Handpresso HPWILD Wild 16-Bar Hand-Pump Portable Espresso Machine
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List Price: Our Price: $129.00 You Save: $20.99 (14%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $92.70 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Handpresso HPWILD Wild 16-Bar Hand-Pump Portable Espresso Machine
Customer Review: hidden costs to consider
Summary: 1 Stars
I loved this when I got it. I give the concept 5 stars. It was great. Then almost exactly two months after I bought it, it failed to pressurize. I went through the RMA process, and sent it back to Importikia. I received no further communication from Improtika, and five weeks later, I called. I left a message per day for about six days. No calls were returned. On the seventh day, someone accidentally picked up the phone. She was very nice and said that since I had been waiting so long, they would go ahead and send a new one. No problem, right? I got a call today from the same nice lady requesting a credit card she could bill $30 for return shipping. Wha? Clearly there was a mis-communication right? Overlooking the fact that postage between here and there would be about $7.50, this was a product that completely failed in under two months. If anything, you would think that they would say "oops, our bad", and get me a working one ASAP.
The math is pretty quick on this one. Let's say my experience is average, and I can expect my Handpresso to break every two months of use. Let's also assume based on my experience that between shipping time and repair time, Importika will take about 6 weeks to get the unit back to me. That would means in my first year of ownership, I will only have the Handpresso in my possession for 7.5 months, the other 5.5 months, it would be at Importika for repair. Warranty is a concern with such a high maintenance item, and according to the schedule, the Handpresso would break again about two weeks after the 1 year warranty expired, meaning I can expect 8 months of total lifetime use before the thing is a paperweight.
So it is likely based on my experience that I would need to exercise the Handpresso warranty three times in the first year of ownership. Based on my shipping and their fees, the annual total maintenance for the Handpresso comes to $112.50. You know how you buy those home printers that cost about $100 and come to find out it won't work unless you buy $80 in toner every month? Yeah, me too.
To sum up-
Handpresso- $88.99 (with free shipping!)
1 year maintenance cost- $112.50
Actual functional lifespan- 8 months
Conclusion: If they had just asked for the $201.49 up front, and provided a better product, I would probably be happy as a clam. As it stands, they are trying to turn what should be a cost they incur from selling low quality product(their problem), in to a situation in which the customer pays for the "warranty" repairs on the defects (our problem). They can't afford to do the right thing considering the volume of RMAs they must be getting.
Follow Up: I paid the the return freight, and just opened my replacement Handpresso. It looks like they have changed the manufacturing process to cheaper parts as well. The water reservoir had been a nice heavy glass-like material like Pyrex. It is now plastic.
Customer Review: This is a truly a coffee break!
Summary: 5 Stars
I heard of the handpresso a couple of months ago and quickly dismissed it. Last week, I came across it again and noted their new model uses ground coffee (known as WildomePod model) vs ESE. Upon watching the promo video from the company, I was curious because it seemed to be able to work as advertised. That same night, I found the WildomePod model in Amazon and placed the order. I had used now for two days in the office and I am loving it. To provide perspective, I own a Rancilio Silvia, known for its ability to make great espresso. As spoiled as I am for high quality coffee, I hate to pay up for espresso based coffee at Starbucks when at work. So normally, I drink office brewed coffee. My office now uses Keurig, which is a step up from drinking garbanzo bean coffee! Well. those days are over. I am now drinking a very decent espresso at work both in the morning and in the afternoon. The flavor is full bodied and the machine is extremely easy to use and to clean, you just rinse it.
The machine is well made, although a bit larger than I had expected. The instructions are clear and simple to follow. I must say that the first two times I used it when it arrived, i thought the machine was a hoax, because the coffee splattered and water leaked from the side. It probably was the rubber gasket that was a bit loose, but from the third attempt and four more brews later, the machine works like a charm. The trick to great espresso with ground coffee is how well the coffee is grind. I used the same setting that I use for my Rancilio and is perfect. With a spoon you compact the coffee in the filter basket and that's all it takes. $90 seems a bit pricey, but the handspresso should pay by itself when you compare it to buying coffee at work. And ground coffee is a lot cheaper than ESE. ESE is convenient but at a price and you can't just not match the quality of fresh ground coffee.
Handpresso says the machine should be serviced after 5 years or 5000 brews. It comes with a 2-year warranty. It comes with an extra gasket and a second filter. I estimate it will take me about 13+ years to reach 5000 brews in the office. I hope to retire before them but in the meantime, from now on I will always enjoy my coffee break!
