Handpresso Auto Capsule Review – An In-Car Nespresso Coffee Machine.

Pros and Cons

Where to Buy

Handpresso Auto Capsule – Full Review

The Handpresso Auto Capsule comes inside an attractive retail box along with a cloth napkin, espresso cup, cleaning brush, user manual, warranty card, and a quick start guide.

For those with a bigger budget to spend, Handpresso also offers a premium version that comes with a carry case, an additional cup and a Nespresso pod holder.

Design and Build Quality

The Handpresso Auto Capsule stands 24cm high, (10 inches) has a width of 7.5cm, (3 inches) and weighs 880g. It consists of just two components, the main body with an integrated cable, and its portafilter lid.

There’s a singular button on the front to prepare the machine, a digital display below to indicate its current status, and a manual toggle to start and stop the extraction.

The unit has been cleverly designed to allow its thick braided cable to wrap around the body and be retained inside a recess when not in use.

Its base tapers down to allow the Handpresso Auto to fit snugly inside any in-car cup holder with plenty of cord length to reach the 12/24V socket.

Having tested just about every portable espresso machine out there (including the original Handpresso Auto), I can confidently say that this machine has the best portafilter design of them all. There is zero chance of cross threading the lid and it tightens with ease to a fixed position.

Under the portafilter, there’s an LED indicator light, a recess for the Nespresso capsule, and a set of piercing blades.

The blades are razor sharp and have no trouble at all puncturing capsules. I’ve got some particularly robust pods that my other portable machines struggle with, but these blades go through them like a hot knife through butter.

How to use the Handpresso Auto

1. Plug the machine into the in-car socket and turn the engine on. You’ll see the plug light up and a water icon will appear on the unit.

2. Add water to the Nespresso recess until the flashing white light turns green. If you happen to overfill it (as I did) the light will turn red, just tip some out and you’ll be good to go.

3. Add your Nespresso capsule, attach the portafilter and press the power button. The pump will start building the pressure, which creates a fair amount of noise.  Fortunately, this doesn’t take long to complete. At around 37% the pump will stop and the unit will continue to heat.

4. Once it reaches the correct temperature, you’ll hear 3 beeps and the display will show a cup icon. Now just flip the unit over and press the release button to start the extraction.

5. When the coffee extraction is complete, press the stop button, turn the car off and enjoy your espresso!

For those of you with WiFi or spare mobile data, here’s my video demonstration of the Handpresso Auto Capsule. – I’ve skipped past the waffle to save you guys some time.

Comparison with the original Handpresso Auto

The previous version of the Handpresso Auto required E.S.E pods rather than Nespresso capsules. These are typically more expensive to buy and not as readily available. The original device, however, did allow you to prepare your own coffee basket. I really liked this feature, but I imagine most people would find it more troublesome and messy compared to simply dropping a capsule in.

The significant upgrade comes during the extraction. The new capsule version restarts the pump while extracting the coffee to maintain a consistent pressure. The previous version didn’t, this means that towards the end of the extraction, the original Handpresso Auto would gradually lose pressure.

My Verdict

The Handpresso Auto Capsule will make as good an espresso as you’re likely to get from a Nespresso pod. The temperature is perfect, even without preheating the cup, and the coffee seems to remain consistent from one extraction to the next (assuming you’re using the same brand of Nespresso pod).

If you enjoy drinking espresso coffee prepared from capsules, and you do a lot of driving, this product is going to be ideal. Personally, I probably do more miles on foot than I do in a car, so I’ll be packing my trusty manual Handpresso. But, for the odd occasion when I do hit the road, I’ll be sure to take the Handpresso Auto along for the ride.

Where to Buy