Twist The Espresso Maker

This article is for those of us who always wanted to make our own espresso coffee at home but never got an espresso machine because the space it requires, or because it is too expensive or just got intimidated by its professional reputation.

But with a little twist, things may get better.

Actually this is its real name: TWIST. It is a hand-held espresso maker who was released on the market last fall, in November 2009. It was first presented at the 2009 Speciality Coffee Association of America(SCAA) exhibition which took place in April 2009, and won the Best New Product award of the year.

This video was taken at the demonstration of the product at SCAA expo and shows consumers' comments.

TWIST is a patent of Espressi, Inc, a company that sells coffee equipment. The coffee machine it is now sold by mypressy.com and other online retailers.

What is Twist and how it works

Mypressi Twist is a portable espresso maker, the latest to join the coffee machine market. The uses 8g N2O gas cartridge and is hand operated. It requires no electrical connection. All you need is a source of hot water and coffee.

This espresso maker has two parts: one you fill it with hot water and the other with coffee of your choice. It works with ESE pods or with fresh ground coffee.
After you put the two pieces together, hold the machine over your cup (or cups!!!) and pull the trigger on the handle to activate the pressure.

This machine can make one or two cups. The gas cartridge lasts for 8 single cups or 4 double. These cartridges are made out of steel and are recyclable.

Coffee: Ground coffee or ESE pods

Baskets: Standard or pressurized 14g baskets

Size: 10.5" length, 3.5" wide, 3,5" high

Weight: 34 ounces

Pressure source: 8g N2O gas cartridge producing 8 single shots or 4 double shots per cartridge.

Extraction: 20-30 seconds for an ideal extraction

It is said that this coffee machine makes a clean cup of coffee (were "cleans" comes from the cuppers' vocabulary and means a quality cup of coffee)

From its first show off at last spring expo, the Twist made big wave among professionals. Batista's guild forum had only good remarks about the machine and big hopes. 

Later, when it was actually produced and got to be tested at home, some other good reviews emerged, as people started using it. 

There are some, though, who said that this espresso maker is not quit so good. Some of the negative points are: you cannot control the temperature of the water, as the waters slightly cools off when you put it in a cold machine and then in a cold cup. So, one solution was to heat your machine and cup first, by deepen them in boiled water.

Another user suggested that the gaskets warned off very fast so he couldn't use the machine properly. Some others argue that you will need to buy a very expensive coffee grinder to make a good espresso coffee.

The manufacturer already works to find a solution for the water temperature, said the machine's father, Stephan O'Brian of Espressi.

The advantages of this espresso maker are still prevalent. Its light weight makes it perfect for travel. As far as you have a source of hot water (near the point of boil) you can take it in your business trip and have your perfect coffee in the morning. It works great for office use also and at home, if you do not have the space to fit a bigger espresso maker, the TWIST is just what you need.