Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator Reviews
Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator
- Stovetop brewer makes 6 2-ounce cups of espresso in just 4 to 5 minutes
- Made of durable polished aluminum in a unique octagon shape
- Flip-up top and side-pour spout provide added convenience
- Wash by hand with warm soapy water and rinse clean; made in Italy
- Measures 4-1/4 by 8 inches
This stovetop moka express is used for making rich, authentic espresso. Made of aluminum, its distinctive 8-sided shape diffuses heat perfectly, releasing a wonderful aroma. To use, simply fill the lower chamber with water and put the ground coffee i
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(out of 297 reviews)
List Price: $ 29.99
Price: $ 24.95
Review by T. Speidel for Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator
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Every family in Italy owns one of these machines. Here are a few tips:
1. In Italy this is NOT called an espresso machine, but a Moka machine. An espresso is what you would drink in bar made with a steam or high pressure machine with the crema on top.
2. Smaller size Moka machine tend to make better coffee.
3. Never wash the Moka with detergents, just rinse it under tap water
4. You’ve gotta use it often for a good coffee.
5. If you haven’t use it in a while, make a weak coffee (“lungo”) and discard
6. DO NOT put the MOka in the dishwasher.
7. Use drinking water. Avoid tap water especially if very chlorinated
8. Never compress the coffee.
9. For a strong coffee fill the filter with ground coffee and make a small cupola that slightly protrudes beyond the rim. Do not press down.
10. For best coffee, heat at very low heat. It’s ok if it takes 10min.
11. As soon as coffee reaches the top, remove from heat
12. Do not let the coffee boil
13. Use good quality coffee, not too strong, medium grind (try Illy for a good commercial brand)
14. Sip while still hot, enjoy!
Review by exiledcal for Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator
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About 12 years ago I was in Milan, and a friend gave me one of these to take home. I have used it nearly every day since (I don’t take it out of town), so that should give you an idea of how sturdy it is. It is the best coffee maker I have ever owned. To compare, I also have a high-tech espresso machine with frother; a state-of-the-art automatic drip coffeemaker; a French Press; and a different style of stovetop maker, which, surprisingly, makes a different brew. But I ALWAYS go back to my Bialetti Moka 6-cup for the best espresso and lattes. You even will get a crema effect with this simple pot. For lattes, I simply fill half a coffee mug with milk, heat it in the microwave until it’s hot, and then top it off with espresso. It’s low-maintenance — every once in a while I replace the internal rubber gasket, which costs a buck or so, depending upon where you buy it. If you like your coffee like the Italians and the Cubans, then you will like the brew this serves. I am loyal to this simple little pot, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Review by Gordon M. Wagner for Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator
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Works great on the stovetop, works great when you’re CAMPING..!!! No plugs, no cords, no nonsense — fill the lower half with water to the indicated mark, put your grounds in the upper basket, join the two halves, wait for it to gurgle and you have EXCEPTIONALLY DELICIOUS espresso the way it ought to be made.The device is simple and beautifully made. I’d recommend the six-cup version, the smaller versions just don’t make very much espresso — I mean, get the six-cup version if there are two of you, since that will make an adequate amount.Really a brilliant product. I wish that everything was so well-designed and robust. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Review by Jonathan A Blevins for Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator
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My wife and I have been spending a pretty penny at the local coffee shop, so I began looking for inexpensive home alternatives. Most of the coffee snobs claim you have to purchase a $200+ machine and $150+ grinder to have a decent cup of espresso. I turned instead to the frugal Italians. They did invent the stuff, afterall. My Bialetti Moka Express coffee pot came this afternoon. I was a little concerned that a $20 pot might not meet the high standards of the gourmet beverages wifey and I have become accustomed to. I was wrong. The brew made by this ingenious little pot is a little weaker than “pumped” espresso and lacks the foamy cap (crema) that all the snobs rave about, but mixed with some hot, frothed milk and a bit of chocolate syrup I couldn’t tell the difference between Bialetti and Seattle’s Best.
This rich brew comes from a tiny little aluminum contraption with no moving parts, no electronic gizmos, no pump handle and virtually no wait time or clean-up. You just fill, brew and pour. It’s that simple. Its base only covers half of the stovetop’s smallest eye and I expect it will be easy to store due to its diminuitive size. I’ve already had three cups of homemade mocha today, and I’ve only had the pot since noon! *jitter jitter* The point is this: If you’re a coffee lover who is bored with Folgers from a Mr. Coffee drip machine or is spending way too much at Starbucks, the Moka pot is an inexpensive and easy-to-use alternative with excellent results.
Review by Sheehan Moore for Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator
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I got my Bialetti 6-cup about a week and a half ago. It took me a while to learn all the tricks of the trade, so I thought I’d piece it together here.
1. Rinse out the pot, preferably with warm water and not with any abrasive cloth.
2. Fill the bottom of the pot with water to the line. If you go over it, the pot might explode. Seriously.
3. Fill the middle filter with ground espresso roast (dark) beans. Grind them a little bit finer then auto drip grind, to about the grain of fine sand. Level off the filter, and put it in the pot.
4. Screw on the top hard. Don’t use the handle to screw it, because it could snap off.
5. My stove goes LO, 1, 2, … 8, 9, HI; I usually set it between 3 and 5. It takes 5-ish minutes to finish. Take it off the stove when you hear it gurgling and sputtering.
Things I’ve learned:
*If it’s going to be mainly you drinking the espresso, consider a 3-cup. I usually make a double cappuccino in the morning, and the rest of my family uses no more than 3 shots total. I stick the left-over in a Tupperware container and refrigerate it (a practice sure to make Italians shudder) to mix with milk and sugar when I come home from work.
*You can open the top to watch the espresso come out, because it is really cool. Just be sure to close it before it starts sputtering, because it goes all over.
*Read an article in a magazine or something while you wait–just don’t wander off, because the time between when it first comes out and when it’s finished is brief.
Moka pots make great ‘espresso,’ plus they’re cheap and quick. From what I’ve gathered, Bialetti’s the best maker. So I definitely recommend this.