loving my stovetop espresso maker

[jesseix]

I'm by no means a coffee connoisseur, but on our recent trip to Italy I tried out the stovetop espresso maker at the agristurismo we stayed at in Tuscany and came back determined to pick one up. Got a 6-cup Bialetti for around $25 and have been digging the morning shots of espresso, lattes, etc. I'd read a number of reviews from people complaining about the cleanup but its really very easy, I'm not sure what the big deal was...
Anybody else enjoy (or not enjoy) these small stovetop units? I think its a great option for the casual coffee drinker who doesn't have the counter space or the budget for a high-end espresso maker, and who doesn't want to buy $4 lattes anymore.

 

[Mick]

I have a couple of them but I have not seen them in years (maybe decades). Now I have to start looking for them again. I recall enjoying the coffee that I got from them but it has been way too long to say much more than that.

 

[martym]

I use the 9 cup model often. It makes a great "shot" in the morning to get going and one "Americano" for work.
you cannot go wrong with this choice.

 

[5t8t2u]

I'd never heard of this before. Just checked Amazon and they have several sizes to choose from. This is now under consideration.

 

[T.Orso]

I got my introduction to these in Cuban Miami, where if you visit someone's house the pot goes on the stove before you have a chance to sit down. Every house had one.

I used one for decades, and I still do on camping trips. Great coffee!

Hint... Find yourself a replacement rubber ring before the old one gives out. That will likely take a few years, so there is no particular rush about it.

 

[Mr Moo]

I've just dug mine out of the cupboard. Been a while since I've used it, but remember the coffee being great. However, I had the bad habit of leaving the dregs in it for a while after using and having to deal with cleaning up mouldy coffee!

Agree with the above about the rubber ring.

Martin

 

[Toirtis]

I have a few friends that love them, and both the local Italian markets have considerable shelf space devoted to them, so they must be worthwhile.

 

[ackvil]

I have two: a Bialetti aluminum model which makes a very strong coffee and a Cuisinox Milano stainless steel model that makes a milder coffee. Love them both.

 

[SiBurning]

I have two: a Bialetti aluminum model which makes a very strong coffee and a Cuisinox Milano stainless steel model that makes a milder coffee. Love them both.

Do you have a theory why the steel one makes milder coffee? Design? Material? Zodiac sign?

Would love to hear more from folks that have a stainless model. I've been considering one forever because I hate using raw aluminum as a cooking surface for anything, but it's hard to match aluminum--where it works well, it works really well. And did I mention...

I love my Bialettit moka pot.

 

[jesseix]

Do you have a theory why the steel one makes milder coffee? Design? Material? Zodiac sign?

Would love to hear more from folks that have a stainless model. I've been considering one forever because I hate using raw aluminum as a cooking surface for anything, but it's hard to match aluminum--where it works well, it works really well. And did I mention...

I love my Bialettit moka pot.

I don't know the answer to this but I could see the stainless steel models maybe not conducting as much heat, and therefore not brewing the espresso with as much pressure as an aluminum unit. Again, I'm a professed coffee neophyte, but my understanding is that the key to good espresso is being brewed with more pressure than regular coffee, so the aluminum units might do that better than stainless.

 

[SiBurning]

Folks must be getting tired of me by now, but I've yet to hear anyone rave about any stainless model, especially people that have tried the classic aluminum model. Still, I'd love to have one that worked well. You gotta have a dream.

 

[Micheal Halliday]

AGreed. AS a minimalist at heart, I have hated teh various espresso machines I ahve owned in the past. I love my stove top espresso pot. My neighbor also swears his little battery operated milk frother does a good job. I may pick one up as I do enjoy a good Latte.

My Italian soffee story: When in Rome working a number of years ago, and going on the Normal 2 HOUR lUNCH BREAK, we would always stop at an coffess shop for some espresso, and they would tell me how americans must not really like the coffee teaste as we make it so watered down, and THEN THEY would put 3 spoonfuls of sugar in the TINY espresso cup.....

 

[SiBurning]

I'd love Italy. Sweet coffee & budino.

 

[Mick]

Would love to hear more from folks that have a stainless model. I've been considering one forever because I hate using raw aluminum as a cooking surface for anything, but it's hard to match aluminum--where it works well, it works really well.

I have been jonesing after a Cuisinox Roma 4 or 6 cup for a long time now. I just can justify spending the $100+ that they cost

http://www.cuisinox.com/products.php?product_id=259

 

[Alacrity59]

The steel pots will work on an induction stove top.

 

[ackvil]

I measured the amount of coffee in the aluminum and SS pots. The SS pot holds about 1/4 of a teaspoon less coffee and that may be the answer. However, in the next few days I will try tamping it down and see if that makes a difference.

The nice thing about the SS one, according to my wife, is that it looks brand new all of the time and does not have the interior water stains that the aluminum one does.

 

[StillShaving]

Besides tamping harder, would reducing the amount of water make a similar difference? Or will that upset the heating/brewing process too much.

 

[jwilock]

For those of you who haven't looked into these in a while be sure to check out the ones with the valve that supposedly makes "crema". I haven't used one of these personally but saw lots of them in stores when we were in Italy.

 

[Mick]

For those of you who haven't looked into these in a while be sure to check out the ones with the valve that supposedly makes "crema". I haven't used one of these personally but saw lots of them in stores when we were in Italy.

Are you talking about the Bialetti Mukka Express Cappuccino Maker ?

 

[ackvil]

Besides tamping harder, would reducing the amount of water make a similar difference? Or will that upset the heating/brewing process too much.

That works, too. In fact, when I want a VERY strong blend I put in enough coffee for 4 cups but water for 2. One other thing, although the coffee is not as strong it also is not bitter.