This handheld espresso maker is great choice for anyone who has a small kitchen

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FancyBefore my gargantuan cup of iced tea or coffee each morning, I'm grouchy, impatient, and exhausted, whether or not I clock in eight hours of sleep the night before. Spending at least $2 a day on coffee adds up fast though.

While some people can choose to save money and brew their morning Joe or espresso at home, not everyone has enough space on their kitchen counter to house another bulky appliance.

When I learned about Handpresso's Wild Hybrid — an affordable handheld espresso maker that promises a quality blend — I was interested to give it a try.

Unlike most espresso makers on the market, the Wild Hybrid arrives pre-assembled and with easy-to-follow instructions. There's nothing mind-boggling about the directions, but it is important to follow each step carefully. Simply forgetting to press down the infusion button before using the manual pump, for example, can result in a mini espresso explosion all over your counter. 

In order to make an espresso drink — whether you're using a fancy latte machine or the Wild Hybrid — hot water needs to push through the espresso maker at a high pressure. The unit of measurement for the pressure is called bar. Most automatic machines can jump up to 16 bar with a simple press of a button, but this compact option requires you to use the manual pump to increase the pressure. Although it's an easy feat for anyone with upper body strength, I found the process a bit challenging after a few pumps. If you aren't deterred by the necessary manual labor, though, and I wasn't, this option has its perks. 

FancyThe main talking point here is one of size. Under a foot in length, the espresso maker is compact enough to stow away in a drawer when not in use, so it's great if your kitchen is already short on space or you want to pack it for an upcoming trip. But since the appliance itself is small, don't expect it to yield tons of espresso. When the domepod (which is where you store your ground up espresso beans) and water reservoir are filled to capacity, it spurts out about a single shot's worth of espresso. If you don't need much to kick-start your day, it's the perfect amount, and the clean up is minimal.

Speaking of the blend itself, it's worth mentioning that finding a mix of espresso and water that's strong enough for you takes some trial and error. When I used the proportions the directions recommended, the espresso tasted watery. The next time I tried the Wild Hybrid, I used less water and found myself liking the final product much more.

The entire process takes less than five minutes and, for some, it should prove a solid alternative to clunkier coffee machines and waiting in line. 

If Amazon is your most convenient online-shopping experience, you can find the Wild Hybrid there, but if you’re willing to go through the trouble of putting your credit card number into a new site, the best deal is available at Huckberry, where, for a limited time, you can get the espresso maker for $80.

Handpresso Wild Hybrid, $79.98, available at Huckberry.
Handpresso Wild Hybrid, $129.99, available at Amazon and Fancy.

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