Liquid Lab Reviews
MiniPresso Espresso Maker Review
The Liquid Lab Team gave the MiniPresso an overall average rating of 8/9 planets. It received very high marks for portability, quality and overall value. Downsides are the cleaning (isn't that the case with coffee makers period) and that it doesn't make enough! Read each individual review below:
Mike (aka drip-all-day): My first impression of the Minipresso is that it is solid and heavy duty feeling in a sleek compact package. I am not a daily espresso coffee drinker and was a little intimidated that I might not be able to get the Minipresso to make a nice cup. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at its intuitive design and ease of use. The one piece of advice I was given going into my test was to be sure to tamp the grind. With that in mind I have to say that I had quite an enjoyable experience. I found the pumping action smooth and effortless and the result was a beautiful looking cup of espresso. The crème looked as if it came out of a machine. As far as taste goes I was incredibly pleased with the results. Would it stand up next an espresso out of a shop grade machine, no… but the mere fact that I was sitting at my desk made up for the difference. I found the flavors to be rich and bold… mission successful!
The one negative that I really had was that I found it to be a little messy, especially in the clean-up phase… however that could very well be chalked up to operator error.
I think the Minipresso would really shine for a person constantly on the go and could easily fit into carry-on luggage without compromising space. With its rugged construction and design in mind, I personally can see myself throwing it in my pack on my next backpacking trip and enjoying a tasty espresso on my next summit bid.
I give the Minipresso 8 out of 9 planets!!
Stella (aka the Sipper): I'm a latte' snob, so lot's of espresso but with milk and a touch of sweet, so rarely do i sip a straight shot or two. That said, i'm a fan of options and if I'm camping or at home and drip or French Press isn't cutting the mustard I need something that will do the trick w/o costing an arm and a leg. The MiniPresso fits the bill. Small, portable, fairly lightweight (unless you're literally counting ounces for your pack and even then, maybe worth it) and creates a damn smooth brew with some impressive crema. The big factors here are fine-tuning the grind, HOT water, a solid thumb-tamp before the pump and really tightening down all the attachments so the pressure is at its highest potential. Nail those, and you just scored yourself a sweet shot for around $60.00. THAT's hard to beat. It's ever-so-slightly intimidating to figure out the first time, but after a few trials, it can be done in less than 5 minutes - put espresso in, tamp, pour hot water in, pump away (5-8 primer pumps and 10-20 actual pumps).
Drawbacks for me - i'm terribly impatient so for my double shot fix - i'd have to do this twice and for a latte' i'd have to steam some milk - not a big drawback but worth mentioning. Finally, you can't expect a $10,000 Italian machined espresso - you just can't - but it's great given its size and price.
I see this as the perfect on-the-go espresso maker - i will absolutely take this camping or use at the office or home for a 3p pick me up - but it won't replace my morning latte. 8/9 planets for me!
Paul (aka Pour-Over Paul): The first thing I like about the minipresso is how compact it is. Sitting about as tall as a pint glass and about as wide as a sausage, this mini coffee maker makes a delicious shot of espresso. Grounds go into a mini portafilter that resembles an oversized thimble and fits snugly into one end of the machine. On the other end, a water reservoir cup is filled with hot water. I like mine just off the boil. The piston comes out of the side of the machine which you then pump. After about 5 or 6 pumps, you feel the mini espresso machine pressure up and espresso starts to slowly extract with every pump. If you time your pumps smoothly and consistently, you can actually get about a 20 second extraction. Although it comes with a mini plastic shot glass, I like to make the espresso into a clear glass so I can watch the crema develop which starts happening almost instantly.
Although I do not typically drink espresso shots, it makes a very tasty and drinkable shot which I have had many times now. I also sometimes pour hot water over the shot and make an Americano if I want it to last longer.
