Is the Wacaco Prestina Just Another AeroPress?
Alternative Brewing
15,637 views
The Wacaco Prestina looks suspiciously familiar. Shop: https://alternativebrewing.com.au/pro...
It is a compact immersion brewer with a cylindrical chamber, metal filter and pressing action that pushes coffee into a cup. Calling it Wacaco’s answer to the AeroPress seems reasonable, but after using it, the Prestina feels less like a copy and more like a different interpretation of the same brewing principle.
YouTube Chapters
00:00 Meet the Wacaco Prestina
00:53 What Comes Included
01:24 Cup-Driven Pressing Explained
02:01 Filter and Pressure Valve
02:33 The Starting Coffee Recipe
03:40 Brewing Step by Step
06:00 Adjusting Your Recipe
08:40 Prestina vs AeroPress
09:46 Cleaning and Travel Storage
In this Wacaco Prestina review and brewing guide, I explain its cup-driven pressing system, why it suits travel and how to brew a rich, full-bodied coffee in under two minutes.
Its most unusual feature is the included drinking cup, which forms part of the pressing mechanism. Instead of using a separate plunger, the brewing chamber moves down over the cup, forcing coffee through its permanent stainless-steel filter. This keeps the entire brewer compact and self-contained.
The Prestina measures approximately 8.5 centimetres wide, stands 13.5 centimetres tall and weighs 254 grams. It holds up to 240 millilitres of water, with the brewing chamber, filter, pressure valve, cup, scoop, stirrer and drip tray packing into the supplied travel pouch.
There are no paper filters to carry. Its one-way valve holds most of the water inside while the coffee steeps, while the metal filter allows more oils and fine particles into the cup. This produces a richer, more textured brew than a standard paper filter.
Pressure remains below one bar, so the Prestina is not producing espresso—and it is not pretending to. The pressing action simply moves the brewed coffee through the filter while adding some concentration and texture.
My starting recipe uses 15 grams of coffee at a medium to medium-fine grind. Add water at approximately 94°C to the maximum line, stir thoroughly and attach the lid. After a one-minute steep, press slowly and steadily over the cup.
Pressing harder will not transform it into an espresso machine, although it may transform your bench into something requiring a towel.
The coffee can be enjoyed as it is, diluted with hot water or combined with milk. At home, scales and a timer improve repeatability. While travelling, you can use the included scoop and marked fill line without constructing a small café beside the campsite.
There is also room to experiment. More coffee creates greater strength, while grinding finer can increase extraction and intensity. Going too fine may introduce bitterness, sediment or excessive pressing resistance. A coarser grind makes pressing easier but may require a longer steep.
Hotter water generally suits lighter roasts, while cooler water may soften darker-roast bitterness. You can also extend the steep from one minute to several minutes, particularly with cooler water or a coarser grind. Pressing slowly keeps the process controlled and may reduce sediment.
The obvious comparison is the AeroPress. Both combine immersion and gentle pressure, and an AeroPress equipped with a metal filter and flow-control cap can produce a similar style of coffee.
The difference is the experience. The AeroPress supports numerous filters, accessories and brewing methods and can brew into many different cups. The Prestina is more contained: its filter and valve are included, it holds the brew without an inverted method, and its cup-driven design creates a complete portable system.
That design has limitations. You cannot use any random mug because its dimensions must engage the pressing mechanism. Cleanup is also slightly messier than ejecting an AeroPress paper filter. The metal filter and valve require careful rinsing to prevent coffee oils and particles from accumulating.
The Wacaco Prestina shares obvious DNA with the AeroPress, but it does not feel like a simple copy. It is compact, approachable and well suited to travel, producing satisfying coffee without paper filters or a complicated workflow.
Sometimes a familiar idea does not need completely reinventing. It just needs to pack smaller, travel well and make good coffee when the nearest café is several kilometres in the wrong direction.
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20 Comments
Very lovely and cool video on Prestina.
Yes I would choose to bring Prestina when travelling than the bulky plunger Aeropress. Learning your master knowledge of coffee brewing, I will play around with recipe when using Prestina during travelling.
Thank you so much sharing your master knowledge, great experiences and encouraging review of both Prestina and Aeropress.
By the way, I felt so so relieved to watch your video than one Korean YouTube video condemned the dripping on Prestina and the coffee taste. I learned so much from your channel and this video, than that baseless Korea guy YouTube video .
Thanks Josh .
Have great days always.
