Espresso Doppio Inflate and Repair Cartridge - Review

Aug 18, 2014
by Richard Cunningham  
Pinkbike Product Picks

Effetto Mariposa Doppio Espresso inflation and sealing cannister 2014

Effetto Mariposa's Espresso Doppio sealing tube pushes or threads onto a Presta valve. At peak pressure, foam will escape around the stem unless the tube is secured tightly with your fingers.



Effetto Mariposa's Espresso Doppio is a 125 ML aerosol tire inflation device that contains the Italian accessory maker's well reviewed latex-based Caffelatex liquid sealant. Effetto Mariposa launched the double-sized inflator in response to the popularity of its 75ML Espresso inflator that was designed for road bike tires. The lightweight aluminum canister is charged with propane gas, which liquefies under pressure and thus increases the volume available, which is necessary to fully inflate all-mountain or DH-width tires. Cantitoe Road, the North American distributor of Effetto Mariposa products, says that the smaller particle sizes used in the Espresso Doppio's sealant are designed to pass through a Presta valve mechanism, and yet will assist the latex solution to seal holes up to five millimeters. They also warned that the chemical makeup of the Caffelatex sealant will coagulate with existing Stan's fluid inside the tire and form a hard rubber blob unless the combined fluids are not washed out of the casing, post ride. The Doppio's gas charge is intended to fully inflate one 2.35-inch 29er mountain bike tire to race pressure, which is roughly two bar, or 30 PSI. The simple flexible tube is designed to grip Presta valves tightly enough to afford a good seal and a push-button valve, protected from accidental release by a break-off plastic cap, controls the delivery of gas and juice. MSRP is $17.95 USD.
Cantitoe Road

Effetto Mariposa Doppio Espresso inflation and sealing cannister 2014

Espresso Doppio inflate and repair cartridges are small and light. The safety cap means that it can be stashed in hydration pack or a jersey pocket with assurance that it will not spew on other contents. Three small nails were used to emulate multiple punctures such as those inflicted by agave plants. The foaming action of the Doppio's Cafelatex sealing fluid is reported to keep the liquid in contact with the tire or tube to seal punctures more quickly.



Pinkbike's Take:
bigquotesThe Espresso Doppio passed the three tests we require from all inflation and sealing devices with different degrees of success. They must reliably dock on the valve stem and inflate at tubeless or tube-type tire without leaking to full pressure. The Doppio passed the first trial with a very good, but imperfect score - inflating a 29 x 2.25-inch tire to 32psi with enough gas volume in reserve to belch sealant and gas past two 3-millimeter holes for ten or twenty seconds while the stuff was sorting out a plug. The sealing tube could not withstand the pressure and began to hiss foamy sealing gunk past the valve stem as pressure neared 1.5 bar (about 22psi). Finger pressure kept the gas and fluid from escaping further.

The second test, whether the sealant can quickly and successfully plug realistic-sized punctures, was passed with an average score. I drove three nails into a tubeless tire, each slightly under 3 millimeters in diameter. When one was extracted, Espresso Doppio easily plugged it with a loss in pressure from 32psi to 30psi. Pulling the second nail reduced the tire pressure to 25 psi and the time-to-seal was about double that of the first puncture. Pulling the third nail almost put the Doppio out of business, as it appeared that there was not enough sealant remaining in the tire to plug the last puncture. After some drooling, bubbling and hissing, the tire stopped hemorrhaging gas at 17psi - which is still enough pressure to ride out of the mountains or finish a race lap if the rider is careful.

The third trial is whether or not the seal is permanent and reliable, and in this case I would say a qualified, 'yes.' After the third hole was plugged, I attempted to re-pressure the tire to 30 psi, which is my typical setup. Two out of the three punctures re-opened and did not reseal until the tire pressure returned to 20psi. A day later, I re-inflated the tire to full pressure and it remained sealed to present. The bottom line is that Espresso Doppio would be perfect for tubeless competitors who have suffered a burp or a minor puncture and need to get a tire sealed and up to racing pressure in a hurry. Similarly, gravity riders who typically don't carry tools or a pump, could tape a Doppio to a frame tube, where it would be a tool-less fix for a burp or a puncture. For trail riders who carry spares and are not pressed for time, however, the 18-dollar price of the Espresso Doppio could buy a tube, with plenty left for a post-ride beer or burrito, and the fix would be more reliable. - RC


Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

45 Comments
  • 30 0
 the perfect birthday gift for that drunk uncle that's always trying to ride his bike thru the hardware store.
  • 11 8
 he must be a good drunk if he can ride a bike throw a store, good for him Smile
  • 26 1
 I wonder how long it took them to formulate this stuff so that you can't use it with Stan's.
  • 7 1
 "The lightweight aluminum canister is charged with propane gas, which liquefies under pressure and thus increases the volume available"

