Quick Verdict
The Wacaco Picopresso fits if you want espresso from a maker that goes back in a drawer, with no plumbing. You will need a kettle and a hand grinder such as the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 ESP, and you will have to learn manual technique. Buy it new, ideally sold by Wacaco and shipped by Amazon, and check the current price on Amazon. Skip resale offers. If you want a plug-in machine on the counter instead, see our other machine guides.
Do not buy the CASABREWS as a stand-in. Choose the C3 ESP rather than the C3 ESP Pro. You will also need a kettle, which you may already own.
CTA: Check the Wacaco Picopresso on Amazon
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for:
- renters who want manual espresso that stores in a drawer, with no plumbing
- small-kitchen buyers who will put the maker away after each shot
- shoppers who will buy it new from Wacaco or another seller they trust
- beginners who will use a kettle and still buy an espresso-capable grinder
- shoppers who will learn manual technique
- people who move often and would rather pack a 350 g case than an 11–20 lb machine
This guide is not for:
- people considering a resale unit
- people who want a plug-in machine like the Bambino, Dedica, Gaggia, or Stilosa (each has its own guide)
- people who will not use a kettle or will not buy a grinder
- people looking for a roundup of travel espresso makers
- cafe-volume or plumbed-in shoppers
The Short Answer
| Decision | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Drawer espresso, no plumbing | Wacaco Picopresso | The maker this guide recommends. Buy new and check the seller and price. |
| Compact ThermoJet machine on the counter | Breville Bambino | Bambino for apartments |
| Ultra-narrow counter | De'Longhi Dedica | Dedica for apartments |
| 58 mm steel machine to keep | Gaggia Classic Evo Pro | Gaggia for apartments |
| Budget pump machine | De'Longhi Stilosa | Budget espresso machine guide |
| Cheaper compact machine | CASABREWS 3700 | More compromises, and it is not a substitute for the Picopresso. |
| Grinder | TIMEMORE C3 ESP | Espresso-capable hand grinder. Not the Pro. See our grinder guide for the Bambino. |
| Hot water | A kettle you own or will buy | The Picopresso has no heater. |
| Resale offers | Skip | Not new. |
If you want espresso from the drawer with no plumbing, and you will use a kettle, buy a C3 ESP, and learn manual technique, buy the Picopresso new. If you want a plug-in machine on the counter, see the other machine guides. Skip resale offers.
Apartment drawer, move-out, and no-plumbing
Measure your drawer and think about your routine, not the travel photo. You still need a kettle, a grinder, a surface to wipe down, and the patience for manual technique.
The Picopresso's appeal in an apartment is manual espresso that disappears when you are done. Wacaco lists it at 2.8" × 3.07" × 4.17" (71 × 78 × 106 mm) and 12.35 oz / 350 g / 0.77 lb, and Amazon often shows 4.17"D × 3.07"W × 2.8"H. A case is included. Unlike the Bambino, Dedica, Gaggia (about 20 lb), or budget Stilosa, it leaves the counter empty when you are done.
There is no plumbing and no drain. You fill the 80 ml chamber with boiled water, so keep the kettle near the sink. The routine test: will you put a 350 g case away every weekday, or do you really want a plug-in machine? The technique is grind, distribute, tamp, fill with boiling water, assemble, and pump. That takes longer than a ThermoJet machine's seconds of heat-up.
Renter test: can you store and move 350 g with no plumbing? Yes. Before you order, check the seller and make sure the offer is new, not resale.
Grinder + kettle pairing
The maker is not the whole setup. It does not grind beans and does not heat water. With its 52 mm naked portafilter and 18 g dose, it will not dial in with supermarket pre-ground coffee. A blade mill or a drip burr grinder will choke the shot or let it gush.
The grinder we suggest is the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 ESP (not the Pro). It is espresso-capable, has no motor, and fits in the drawer next to the case. See our grinder guide for the Breville Bambino. Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC528S8D?tag=next-1-20.
You also need a kettle, because you fill the Picopresso with boiling water from an outside source. Any kettle you already own will work. Buy a scale before a frother.
To plan your budget, see the beginner espresso setup guide and how to split a beginner budget.
Wacaco Picopresso: why we recommend it
Good for: renters who want espresso from the drawer with no plumbing, will use a kettle and a C3 ESP, and will learn manual technique
Why we chose it:
The Picopresso is the maker this guide recommends. It is a manual espresso maker, not a plug-in pump machine. Per Wacaco, it measures 2.8" × 3.07" × 4.17", weighs 350 g / 0.77 lb, and has an 80 ml chamber and a 52 mm naked basket for 18 g. It is rated at 18 bar / 261 psi, comes with a case, and has no heater. Buy it new, ideally sold by Wacaco and shipped by Amazon. Skip resale offers. Check the seller, availability, and current price before you buy.
