really wanted.
true! it's a first of its kind (I think) and that'll get other companies brewing up ideas to compete which means it'll only get better. I can only imagine it be challenging to have an all in one brewer that can get up to temp and maintain that temp in that small format and charge
I gifted it to a friend who's in the hospital for quite a bit, he was very happy for not having to drink hospital coffee.
Oh yeah, that reminds me to bring coffee when I give birth this time! The hospital food is really pretty good and a good value, EXCEPT the coffee. $2 for a tube of instant coffee crystals and a cup of hot water!
@Harmonikdiskorde you win the comments section. That's brilliant!
@monchoglu you are an exceptional human being. Thank you for caring so deeply for another.
@@segamble1679 Thank you mate! I have good friends who would do the same for me, Im sure you have them too. Big hug from Madrid
that is a very thoughtful gift for someone in hospital! you are an angel!
I work in a remote oilfield in the far north of Alaska. There is something profoundly magical about having a freshly brewed espresso in my truck in the dead of February when it's -40 outside, bonus points if I can blow a colleagues mind by sharing one with them. If you the reader happen upon this and you're on the fence about this brewer I couldn't recommend it more. I just purchased the upgraded brewing basket and I truly look forward to exploring this machine further and I'm sure James will review the add on at some point as well.
oilfield worker here. About 15 years ago, on a couple of offshore rigs in Australia, a few of us put some money together and bought a cheap espresso machine to use in our office. Coffee was replenished each time someone had a crew-change. We were lucky that we had fresh milk delivered often too, well, not everywhere...
Anyway, it may not seem like a big deal, and may not have been the best coffee or machine, but it was just something different, and nice to have. It also meant we got a lot more visitors to our office than before...
Nowadays, It's not uncommon for the galley to have an automated machine that does everything, but our little coffee "collective" still holds a special place in my memory.
Mind you, very dark days when a machine died (the rig electrician and rig mechanic tried to save it - especially as they were part of the coffee group, but to no avail), and we had to wait for a new one, it changed the mood a lot, and it wasn't just the lack of caffeine.
Firstly booboo.. secondly So no gas stoves in the snowlands
Handpresso makes one that plugs into your cars 12v outlet
I'm a shift worker in the emergency services and I've had one of these for a couple of months now, I can honestly say it's been a life saver(i work in the ambulance service)! When stuck out in the middle of nowhere at 3am in desperate need of a good coffee, this is the perfect thing to keep me going
thx for the work you do
Thank you for your service ❤
I have one and have for about 6 months. I wanted one for home use and on the go because we have a small kitchen and I’m still a newbie to espresso. So I figured this would be a good toes in the water option. I have enjoyed it and even bought the pro basket accessory. And just like you I have had good, bad, and ugly shots. The major issue I had recently was after 6 months of use the seals busted and water started leaking out of the top above the coffee basket. Now I will say we contacted Outin and they had me try some troubleshooting and replaced the unit and the new one runs even better than my first one. So maybe I got a defective unit originally. Overall I love the Outin. It’s been a great way to introduce others to espresso. And the bring anywhere feature allows me to never go without. I give it as a product 4/5 stars
I had a similar quality problem with the seal bursting both with the smaller basket as well as the new bigger one where the shower screen detached. The coffee is not great and it's sour most of the time. But it's easy to use and does suit my purpose.
I had a basket split too. I got the pack of 5 more and the big metal basket. The lights are failing. I warm the machine thoroughly before I extract and keep extracting until I've used my pre boiled water.(Boiling again in the Putin) It's good for teaspresso too. I will get a brevoy machine to compare but expectations of the outin were pleasantly satisfied. (I'm easy doe) ☕🧉🫘
Getting out in did prompt me to get a Sage impress doe...
Look at picopresso. So much more extensible. So much more practical imo.
a mokka pot would’ve been better maybe
"Don't swirl it like a savage" ... should be the next t-shirt
I didn't realise this was a bone of contention before I started watching Mr Hofmann. Personally I neither swirl or stir. I had disturbing the crema on my coffees, so slip the spoon in & do a gentle sculling action. Mixes the coffee & you'd never know a spoon had been near it. Would like your slogan of a T though.
The joke plays well between world barista champions. 😂
I would def buy that 😂
when you see a world barista champion doing something, it's at that point that you realize that a lot of James's preferences are just that: his personal preferences.
Ah yes, my latest opinion just dropped
😂😂😂 Too true
Bro I know basically nothing about coffee, I am a complete impostor land I think the audience is full of us
Was it that Ljubljana is a lovely place?
Absolutely!
@@benjaminm4702 That one I at least found out for myself.
I have had one for almost a year, and it is worth it!
First of all - try the Nano Basket kit; it provides you with an 18-gram basket, funnel, and tamper. Yes, still some temperature issues could be, but just give it a try.
The second point is preheating. Yes, if you are away from civilization - it won't be an option, but just add 15-20 mill of water, heat it, and let it pass through. If you are not away from the kettle, just boil some water, run 1-2 preheating sequences, and enjoy your espresso.
