Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker
Customer Review: Simply Superb
Summary: 5 Stars
This `Bialetti Moka Express Espresso Maker' is a great item to make the best cup of coffee you can possibly make in the home. This larger 6 cup design is great for when you have guests or for when you want a really big caffeine kick. I bought my wife the 3 cup version and she was so pleased she went out and immediately bought this one too, a good recommendation if ever I saw one! The design is basically the same between the two but the size is different. My wife is quite a connoisseur when it comes to coffee and she said it is easily the best homemade coffee she has tasted and that is even after trying various machines with bells and whistles and a simple cafetiere as well. Bialetti is a very well known brand in Italy and I chose this particular Espresso maker as I knew spare parts would be easy to find should I need to replace any part of it. This is extremely easy to use and comes with instructions in a variety of languages. This is also easy to clean which is an important factor in choosing a coffee maker, a quick rinse under the tap and you are basically good to go. I would recommend you use slightly coarser ground coffee in this, rather than the fine ground coffee you usually use in hand press cafetieres, and if you really want to create the best possible coffee at home then you could invest in a home coffee grinder to get a really fresh cup of coffee. This is a classic design and looks great in any kitchen (and the taste is so good and it is so easy to use, that you often see the smaller 3 cup maker being used at campsites on the continent as well!) and the coffee you can make should leave even the most exacting coffee connoisseur satisfied. Well worth a try.Customer Review: Great Coffee with Some Hassle
Summary: 4 Stars
First off - I am using my Bialetti to make coffee, not espresso, with quality beans. So here's my take -
Coffee from the Bialetti is amazing - you have no idea what your missing until you try it. Flavorful, aromatic, topped with a delicious sheen of natural oils - each cup is a pleasure. You could never make coffee like this w/ a drip machine. But this maker is not exactly "hassle free".
Pros -
1. Great Coffee
2. Quick
3. No filters to buy
Cons -
1. A few grounds in the bottom of every pot (not much, but still ...).
2. Cleaning can be a little messy - the filter can be a pain to remove and coffee residue clings in the groves of top cannister.
3. Too small - I know, 6 espresso cups (duh), but I thought I could get at least 2 small coffee cups from it. Not so.
And I happen to have a very particular problem; I have a ceramic top stove. The bottom of the Bialetti covers maybe 2/3 of the smallest burner - which is a BIG no-no (could crack/warp/etc. the top), so I constantly worry about my stove. It's not really the fault of the pot but with the popularity of this type of stove, I can't be the only one with the issue.
In the end I'll be buying the 12 cup - so I don't have to make 2 pots for 2 people's morning coffee, and so I can breathe easy about my stove.
But I would go with the Bialetti over anything else out there - sometimes low (or no) tech is the way to go. The proof is in the coffee.
Customer Review: Simple. Consistent. Tasty. Bialetti.
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Customer Review: Excellent taste Sub Par Quality
Summary: 4 Stars
I struggled over the amount of stars to give this little Bialetti. I love it. It makes the best expresso at home and is right in line with the taste of those you would get at Starbucks etc. It's extremely easy to use and you can even make yourself normal coffee eliminating the need for an electric pot. I purchased the 6 cup maker as I am the only one in the house who drinks coffee. It was perfect for me to have just one cup in the morning. My only complaint is the quality of the material used to construct it. This is more at fault on my part for not reading into it any better but it is not a stainless steel pot. I don't know what the material is but it feels extremely cheap. The price is very reasonable which may be the reason the materials aren't any better. The top part of the maker which is the pot is an almost flimsy, plastic arcylic like material that is only covered in a silver like finish. The finish has gotten water stains on it. I have only handwashed it. I haven't cleaned it straight away after using it but even the inside has gotten water stains and coffee stains. I fear dropping it would break it for sure. Some may not be bothered by these things but I am somewhat of a quality freak and I like my "things" to look and feel of good quality. I am on the hunt now for this same type of maker in true stainless steel. So if I could rate it differently I would give the taste of the coffee, ease of use and price 5 stars. Quality of the maker 1 star.Customer Review: LOVE my Bialetti!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had been debating whether or not to purchase this little coffee pot, as I wasn't really sure if my husband & I would use it very often, or if we would really like the coffee that it produced, as I knew that it was strong. But I finally decided to get one after reading other reviews & I am SO happy that I did! Before it even came, I bought a medium-bodied coffee & had it ground as for espresso. I also asked an Italian friend of mine how much coffee she used, & pared it back from there, only filling the basket to the top. Also, only fill the bottom with water to the line, & be sure to tighten the top on well (but don't use the handle to tighten or it could break!!). She also cautioned me not to set the heat too high (I have a gas stove, so the flames should come only to the edge of the Moka Pot). Pay attention when the coffee is heating, & when you hear it gurgle, it's done! Now here's where we may differ from everyone else....My husband & I use the Moka Pot coffee as a 'base' for a large cup, adding plain hot water to fill the cup the rest of the way, so one pot makes 3 large cups of coffee for us, & they're still very strong cups at that, & SO delicious! I read many reviews here that said not to use soap to clean the Moka Pot as it will change the taste of the coffee, so I haven't, just rinsed it well after each use & dried it with a paper towel. I hope this helps anyone thinking of buying this neat little pot. We're thinking of getting a bigger one!