GSI Mini Espresso Set 1 Cup £51.50

Starting off with the coffee makers that require a heat source, we have the GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso Set 1 Cup. First point to make, this makes a very generous single shot – a bit more than a double. Enough that I’m happy to share it, although that does leave you both with a coffee that’s on the small side.

In essence, GSI’S Mini Espresso works just like the original octagonal moka pot:

1. Add water to the base.

2. Fill the basket up with coffee and scrape it flat with the side of a spoon.

3. Put the basket in the base.

4. Screw the top on.

5. Heat until coffee stops coming out the spout.

Personally, I like to apply a high heat until the coffee just starts coming out. Then, I turn the heat right down so that the flow is smooth and controlled – and turn it off completely for the final millilitres. Some argue this risks singeing the coffee and prefer to use a steady heat for the entirety of the brew. I’ve tried both and I don’t think there’s a difference in taste – plus this approach is much faster.

I really like the robust simplicity of the GSI Mini Espresso. It has three parts (four if you count the cup) and doesn’t require the use of paper filters that you risk running out of. Plus, for me, the dark, strong coffee it produces is really great.

A particular plus of the GSI Mini Espresso over a traditional moka pot is that it comes with an integrated cup – and its stainless steel base also works on induction hobs.

However, the carry case feels a little too bulky for such a minimalist coffee maker. Plus, as it requires a heat source to produce the coffee, you’ll need to bring a camping stove with you, which further adds to the heft.

The GSI Mini Espresso, MSI stove and Elephant Box grounds holder all fit in my handlebar bag, but leave less space than some of the other systems (the Aeropress GO or Soto Helix, for example).

If you’re willing to take a stove – and you prize strong coffee over storage space – the Mini Espresso is a great option. But for me, its limitations mean that I wouldn’t choose it as my only travel coffee maker. www.gsioutdoors.com/products/mini espresso-set-1-cup