The third point. If you want to use the original basket, the small one, you need to play a little with the amount of coffee and grind size. In my case, it took a week to get good shots (good for me and several coffee friends). Also, regarding water amount, you really need to either use the same amount of water every time or use scales and stop brewing.
My way of brewing for a small basket is ~6 grams of lightly roasted coffee from a local roaster, ground with Timemore C3 esp to 0.8.1 size, and ~45 mills of water (50 mills mark in the water tank). It will be at least a good shot, not perfect, but really good.
For Nano Basket - 18 grams of coffee, 0.8.1 grind on Timemore C3 esp, and stopping brew at 25-27 grams, some leftover drops will give you ~30 grams of espresso.
Preheating is a must for both.
In terms of how I use OutIn. I've brewed coffee on a train, the best ever coffee I've got during my train travels. I've spent several weeks, in total, at hotels, and OutIn espresso was not only better than the one in the hotel but also better than any coffee I could buy somewhere nearby. Also, I had some great experiences brewing coffee on the top of the mountain and seeing the sunrise. The most valuable for me was to brew espresso during blackouts (we have some issues with electricity here in Ukraine)
So, in conclusion, OutIn is worth buying, but it has some specific features and requires some tweaking. If you want to get good espresso on the go everywhere - use OutIn
Thank you for the tips. I recently picked up a Outin, and the plus kit, after a trip where I suffered because I could not get my morning espresso, and your post got me from ok to decent espresso with the nano. Looking forward to my next trip already.
Thanks for the tips! Pulling weak shots now with the smaller basket and was wondering what grind size would be good.
So basically it is more worth it to buy the wacaco and boil your own water. Got it.
Hello James!
I use this as an airline pilot almost all the time i fly. The difference between this and an instant coffee is incomparable.
A few of my colleagues have it as well and all of us are satisfied to have bought it. We predominantly use the Nespresso pods since it's very convenient in the cockpit to just make the coffee and throw the pod. Haven't tried it yet with my own coffee beans.
With all the pilots commenting on this thread and having flown a plane myself, I'm starting to think that a compact espresso maker might be a good option for plane manufacturers to include in the cockpit. :-)
@@bobbif100Boeing would find a way to screw it up
If you’re based in the UK, give the Waitrose ‘Nespresso’ pods a crack!
Are you the friend of the other pilot who commented?
"make the coffee and throw the pod" - in my mind i'm picturing a pilot throwing their used nespresso pods out of the plane above a city and hitting random passers-by lol
This man has ruined me! After many many years of enjoying instant, finally gave in (thanks to James's videos) to a V60, a cheap and cheerful hand grinder and some beans from an independent roaster. Yes, I can tell the taste difference, yes it's amazing, yes the instant now tastes terrible. Can I afford enough fresh coffee to feed my needs? No. So now I'm doomed to wince with every cup of coffee bar the odd time I can treat myself. Damn you Hoffmann! Still, love the videos, learned a lot, amazed at how coffee can taste, so I guess you're forgiven. Mostly... All the best, Pete.
Welcome to the Weird Coffee Person club!
The curse has been passed. As a recently unemployed person sipping Target coffee from a Keurig fill basket, I can confidently say that it's hard to have tasted the good life for a bit.
@@xyzpdq1122 Thank You! Even if I have to keep that particular weirdness for special occasions, the people in this club do seem pretty decent!
@@RyanSpargo I feel your pain. I don't work at the moment due to... reasons, and have just made a cup of the cheapest instant the local shops sell. Treat yourself when you can, you'll enjoy the achievement that bit more. All the best to you.
feel that bro. feel that. and yet, still feel that V60 its kinda hard due to the pour over thinghy so i'm searching for a faster and more pratical way (neuron too slow when in the morning). i just bought from a local roaster in rome (yes, not evry italian like ristretto) a 15 € bag of rwanda coffee, and cant wait to get depressed for using it instead of a regular kimbo xd
Another airline pilot here.
I use this device every single day and I love it!! The trick to brew your coffee in the air is double press the button after your first try, and then it will instantly brew. it requires a little bit more time in the air because of the pressure difference, most of the time the cabin altitude is 8000ft.
It really works just give it more time.
Wearing a crisp white t-shirt to a coffee festival is such a power move.
Or you could use a suite
5:26 - cutting to the elevator shot just for the line "it's been a bit up and down", James your editor deserves a payrise
Video editing fav moment, James grinding coffee cuts from various places, perfectly lined up in shot!
Except...CLEAN THE LENS!
Outin owner BG: Healthcare worker who used to drink Starbucks and has no prior experience with making coffee. Didn't want to go to Starbucks every day (also it was giving me acid reflux with all the milk I like with my coffee) and I don't have kitchen space for a whole espresso machine. I could see the Outin falling into the category of "good enough" for a coffee/espresso connoisseur but I still enjoy the espresso output from the Outin. It's better than the instant I used to drink before Starbucks and I think whatever the Outin pulls is just as enjoyable as Starbucks. What's also really great is my acid reflux has greatly improved after making my own coffee.
