Most of my friends know that I’m a coffee addict because of my partner, James (who has way too many coffee toys, including a mini coffee roaster). So when I commenced my move to Canada, he gifted me with yet another of his impulse buys: the OutIn Nano portable espresso maker.
Was I skeptical? Yes. Was I tired of using an Aeropress every day? Also yes. So I gave it a shot…and now I use the OutIn Nano to make my coffee every morning.
If you love good coffee, it’s simply one of the best pieces of travel gear worth getting. Here’s why.
The OutIn Nano makes seriously good coffee
The OutIn Nano isn’t just a portable coffee maker. It’s a portable espresso maker that claims to pull a shot at 20 bar pressure. Any serious coffee drinker is bound to doubt this claim, but these photos say it all:
This looks and tastes amazingly close to espresso from a traditional machine, even though it’s slightly less concentrated (2.5 brew ratio). I’ve been using the OutIn Nano daily for six months and gotten consistently good coffee from dozens of beans, even filter roasts.
Fantastic build quality
Unboxing the OutIn Nano was a delight. The packaging has a premium feel, and the device feels reliably solid. The kit comes with a plastic cover/cup, a basket with lid for coffee grounds, a capsule basket, and a little scoop for coffee beans.
There are five basic colours in total and I chose the OutIn Teal, but you can also find special colours like this gorgeous Ocean Blue edition from the company’s partnership with Shark Angels, a shark conservation nonprofit.
To be clear, I didn’t use the default basket that came with the OutIn Nano. James also ordered the Basket Plus addon: a larger stainless steel basket that holds up to 18g of grounds (the standard plastic one only holds 8g). This lets me pull a larger shot, which I drink as a traditional long black — a 2:1 espresso-to-water ratio.
If you’re feeling lazy or travelling light, the capsule adapter turns the OutIn Nano into a portable Nespresso machine (this adapter only fits Nespresso Original style capsules.)
It’s USB rechargeable and heats water
For a portable espresso maker, the OutIn Nano has an impressive battery life: it packs a 7500mAh battery and can be charged via USB-C cable.
I can attest to its claim of “over 200 hot water brews” as I’ve used it for weeks on end only to have the battery indicator remain at 4/4. However, heating water consumes a ton of power, and no device can bend the laws of physics. I’ve only been able to get 2 or 3 brews if I have to heat the water, and more than once I’ve started at a power level of 2/4 only to have the OutIn Nano die halfway through heating.
This brings me to another important downside: you can’t use the device while it’s charging. And it takes a long time to fully charge from zero (I leave it overnight). If the battery’s half full, charge it.
OutIn’s customer service is excellent
OutIn doesn’t just make a great product — they also make sure you’re happy with it. Case in point: I’d used the Basket Plus for about two months when the lid of the Basket Plus shower screen broke. This meant the coffee couldn’t be extracted properly and came out watery, so I contacted the company on Instagram and was told to reach out to their support team via email.
Within three days of contacting them, OutIn had sent out a replacement lid — an improved one with a metal rivet for the shower screen instead of the previously plastic one. It’s held up well so far after three months. Clearly, the company stands behind the 12-month warranty they offer on their products.
Downsides of the OutIn Nano
While I can’t stop singing the praises of the OutIn Nano, it does have a few minor drawbacks. Overall, however, they’re just inconveniences and not functional flaws. When all’s said and done, this device is simply the best portable espresso maker in the market today.
Must be packed in your carry-on luggage. Because it contains rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the OutIn Nano has to go in your carry-on. It’s such a novel gadget that my bag’s been pulled over for secondary screening twice in seven flights. And even though it’s incredibly light for an espresso maker, it still weighs a solid 670g — enough to give ultralight travellers second thoughts.
Limited battery life for heating water. I don’t recommend using the OutIn Nano’s self-heating function, and it’s not the device’s fault — heating water simply consumes a ton of power and time. Using boiled or warm water from an insulated flask will make your coffee making experience much more enjoyable.
Cannot be used while charging. I really wish the OutIn Nano worked while plugged in – perhaps there’s some safety reason for this?
Plastic cup absorbs coffee smell. I tried using the nifty little cover/cup that comes with the OutIn Nano and quickly realized it’s not great. Any coffee smell seems to cling on to the plastic, which makes me question the safety of drinking a hot beverage from it.
OutIn Nano grind settings and steps
Although the OutIn Nano is touted as a travel espresso maker, it will definitely fail if you use your typical espresso grind size: even with the supposed 20 bar pressure, you’ll be lucky to get a dribble of coffee by the time the machine gives up. Here’s how I usually make my coffee with the OutIn Nano and the Basket Plus:
1. Grind coffee. On the Comandante C40, an espresso grind typically ranges around 7-13 clicks. After months of daily brewing on the OutIn Nano, I find that 11-15 clicks works best for a nice smooth flow and extraction time of 25-30 seconds.
2. WDT and tamp. The OutIn Basket Plus comes with a cute little needle tool to distribute your grounds. The distributor/tamper is meant to sit on top of the doser — do not tamp like you normally would with a portafilter! However, since I use less than the recommended 16-18g dose, I remove the doser and gently sit the tamper on top of the grounds, then remove.
3. Extract. Add hot water, press the button, get coffee.
4. Clean. Emptying the basket of coffee grounds was a struggle and a mess for me until James figured out this simple trick: blow into the hole at the bottom and the puck pops right out! Genius.
Verdict: Buy it
Whether you’re a frequent traveller, backpacker, or digital nomad, this nifty little machine (along with your coffee grinder and some nice beans) ensures that you’ll always have good coffee wherever you go. After six months of daily use, I adore my OutIn Nano. It’s a must-have for trips where you won’t be able to visit a coffee shop.
Get yours now! This link will give you 10% off your purchase.
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