WACACO Minipresso GR2 Review: Easy Travel Espresso

Our WACACO Minipresso GR2 review comes to a simple verdict. It's a small, forgiving, hand-pumped brewer that makes a pleasant espresso-style shot from your own coffee, and it does best when you stop treating it like a real espresso machine. Seven of the eight video reviewers we analysed liked the cup for a travel brewer. Six of them also said it falls short of machine espresso, describing it as closer to a moka pot. The reviews that went badly had the same two causes: a grind that was too fine and water that cooled before it reached the cup. This page covers how to avoid both, what changed from the original Minipresso GR, and what owners report after a few months of use.

WACACO Minipresso GR2 Review: What Reviewers Agree On

WACACO rates it at up to 18 bar. That's the maker's figure, and none of the reviewers measured it. The basket is pressurized, which means a valve does the job a fine grind normally does. Cafelista put it plainly: thick foam from this kind of basket doesn't prove the shot was good. In that channel's six-brewer test the GR2 finished fourth, level with the Nanopresso and behind the Picopresso.

Minipresso GR vs GR2: What Changed

Most of the long-running Minipresso reviews, including Morgan Eckroth's four-brewer test, cover the original GR. These figures come from WACACO's spec pages for each model:

The GR2 also has a double-wall body that stays cooler to hold, and WACACO says 20% of the outer shell is plant-based material. Reviewers disagree on how much the handling changed. Tom's Guide said the core function is the same as before. T3 found it easier to put together than the fiddly original. Feeding the Rat Expeditions, who used the GR for years on climbing trips, praised two changes: you no longer flip the body over to fill the tank, and it now drains completely. One owner in the comments called the GR2 better built and less fussy than their old GR, which had needed a new brew head.

What hasn't changed: neither model heats water. Morgan's notes on the GR (balanced and chocolatey, but cool and moka-like) match what GR2 reviewers describe.

How to Use the Minipresso GR2: Grind, Dose, Preheat

The workflow is short. Unscrew the basket, fill it through the funnel, level it, screw it back on, pour hot water into the tank, release the piston and pump over the cup. The details below separated the good results from the bad ones.

Grind slightly coarser than espresso. Lawson Chapman couldn't pump a full basket of true espresso grind that he'd tamped. A slightly coarser grind, loosely filled, worked. Brew Coffee Home gives the same advice: start a click or two coarser than your usual espresso setting, roughly the texture of fine salt. Commenters on two other reviews made the same diagnosis when the pumping looked hard. Our grind size chart shows where that sits.

Don't overfill. Brew Coffee Home doses about half a gram to a gram under the basket's rating. The included scoop holds roughly 8 g, according to both Brew Coffee Home and Tom's Guide. Tom's Guide also points out that you need to add a little extra if you've set the basket to 12 g.

Tamp lightly and clean the rim. The pressurized basket supplies the resistance, so a light press with the back of the scoop is enough. Mark Young brushes grounds off the threads so the basket seals without leaking. 10 Percent More Complicated shows what happens when the bed is too loose: a thin shot and a sloppy puck that needed rinsing out.

Use water straight off the boil and preheat. Lawson Chapman and 10 Percent More Complicated both found their shots only warm, even with water that had just boiled. Owners on several videos suggest running a tank of hot water through the empty brewer first, and one dunks the whole unit in hot water while dosing. One GR2 owner said preheating plus a double-wall cup only helped a little, so expect warm rather than café-hot either way.

Pump steadily and stop by taste. Mark Young and From Shed To Summit each counted about eight strokes before coffee appeared. After that, pump steadily until the piston stops resisting. Brew Coffee Home adds a short pre-infusion: five to ten gentle strokes, a pause of about five seconds, then one stroke every two seconds. That tip comes from one reviewer only. Tom's Guide got a better-tasting shot by stopping at about 16 g of liquid from 8 g of coffee, instead of emptying the full tank. That's the classic 1:2 espresso ratio.

What Else You Need to Buy

• A hand grinder with metal burrs, or good pre-ground coffee. This is where reviewers split. Cafelista says the pressurized basket handles pre-ground coffee and an imperfect grind. Tom's Guide warns that supermarket pre-ground is usually ground for filter and comes out too coarse. Ground coffee labelled for espresso is the safe middle ground. For a grinder, Brew Coffee Home shared starting settings for the Kingrinder P2, 1Zpresso Q2 and Timemore C3 ESP. You don't need anything as capable as the grinders in our espresso grinder guide, since the basket does much of the work.
• A way to boil water. A kettle, camp stove or hotel coffee maker. Tom's Guide suggests an insulated travel mug or a camp stove on the trail. Water that has been sitting for a while will make the temperature problem worse.
• Optional extras. WACACO sells a GR2 baskets set and a protective case. Tom's Guide and 10 Percent More Complicated both mention pre-filling spare baskets at home so a second shot needs no grinding on the trail.

Owner-Reported Problems

Comment sections on these videos were small, so treat this as a pattern to watch rather than a failure rate.

• Mechanical failures within months. Three owners reported problems: a plunger that stuck or stopped pushing water after two weeks, a unit that broke after two months, and one that began leaking without being pumped. Two of them said WACACO support didn't help. WACACO lists a one-year warranty, so keep your proof of purchase.
• Lukewarm shots. Several owners echoed the reviewers, and one called the GR2 a poor fit for cold-morning camping because of it.
• Sour light roasts. One owner couldn't get a light roast to stop tasting acidic even at a very fine grind. Brew Coffee Home and an owner both suggest darker roasts for more crema and body. If a shot runs fast and thin, our channeling guide explains the usual causes.
• Reassembly after a deep clean. The shower screen and seals come out for cleaning, and at least one owner couldn't get them back in. Tom's Guide recommends keeping the manual, which includes a stacking diagram. The GR2 isn't dishwasher safe.

