Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

GSI Outdoors Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup

$24.95

(11)

Item # 401117

REI Members get back an estimated $ 2.50 on this item as part of their annual member refund.

The REI Member Dividend

The REI dividend is a unique benefit of membership in the REI co-op. It's comprised of your member refund—typically 10% back on eligible purchases—and/or your REI Visa® card rebates.

Each March, active REI members and REI Visa cardholders who earned a rebate receive a refund in the form of an annual dividend notice.

Only active members receive annual dividend notices. To maintain your active status as an REI member, you need to make net merchandise or shipping purchases of at least $10 per year, unless you joined that year. Member numbers are issued in one name and only that person receives the member refund. Your number can be used by others in your family, but it cannot be transferred to someone else.

Questions? Call us at 1-800-426-4840 for more about your dividend or its redemption.

Learn more

This item may be available in your local REI store.

FREE U.S. STANDARD SHIPPING Through February 20. No minimum purchase! Learn more

More videos

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

Indulge yourself at camp with a cup of espresso--you can make it in just 90 seconds with this Italian coffee maker.

Made from lightweight aluminum, the European-style espresso machine is finely crafted with a brass steam pipe
For use on low heat over your backpacking stove
Tank holds 3 ounces of water and fresh ground coffee

Imported.

Item 401117

View all GSI Outdoors products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

GSI Outdoors Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup

4.0

(based on 11 reviews)

82%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Lightweight (9)
Easy to clean (8)
Compact (6)
Durable (5)
Stable (5)

Cons

Best Uses

Car camping (7)
Backpacking (6)
Hiking (6)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (7), Casual/ recreational (3)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Survivalist / minimalist (7)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (4)

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 11 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

May

2008

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Good cup of Joe, for little doe

By Simon says REI

from Colorado

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Easy To Clean
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

will melt

Best Uses

Backpacking
High Altitude
Hiking

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

This makes a great shot of espresso. I own several espresso bars and of course have tasted much better. But for a backpacking deal this is the one. All the backpack models taste the same, so why spend 70 bucks.

I did leave my first one on the stove while I was getting my fly rod ready. Note- 30 minuets on the stove and it will melt!!! The only thing I might suggest is purchase at least the two cup. Every time I pull my mini out, I have two or three fellow campers asking if they can get a shot. Also try and use a true espresso grind, not just ground coffee. Ask your local coffee house if they will grind you how ever many shots you think you will need.

Sep

2007

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Suprisingly useful

By Oregon Jim

from Philomath, Oregon

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Clean
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
High Altitude
Hiking

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

This was a big surprise. For almost no investment, you can have a wonderful espresso anywhere you can produce heat. I find the quality of the espresso made with this little machine to be as good as any coffee shop I've visited.

Jun

2009

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Made My Day

By Steph from Minnesota

from Hawley, MN.

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Easy To Clean
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Hiking

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

I was very skeptical about this product, but I love my morning espresso so much that I finally decided to take a chance on it. I was completely amazed how well it worked, how good the coffee tasted, and how fast it brewed (much faster than my espresso machine at home). I heated a little milk on the stove, too, and had myself a "latte" for breakfast. I was in love! It made my day.

Jul

2009

(1 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Maybe

By Chris the gardener

from Washington, DC

About Me Casual Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

It worked fine at home (where I have a fancy Italian machine that makes much better espresso) but under trail conditions I couldn't get it to hold a seal necessary to build up the necessary pressure.

Oct

2011

4.0

Great coffee in a compact design

By Mike da bike

from Hood River, OR

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Clean
Lightweight

Cons

Unstable

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Hiking

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

I've used this little espresso maker both at home on a standard electric stove top and in San Fransisco in the redwoods and it performs great! The coffee is very tasty and the cleanup takes about 30 seconds. I didn't have the seal problems that others have mentioned although I can see where you'd run into problems if the unit is hot and you don't have a pot holder or towel or something to handle it as you tighten it down.

