So I’m thinking about a couple if things:
I just received my Staresso Plus and yes, it really is alot simpler easier to operate than the PicoPresso, which (after afew novel , new toy uses) I just couldn’t be bothered with while traveling. The PicoPresso was just too finicky with too many parts for early morning espresso. So I sold it and bought the Staresso Plus.
But the Staresso Plus is larger than I thought. About twice the size of the PicoPresso. When combined with the 1ZPresso J-Max in its case, plus my battery operated milk frothing wisk, plus tamper and baskets, plus coffee beans, that’s alot of luggage space allocated to espresso. I can see bringing all this kit in the larger piece of luggage that I use for extended stay travel (such as family visits, cottage stays, road trips, etc). But for airtravel with subsequent multi stop travel in the destination country, one needs to travel lighter. Been there and got the T-shirt on lugging a 50 lb full suitcase around; will never do that again.
So, has anyone tried the travel version of Starpresso? I can check it’s relative dimensions and weight on the Starpresso website. But is it as easy to use as the StarPresso Plus? What’s the trade off?
The other thing is the time and effort that it takes to hand grind espresso. I suspect that the IZPresso J-Max is as good as it gets for travel hand grinder burr quality, capacity and grinding speed. @DavecUK mentioned a small battery operated grinder earlier in this thread but did not mention the name. Is this now available? I’d love to read or watch a detailed review of it.
I could get a Solo but that will just add another piece of kit to lug around; and I’m not sure if it would work with my 1Zpresso. For more extended stay travel I might look at the Varia that @tompoland has.
