Loch Capsule Solo Dishwasher
A Tiny Tub of Sorcery for Home, Camper Vans & Muddy 4x4 Adventures
I’ll be honest with you from the off: I’ve never used a dishwasher before. Not once. Never pressed a button, never loaded one, never emptied one. I’ve always assumed dishwashers were for people who owned matching plates, and didn’t consider a spoon “clean enough” once it’s been licked. But then along came the Loch Capsule Solo, a dinky little-ish countertop contraption that promises sparkling dishes anywhere - at home, in a camper van, or even out the back of a 4x4 in the middle of a field.
When I received the email asking if I wanted to try one, naturally, I said yes. And thanks to my faithful EcoFlow Delta 2 Max, I could give it a proper off-grid trial by gravy.
What Is the Loch Capsule Solo?
In short, it’s a portable, self-contained dishwasher small enough to live on a counter, in a van, or in the boot next to a sleeping bag and a questionable leftover pasty. It has its own external water tanks, plugs into mains or a decent power station, and promises a full wash cycle using the minimum amount of water.
Despite being only 26cm wide, don’t be fooled by Capsule’s small footprint: It’s the only dishwasher in its category that fits large frying pans up to 30cm wide wide and will wash up to 25 items, or 35 items by using the Dual Tray accessory that’s sold separately. That makes it ideal for everything from everyday plates and bowls to those stubborn, grease-covered pans no one wants to wash by hand.
Most countertop dishwashers use internal plastic tubs. Capsule is built with a stainless steel interior, and not just because it looks great, but because it performs better.
Unlike traditional dishwashers, Capsule doesn’t require a complicated installation or permanent plumbing - though kits are available. It's ready right out of the box: Fill its external water tank with 4-litres of water, place it on your countertop, put the end of the drain hose in your sink (or get another tank and drain into it), and press Start.
Weighing in at just 12kg, it goes wherever you do, except down the pub - that would be weird, and its built-in handle makes it easy to carry.
Ease of Use – Even a Dishwasher Virgin Can Do It
Given my dishwasher virginity, I approached the Capsule Solo with the same nervous energy as a teenager on prom night. Fortunately, it turned out to be a remarkably straightforward affair.
Attach both inlet and outlet hoses to the unit.
Fill the transparent external water tank (4-ltr), and attach the inlet hose.
If you’re using the Capsule next to a sink, position the outlet hose into said sink, or into another water tank.
Load the Capsule and chuck in a dishwasher tab.
Choose a cycle, hit start, step away smugly as if you’ve conquered adulthood.
As I mentioned, the great thing is that it uses hardly any water. I’m convinced it’s powered by witchcraft. It sips water like a dehydrated sparrow and still leaves things cleaner than I ever could with a sponge and a bad attitude.
Running it off the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max was flawless. Even the longer cycles barely tickled the battery levels. If your 4x4 setup includes a power station, you're laughing.
Performance – Small Washer, Big (and Shiny) Results
Despite its tiny footprint, the Capsule Solo doesn’t mess about. Cups, bowls, utensils, and plates all emerged gleaming, even after being abused by my camping chilli that could strip paint.
The quick cycle is ideal for campsite pottering, while the eco cycle keeps you feeling virtuous. The intensive mode surprised me by handling some criminally neglected, fully welded Alpen from home testing.
Amongst other modes there’s also Fruit/Veg Wash programme that’s designed to help remove pesticides and surface contaminants from your fresh produce. This entails an 8-minute cycle that gives fruit and vegetables a thorough rinse. Opt for the posh version, simply named the Capsule, and there is also a 12-minute cycle that adds UV light for extra sanitisation.
Noise levels are surprisingly low; it hums and gurgles a bit, naturally, but it’s not excessive.
And the drying function? Magic. Everything comes out bone dry, ready to put away or immediately dirty again with your next brew.
Real-World Outdoor Testing – The Fun Bit
Out the back of the 4x4, the Capsule Solo feels oddly natural, like a tiny kitchen butler perched on the tailgate. On muddy weekends away, it became a campsite talking point ("Er, is that a dishwasher?") and a genuinely helpful bit of kit.
Final Verdict
For someone who has spent decades washing dishes by hand - consistently badly as Muddy Madam often tells me, the Loch Capsule Solo has been a revelation. It’s genuinely useful at home, brilliant in a camper van, and oddly charming when perched on the tailgate of a muddy 4x4. It’s a cracking little unit that delivers far more convenience than its footprint suggests.
Website: Loch Electronics
Price: from £349.99