The best Philharmonic and other portable coffee machines-which?

2021-12-14 13:49:47 By : Mr. Michael Xu

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In June 2021, we tested 10 portable coffee machines, including the iconic Aeropress, and products from brands such as Bodum, Barista & Co, and Wacaco, to find the most suitable portable coffee machine for commuting or camping.

Having your own personal coffee machine reduces the risk of sharing germs (no need to share a flask), which means you can easily enjoy a cup of hot or cold coffee no matter where you are.

In our results below, you will see how easy the coffee machines are, the level of confusion they cause, and the most deposits in the coffee. We will also tell you which is the most durable, so you don’t have to replace your portable coffee machine after a few months of use. 

Prices and availability were last checked on December 3, 2021.

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Which one to log in only? Members can view the results of the portable coffee machine below. 

If you are not a member yet, you will see an alphabetical list of coffee machines that we have tested. Which one to join? Now immediately access our test results and Best Buy recommendations below. 

Cheapest price: Pact Coffee offers 28 pounds. Also available for purchase at AeroPress, Amazon, Whittards

AeroPress claims that its coffee brewing process produces the smoothest, richest coffee you've ever tasted. 

It has a simple design consisting of two tubes, one stuck in the other. 

This coffee machine is a favorite of social media users on TicTok, Instagram and YouTube, but do we think this product lives up to the hype?

To read our full review log in or join which one? Can be accessed instantly today. 

Cheapest price: £31.11. Available on Amazon. Also available at Philharmonic

AeroPress Go is a smaller and more portable version of AeroPress that is already compact and portable. 

This coffee machine is equipped with a travel cup and a silicone lid, so the whole coffee machine can fit snugly. 

It claims to be able to make a cup of espresso in 30 seconds, but the key question is, is it a good cup of coffee? 

Which one to log in or join? Let’s take a look at the performance of AeroPress Go in our tests today.

Cheapest price: Amazon £17.99

The product is a French filter press in a travel mug, which makes it a very portable traditional coffee machine. 

It is the cheapest coffee machine on our list, but how does it compare to other coffee machines? 

Log in to your account or join which one? today. 

Cheapest price: Lakeland £29.99

This manual device has a simple twisting mechanism to press coffee directly into your cup. 

Barista & Co stated that its twist press is a must-have tool for serious coffee lovers. 

But how does our panel understand its ease of use and the level of confusion it causes?

To see how it performs in our tests, please log in or join which one? Read the full review. 

The cheapest price: £16.62 on Amazon. It can also be purchased at John Lewis.  

Bodum is a well-known brand in the coffee industry. 

This coffee machine is a travel mug with a French press pot inside the lid. 

It also claims to have a double-wall structure that can keep your coffee at a longer temperature and a splash-proof lid.

See the full review which one to join? Or if you are already a member, please log in now. 

Cheapest price: £34.95 Available on Amazon, Pact Coffee

Delter said that using the "injection" brewing method, its coffee press can make a great cup of coffee. 

It is small and light, so if you want to go hiking, you can easily put it in a backpack. 

The design of this product is similar to that of Philharmonic, but how does it compare? 

Want to know which one to log in or join? now. 

Cheapest price: £32.89 on Amazon

This product is not only a coffee machine, but also a travel mug. 

Espro claims that it is like a thermos, which can keep the drink hot for four to six hours.

We tested it to find out how well it keeps your coffee hot, how easy it is to use, and whether it is really leak-proof.

You can log in to your account or join which one? today. 

Cheapest price: £41.85 on Amazon

The Huwaioury Mini Coffee Machine is a small and compact device with a pump-operated coffee filter. 

This product has many parts and they work together to bring you fresh coffee. 

What do we think of this easy-to-carry device? Want to find out which one to log into your account or join? now. 

Cheapest price: £57.99. Available on OnBuy or on Amazon  

This stylish portable coffee machine is undoubtedly the most expensive product we have chosen.

When you use the pump action to make coffee, the portable glass is fixed in the device. 

