Surprisingly close to espresso, down to the crema. I will say that the flavor is not as bold as espresso, but testing different roasts and fineness of my grounds may be able to fix that. Also, I wish they sold the cup used to hold the grounds on Amazon so I could easily make more by just switching out my cup of used grounds with a cup of fresh grounds.DO NOT BUY!!!!!PRODUCT IS VERY DANGEROUS IT SPRAYED SCALDING HOT WATER ON MY HANDafter using it for only 2 months it broke and pumped out scalding hot water from the sides and burned my hand.I hope you find this review helpful.This small machine is pretty. It is a marvel of design, all folded up. I own a Staresso hand coffee grinder, and that device is absolutely stunning in terms of design and build quality. So when I opened this device, I was quite optimistic.The coffee maker arrives assembled. Just disassemble, put coffee in the portafilter, and water in the top and then give the top about eight pumps and you've got a double shot of espresso. 10 g of coffee, 40g of water yields 30g of coffee. I understand that you may use a Nespresso capsul too, but I just use ground coffee.This is my second Staresso portable Coffee Maker. I broke the first. The stainless steel cap you see at the top of this device is the top of a plunger. The plunger is spring loaded, and held into the retained position via a catch under the stainless steel cap that hooks to a plastic star at the top of the cap to the water receptacle. If you give the plunger cap a quarter twist and let it fly, it may break the retaining star. So be aware of that.The portafilter is small- most espresso machines use a portafilter that accepts between 15 and 20 grams of coffee. This portafilter accepts about 10 grams of coffee or a nespresso capsule (8grams).Loading the portafilter isn't too hard, though it is a small target. The little plastic scoop that comes with this press is well fitted to its purpose. Just do the job over a sink and it won't be too messy.The portafilter isn't like a regular espresso machine. It is a "pressurized" portafilter, which means that it has a plastic insert inside the portafilter with a number of holes that lead to the stainless steel jacket. The stainless steel jacket has a spring and a plunger that sit above a single hole. As pressure builds inside the portafilter, it depresses the basket and with sufficient pressure, releases liquid from the portafilter. In short, this device operates at one pressure and the barista has no control over pressureRegarding espresso-making performance, this is a competent little machine that is capable of making small doses of espresso. With ten grams of coffee and three ounces of water in, it delivered a 2 oz double shot. I tried both a medium grind and a true espresso grind of coffee and the press works with both. Tamping coffee into the portafilter is not necessary, since this is a pressurized portafilter, but tamping with the end of a shot glass made cleaning up easier- when temped the coffee comes out as a puck instead of a sloppy mess.It packs nicely, it's small, it's light and except for the failure I encountered, it seems relatively rugged. It even comes with replacement O rings if you were ever able to wear the thing out.If you like well-made coffee and espresso, this device is a pretty good choice for making coffee on the go. Pair it up with the Staresso hand grinder and you will have better coffee while camping than just about anyone. It's not heavy, and it doesn't take up much space.I think you will like it- just be careful when releasing the plunger :)ITEM: STARESSO Basic Model Portable Espresso-Coffee MakerPRICE: $67.00 (rounded to closest dollar US)I’m a past member of the Specialty Coffee Association. And over the past near twenty years I’ve immersed myself in ‘specialty coffee’ as an avocation, a serious hobby. While I’ve used all of the brewing methods, ‘espresso brewing’ is my focus. So my soul interest in the Staresso Basic model was and is as a portable ‘espresso brewing device.’ And I should add that I’ve also reviewed the larger model Staresso espresso unit with the 53-mm porta-filter basket.If you enjoy espresso brewing, and especially if your favorite beverage is a proper cappuccino, you might agree with me that this little hand-operated unit is capable of producing a decent espresso extraction. While I couldn’t get a true single-plus extraction out of it, I was able to create a somewhat tasty small shot espresso. I used my home roasted monsoon Malabar blend.Yes, I was honestly surprised that this small hand operated unit would come reasonably close to the quality of extractions that I’m used to getting from my commercial espresso machine. However, it paled in comparison to its larger Staresso model. And for that I felt that a much better investment would be, in fact, that unit over this ‘Basic.’ The 53-mm basket is a very important upgrade and worth the added investment. Both are Staresso and both are quality designs.I lIke this little fella. It’s cute and does the job for me. It’s easy to use, produces a quick espresso and cleans up fairly well. Of all of the issues I have with it, these stand out the most.First, I have tried both pods and ground coffee and am having a difficult time producing coffee that tastes great. I don’t know if it is my brewing method or the rate at which the shots are pulled but it is a struggle. Secondly, because there are so many pieces, this can be a challenge to clean. As a result, I would advise using pods over grounds when in a pinch.Overall, I think this is a neat gadget and would recommend it to someone looking for a fun way to brew new coffee.This STARESSO Espresso Machine Portable Coffee Maker is awesome! I haven't taken it anywhere traveling, but it's great to use at home! The shots I've pulled make drinks every bit as good as most coffee shops locally around me. It's very easy to teardown and clean and everything looks very well manufactured with no debris or concerns when I initially unpacked it. My only problem with this one is that it won't quite pull a full two shots. If you're looking for a simple, portable, easy to use espresso machine, give this one a try it might surprise you.Makes a wonderful little espresso for an afternoon break, I absolutely love it! Easy to clean, easy to use.