Recently, a wicked summer storm rolled through our fair city, leveling trees, downing power lines, and leaving tens of thousands without electricity. The neighborhood went completely dark, the internet connection disappeared, and appliances and A/C units were silenced. We made it through the night just fine but It would have been a pretty miserable morning if we hadn't been able to rely on a shot of delicious, hot espresso thanks to the Nano Portable Espresso Machine from OutIn.
We are always impressed with home products that are the rare combination of practicality and style, but are also stimulating. As devotees of a daily morning caffeine jolt, we were really intrigued by the Nano self-heating portable espresso maker by OutIn. It's powered by an internal rechargeable battery using a type-C cable, so it can be used anywhere or any time, inside or outside. We also have a full-sized machine that lives on the kitchen countertop, but it’s plug-and-brew, so not reliable during a power failure. I was originally planning to test the Nano on a hiking outing, for an espresso in the great outdoors. Little did I know that Mother Nature would present an opportunity to put it to practical use right in our kitchen!
Nano is sleek, compact and very portable. About the size of a large travel mug, its cylindrical shape is ergonomic and easy to handle, and you can choose from a range of stylish colors. It weighs about 1.5 pounds so won’t weigh down your day pack. We chose a deep teal which we thought would look nice when used at any national park or campsite, but as it turned out, it also looks very smart against the black granite countertops in our kitchen as well!
To brew your cup of espresso, allow the battery to fully charge (you can even charge it in your car). Then just measure your favorite espresso grounds to the strength of your liking, add the water, and hold down the “on” button. Nano is also compatible with Nespresso coffee pods. If you choose to use it in the wilderness, or the wilds of your office, the pods prove to be a bit easier to clean up than ground espresso would be. We liked that we had the option to either add pre-heated boiling water, or use cold water and let the Nano heat it up to 190 degrees, which takes a tad over three minutes.
A fully charged Nano can heat up about five consecutive single servings of espresso (many more if using boiling water rather than cold water), which drips into the single-serving cup at the bottom of the unit - so handy! The results are very satisfying and relatively quick. We would appreciate it if the Nano allowed us to make two shots simultaneously, so that we could sip our espresso at the same time. We’ll just have to flip a coin to see who gets the first serving!
At a suggested price of $149.99, Nano is not inexpensive but will definitely pay for itself over time with its portability and convenience. It’s no wonder why so many who have purchased it have given it a five-star rating. Going forward, we will make sure that our Nano is charged when a big storm is in the forecast! Being able to rely on a great morning espresso turned what could have been a cranky morning into a smooth, tasty adventure.
Nancy Burlan with Harris Fogel, Posted June 20, 2025
For most information on the Nano Portable Espresso Machine from OutIn visit: https://outin.com/collections/outin-nano-portable-espresso-machine