Staresso's name, but is it the star of design? Want to find out which one to log in or join? Read our full review. 

Cheapest price: £49.90 available on Amazon

This product is an all-in-one coffee machine and travel mug, with a twisting design. 

The coffee particles are kept in the filter chamber to prevent grit residue from spoiling your drink. 

What have we done with this expensive portable coffee machine? 

Want to find out which one to log in or join? Now let's take a look at our complete result. 

Crema is a delicious, aromatic, caramel-colored foam on a cup of espresso. 

Compared with drip coffee, it provides a strong flavor and a longer aftertaste for espresso. 

It can also indicate the overall quality of espresso. 

Each product we tested comes with a set of detailed instructions. 

As with any new product, we always recommend that you read the instructions in full before using it for the first time. 

Especially AeroPress, there are many of these projects, and we found many examples of "how to use" videos on YouTube, as well as tips, tricks and tricks that are fun to try. 

Make sure not to pour used coffee grounds into the drain. If you do this, you risk clogging.

One of the best ways to get rid of used coffee particles is to add them to your compost pile or food waste bin. 

They are both compostable and biodegradable, so why not give this benefit back to the soil? 

It's too late, you already have a clogged drain? Check out our guide to the best kitchen drain cleaners.

The video below shows you three simple iced coffee recipes made using the three portable coffee machines we tested. 

Learn how to make cold brew coffee, iced latte and espresso martini.

In order to test these portable coffee machines, we invited a team of three experienced coffee machines to evaluate the ease of assembly, the ease of making coffee, the level of confusion, cleanliness and residual amount of each coffee machine. 

Another researcher tested the heat retention and leak resistance of selected coffee machines, and conducted a drop test.

Due to postal delays, only one of our three testers was able to test the Huwaioury coffee machine. 

Testers receive each product and its description in a different order. They evaluated how easy it is to assemble each product compared to other products. 

The easier the product is ready to use, the better it will perform in tests. The easiest product to assemble can be prepared in less than a minute.

Testers use each product to make a single espresso. The tester considered the instructions, the number of steps involved, the complexity of each step, and the manufacturer's rigidity or user-friendliness. 

It also considers how easy it is to use each product at home, in the workplace, or outdoors, and whether it is easy for people with different abilities. 

The best products are simple and smooth to use. The worst-case scenario left our testers confused or sore hands. 

Once the coffee machine is used to make espresso, our testers will check and photograph the chaos caused. 

The tester considered whether the manufacturer caused spills, leaks, or whether the design could easily cause particles to spill.

The best manufacturer we chose did not let us clean up, while the worst was sprinkled on our countertops.

After completing the above test, our testers cleaned each coffee machine in 8 warm tap water mixed with 1 teaspoon of detergent. 

Our testers considered the difficulty of cleaning each product. They looked at anything that needed to be dismantled, how easy it is for these materials to get dirty or give off a coffee smell.

Most products are easy to clean, but some of them do require more effort. 

Each cup of coffee is poured through a metal filter.

Then check the screen to see how much coffee particle residue is lurking in the cup. 

Four products that claim to be leak-proof:

To test these claims, each coffee machine was filled with tap water mixed with blue food coloring. Then everyone wrapped it in a kitchen roll and put it in a large resealable plastic storage bag. 

Finally, put each product in a backpack and walk for one hour. 

After the walk is complete, check for any blue stains on the kitchen roll.

Only the WACACO Pipamoka portable coffee machine and the Espro stainless steel travel coffee machine claim to have a thermos, so they are the only two that have passed this test. 

Each product contains 300 ml of boiling water. The temperature is measured at the beginning of the test and then every 30 minutes for a total of six hours. 

We only perform the drop test after all other tests have been completed. 

Each coffee machine dropped from 90 cm (approximately the average height of the countertop) onto the concrete paving stone five times. 

The best products survive, and nothing is worse than wear and tear. The worse product is broken. 

In order to decide which portable coffee machines to test, we searched for products that met the following criteria: 

We purchased all the products we tested.