Setup: Outin and manual hand grinder; I boil my own water and usually stick to medium-roast whole coffee beans (Purity "Flow", Illy "Classico", local roaster of Kona beans and another blend). Why not the Picopresso if I'm boiling my own water? Because I don't want to be doing the pressure pump labor when I'm already grinding my own beans.
Review of video: I was so excited that James did a review on a product I own and it made my day! I was always curious about "what would a professional espresso connoisseur think of an Outin espresso?" Well, now I know! Apparently so-so overall (as a portable machine) and in my newbie book, pretty good espresso😂! Would love a short video on exploring how to make a better espresso with the Outin and a review on the double shot basket add-on for this product (I swear it has less crema in the double than the single shot and the puck is sooo different, I'd like to know why). I know, a very niche video topic to cover and why on earth would James put so much effort into a "lemon" but I can only wish 🙃
I have one for 9 months now and purchased the 18g basket which really improved the quality of the coffee that came out. I bought it to avoid drinking the awful coffee at the office and until this day am really happy with it, it won’t replace my portafilter but it is definitely better than most espressi you can buy 😄
I also have my handgrinder with me when I travel or am at the office 👌🏻
Kind of a decent gadget (minus the temp issues). Now I can finally pick “yes” for the “Willing to travel?” question on job applications.
No, that's a different espresso maker company ;)
I think the world is ready for a Withnail & I style travel documentary where Tim Wendelboe and James travel to far flung places in search of the ultimate espresso but disaster strikes at every corner and they are constantly pursued by an enigmatic "Uncle Monty" style figure that hides in the shadows, an ominous cloud of dark roast discontent.
😂
I'm constantly shocked he hasn't been snapped up for a daytime tv casual documentary series
uncle monty. Has to be Lance hedrick
Tim is incredible, would watch it just for the arguments about 'swirling like a savage' or whether rinsing an aeropress filter is necessary.
@@Whitepawprint True, I think James could discuss cling-film and still be engaging.
I've had it for almost a year and it's been a life saver at work. It has saved me a lot of cash and if you use boiling water it's fine. I bust it out in the kitchen and over 10 people have bought one since. You're right, it's not perfect but it's their first model and it is definitely a step in the right direction. I absolutely love it.
I work in construction. This has been amazing for me. I make myself iced lattes with it at 4am at the job site. Really love this thing. I even started carrying more grounds with me to have another drink at my lunch later in the day. I personally think it’s the best you can get for how portable it is. Working in DTLA will cost me 12 dollars to get a coffee anywhere here. This thing paid itself off in less than a month for me.
James I wish you reviewed it with the Basket Plus. It's a 16g-18g basket. It's an option if you want a bigger coffee dose.
I also disagree with preheating being a challenge. You just brew without the basket first into the plastic cup which is perfect as it doesn't draw much heat. Then you dump the hot water back into the water heater and make coffee the second time with the device preheated. I think the results are noticeably better and generally worth doing. I'm a little surprised you never even attempted this to comment on whether that makes the coffee more acceptable. I've also started travelling with a bag of pre-ground which obviously isn't the best but it makes the workflow and carry much better as I no longer need a scale or grinder. Either way it was a great video but hoping for a part 2!
The manufacturer should include this as part of their instructions, good idea!
It honestly would never have occurred to me to do that!
Definitely sounds like a good work around, but I would be a bit frustrated if I'd bought one and it couldn't just... heat up the water like it was supposed to, first time. Glad to hear it makes it more useable though!
@@carlkim2577it would reduce the number of shots of coffee made per charge though.
@@keithsheffield9154 Barely. You're heating up water that is already pretty hot once more so the battery is being drained marginally. I'd rather have 3 good shots than 4 bad ones.
@@Whitepawprint Maybe because I'm so used to manual espresso, that I'd intuitively want to preheat everything once. Just comes with the territory of not having a big machine. It also does work fine without preheating for darker roasts.
Watching this from Ljubljana - glad you got some good weather, because it’s been absolutely shocking these last few days.
A normal end of September in Ljubljana. Till spring LJ is grey with fog in the morning. :)
I've had mine for a few month now. I'm a musician on the go a lot of the time. Sometimes there's good coffee around most times not. I bought the OutIn for those days. I did get the 18g basket (it's been available for months now) and it is pretty decent. I like it for the ease of use and portability. It is better than most random bad coffees.
Slovenia and Croatia are absolutely gorgeous countries. Highly recommend visiting!
I have owned this unit for a few months now and happy with my purchase. My original interest was in the ability to use room temp water if necessary. However, using the built in heater will drain the battery quickly compared to using preheated water. The optional basket is an improvement, as is the ability to use more than one dose of water for more volume. It is also my only brewer which can use pods as an option if desired. If you take the time to dial in an acceptable bean / ratio. It does a decent job. Way better than hotel coffee.
Oh, wow. Finally a product I can comment on:
I've had one of these for the better part of a year and use it pretty much daily. The larger basket is a really good option, as is preheating. I work in a restaurant and I've made dozens of coffees at work. (Even nespresso pods and heating up the milk with a 1/2 pan and a 1/4 pan are better than the terrible drip options in the restaurants I've worked.) I got this as a gift because I had added it to my Amazon wishlist with the intent to do more research before spending so much money on a coffee device, but the choice was taken from me. Luckily, it's worked out to be the best option that I have to make coffee.