Good fit if:
- you want manual espresso that stores in a drawer, and you have measured the drawer
- you will use a kettle and do not need plumbing
- you will buy it new from a seller you trust
- you will buy a C3 ESP and learn to distribute, tamp, and pump
- you want to move it in its case and keep the counter clear between shots
Skip it if:
- you want a plug-in machine like the Bambino, Dedica, Gaggia, or Stilosa (each has its own guide)
- you were about to buy a resale unit or the CASABREWS instead
- you will not use a kettle or will not buy a grinder
- you are looking for a roundup of travel espresso makers
Small-space notes:
Wacaco lists 2.8" × 3.07" × 4.17", and Amazon shows 4.17"D × 3.07"W × 2.8"H. Check both, and check the listing if its details table differs. The case doubles as storage. Keep the kettle, grinder, and Picopresso as a kit that goes back into drawers. Wipe the seals and basket after use.
Tradeoff:
You get a maker that stores in a drawer and needs no plumbing. You give up the Bambino's ThermoJet seconds, the Dedica's narrow plug-in body, the Gaggia's 58 mm steel build, and the Stilosa's budget pump machine. You also take on manual technique for every shot.
Before you buy on Amazon:
Check that the listing is the Wacaco Picopresso and that it is new, ideally sold by Wacaco (Wacaco Co., Ltd) and shipped by Amazon. Also check that the case and tools are included, and check returns, availability, and the current price. Skip resale offers. Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097DCNLL6?tag=next-1-20
Common mistakes
Buying a resale unit thinking it is new. Check the seller and condition before you order.
Trusting an old price or an "only X left" message. Prices and availability change, so check Amazon when you buy.
Skipping the kettle. The Picopresso has no heater, so it needs boiling water from a kettle.
Skipping the grinder. The 52 mm naked basket for 18 g is less forgiving than a dual-wall basket. Get an espresso-capable grinder such as the C3 ESP (not the Pro). A drip grinder will not work.
Expecting this guide to cover the Bambino, Dedica, Gaggia, or Stilosa. Each has its own guide.
Buying the CASABREWS 3700 as a stand-in for the Picopresso. It is a different kind of machine.
Planning to plumb it in. There is nothing to plumb: you need a drawer, a kettle, and the case.
Treating manual technique as optional. It is the trade-off for a counter that stays clear.
FAQ
Is Wacaco Picopresso good for apartments?
Yes, if you want manual espresso that stores in a drawer, with no plumbing, and a maker that is easy to pack when you move. Buy it new from a seller you trust. Be ready for the kettle, the grinder, and the technique.
Does Picopresso need a kettle?
Yes. It does not heat water. You fill it with boiling water from an outside source, so a kettle is required.
Does Picopresso need a grinder?
Yes, for consistent espresso with its 52 mm naked basket and 18 g dose. A good match is the TIMEMORE C3 ESP (not the Pro). See our grinder guide for the Breville Bambino.
Can I plumb in Picopresso?
No. You fill the chamber by hand from a kettle. Do not drill the counter.
How big and heavy is Picopresso?
Wacaco lists 2.8" × 3.07" × 4.17" (71 × 78 × 106 mm), 12.35 oz / 350 g / 0.77 lb, and an 80 ml / 2.70 fl oz chamber. Amazon shows 4.17"D × 3.07"W × 2.8"H, 80 ml, manual operation, and black. Check the listing details when you order.
Does Picopresso heat water?
No. It has no heater, so you need boiling water from a kettle.
Should I buy CASABREWS instead?
Not as a substitute for the Picopresso. If you want a budget plug-in machine, see the Stilosa guide. If you want manual espresso from the drawer with no plumbing, stay with the Picopresso.
Final Recommendation
Buy the Wacaco Picopresso if you want espresso from the drawer with no plumbing, will use a kettle and a TIMEMORE C3 ESP, and will learn manual technique. Buy it new, ideally sold by Wacaco (Wacaco Co., Ltd) and shipped by Amazon, and check the current price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097DCNLL6?tag=next-1-20. Prices and availability change, so check on the day you order. Skip resale offers.
Do not buy the CASABREWS as a stand-in. The plug-in Bambino, Dedica, Gaggia, and Stilosa each have their own guides. Choose the C3 ESP (not the Pro), and plan on a kettle.
Before buying, recheck the seller, shipper, model, new vs resale condition, returns, price, and availability on amazon.com.
Also useful: Espresso Machines for Apartments and Compact Espresso Machines for Small Kitchens.