Bialetti Moka Express 3 Cup Espresso Maker 06799
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Bialetti Moka Express 3 Cup Espresso Maker 06799
Customer Review: Great Valentine's day gift from the gf
Summary: 5 Stars
I had been considering buying a combo espresso/coffee maker, but wasn't sold on the idea because a reliable one that performed well was more than I was willing to pay. I also wasn't sure how often I would be drinking espresso anyway, so it seemed like a potential waste of money, especially if I never used it. I had kind of given up on the idea, and then my girlfriend surprised me with this basic Bialetti pot on Valentine's day. I hated it at first, because the espresso didn't seem nearly as strong as what I was accustomed to getting at coffee shops, but after messing around with it, I think I finally figured it out. Here is what I recommend:
1.Use filtered water all the time, no exceptions. I can see the potential for mineral deposits to ruin this very quickly, so if you have a Brita pitcher or something, use the water from that.
2.Find a good roast, either whole bean or ground, and grind it very fine. This is why I hated it at first, I think it was a combination of a crappy Espresso roast and not being ground finely enough. I started with Private Selection Espresso Roast from Kroger. It wasn't ground finely enough, so I had to grind it again. Better, but not great. Then I tried some of the Sam's Fair Trade Espresso roast from Wal-mart, as I was stuck in WV and had nothing else to use :( It was okay, but not great. Then I stumbled on the Holy Grail at Big Lots. They had 8 oz bags of Bellitalia Espresso for $2.30. I bought a bag, put it through the grinder, then went back and bought 10 more bags. Sorry to go off on a tangent here, but the roast made all the difference in the world, it took a few different tries before I realized it wasn't the pot.
3.BE PATIENT!!! I am very impatient, and turned up the heat against the recommended use directions. It will take a good 25 minutes on a gas range to make a pot of espresso. I have learned to live with it and it doesn't bother me anymore. The difference is night and day.
That's pretty much all I can think of at this point. There are definitely better machines out there that make a great cup of espresso, and I prefer them to this. However, for the small amount of money this pot costs, I highly recommend it. Definitely a good investment if you are on the fence about buying a more expensive espresso machine, especially if you are unsure about how much you will use it. Buy this first, go through a couple of bags of espresso, and then make your decision.
Customer Review: Best way to make coffee at home
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best way to make coffee at home. With no fuss, you get a delicious, strong cup of coffee, almost like espresso, very flavorful and not bitter, watery, or oily. Unlike a drip machine the coffee won't burn. I recommend Cafe Bustelo which you can get in a can, but fresh ground is obviously a little better still. The Bialetti is easy to clean each time-- easier than a french press or a reusable filter. Your coffee is ready in just a couple minutes and the machine is durable and takes up little space-- a great design. The octagonal base makes it easy to unscrew.
This "3-cup" size is a good size if you are making coffee for one, or you can also split it fine among two people. You get about one small teacup's worth, or three espresso shots (though it's not really quite as strong as espresso). The "6-cup" size gives you a full coffee mug, but this -is- very strong coffee so you will get pretty crazy if you drink a whole mug of it-- that's best for two people or three people. The coffee does stay warm for a good while inside the Bialetti though, if you want to have half now and half a little later.
Famously, you do have to remember to keep an eye on it-- it will boil over eventually. But it only takes a couple minutes total, so this isn't hard to do. Just turn the stove off after you hear the percolating sound for a few seconds and it will finish on its own.
The one design flaw is that the plastic handle can melt, a little more each time you use it. The instructions tell you to make sure you set the flame on your gas stove smaller than the base of the Bialetti, and if you aren't careful to always do that this is when the handle will melt from the heat. Too bad the handle couldn't be made of some tougher material. But it will last a couple years or longer if you're careful, and then it's not expensive to replace. It's mostly a cosmetic issue anyway.
You may also need to replace the rubber gasket inside after a year or two, but you'll know when (it's visible when you make the coffee, and will look really dirty and stiff), and it only costs a couple dollars.
Customer Review: Simplicity and perfection
Summary: 5 Stars
Visited Italy last summer and saw this pot on a few stoves, and used it every morning in the apartment I stayed at. I loved it there so immediately bought this upon my return, and it hasn't disappointed.
This little guy pays for itself within a week. That $4 latte you like having every morning? Make it at home. Some tips/thoughts/etc:
1) I only really fully clean this every other week or so. I quickly rinse it out before every use and make sure the threads are clean - if they get gunky, you'll notice some steam coming out during brewing.
2) I had used a grind from the coffee shops 'doser' (the thing they use to grind for espressos), but I like what I do at home a bit better -- it's just a hair more course than the doser. I use a Hario manual hand grinder, btw.
3) I place on medium/high heat. Works with electric or gas. Just make sure the burners aren't too wide for bottom of moka (I use the back, smaller burner).
4) It takes 4-5 minutes. When I see it bubbling, I pop my mug of milk in the microwave for a minute to heat the milk. When that's done, I whip it up into a slight foam using a small electric wand from IKEA ($2 or so).
5) After about 5 minutes, you'll hear the pot bubbling. If you've been watching it brew, you'll want to put the lid down before this point, as it will spew over your stove top.
6) add it to your milk. This makes about what is a double-shot here in the states.
7) last thing: stay away from pre-ground stuff from the grocery store. Either have your shop grind it or buy a grinder and do it at home. I have noticed a huge difference in taste.
I got this for a friend who had just received a $300 espresso machine. Guess which one he uses every morning. :) Yup, this one.
[NOTE: this is the review for the 3-cup version]
Customer Review: Wonderful coffee, BUT
Summary: 2 Stars
I have bought TWO of the 12 cup versions and I have never had better coffee. But,the cheesy aluminum handle has broken off of both pots, and not through abuse, just through normal use, and it is NOT the plastic handle which can be replaced that breaks, it is the aluminum mounting bracket for the handle, and short of finding a tiny little elf that can weld aluminum, there is no fix for the fracture. The coffee is so good that I am tempted to buy a third anyway, but I am going to shop around a bit and see if any other manufacturers offer more sturdy construction. I believe the breakage is caused by a built in design flaw that attaches the handle too high on the pot and in only one point of contact so that the connection point can also be used for attaching the lid. This saves a little bit of materials and complication in the manufacturing process, but it is a real bummer when the handles keep falling off.Customer Review: If you care about the originality and quality of your coffee, this is for you.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was about buying a fancy single-cup espresso machin (Tassimo), byt fund out about the Moka Express. This is how millions of people have been brewing their espresso for many years and the coffee taste just as good as any fancy machin. There is a lot to experience with this little espresso maker, you can learn as you brew and the outcome is never bad. I spend 25$ on this plus 1.99$ on a little IKEa milk frother and now I make all those starbucks fancy coffees at home. Believe me, joy of brewing your coffee at home, with a little money, is not comparable with anything that you buy from coffee houses.
Make sure you get the right size of this coffee pot. This will not make large mug of coffee like what you get from filter coffee makers. With a 3-cup Bialetti, you get enough coffee for 2 espresso shots, or two lattes, if you added milk.