One of the cool things that nobody else seems to have mentioned is that if you're using hot water, the battery in this thing lasts for months. I last charged mine in May and I make 1-3 double-shots per day.
I’ve had one since Xmas 2023 and I love it. I bought the add on double basket which is far more premium in terms of materials than what comes in the box. It costs about £40 extra but comes w a nice aluminium tamper.
I just confess I always use it with boiling water and the fact I use it twice a day and have only charged it once since January is amazing.
The experience w the double basket is much better than w the single plastic basket or the nespresso basket.
For my use case, taking it into the office to make better coffee than instant and saving money on buying coffee twice a day it’s perfect and would highly recommend.
2013?
We go in our camper and out in the forest , first cup of the day while looking out at a spectacular view or a cold morning, all is relative
Had this for now about 4 months and truth be told , yes it makes ok...or capital OK shots....temp is a slight problem as you can consume immediately, so I do enjoy the facts of yes it heats the water , yes its very portable as I sit outside or take it wherever, battery life , only 4 shots from room temp water. I do however use a kettle for heating and you absolutely get many many more shots back to back if serving more than 2 ppl...for me it works fine and yes I have the green one also. I have multiple ways of making coffee , 8 grinders , 4 scales , and no more room in my kitchen..omg!!!
Again I do enjoy this a lot.....may all be safe and James.....
Each video you make just entertains and informs me...thank you so much from Pennsylvania....
Hmm so basically American home brewed coffe
Loved the shots of James grinding away out and about in Ljubljana. Looks a lovely city. Maybe this could become a mini series with other cities ?
give that videographer a raise
Hello James, your Videos are awesome. I for myself am a traveling nurse in Germany and I use it mostly cause the coffee in hotels is very bad. But the Nano is light to take with you and easy to set up. I like dark roasts, so the taste isn't really suffer that much. But the real game changer is the outing basket plus. maybe you would like to review it someday. Also I should mention, that I use it mostly with preheated water. At the hotel, at work on the ICU or even at home for the last few weeks. It's good, more decend than coffee in the most cafes I know and better than none, if your original Espressomachine has stopped working all of a sudden. so up until I got the money to buy me a new one, I rely on the nano. have fun brewing
James' video style is so consistent I didn't even notice it was a new video lol
I am so happy you reviewed one of these. It has completely validated my experience with it. OK so I bought mine because I travel for work and also work overnights... My options for coffee on my way to work was limited to only Starbucks which is unacceptable to me.
I have a 1Zpresso J ultra hand grinder, the nano basket plus, a small gram scale and carry my small batch local whole espresso beans in a canister that let's out the CO2 (I check a bag).
My bar was to beat a Starbucks iced latte which I do easily with this machine. But the shots are not enjoyable without sweetener and milk no matter what I do.
Get the grind size too small, it won't brew, put too much in the basket, it won't brew. So I've settled on a semi happy medium of less input and a larger than ideal grind size.
Does it meet the bar I set for it? Yes. Will I be using it for anything other than working on the go or camping without access to good coffee. Not in a million years. But it's a start in the right direction.
(Trying to) brew an espresso on a plane = the most James Hoffmanest thing I’ve ever seen! ❤
Hi James, nice to see this review. I bought this device 3 months ago for my holiday. We we’re going to a small house that only had filter coffee and I wanted to have something better.
My experience with it is great. I do have to say, I’m more of a lungo drinker, so I filled the chamber with 80ml of water. We used it during the trips in the car and could just charge it afger use, so it was full of charge for the next run.
I’ve used it also in some hotels where we had no coffee machine, only instant coffee. And most of the time I used the boiling water from a kettle, since that is faster to use. You press the button 2 times and it pours directly.
Good to know, we only used nespresso capsules, that is way easier to use on a holiday.
I sometimes forget that the professional coffee nerd world is bigger than just James...
Mighty blasphemous statement right there. What do you mean it's bigger than Lord Hoffman?
@@haxortroll*DaddyHoff
@@haxortroll Lord Hoffmann makes it sound like he should be serving in the House of Lords in the UK Parliament.
Oh my lord! 6:55-7:05 is just… astonishing. James, camera operator, video editor - amazing job, made my day!
Waiting for the Aeropress Premium review! cannot invest in expensive coffee gear without James Hoffman review
This should have two modes:
1 - Battery operated - Gives an ok result that sacrifices a bit of quality owing to power constraints.
2 - Plugged in - Allows the unit to pre heat faster and achieve higher temperatures thus allowing a better end result. This for many is its use case. Or, you have the option of enabling higher performance in battery mode at the expense of battery life.
Given the size of the unit, it would still be the ultimate travel companion where it’s likely use is a hotel room or camper van type scenario. I don’t envision many on the 7:35 to Waterloo breaking one of these out.
I do however see a bunch of office warriors using these at their desk in the absence of better coffee locally.