Scott (aka Chief Beverage Maven): You can’t help but to think ‘submarine’ when you see the MiniPresso, especially when the piston is released. It’s basically a nuclear submarine for espresso that nearly fits in your pocket. I’ve tried a number of portable espresso makers, and I’m typically disappointed. Not the case with the MiniPresso. I did have to read the directions, which I hate doing, but once I did, it all made sense. I had to calibrate the grind a few times, but once I dialed it in, it made amazingly solid espresso. I’m an Americano guy, and I travel a lot. I usually travel with an AeroPress – which I consider to be a happy medium between French Press and espresso – I’m now going to bring the MiniPresso with me (which hopefully the TSA will not confiscate), and start making actual Americanos right in my hotel room. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the only thing those cheap%$!# coffee makers in hotel rooms are good for is making hot water so I can use my own coffee and coffee maker of choice to make an outstanding Americano regardless of where I’m at. 8 Planets
TR (aka Sud Bud): What set my axis spinning: The end result! I was shocked how easy it was to make a great shot of espresso without having to spend a fair chunk of change for a machine that requires a plumed-in water line and electricity! The look of mystified bliss in the bleary eyes of my wife when I cranked out a shot for her at 6 am before work was worth the price of admission right there. Pouring a second shot into a clear glass, this hand held beauty laid down the Creme and the layer after layer of velvet richness that is a great espresso shot.
At right around $60 this is a piece the serious espresso junkie cannot be without. In fact, it will probably cause them a fair amount of consternation that they spent as much as they did on that fancy home machine a few years ago. Black Hole Factor: One trick pony. I love a good espresso shot, but this is not the device to be making quad shot Americanos for a group of co-workers or friends. 9 out of 9 - Celestial Perfection- Liquid Planet
Toddy Cold Brew Review
The Liquid Lab Team gave the Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker 8 out of 9 planets across the board! The overwhelming conclusion is that cold brew coffee allows more of the coffees flavors to be extracted with far less bitterness and acidity creating a very smooth cup of Joe. We're still working on getting over the mental hurdle of thinking cold brew needs to be enjoyed cold but equally excited about all the potential this method has. Read each individual review below:
Mike (aka drip-all-day): I am going to start this review off with another one of my blanket statements: “I DON’T drink cold coffee.” I am the kind of person who if my coffee is not piping hot I am either heating it up again or not drinking it. So, to say that I was skeptical going into this cold coffee review is a bit of an understatement. The Toddy Cold Brew Coffee maker comes out of the box and presents itself with clean lines and a simple but timeless look. Included in the package are two filters and a pair of plugs for the steeper. It is my understanding the filters can be used several times before needing to be replaced but if you plan on using this a lot extra filters would not be a bad thing. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the results. The brewing process was quite simple. I think the key is to have the grind very course. To brew, all that we had to do was dump a 12oz bag of the Liquid Planet Toddy Coffee Blend (shameless plug) into the steeper, let it sit overnight and voila… The final product revealed a cup of coffee where the typical chocolate, nutty undertones of the bean come to the forefront. Additionally, true to what is advertised, the bitterness of the coffee had all but disappeared. I enjoyed my Toddy coffee over ice with a touch of cream and a pump of Irish Crème flavored Liquid Planet Organic Coffee Syrup (shameless plug). Now I’m a believer - 8/9 planets.
Stella (aka the Sipper): Like many folks out there (especially those in snowy climates) I'm not much of a cold coffee drinker - but here's the important thing to remember "JUST CUZ IT'S CALLED COLD BREW DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO DRINK IT COLD" - The 'cold' refers to the 'brewing method' - and how brewing with cold water over a long period of time results in a completely different extraction that brewing hot over a short amount of time. The flavor profile is generally more pronounced with cold-brew but a lot of people choose cold-brew because the cold brew extraction method yields a FAR LESS acidic cup... so big bonus points there. The downside, of course, is the initial time commitment of between 12-24 hours - but then for a week, you need to only to mix with water and you recover some of that initial time investment. Hands down, the taste is worth it alone. The decreased acidity is a huge benefit but for me, the FLAVORS that came out were mind-blowing. My brew was ridiculously smooth and though i didn't particularly enjoy it cold I keep reminding myself - IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COLD. I simply add near boiling water with some cream and sugar or syrup and it's a sensational brew... i'm really starting to understand the rage that is cold-brew - now how to re-train all the coffee drinkers out there that Cold-brew doesn't mean you have to drink it that way?? 8/9 planets for me.
