Customer Reviews

Bialetti Moka Express Espresso Maker, 6 Cup

This is a very well made traditional espresso maker. It's solid, fits well together, and the handle is comfortable. The thick base to the water reservoir part means it doesn't heat up *too* fast over a gas flame, though if you are using gas, make sure you don't let the flames lick up the side of the machine.

Now, for the quality of the espresso it makes. I must admit I was disappointed with this at first - I had been used to a high pressure espresso machine which made thick creamy espresso. At first when using this maker I followed the instructions exactly - not 'tamping down' the coffee and not grinding it too fine. This made a fairly weak espresso. In fact the 6 cup amount made me two good longish coffees, still an improvement in taste over my cafetiere coffee.

To achieve a better espresso I got advice from my Italian and Greek friends. They grew up with these machines, and told me to grind the coffee slightly finer than instructed, and to tamp it down gently (not too hard or you block the holes.) This made me the rich espresso I wanted.

Lastly, about these coffee makers, take them off the heat a little before all the water in the bottom evaporates (also a knack to learn when this is!) You avoid the bitter-end-coffee, and you make sure you're not going to leave the machine to dry out over the heat and possibly get damaged.

You may be interested in quantity - everyone's idea of 'cup' is different. I imagine the 'cup' here is a very short espresso as I usually get about 4 espresso measures out, i.e. 2 double espresso. If I'm using it to make longer coffee, it make me two mugs. It'd be a perfect size if there were two coffee drinkers in your house. For one (like me) it leaves spare for the next day. (I don't reheat the coffee, just add it cold to very hot milk/water, this works well for me.) If you don't want that, or wastage, and are sure you won't want to make coffee for more than 1 person ever, try the 3 cup model.

In all I'm very glad I bought it, and would recommend it to anyone, it just takes a little experimenting to get your coffee how you like it. But even if you're used to espresso from an expensive machine, you should be able to adjust this to get something to satisfy you. In particular, this is an excellent brand, the maker is very well made.

being from italy, I feel entitled to give some advice on coffee making:

1) the moka machine is THE italian way of home coffee brewing; espresso electric machines are beginning to spread, but the "caffettiera" is how we italians typically make coffee.
2) bialetti is commonly known as the best brand on the market.
3) don't heap the coffee too much in the funnel, it should be just a little over the brim of the funnel; leave it fairly loose and above all DON'T press it down.
4) screw tight the top chamber, and always make sure the gum sealing ring is in good conditions - change it 2 or 3 times a year, or when you see it dry and/or cracked.
3) put the caffettiera on LOW heat.
4) turn off the heat when you see the coffee's filled the top chamber and, above all, when you hear the coffee *just begin to gurgle* in the top chamber. that's the sign the coffee's ready.
5) before pouring the coffee, stir it gently; actually, i don't know if it's only a legend, but it seems the first coffee out is the stronger, the last out the milder, so stirring it should produce an even mix. anyway, in italy we always stir it before pouring!
that's that!
p.s. - not an italian use, but once in a while i add to the coffee grounds in the funnel just the tip of a spoon of cinnamon, or two o three grains of cardamon, or even a dash of szechuan pepper - nice result; you can experiment with your own spiced coffee ...

If you love coffee, you'll love this!
We also have a cafatiere for more run of the mill coffee, but if you like espresso or making mocha essoressos etc, this is a must have.
You just fill the bottom section with water, pop the coffee in the filter section, screw the top on and place it on the hob. It takes about three minutes or so to percolate.
Very handy size for camping as well, or even just a day out on a drive :)
Very sturdy, quality product which will likely last for years, the only downside is that on reflection, I should have gone for the six-cup model (I drink entirely too much coffee!).

Being of Italian ancestry and growing up in South America, I remember having one of those around the house since ever. My nonna had one for 40+ years, the only damage was a broken handle (and of course you must replace the rubber rings when they wear out), so they are excellent quality. Having seen, and being fascinated as a kid with the coffee spluttering out, it being used nearly everyday during my childhood and teen years I knew exactly how to use it and it makes the "real" coffee I'm used to. It's nearly fool proof after you learn the water/coffee rate - use an espresso cup to measure the water he first few times, and put more/less coffee according to the number of cups and strength you prefer, you don't need to fill the filter to the brim all the time, only if you like extremely strong coffee or making the full 6 cups (I use 3/4 tank of water, 1/2 full filter of strength 5 coffee for a large mug of coffee/latte). Use filtered/mineral water if possible, a decent quality coffee, put on a medium heat and take a bit of time as it's not as quick as other machines, but the taste it's completely different, much richer, and very very hot. Remember to rinse (just rinse, no washing up liquid, use paper towels to dry/wipe any residues) and fully dry the machine when it's cooled down and should last you for generations.