In terms of the power supply, the plugged in mode should be able to push way past 10w which is what the website claims is its output. Most laptop/phone power supplies push way past this and an extremely high percentage of customers will be traveling with such a psu.
Future versions could conceivably also introduce a smart element that allows you to set parameters via a Bluetooth connected phone. Nothing too complex but certainly pressure, heat and time.
Finally! I've been waiting for ages for James to review this so as to finally decide if its worth getting this! It's very difficult to find reviews that you can trust, cause you think hmm, maybe they have been paid? But thanks so much for this review, hugely appreciated!
Its actually 5/5 if u have ur own way to heat up water.. i use it at my work place daily because its better than instant coffee
I have one for more than a year now. It was a gift from my wife. She got it online directly from them, I believe.
I'm very glad you pointed out the temperature issue, because it proves me I'm not insane. Whenever possible I use water freshly boiled in a kettle. And before the first shot I run a bit of hot water through it, otherwise the drop in temperature is noticeable in the end product. Once the internals get hot (I presume) the result are better and also consistent.
What a lovely destination!
I've done espresso at destinations (airbnb at the beach, hotel) with a Flair Pro 2 and a Wacaco Picopresso. Brought a kettle along in both cases. The latter is more portable while the former yields better espresso.
Espresso has less tolerance before it ends up being bad, so I think where the Outin Nano goes with the temperature would be a miss.
You still need a way to heat water (stove, kettle), but my go-to travel brewer has become the Aeropress (Go Plus).
I have the Outin Nano for more then a year, i circle the globe twice with it. I use it with coffee pods when I travel and don't have much time to grind and prep the coffee.
I like the taste of the coffee that comes out of it. Not the perfect espresso, but surely you would like to enjoy a coffee when you are skiing and found beautiful view over the mountain or down on the beach, at the right edge of lake...anyware you want to enjoy a good view.
As for coffee extracted 4-5 maximum with the single press.
And got 280 + extractions when adding hot water.
Add the Nano Plus Basket, then chose a medium roasted coffee and fine tune the grind size....you are the expert...
Something that some folks carry around that would be both a companion for this brewer and a practical tool to have in general: a lighter! Using a lighter (ideally a jet lighter for a cleaner burn) to preheat the brew chamber/brew head might get you some more consistent results. This comes with the usual "fire is dangerous and destructive" caveat, of course.
Another consideration if you're in a hotel is the hot water from the tap to get some sort of pre-heat going for both the heating chamber and the brew head.
I’m on the road about in my line of work and for me this is one of the most essential pieces of kit that I travel with. I’ve upgraded to the larger basket for a l double shot and with a decent grinder it’s become a morning life saver for me. It’s a £120 machine it will never compare in anyway to a high end espresso still but when you’re halfway up a glacier or in bush camp or yet another mid range hotel it brings joy to my day.
Yup, I have one. Things I found, as you did, water not hot enough, shot too small, too sour and after 6 months use the unit fails on it's first heat up and won't proceed to pull a shot. It will do plenty of shots if I use boiling water in it rather than let it heat up itself. I now pull an empty shot first with boiling water in the reservoir to preheat it followed by using boiling water again to pull a shot. Seems to produce an ok shot then.
Crazy place I use mine - oil rig in the North Sea
Oh that's gangsta! Very cool!
Mine also stopped heating the water around 4-5 mo, but I contacted outin and they sent me a replacement. Check the warranty, think it's a year
I bought it this summer for travelling and I must say it was a pleasant surprise. I’ve now upgraded to the basket plus and you can definately get better body. Overall I found the machine quite consistent. Its easy to find the right grind (the basket is so tall that if you grind too fine nothing comes out. After finding the right grind size I can always get a good tasting espresso. The bad thing is now I have to carry this brick and a grinder everywhere I go.
@6:55 you might not be able to taste the espresso, but you can certainly appreciate the uncomfortableness James was clearly feeling being silly in public lol
Welcome to Slovenia.. very nice to see you here! I hope you enjoyed.
Great video, as always. Would be cool to have something like this that worked a lot better, hopefully someone will make one for us. I found it particularly funny that you fussed at Tim Wendelboe for swirling his espresso! His reaction was hilarious as well. Hopefully, one day, you can embrace the swirlers.
It cracked me up how blunt he was about it being bad.
Just got my hands on one! Great for vehicle touring. No more boiling water with a gas canister. Press the button- enjoy coffee - stretch legs - back to cruising.
Love the honesty! Why I subscribed “It’s pretty good, not great, but it’s pretty good.” Ha!
I have the nano, plus the double shot basket. It doesn't make the best espresso. However, it's so much easier to use than my other portable espresso machine, a flair pro. I've used the nano camping and backpacking many times, and it's wonderful for those circumstances; I also like having it with me at work. My favorite was using it the morning of a solo winter backpacking trip. It was below freezing, and I was surrounded by snow and ice. Hot espresso that morning was AWESOME!! Love you, James!
5:32 who here would not act the same way of James pops out of nowhere asking to make us coffee?
I laughed so hard, when a wbc Starts giggling just because james appears.