Paul (aka Pour-Over Paul): I actually have owned a Toddy since before it was introduced to the liquid lab, but this was a good opportunity for me to make some cold brew coffee and reflect on some of my brews from the past. The Toddy is a simple and functional design. A pitcher style reservoir is filled with very coarse ground coffee and water and the coffee will slowly brew or steep at room temperature overnight on your counter. There is a re-usable filter that resembles a woven puck you insert to the toddy before you brew so that when you extract the cold brew from the reservoir the coarse grounds are left behind. There are some things I absolutely love about the Toddy and a few things I feel can be done better. When you release the cold brew from the Toddy, you set it atop a glass pitcher and release the coffee by removing a rubber stopper or cork from the bottom of the toddy allowing gravity to move the liquid from the brew area into the pitcher. Removing the cork can be a bit awkward and although you can do it without spilling, I would not recommend trying it over a white linen tablecloth. The plastic brewer and removable handle are a bit flimsy separate from each other, but feel sturdier when connected and integrated with each other. The filter has both positive and negative attributes as well. It does fit snugly in the bottom of the brewer and does a fantastic job of keeping ground coffee out of your cold brew. However, because it fits so snugly, it is quite hard to remove and I find myself having to poke at it from underneath with the round end of a chopstick to get it to pop out for final cleaning. For the brewing process, you leave the Toddy un-attended overnight on your counter top, which is fine, but it really could use a simple plastic cover to keep household debris from joining the party. On a positive note, I absolutely love the carafe that the cold brew is extracted into. It has a mid-century modern feel, pours well, and comes with a plastic lid that integrates snugly for keeping it in your refrigerator. One of the most important features of the Toddy is that it makes amazing coffee. Every time I make cold brew coffee in the Toddy, I get nuances I had not ever tasted with other brewing methods. Nuances of dark chocolate, cashew, black cherry, and orange blossom are common and a welcomed change in a cold beverage. For a naturally decaffeinated change of pace, I have also used the same brewing method to make rooibos tea and I have been pleased with the results every time. Although I feel there are a few things the toddy could do better, the bottom line is it makes fantastic cold brew drinks, is affordable, and the pitcher is fantastic. 8 of 9 planets-
TR (aka Sud Bud):I'll be the first to admit, I'm a drip. Drinking drip coffee for the better part of the day, is a tradition passed down to me from my grandparents on both sides of the family. I can find just about any time of the day or evening to enjoy a good cup of hot, black coffee. The idea of enjoying a cold coffee concentrate drink was a little rough for me to wrap my head around (seems to be a theme for me this year). Part of the reason I like drip coffee is because it's fast. I'm always getting to shoot to the front of the line in the coffee shop while folks wait for their "Double Irish Creme Latte, with only one and a half pumps of flavor, definitely not two, skim milk, extra whip and no more than 185 degrees" drinks. The idea of waiting 12 hours to even try this concoction was SLOWING ME DOWN!
The more I enjoyed the taste, I started to realize how Toddy could save me time. I like the idea of having a carafe in the fridge when you have coffee drinkers over at the house. At little hot water and you're all set. I'm also famous for making too much coffee as not everyone has got the all-day bug like me. We're also pretty famous around our house for finishing a full pot of coffee and wanting "just one more, but not a full pot". Been there? Toddy to the rescue! After talking about my experience with our Liquid Planet Roaster, he also recommended our Liquid Planet Guatemalan Origin Coffee as a cold brew option. He and a group friends have discovered that the fruit & vanilla notes in this origin coffee really come out when brewed this way. For the price and unexpected convenience, I give the Today Coffee Brewing system an 8 out of 9 planets. I'm looking forward to further experiencing how some of my favorite drip coffees will get even better using this method.
For more in-depth information on the Toddy as well as the Cold-Brew technique see the links below:
- Liquid Planet