How It Compares

The GR2 is the forgiving, budget option in WACACO's range. Our best portable espresso maker roundup places it among other travel brewers. Here's how it stacks up against the obvious alternatives:

• Picopresso: makes a better shot, according to Brew Coffee Home, Cafelista and Tom's Guide. It uses an unpressurized basket with a bigger dose, so it needs a capable grinder and more practice. Choose it if espresso quality is the point.
• Nanopresso: Cafelista ranked it level with the GR2. Tom's Guide found the Nanopresso's shot stronger and more traditional. The GR2 is the smaller of the two.
• Minipresso NS2: the same body built for Nespresso Original capsules. Brew Coffee Home and Mr.Coffee Reviews point capsule drinkers there, since it needs no grinder and leaves no grounds.
• AeroPress: Lawson Chapman would reach for one before the GR2. He found it makes a stronger cup with less effort. It doesn't make anything espresso-like, though.

The Minipresso GR2 as a Gift

It suits someone who already drinks espresso and spends time away from a machine. Think campers, hikers, cyclists, people who travel for work, or someone stuck with bad office coffee. Mark Young suggests packing it in a carry-on bag. It also suits anyone who likes hands-on gadgets. Tom's Guide called it simply fun to use.

Skip it for someone with no grinder who only buys filter-ground coffee. The same goes for anyone who wants a hot, strong shot without fuss, or who would find a minute or more of pumping a chore (Tom's Guide timed at least 90 seconds per shot). A capsule drinker will get on better with the NS2. A serious home-espresso person will see the GR2 as a step down and is better served by a Picopresso.

Is the Minipresso Worth It?

Yes, if you want a light, battery-free brewer for your own ground coffee and you accept its limits. Grind a little coarser than espresso, preheat, use water straight off the boil and keep the ratio tight. Do that and the reviewers who liked it most, Mark Young, From Shed To Summit and Brew Coffee Home, describe a shot worth carrying. If you mainly brew at home, or care most about body and heat, the Picopresso or an AeroPress is the better buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use pre-ground coffee in the Minipresso GR2?

Yes, with a caveat. The pressurized basket tolerates a coarser grind, and Cafelista lists pre-ground as one of its strengths. Tom's Guide found typical supermarket pre-ground too coarse, though. Coffee ground for espresso machines gives the best chance of a full-bodied shot.

What grind size works best in the Minipresso GR2?

Start slightly coarser than you would for a machine, around fine-salt texture. Brew Coffee Home suggests one or two clicks coarser than your normal espresso setting. If pumping becomes very hard, go coarser. If the shot gushes thin and pale, go finer.

What is the difference between the Minipresso GR and GR2?

The GR2 is 50 mm shorter and 75 g lighter. It holds 10 ml more water and takes up to 12 g of coffee instead of a fixed 8 g. WACACO rates it at 18 bar against the GR's 8 bar. Feeding the Rat Expeditions, who used both, found the GR2 simpler to fill and clean.

Why is my Minipresso shot lukewarm?

Only 80 ml of water goes in, and reviewers say it loses heat in the tank and during the pumping. Preheat by running hot water through the empty brewer, warm the cup, and pour water straight off the boil. Owners say this helps but doesn't make the shot café-hot.

Does the Minipresso GR2 heat water?

No. It has no battery or heater, so you need a kettle, stove or flask. Battery models like the OutIn Nano heat their own water. They're bigger and need charging.

How We Reviewed

We haven't tested the Minipresso GR2 ourselves. This review pulls together eight independent video reviews, with GR2-specific findings from six, plus Cafelista's six-brewer comparison and Morgan Eckroth's test of the original GR, included as background on the earlier model. We read the comment sections on each video for owner-reported problems and cross-checked them against written reviews from Tom's Guide, T3, CoffeeGeek and Feeding the Rat Expeditions. Specs come from WACACO's product pages.

We gave less weight to sponsored and brand-supplied reviews. Mark Young received his unit free from WACACO, and we weighted his praise accordingly. We left out WACACO's own channel and a review from a retailer that sells the GR2. Morgan Eckroth's video was sponsored by a coffee subscription service, not by WACACO. Claims from a single source are credited to that reviewer. We dropped two figures that conflicted with WACACO's specs: an 18 g basket capacity and a 50 ml tank.

Sources

• Brew Coffee Home: Wacaco Minipresso GR2 Review - Is This Tiny Portable Espresso Maker Worth It?
• Lawson Chapman: Wacaco Minipresso GR2 Review
• From Shed To Summit: Wacaco Minipresso GR2 Review
• Mark Young: Wacaco Minnipresso GR2 - Making Great Espresso Anywhere (unit supplied by WACACO)
• 10 Percent More Complicated: Wacaco Minipresso G2 Review
• Mr.Coffee Reviews: WACACO Minipresso NS2 vs GR2
• Cafelista Coffee: a six-brewer portable espresso maker comparison
• Morgan Eckroth: a test of four budget portable espresso makers, including the original Minipresso GR
• Tom's Guide: Wacaco Minipresso GR2 review
• T3: Wacaco Minipresso GR2 review
• CoffeeGeek: Wacaco Minipresso GR2 test
• Feeding the Rat Expeditions: Minipresso GR2 review
• WACACO: Minipresso GR2 specifications and Minipresso GR specifications