0:33 to be fair, people being calm in places like public transport is the mark of superior cultures around the world
“Give it a little shake…settle your grounds. It’s quite the rage” Lolol shoutout lance hedrick
Exactly what I thought.
yoooo same!
Just received as a gift! Its incredible. If the heating steel deposit could have lines the water contact would be increased and also the speed of it. Also any kind of preheating would be so much better
i’ve only been on 2 flights in the last 10 years and the pilots second hand man made the pilot a picopresso shot. could hardly believe my eyes. the fact i was sat on the seat right at the front so i could actually see what they were doing as well was just so fortunate
A joyful moment for coffee nerds😊
We have it now since around a year and as digital nomads we love it. We bought it mainly because in some areas (like brazil) it is hard to find decent espresso. The Outin fixed this issue for us. We really love it.
So, Imagine me, in tuscany, beautiful landscape, ancient farmhouse and a Wacaco nanopresso. Manually pumping Espresso every morning. The sight of my whimsical hands pumping the Wacaco made my wife buy me an OutIn, just in case we are on vacation in tuscany again. And with a lighter roast and boiling water, the OutIn makes far better espresso than the dark roast segafredo tar you get in Italy. And with cold water it is still better than most of the non-specialty stuff you can buy.
The real revelation was at work though: We have horrible all-in-one machines in the office. With some random illy capsules, I can make coffee that is just as bad as the one from the machines of doom, but without leaving my desk.
Isn't leaving the desk one of the reasons to get a coffee?
@@peterkapunkt6783 I think you underestimate how bad the machines are. If I get up, I pull out the hand grinder and the Aeropress. And suddenly 15 minutes have gone by. It is a much beloved ritual, but sometimes that is just not possible.
One of the main reasons I still prefer Homeoffice, since my beloved Sculptor, Gaggia and V60 are just one flight of stairs away. :)
So... is this better than a nanopresso? i want a portable espresso machine. your comment could help me a lot :) thanks in advance
@@gustabustamante well. It does more than a nanopresso. If you pour in the same temperature water in both, the resulting coffee is pretty much the same. The nanopresso makes you pump like a madman. I'd go for the outin since it can heat the water.
I have a Conqueco with the same idea and for me was a guilty pleasure with my ADV bike. Just ride though the woods, find a chill place and drink a hot cup of fresh coffee while listening the forest. Loved it.
James Hoffmann flying coach?! The stars, they're just like us!
He's not in coach - that's British Airways Club Europe (business). The seats are the same pitch as economy - they just don't sell the middle seat in the first few rows of the aircraft.
@@tim_billerah yes, I forget, the European "business class".
Slumming it to seem relatable to the plebs 😮
What’s Coach?
@@jimlister8015 Economy
For those of you who have been adversely impressed by this review, here’s something to consider. I always use boiled water. I take a small camping stove with me. Everywhere.
I bought my device on the 13th of July at The Thailand National Coffee convention. I charged it the same day.
I use it to pull at LEAST 3, often 5 shots a day. And I both purge and pre heat. So let’s say that’s minimum 5 up to 7 battery blasts. Per day. Every day. The battery I am JUST recharging as I type this.
Do the maths. Also using the basket plus, provided you get the tamping correct (takes some practice, and your grind is spot on, and you get the brew ratio right (both depending on the beans used obviously) this pulls shots better than 80% of the coffee I’d buy in a so called specialty coffee shop. Frankly I actually LOVE that a perfect pour is a rarity. Means I never get jaded and always get excited whenever I get one.
If I had perfect coffee every day, perfect coffee would just become….coffee! But that’s my Taoist view of the world 😂
Ps fat finger miss type.
Should have read “…..in so called speciality coffee shops” not “in A speciality coffee shops” it’s a nuance but somewhat changes the inference no? 🙏🌴😊
Oh and for clarification, I don’t ALWAYS use the stove. Most of the time I boil a kettle lol 😂
10:30 "The Caffeine system", assuming then that you risk having too much blood in your caffeine system.
I bought mine to use for camping and have really come to enjoy it. I use regular coffee in it, though, and I already had a small, portable kettle (about the size of a thermos) that I used with my Aeropress. Yes, if you use the Outin to heat the water, you’re going to get maybe 3 uses before you have to charge it. But with preheated water, it lasts an insanely long time. I use mine more like a lazy person’s Aeropress (which, I know, for the price doesn’t make that much sense, but I like that I have the option of it heating the water for me, too). For me, just wanting a decent, easy cup of coffee while I’m camping, it’s been worth it (and I bought the bigger basket for it, too), and seemed like a more convenient option out of the others I was seeing while browsing on Amazon
The other kind of mile high club - Making Espresso on a plane
The Square Mile high club 😅
the Wholesome Mile High club
i mean, it doesn't get hotter but it's closer to boiling
I have made filter coffee on a plane many times, it's a challenging experience.
@nbougeard passenger planes are usually pressurized so this logic doesn't apply
I bought one mostly to use at home, as i have no expensive espresso maker, but also to use on my occasional weekends away in a hotel. I almost exclusively add freshly boiled water. What I got when compared to my favourite artisanal coffee shop was maybe a 6 out of 10 which sounds bad but was still better than I could make with my aeropress or get at a hotel.