These are just my first impressions and I definitely intend on putting them through their paces while remaining open to the concept of each and attempt to fine tune my optimized preferences for each device along the way.
Is the Wacaco Prestina Just Another AeroPress?
Alternative Brewing
15,637 views
The Wacaco Prestina looks suspiciously familiar. Shop: https://alternativebrewing.com.au/pro...
It is a compact immersion brewer with a cylindrical chamber, metal filter and pressing action that pushes coffee into a cup. Calling it Wacaco’s answer to the AeroPress seems reasonable, but after using it, the Prestina feels less like a copy and more like a different interpretation of the same brewing principle.
YouTube Chapters
00:00 Meet the Wacaco Prestina
00:53 What Comes Included
01:24 Cup-Driven Pressing Explained
02:01 Filter and Pressure Valve
02:33 The Starting Coffee Recipe
03:40 Brewing Step by Step
06:00 Adjusting Your Recipe
08:40 Prestina vs AeroPress
09:46 Cleaning and Travel Storage
In this Wacaco Prestina review and brewing guide, I explain its cup-driven pressing system, why it suits travel and how to brew a rich, full-bodied coffee in under two minutes.
Its most unusual feature is the included drinking cup, which forms part of the pressing mechanism. Instead of using a separate plunger, the brewing chamber moves down over the cup, forcing coffee through its permanent stainless-steel filter. This keeps the entire brewer compact and self-contained.
The Prestina measures approximately 8.5 centimetres wide, stands 13.5 centimetres tall and weighs 254 grams. It holds up to 240 millilitres of water, with the brewing chamber, filter, pressure valve, cup, scoop, stirrer and drip tray packing into the supplied travel pouch.
There are no paper filters to carry. Its one-way valve holds most of the water inside while the coffee steeps, while the metal filter allows more oils and fine particles into the cup. This produces a richer, more textured brew than a standard paper filter.
Pressure remains below one bar, so the Prestina is not producing espresso—and it is not pretending to. The pressing action simply moves the brewed coffee through the filter while adding some concentration and texture.
My starting recipe uses 15 grams of coffee at a medium to medium-fine grind. Add water at approximately 94°C to the maximum line, stir thoroughly and attach the lid. After a one-minute steep, press slowly and steadily over the cup.
Pressing harder will not transform it into an espresso machine, although it may transform your bench into something requiring a towel.
The coffee can be enjoyed as it is, diluted with hot water or combined with milk. At home, scales and a timer improve repeatability. While travelling, you can use the included scoop and marked fill line without constructing a small café beside the campsite.
There is also room to experiment. More coffee creates greater strength, while grinding finer can increase extraction and intensity. Going too fine may introduce bitterness, sediment or excessive pressing resistance. A coarser grind makes pressing easier but may require a longer steep.
Hotter water generally suits lighter roasts, while cooler water may soften darker-roast bitterness. You can also extend the steep from one minute to several minutes, particularly with cooler water or a coarser grind. Pressing slowly keeps the process controlled and may reduce sediment.
The obvious comparison is the AeroPress. Both combine immersion and gentle pressure, and an AeroPress equipped with a metal filter and flow-control cap can produce a similar style of coffee.
The difference is the experience. The AeroPress supports numerous filters, accessories and brewing methods and can brew into many different cups. The Prestina is more contained: its filter and valve are included, it holds the brew without an inverted method, and its cup-driven design creates a complete portable system.
That design has limitations. You cannot use any random mug because its dimensions must engage the pressing mechanism. Cleanup is also slightly messier than ejecting an AeroPress paper filter. The metal filter and valve require careful rinsing to prevent coffee oils and particles from accumulating.
The Wacaco Prestina shares obvious DNA with the AeroPress, but it does not feel like a simple copy. It is compact, approachable and well suited to travel, producing satisfying coffee without paper filters or a complicated workflow.
Sometimes a familiar idea does not need completely reinventing. It just needs to pack smaller, travel well and make good coffee when the nearest café is several kilometres in the wrong direction.
💡 Want to level up your coffee game even further? Sign up for BrewPoint rewards and earn points every time you shop for coffee gear! 🔗 https://alternativebrewing.com.au/pag...
SUBSCRIBE to the OFFICIAL Alternative Brewing YouTube channel 👉 https://bit.ly/2MnmLOl
LAUNCH Alternative Brewing store online now 👉 https://alternativebrewing.com.au/
#alternativebrewing