The problem I had on my MSR Whisperlite is that the pot supports are too far apart for the small base on the espresso maker. The solution was to sit it off-kilter on the actual burner and hold your mouth right. Not the best and honestly don't know what stove they designed this for.

Also, where can you find a backcountry demitasse? standard mugs are too tall to fit under the gooseneck spigot. I ended up using a ramakin and that works pretty well.

Jun

2011

4.0

I Kinda Love It

By MicahRyhthmNboots

from North Carolina

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Delicious
Easy To Clean
Stable

Cons

Heavy

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

I saw this in REI and kinda laughed at it but then my girlfriend made it appear under the Christmas tree. I've taken it on every trip I've been on since and cant see a reason not to take it on all future trips. It fits perfectly inside my mess kit so, although kind of heavy, it takes up no practical space. It's perfect for solo or small group trips but if you go out with a large group you might want to consider the 10 oz. version because everyone will want a shot and, although making one or two esspressos is not bad, making several cups gets a little time consuming and, honestly, annoying. A friend I usually backpack with brings his french press and we usually make red-eyes in the morning--a great way to perk you up for a long days trek. I usually keep my pack at under 20 pounds...maybe a quarter of that is coffee related. This sweet-machine is worth it!

Jun

2011

4.0

Go to coffe maker

By grimmyg

from Louisville, Ky

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Clean
Great Cog
Lightweight

Cons

Bulky
Heavy

Best Uses

Car Camping

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

There is nothing better than waking up and having a great cup of coffee when camping. I used to use disposable bags and then a french press. My dad had one of these many years ago and I snatched one up when I found it in REI. Although it is not true espresso, it is great coffee. I normally only use it when canoe or kayak camping, but may take it on the next backpack trip as it is not overly heavy. I do have concerns about the drip tube breaking, but it has held up on over a dozen trips so far. I do recommended cleaning it well and drying it out after every trip. Make sure you use medium-fine ground coffee.

Jun

2011

4.0

Worked like a charm

By Nyteknight

from Burbank, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Clean
Lightweight

Cons

Unstable

Best Uses

Car Camping

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

I bought this for morning lattes. It worked just fine during my test run on my home stove (just keep the gas to low) and worked great at the camp site. The only problem I had with it was the grate to my Coleman stove is too wide to let this rest on it and stay stable. During one brewing, it keeps falling over. Putting a bakers rack over the burner/grate with smaller gaps between the wires may work better.

If you camp with a group, I would recommend the 4 cup maker. The moment people realized I had coffee, I had 3 empty cups thrust at me by people with puppy dog looks on their faces. It heats up fast enough but having to dump the grinds and start over for every cup got a bit tedious.

To protect it, I bought a simple tupperware storage box. The maker, plus the coffee and small plastic bottles of syrup fit just fine in it and it protects the maker from any damage.

May

2011

4.0

Hot espresso on the trail!

By funkisockmunki

from Seattle, WA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy to use
Fun
Lightweight
Portable

Cons

Rubber seal failure
Single serving

Best Uses

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

We used to take this on every hike. It makes rainy cold hikes bearable to have a hot espresso along the way or with a lunch break, and is always the envy/delight of friends. It's fun to use and despite looking like a heavy chunk of metal, it's quite light and can unscrew and fit inside our tiny titanium cookset with the micro-stove.

Unfortunately, we're having a hard time finding a spare rubber seal for it. Perhaps our own fault for leaving the rubber ring in the unit while storing it between hikes, the rubber became all goopy and stuck to the metal. The seal isn't tight enough now and it sprays pressure out the side (scary). It would be great if REI carried replacement parts for this. (hint hint - poke poke). I love this little espresso maker enough to buy a second one, but that would just be wasteful and un-environmental.

Sep

2010

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Too small

By Kathey

from South Lake Tahoe, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

Leaky

Best Uses

Car Camping

Comments about GSI Mini Expresso Maker - 1 Cup:

Only being able to make one shot of espresso at a time, this device was a test of patience. We upgraded to the four cup maker and are very happy. Our single shot maker was also very leaky and lost most of the water out the main seal, despite our best efforts to prevent it.