Having made coffee in a cafetiere for years, I thought I'd try out one of these Bialetti espresso makers.

But the first question was: what size? 1, 2, 3 cups...? I took pot luck (no pun intended!) and selected this "6 cup" Moka Express. I'm not sure about Bialetti's cup sizes but filling the water tank to the 'maximum' mark produces enough coffee for one standard coffee mug and about three of the little Pantone Colour Match Espresso Cups and Saucer in Coffee Colours, Set of 4.

The product appears well made and of suitably high quality. You can buy spare parts which is always a good sign (filters, seals and handles) that a product is expected to be with you for years to come.

Obviously what the coffee actually tastes like is more a factor of coffee bean choice, but this does improve the flavour of my coffee relative to the cafetiere method - and it looks pretty cool too!

I bought one of these last year when they were reduced to �10. Best tenner I ever spent at Amazon. Makes great espresso for home made lattes etc. Its a great way to kick start the day on those sleepy winter monrings. One thing to bear in mind is that it gets very hot (burny, burny hot!) and I've made a mark on my kitchen surface by putting it down straight from the hob. Beware!

Ok, ok it's not Espresso because it operates with 1.5 bars of pressure and an Espresso machine works at 9 bars. Well, the more expensive and higher up in the range Espresso machines do. But what the pundits are not telling us is that up until 1948 that pressure was the only Espresso there was which was why the Moka pot was Espresso for the home. So while it's not on a par with modern Espresso machines it's still Espresso as it originally was.

On to the 3-cup Bialetti Moka Express: Fill the bottom section with cold water up to just below the valve, drop in the funnel and loosely fill it with ground coffee ensuring it's level and there are no grounds on the rim and then screw on the top section and place it over a low heat. When it gurgles the coffee is done so remove it from the heat. That's all it takes to make very high quality coffee.

Some people will say to fill it with hot or even boiling water. But if you do that you'll first of all burn your hand because it will get hot. Secondly you won't get a full pot of coffee because a lot of the water will uncondense and flow back into the lower chamber. A moka pot works best when started with cold water over a low heat.

Again some people say to adjust the strength of the coffee by adjusting the amount of coffee while others complain that it doesn't make full cups: No, no, no. The funnel is still filled and the strength is adjusted by diluting the finished coffee with water for an Americano or milk for a Cappuccino or Latte. Remember what I said at the beginning: It's Espresso so what you get is Espresso shots, in fact 3 of them in the 3-cup size and what we usually but not always do with Espresso shots is dilute them. If the coffee is too strong after dilution we use a lighter roast coffee and if it's too weak we use a darker roast coffee.

Lastly the quantity of coffee of the 3-cup size: The bottom chamber is filled to just below the valve with cold water and thats around 150ml. What you end up with in the top pot is around 120ml of coffee because some water is left in the bottom chamber due to steam getting cooler and turning back into water. When the coffee is diluted with water 1:1 there is enough to fill a regular mug but you might like to dilute it 1:2. What that gives you is an "Americano" which is basically one or more Espresso shots turned into a weaker coffee we more usually get from a Cafetiere, Filter or Percolator. For a Capuccino or Latte the dilution is more usually 1:2 or even 1:3. But in that case don't forget your Bialetti Tuttocrema Frother.

In conclusion my rating is of course 5 stars. If I could give it 10, 20 or even 100 stars that's what I would give it and more. It's an Italian classic first made in the 1930's and the first of its kind. If you want the latest do everything miracle or fad you won't like this. But if you just want the best coffee you ever tasted you'll love it.

I bought this for my husband for his birthday, he runs a mobile coffee franchise in Leeds and we already have a small Gaggia for our small kitchen. He has always wanted to try the stove top!!
It is easy to use and produces strong espresso coffee and it is quick and convenient to use. I would suggest that you buy a 6 cup as this produces enough for 2 big cups/6 espresso cups. Easy to clean. What more can I say!

Bialetti is one of the best coffee maker manufacturer in Italy. I have used it since I was borne (I am Italian!). I find the three cup one to suit me best.....I usually have a bit more than one cup in the morning and it leaves me just enough for a caffe latte when I get back from work! The only down side is that it can accumulate scale if you live in area with hard water. Over all.......I could not live without it!

Cheaper than in the shops (generally you pay upwards of 20 quid). Arrived quickly. Does the job. You can never really go wrong with a Bialetti - they're essentially THE only espresso maker! Just don't pack the coffee down too much, don't fill the water higher than the valve, do it up nice and tight, heat it up as slowly as you have the patience for, and rinse afterwards with water only.