How to Use a Seagull Hand Press Coffee Maker for Espresso

If you’ve ever wanted to pull an espresso shot without an electric machine, a $30 hand-powered device shaped like a bird might catch your eye—but can it actually brew decent espresso? The ‘Seagull’ hand press coffee maker looks unusual, but its mechanics mimic a commercial lever machine. That said, it doesn’t reach 9 bar pressure or maintain ideal brew temperatures. Still, with the right prep, it produces usable espresso—especially for milk drinks.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Hand Press Espresso

For the Seagull hand press coffee maker, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Specialty Blend, which offers a balanced profile of nuts, black chocolate, and caramel—great for milk drinks. The Commercial Blend, with its nutty, toasty notes and light roast sweetness, is another solid choice for traditional espresso style. Alternatively, the Black Cocoa Blend combines roasted flavors with a touch of robusta for extra body and crema, ideal if you want a thicker shot. All three blends are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.