Bialetti Moka Express Caffettiera in Alluminio, 6 Cups, Acciaio Inossidabile, Argento,270 milliliters, Silver

I am moved to write a review of the Bialetti Moka Express 6 cup expresso maker as I don't recognise the comments from some of the poor reviews it has received. Overall the 210 5* ratings out of a total to date of 258 should speak for themselves and be enough of a recommendation. Follow the instructions that come with the Moka or that are available online and you should fine. I purchased this item new from Amazon in Feb 2009 and have used it multiple times a day since. I also have a second one which I keep at work. Both perform perfectly every time without fail and also spare parts are easily available. In all the time I have used the Mokas I have only needed to replace the rubber seal twice. I have never had a handle break but when assembling the two chambers together ensure that you do not use the handle as a lever because then it probably will fail. An important point to note is that the Moka is made from aluminium which may oxidise rather than rust if not taken care of properly. Wash it only using hot water and never use detergent. Dry it with a paper towel and ensure it is completely dry before putting it away unassembled. The Moka does not need to be on a red hot stove to boil with a low to medium heay should be sufficient. The Moka will improve over the years with age and use. Prove it prior to first use by brewing at least 3 times and throwing the coffee away. If your one has oxidised it may be rescued with water and vinegar but will need to be proved again before use. It is an expresso maker first and foremost so when cup size is stated it is refering to the little single expresso cups. The 6 cup size is suitable for one single average sized mug of americano style for which I use one heaped tablespoon of coffee. Again it is an expresso maker so use coffee ground for expresso use only however please note that it does not produce a crema. It is very important not to overfill with water or leave on the stove for too long. If the coffee boils then it will taste burnt and bitter. Also ensure no coffee grounds are caught between the rubber seal and the lower chamber. You will get to know when the coffee is ready by sound and smell. As soon as the Moka starts to burble and spit it is ready to come off of the stove. Wait for a few seconds to let it settle down and then pour for the perfect coffe. I am a big, big fan of this little coffee maker for its simple design, ease of use, longevity, availability of spare parts and for the fantastic coffee it produces.

Always good quality and reliable. It was a gift and the recipient was delighted with it.

A great Moka coffee machine. Only made a couple of coffees so far but really impressed with it. I made a perfect cappuccino today so I’m very happy.. Item comes in three parts. The base where you add the water, the middle where you add the ground coffee and the top where the coffee collects through the valve as it’s heated. A simple device but classic design.

[UPDATE 26/1/17] Still love this. Used at least once a day (usually twice) since purchase. In addition to review below I'd add that in contrast to the copy we had before this is a little more tricky to get the threads lined up but once you have it screws on much more easily and a lot less force is needed to get it to seal well. It's possible this is to do with the age of the seal but we did replace seals on the old one and I don't think it ever sealed this well/easily.[UPDATE ENDS] We had a no-name knock-off one of these for years which we've grown to love - it's travelled everywhere with us and used all the time. That one lost a part so has been retired. We already had a larger size Bialetti which is nice but not used as much. So we went original this time round. We use this almost every day (sometimes more than once a day). It's even better than our much loved fake one as it has a very slightly larger capacity, is slightly more chunky and has a better spout which doesn't drip. I still think the handle could be marginally improved as it moves slightly which lessens the sensation of quality - but that's nit-picking. Works well, makes great coffee. We couple this with a cafetiere for frothing microwaved milk. Tips if you're new to these: 1. If you're grinding beans yourself, go to the finest setting and then back off a little - you don't want the very finest grind. 2. This has no measuring line that we can see in the water chamber - we fill to just below the pressure valve (or less). I’ve read a tip that it’s worth heating the water in a kettle first. This means that the coffee will come through before the heat has a chance to burn the coffee in the holder (not sure if this is true or not). 3. Only compress the coffee in the holder very lightly - don't compress it hard (this is advice we've read although in fairness I did used to compress it more in the old pot and didn't hit issues for a long time) 4. Use on a low to moderate heat (lower is better). If on gas, the flame shouldn't lick up the sides of the pot. 5. Keep an eye on it and turn off the heat just before the water as all come through - will need a couple of tries to get the hang. It keeps coming through after you turn the heat off because of heat stored in the metal. 6. Ensure lid is closed before it finishes or it will splutter coffee all over your cooker :-) The coffee holder is hard to clean but running water through from both directions and using a normal dish brush on the perforated disc will remove most of any coffee stuck in the bit you can’t see. If you want to froth milk... 1. For a full pot of coffee for two large mugs, we use 400ml of semi-skimmed (semi seems to work better than full fat) in a microwaveable jug 2. Heat for 2 mins (we have a microwave which is rated at 1000w but in practice is not that powerful - probably 850??) as soon as you put the coffee on. 3. Once the coffee starts coming through, heat the milk for a further 1:30 (experiment to get it how you like in your microwave - too hot ruins it IMHO) 4. Pour the coffee out between the mugs (a little into each at a time rather than all in one and then the other - the coffee can be different strengths in the pot as it comes through differently and may not have completely mixed). 5. Pour all the milk quickly but carefully into your cafetiere (quickly so that any skins goes with it rather than staying in the jug where its a pain to clean). 6. Insert the plunger and turn around so that the mesh is away from the spout (some have a blank piece on the opposite side to the mesh - ideal, otherwise use just the edge of the mesh part which usually blocks off the spout). 7. Froth by using the plunger up and down. 8. Push plunger in and turn around so that the mesh is at the spout. Pour most of the liquid milk into the mugs. 9. Either - froth the remainder some more and then pour out or, remove the plunger and pour straight away holding back the froth with a spoon at the spout, then spoon the foam on top. Experiment depending on how much froth to milk you want. 10. For chocolate sprinkles, get a shaker (supermarket kitchen sections sometimes have these) and put in one teaspoon of icing sugar to six parts cocoa powder (or just use drinking chocolate powder unmixed if you prefer). Swirl in the shaker to mix. My coffee addiction is calling - I'm off to use my Bialetti.

Cafeteira de inox, bonita, prática e eficiente.

Looks great in pictures but roughly cut/built. It spills water at the seem and the bottom reservoir is very coarsely machined, such that it makes washing any residue very difficult, getting burnt in the end.

Nice coffee. Should be at everyone's household

Perfect brew capacity for 2 people or 1 person who likes two strong lattes throughout the day (me). Easy to use, timeless Italian design and quality. This is one of those products you know will last you a lifetime, it's just up to you to use it. The coffee quality out of this maker is FANTASTIC. Almost espresso like, but certainly a higher water to coffee ratio. Perfect straight, with a little sugar, and most milk based coffee drinks. For true beginners, the coffee quality may take a little time to dial in unless you've done some research. I use mine on a gas stove, which is ideal for quickly adjusting temperatures during brewing. But an electric stove will also work. From start to pour, it takes about 20 minutes, if starting with cold water, to make coffee with this 6 cup Moka. Perfect for those seeking a slower coffee ritual with excellent coffee quality, durability, simplicity, and sustainability.

L'indispensable et indémodable cafetière italienne Impossible de vivre sans