So just like any other gas then.
  • 2 0
 I don't think Co2 liquefies - except for a millisecond before it becomes a rock. The excessive pressure that Co2 cartriges require would make a large volume can foolishly heavy and, perhaps, dangerous to use. Propane gas is used because it is cheap and it liquifies at a safer, lower pressure than inert options like nitrogen or helium.
  • 2 0
 Aye I think you are right about CO2 - sublimation IIRC. In fact out of curiosity I just googled this and you could use butane instead at a lower pressure than propane - but if it was a cold day (below zero) it wouldn't come out under pressure.
  • 2 1
 Carrying round a canister of PROPANE? Seriously? What could possibly go wrong? Not one for smokers... Or airlines. Or near campfires. Or anywhere very hot.
  • 2 0
 @Captainian guess you don't use deoderant then? They use propane as a propellant.
  • 3 0
 I tend not to release a whole can of deodorant in one shot via a quarter inch hose, nor anywhere outside my bathroom. But point taken...
Switching to roll-on Wink
  • 11 7
 They started out talking about AM and DH tires..... then throw out a skinny 29er number. You think I passed calculous bro? What's the deal? This gonna fill up my 2.6 Wild Grip'rs or what??
  • 7 1
 It easily fills 2.4 inch 26er tires to the same pressure, I'm sure it can handle a 2.6
  • 37 3
 Plus you're probabaly the only person on the planet running 2.6 Michelin tires...
  • 3 1
 Well no, i use to run michelin DH 32 2.8 up front. Now they're just called the wildgrip'rs DH . So that makes 2 ! Its the same tire, even the size. I was comparing with the muddy mary's of a friend, and the 2.5 schwalbe is bigger than my 2.8 lol.
  • 8 0
 That's normal because only Schwalbe uses correct width numbers. Other companies are trying to sell their tires by using impressing numbers, which are just not correct. Purpose is to make their tires looks lighter, I suppose.
  • 4 0
 The Michelin DH32 2.8 and the newer 2.6 are the same design but the 2.8 is slightly bigger. I used to run the 2.6 when I rode mainly rocky terrain. It's an excellent tire. And the 2.6 michelin is bigger than the 2.5 muddy mary at least on my 42mm front rim. Both use correct width numbers unlike Maxxis...
  • 2 0
 to be fair, the newer 2.4 & 2.25 Maxxis sizes are much closer to their metric size than the old 2.35 & 2.5 sizes were, they're just phasing it in on new models(tire molds are expensive.) They've always printed the metric size on the sidewall too, which I can't say for some manufacturers.
  • 1 0
 Yeah true my highroller II 2.4 is a real 2.4.
  • 8 0
 Soooo fixaflat?
  • 4 2
 I recently tested inner tubes sealants OKO Puncture Free and X-treme and both works great. They're not spray cans but every one have pump right Wink

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCCsQ847Ci8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_ysDU8lq3s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzx9DTYmzHs
  • 3 0
 I'm struggling to understand why anyone would prefer carrying a tin can with them to fix a puncture, when they could just put stan's in their tyres and not get a puncture in the first place. Am I missing something here??
  • 1 0
 I tried this stuff once and received a rather large white foamy face shot when the little tube thingy slipped off of the presta valve (and didn't even get a kiss first). I had to resort to my trusty spare tube to get me home. Stan's, mini pump/CO2, and a tube are now my back-ups of choice.
  • 3 0
 And now your tires are flammable. Don't forget propane is heavier than air.
  • 4 0
 I've always only needed Stan's. It has never failed me. Pass.
  • 2 0
 I could hang out at Whistler half way down the mountain and sell these at 20$ a pop to every twit that does not bring a pump and tube with them.
  • 3 0
 ESPRESSO DOPIO INFLATE! That sounds like something i need, not my bike
  • 1 0
 they make pills for that, y'know Wink
  • 1 0
 You need it only if: you run tubeless and you used epoxy to permanently attach the presta stem to the rim. Is it a creative scenario or what?
  • 1 0
 Any comparison or experience with Geax Pitstop TNT? Sort of the same thing/ similar approach.
  • 2 0
 Propane?! How long to cook post-ride burger with that?
  • 1 0
 I assume he's trolling all of the people who proped up the comment in the demo comparison article....
  • 1 0
 Ment to comment this on something stupid phone...
  • 2 0
 Double-sized eh ? ... 2 x 75ml is how much ? :o)
  • 1 0
 30 PSI normally? You don't look that big.
  • 1 0
 @loosta
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