The Outin Nano moveable espresso maker. Picture by Howard Bryman.
Within the aggressive market of moveable espresso brewers, the Outin Nano, a lighthouse-shaped gadget with a built-in pump and onboard warmth, goals to be a beacon of each comfort and consistency.
Most devices designed for brewing espresso on the go are manually pumped and can’t warmth water. In smaller handheld codecs, particularly, this tends to imply a herky-jerky movement as brew stress drops between guide compressions. The necessity to warmth water externally additional sinks the prospect of some particular sips within the wild to an endeavor simply too cumbersome and probably wasteful to be value it.
With its potential not solely to deliver a small and exact quantity of water as much as a constant and brew-worthy temperature but in addition to mechanically ship that water at excessive, even stress by means of a mattress of finely floor espresso (or a capsule) on the single press of 1 button and in a package deal that matches in a backpack water bottle sleeve, the Nano blazes a brand new path.
Espresso mise en place: The Outin Nano setup. Picture by Howard Bryman.
In the meantime, at residence, any espresso machine value its salt not often prices lower than a number of hundred {dollars}. Outin sells the Nano for $149.99 and the essential Basket Plus accent for $39.90 — a compelling backside line for some extent of entry to espresso irrespective of the place one intends to brew it.
A Rising Startup
An unbiased startup based in 2021, Outin’s mission is to make contemporary espresso simpler to take pleasure in within the nice outside.
At present headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Outin launched the Nano in January 2023 and has fine-tuned it over a number of iterations since then. A full staff devoted to the Nano’s continued improvement and help now rounds out the ranks at Outin, which has additionally introduced in dozens of baristas and occasional professionals for suggestions and concepts.
Outin representatives are additionally exhibiting up in individual with cubicles at commerce reveals, together with the 2024 SCA Expo in Chicago this previous April. In June, on the World of Espresso occasion in Copenhagen, Denmark, Outin was a sponsor of the World Latte Artwork Championship. Clearly, the corporate is making each effort not solely to enchantment to the backpacker set but in addition to construct a model and merchandise that earn the respect of specialty espresso aficionados and professionals.
The Nano Expertise
The appreciably sturdy and waterproof plastic fuselage of the Nano instilled confidence from the second I unboxed it and gave it an preliminary rinse. Brewing with grounds somewhat than capsules brings a few the Nano’s included further ins and outs into play which might be considerably fiddly at first, and might be complicated for novices, however because the workflow grows acquainted, it’s actually fairly easy.
Outin offered the Basket Plus accent for my exams, and for the extra skilled or bold espresso lover, it is a must-have. The Plus bumps capability as much as a most of 18 grams of floor espresso, and as an erstwhile person of conventional espresso tools, I can scarcely see myself falling in love with something that holds much less.
The metal basket on the appropriate is the “Basket Plus” a must have accent, in contrast with the inventory basket on the left. Picture by Howard Bryman.
On the base of the metal Plus basket spreads a conventional array of filter holes, after which, like a spouted portafilter, one other layer of metal directs the stream by means of a single large gap towards the cup. The standard of espresso and crema are largely depending on the bean, dose and grind, though Outin asserts that the slight resistance of this constrained exit movement offers some further stability to the brewing stress.
One other worthwhile accent (bought individually for $49.90) is the Nano Twin Stand, a good-looking, light-weight walnut holder that transforms the Nano from backcountry brew baton to a beautiful stationary brew station. Notably in my crowded espresso nook the place house is proscribed, I take pleasure in its look and performance — it doubles as a pour-over station, holding a pour-over brewer over a mug for drip espresso brewing.
The Nano brewer itself carried out flawlessly, and but the Nano isn’t essentially for everybody. Its settings can’t be adjusted, nor can a person know precisely what stress or temperature it’s making use of or when. Dialing in a espresso on a black field just like the Nano is consequently extra concerning the Nano than the espresso.
The Outin Nano moveable espresso maker performs exceptionally properly for its worth class. Picture by Howard Bryman.
The usual process (with the Basket Plus) shall be acquainted to anybody who’s ready espresso earlier than. A gram scale is useful for dosing consistency and precision, and a superb grinder can be crucial for getting the most effective outcomes.
I weigh out 18 grams of entire beans, grind finely and cargo the grounds into the basket by means of the included dosing funnel. I stir with a WDT (Weiss Distribution Approach) device to evenly distribute the grounds and break up any clumps, faucet the basket on the counter to settle the fluffed-up grounds, press it with the tamper, seal the basket with its cap, thread it onto the Nano, pour some water within the high and press the button.
Outin additionally sells further baskets, so the choice is there to deal with all these steps upfront and carry a couple of further prepped-and-ready baskets for brewing on the go.
Cleanup is easy because the espresso is absolutely remoted inside the basket, so the physique of the Nano wants solely a slight rinse after every brew. One can use the underside of the included plastic cup for knocking the spent espresso puck unfastened from the basket, making it simple to toss right into a compost bin, and all the opposite brewing items rinse clear in seconds. The Nano’s equipment, in the meantime, don’t fully escape some kvetching. The stand, which isn’t required for brewing however is a pleasant choice, is probably delicate; a substitute shipped promptly by Outin has held up properly, however the first one I examined broke throughout regular use. (The corporate says it’s creating a sturdier model.)
The Basket Plus’s included single-wire WDT device is somewhat anemic; it really works, however multi-needle instruments work a lot better. The metallic funnel and self-leveling tamper included with the Plus are considerate and well-made necessities, however as a result of the tamper is a fixed-depth gadget, the dose and grind stay the one variables affecting puck density. And the multilayer building of the filter basket tends to carry a tiny little bit of water after rinsing, which leads one to wonder if it’s ever absolutely clear or dry.
An General Winner
These minor quibbles apart, when paired with a becoming espresso, grind and dose, the Nano undeniably cranks out high quality espresso pictures.
For newcomers and for capsule followers, the Nano is a slam dunk. The essential package is enjoyable, sturdy, simple to be taught and as packable as a flashlight. The Basket Plus can later present an academic platform to delve deeper into the craft and yield much more satisfying outcomes.
Execs
● Moveable and handy
● Additionally applicable for residence use
● Able to producing excellent espresso
● Reasonably priced
● Self-heating
● Appropriate with standard-size Nespresso capsules along with floor espresso
Cons
● Settings can’t be adjusted
● Requires the Basket Plus for greatest expertise
● Minor quibbles with extras and add-ons