THEN...
I bought the 18g adaptor for it and that made a huge difference. It comes with a new basket and a dosing ring and a solid tamper. The declumper is a little reminiscent of a bent paper clip but it does the job. The result I get now, using freshly boiled water, is IMHO about a 9 out of 10 compared to a well made espresso from a speciality shop.
Dang I was waiting for this review too, I just returned it for the Ninja Luxe 😅
Woah didn't know you were into coffee as well Phi!
@@Ramza012 Yeah PhiDX x james hoffmann not the crossover I was expecting to see either lmao
I don't think you've made a bad choice
Bro how the frame data on your espresso?!!?!
I have one about 1 year now and I am super happy with it... I have bought also the big basket that fits 18 gr of coffee and is perfect !!
At 2:20 Really thought the hotel staff was coming in to check what he's doing that involves "8 grams" exactly
I'm a trail runner and love my coffee. I throw this into my running vest and it's such a treat to enjoy a coffee on the top of a mountain. For the convenience, I highly rate this machine. That said I only use it for runs and hikes :) Great review James, thanks!
Are we all gonna ignore the gun show at 7:19 ?
My girlfriend gifted me this coffee maker and I love it. In terms of the temperature concerns/battery logevity/portability addressed in the video, to me it doesn't feel like a big deal considering I would never actually use just walking around the street. I would use it when going places where I could actually get hot water but where I had no access to a proper brewer for example, like when travelling staying at hotels or even at a work venue. So in that case, it's perfect for me: its portable enough to carry in a backpack or something, if I put hot water it brews hot enough and the battery lasts for dozens of shots, comparing to when brewing from cold. I have used it in situations where I could only brew from cold, but if I am in a situation like that, away from electricity and with no access to a decent coffee shop or something, I would be desperate enough to accept a slightly sub-par espresso anyway.
One thing I have learned from traveling all around the world. When it comes to coffee snobs and so-called 'experts'. They will say the ALL coffee is terrible unless it is from them, or from someone or something that they admire. I was at a tasting in turkey and a vendor was trolling these 'barista world champions' by switching around the names of coffees and brewing devices. Almost every single one of them disliked the 'unpopular devices' and loved the brew that came from the expensive ones. She then revealed that she had played a trick on them. They were so butthurt it was hilarious.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Technically a gadget for most of us... But being an airline pilot, brewing at 36'000 feet with the sun rising a fresh espresso is something magical at 5am. This is how you transform a gadget into a must have. While it isn't the best espresso it is by far much better than the crap we sell on board. Plus, I don't need cabin crew to bring me hot water to brew, I brew whenever I want, freedom is key! Cabin crew now come for coffee, I reversed the normal order. I own the French version called Handpresso but it also has similar issues. We need the Comandante version of this espresso grinder. The best office needs the best espressos, end of story. James, get in touch and come with us and enjoy the best sunrise you've seen with a 'good' coffee!
I would imagine it probably isnt reaching 90c at flight altitude, due to lower atmosphric pressure. I think the hardest aspect of designing a truly portable espresso brewer is water needs a lot of energy to heat up, and bigger battery will occupy a lot of space.
That is my first guess as well but I believe with pressurised cabin the water still able to go up to 92°C
@@mixswistIt would be interesting to see at what temperature the pump actuates. Many airline cabins were pressurized to maintain the equivalent altitude of 10,000ft (3050m). The boiling point at that pressure is 194°F (90°C), so it is entirely possible that the water boiled at too low a temperature to activate the pump.
edited to add. It seems that most airliners now pressurize to 8,000ft which would indeed give a 92°C (198F) boiling point.
What? Lower pressure means lower boiling point right? Shouldn't the opposite be happening?
@@url00 There are plenty of altitude vs boiling temp charts and converters online if you want to verify this (I used one for the above post).
In the US, many products have "high-altitude cooking instructions" that recommend increasing the cooking time to compensate for the lower boiling temperature. The internal cooking of an item often relies on the max temperature reached by the outer section. This will remain at the boiling temp until enough water has been boiled away.
@@url00So because water categorically cannot be above its (current) boiling point - since it’ll just soak up energy until it becomes steam - if a heat sensor is looking for a certain temperature to trigger the next stage, and the water’s boiling point is below that temperature, the next stage won’t activate.
I received one as a Christmas gift to take cycling. I've only tried it once on a muddy track - using a nespresso pod.
It worked - not as good as a roadside cafe.
It's a lot of weight to carry around. It takes up the space of a water bottle & it needs some sort of protective case.
Maybe more suited to an overnight hotel stay than a muddy bike ride.
I'm just jealous James was able to spend time in Ljubljana. Very likely my favorite city I've visited.
Hi James. I have this mini coffee maker. I use it in the car. I travel a lot for the Republic and I find it nice to make a coffee while driving. I use capsules - it's practical. The coffee from it is not great, but I can't stop at the gas station and drink from the machine. I actually like it in the car. Thank you for your videos and greetings from Prague.