Customer Review: After six months I'm still enthusiastic about it
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had my Handpresso for over six months now. Being Italian-born and raised, I live on a steady diet of espresso and need my fix at least twice a day. My workplace only has a small coffee stand which makes the worst espresso in the world, and there aren't any other coffee shops in a 2 miles radius, so brewing my own was the only way to satisfy my coffee needs.
I previously bought a AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker, which is advertised as an espresso maker but actually produces something closer to a french press drip coffee. Granted, it was cheap but that's pretty much the only good thing about it: it does not make a real espresso and is definitely more high-maintenance and labor-intensive, requiring filters and thorough cleaning after each use. I stopped using it after a couple of days because it was too much of a hassle and the espresso wasn't very good anyway.
The Handpresso on the other hand is simplicity itself. All you need is hot water and ESE coffee pods (I use 150 Lavazza Gran Crema Espresso Pods). I've been using it 2 o 3 times a day for six months and couldn't be happier. Yes, it's a bit expensive but being able to get a decent cup of espresso makes it worthy of the premium price tag for me.
The device is very sturdy and requires only minimal maintenance (just rinse it out) since the coffee and filters are self-contained in the ESE pods. If you have access to hot water, it takes less than a minute to prepare the Handpresso, stick the coffee pod in it, brew a shot of espresso, discard the pod and clean the machine.
Customer support from the distributor is also outstanding -- I misplaced one of the little rubber gaskets that come with the Handpresso (the only moving/replaceable part) and wrote to the distributor (Importika) and they mailed me a replacement free of charge. I was very impressed.
If you are an espresso-freak and want a truly portable and easy-to-use device, this is it.
Customer Review: A winner!
Summary: 5 Stars
I got the Handpresso a couple of months ago
on a whim when it was on sale at a great price.
Let me just say that you'd be hard pressed to
find something else that makes espresso as easily
as this one for under $100.
There are several great advantages with this
product:
1. Construction
The Handpresso is solid. The sturdy metal construction
imparts quality. The small size means that it not only
requires no counter space, but it is also very portable.
2. Operation
With it's human powered hand pump, no electricity is needed.
Preparation is easy. All you need is the epresso pod, some
hot water and about 30 seconds of pumping. The 16 bar of
pressure built up by pumping is sufficient to draw out a shot
of espress. Clean up is easy; toss away the used pod, a quick rinse,
and you're done. I have an electric kettle that gives me hot
water instantly at the push of a button. So with my setup, the
whole process is in a word: fast. It's a time saver compared to
drivng to a coffee shop, ordering and waiting; or tamping your
own espresso.
3. Cost
The Handpresso is less than $100.
Each pod is about $0.50.
Time saved: priceless
4. Results
I have tried it with Lavazza gran crema espresso pods
and Starbucks bold espresso roast pods. The batch of
Lavazza pods I had were a bit watery, and when drawing the
shot, the pressure would decrease rather quickly.
The Starbucks pods on the other hand, are decidedly better.
Perhaps it is tamped more properly, such that it draw the
shot more evenly. The resulting espresso has a much richer
flavor and aroma. You should be able to find the espresso
pods at your local starbucks store (it is cheaper than
online, considering the shipping cost).
Customer Review: Wow!presso
Summary: 5 Stars
I just noticed the "Wild" in the complete name of this espresso maker. Wild is one of many words that could be used to describe this little wonder-pump espresso maker.
Built to withstand a military missle-hit and cooler than a solar-powered sunlamp, the Handpresso can double for a hand-eye coordination/aerobic exercise device (Simultaneously jumping and chewing gum while pumping the thing) AND put out great espresso shots.
But guess what? And this is the salient reason I ventured into writing this self-described drivel: One doesn't hafta use hot or boiling water...neither.
I use tepid water, er, whatever temp-(maybe water warmed in a car with all the windows rolled up, in the sun - in mid-July; in the south...O.K., really far south, like southern Congo - er, someplace Africa-hot. Well, you get the idea). Anyway, fill the pellucid water compartment, place the ESEpod, top it with the lid/filter head thingy, turn the Handpresso over to allow the ESEpod to soak for a few ticks...Do your exercise regimen (see above) while pumping to the green mark on the little pressure gauge, etc. Add a few creamers (free from your nearest Mini-Gas mart's coffee bar) and your good for a shot, anywhere. Hell, if I've forgotten my cup, I just shoot the shot right into my mouth! I mean, talk about "wild", huh!?
I guess that's why they have 'wiohld' in the name:
Militarized version: Espresso maker, WILD, Portable (Handpresso).
Navy version: HanPressWildPortEspreMaker.
This little, (but large, for it's importance to the continuation of a caffeinated public) espresso maker is for the hard-core espresso soldier/sailor/airman/airwoman in all of us! Hooyah! (Out).