For this guide, I limited the options to pressurized brewers, which is why there's no AeroPress or moka pot, neither of which make espresso. (A moka pot is pressurized, but not enough to qualify as espresso.) The Aeropress is in our Best Portable Coffee Makers guide.

How to Make Great Portable Espresso

There are three basic, vital espresso tips I'll leave you with.

Find good, fresh beans: If you haven’t made espresso before, start with high-quality beans. Quality beans can make even cheap brewing equipment shine. And high quality means fresh. Find a local coffee roaster in your area.

If you don't have a coffee roaster nearby, you can order beans online or try one of the preground espresso blends at your local grocery store. I've tried popular espresso blends like Lavazza, Medaglia D'Oro, and Café Bustelo. Medaglia D'Oro has a smoother flavor than the others, but it's still more bitter than freshly roasted and ground whole beans.

For testing, I used beans from Jittery Joe's roasting company in Athens, Georgia, specifically the Wake-n-Bake blend. (Disclosure: I worked for Jittery Joe's for many years, so I grew to like its coffee.) I also used an espresso blend from Fahrenheit Coffee Roaster in Mancos, Colorado, and an excellent dark roast Indian coffee from Atlas Coffee Club. If you can't find something near you, have a look at our guide to coffee subscription services.

Get a quality grinder: Once you have good, freshly roasted beans you need to grind them. You'll want a burr grinder, which grinds your beans evenly rather than chopping them like a blade grinder. See our guide to coffee grinders to find the perfect one for you.

Start experimenting: Pick one of these makers and start experimenting. At first, make sure you weigh out your beans and water using a good scale like this Eravsow Digital Scale, and take notes. It may sound like extreme nerdery, and it is, but after experimenting for a few days you'll likely find something you love, and you'll know how to pull your perfect shot every time for espresso—no matter where you are.

More Great WIRED Stories