I really like mine - have to use the double brewer (Nano Basket Plus). It makes a much better cup. I alway superheat. Try it again with the upgrade?!
Love your vids
Wish he would had too. I was so surprised at how it came out.
I haven't used or tasted this but that fact this thing can pull a good espresso (your words) from just cold water and ground coffee , on the go, anywhere, is extremely impressive imo. Deserves more props than you're giving it
I wasn't ready to see the portable espresso thumb nail again 1:47
😳
😂
I’ve been using it for the past month and love it, I’m not a coffee expert but been starting to learn more. As a digital nomad this is so convenient
1:16 was the water tank perhaps not ‘locked up’ by a small vacuum as the airplane reached top of climb I.e. at cruise altitude and lower pressure? Maybe if the water was poured in at the cabin altitude of approx. 8000ft it would work.
I've been using the Outin Nano for two months, and I must say it's a really impressive device. The coffee texture it produces is noticeably better than most of the nearby cafés.
02:50 this sentence 💀
I took it primarily for hiking. I know, is not the best but in the woods it's a pleasure to have a warm cup of coffee especially in the winter! The color of this fits for my taste in the woods..so I wouldn't take it in a city or a flight but definitely my opinion is that this is for hikers or maybe camping but then I would do a V60 or something else .. Thanks!
Hiking and camping? It's at least 1.5 to 2 pounds and then 3 to 4 uses before needing charged. So after 4 uses it is dead weight and dead space.
2:59 well, if you want to use it on a plane, is good because it already sounds like a plane.
went hiking across europe and new zealand with this. was a game changer. Best espresso's I've tasted in that environment. I did boil my water to keep it running over the multi-day hikes as well as using the nano-basket plus for double shots. highly reccomended
What happened on the plane? Reduced pressure meant the water boiled before it could hit the temperature to trigger the next stage??
As a fellow Slovenian I was delighted to see you go to the festival. I know a guy who has one of these and he made me a latte macchiato with it. It was good, but I think, that if you need to see the real result you have to drink just the espresso. I was still however amazed by this (small) setup.
Something like this needs to happen! We don't need 200 more grinders and V60 style pour overs...
I checked out a few of the early reviews of the Outin before buying, and I went straight for the upgraded basket as a result. The pro basket is not pressurized and has a capacity of 18 grams. I have one coffee right now that seems to be a little denser and I'm brewing it with 19 grams. I'm no expert, but I'm often getting shots that I prefer to those I get at a couple of different good local coffee shops. I found preheating the basket and the collar that locks it in place is absolutely necessary. I just hold the unit over the spout of the kettle as it reaches boiling temp and preheating only takes a few seconds. I pour the freshly boiled water in but I don't send it to pumping right away, I let the Outin finish the heating and pump when it's ready, which usually takes 15 to 20 seconds more. Since I'm starting with hot water, I don't worry so much about quantity in, and I just stop the shot when it's time by sliding a cup in to catch the remainder that I don't want. The beans I'm using range from medium to quite dark, I might feel differently if I were using lighter roasts. As someone else recommended, I also spend a fair amount of time prepping the puck with WDT and then shaking and tapping before tamping.
I'm getting "Judith Chalmers Wish You Were Here" kinda vibes
Purchased this 2 weeks ago to replace hotel coffee. I travel a lot and I'm constantly up extremely early and hotel coffee does not cut it. It brews consistent with a super-automatic machine, meaning its good strong coffee but is missing taste and details of a true espresso. For my travel needs and the fact that I can have both a pod solution (5.3 grams in for those wondering) and manual while not leaving my desk within 5 minutes works for me, especially at this price point. I'll use it until something better comes along. And you're right the cup actually does come in handy
good morning, good afternoon, good evening to everybody around the world :D
COFFEE!
COFFEE
My wife and I have one too. We have the travel case that holds everything needed. To be honest we use the Nespresso capsules... but the reason is it's a convent method of having good espresso, while doing 75mph (120kmh) on the highway, without needing to stop at a rest area. The capsule makes for easy cleanup and preparing for the next shot. And because of our FB posts about it, friends of ours also got one and use it all the time.. especially when camping.
0:29 I don't know why but I immediately thought of that old Twilight Zone episode with William Shatner seeing a yeti out on the airplane wing mid-air, only now it's James sat with an espresso...Just staring...Staring Britishly...
I have one on the same colour! I travel a lot and I suffer when I don't get a good coffee in the morning. I found that, using capsules it's way more consistent than using ground coffee.
Also found that a clear roast and long extractions gives me less painful results.
In terms of temperature, yes, I do agree needs pre-heating, but still, many hotel rooms, or even on my campervan, you can get boiling water pretty easy, and still get a good espresso shoot when pre-heating is part of the formula.
Against my previous travel companions, the aeropress, I think its better, I like more espresso coffee.
On my van I used to have a nespresso pod machine that required 220v to operate, so was either me need to plug in into the grid, or use the inverter and waste a lot of energy during the process.
Not perfect, but still the best one out there at the moment.