Skip to main content
Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2018
Having purchased, or received as gifts, several moka pots over the years, I finally bought a Bialetti. Seeing them in "mart" stores they were always overpriced, but the price here on Amazon was perfect. I was also able to get a genuine Italian one and not some outsourced version. After doing some reading, genuine Bialetti is made in Italy...nowhere else. The "three-cup" version is perfect as my daily morning dose.
Regarding function, when compared to others I have owned. The handle is sturdier, this was the reason for replacing my older one which had the handle break off. The handle on this model is longer towards the body and made of a different composite. My old one lasted about 2-years and the handle just fell off one morning while preparing coffee. Just glad it wasn't full of hot coffee!
The pour is smooth, no slow pouring off an inferior molded lip. Since I drink 3-shots every morning, I don't want to sit and pour slowly like I am filling demitasse cups. My older one's pour spout looked exactly the same, but if you pour too fast it would run down the side.
No leaking on back hinge. Older generic one leaked on the back once the coffee boiled up. This one does not and the lid actually has a "snap" like closure when pushed down. Not loose, a very secure lid.
The weight of this one is a bit less than my older non-Bialetti, but it is still just as durable. My older one would leave about 1oz or more of water in the base after each brew, and this caused pitting/buildup even though I used filtered water. The Bialetti probably has about 1/4oz of water left in the bottom, meaning more is being pushed up into the basket. Regarding the basket, one of my pots baskets were so thin it actually bent when tamping out the grounds! The Bialetti basket it stamped "made in Italy" and very sturdy. Nice to see Country pride!
Overall - after having several stainless and generic (similar in style) pots, I like the fact that Bialetti sells parts. Replacement gaskets and handles are available on Amazon and direct from Bialetti, allowing me to repair the pot instead of replacing it. The gasket is the biggest bonus, as most gaskets don't last over two years and finding an exact match for a generic pot was impossible.
Coffee - I find Lavazza, Bustello and La Llave to be good in these pots. When you first get your pot just run a couple pots through of any generic coffee - don't' wash the pot! This allows it to get cleaned via boiling coffee and "seasons" the pot. Never wash the inside of the pot, seasoning helps to obtain the best possible cup.
Brew - When you are ready to make your first pot fill the water to the line, which is just below the pressure purge valve. Bottled or filtered water is best. Then fill the coffee basket with grounds, don't pack them in, just heap it on top then use the straight edge of a spoon or scoop to level off the top. Then tap the basket bottom on the counter twice to get the grounds to settle. Do not tamp the grounds as you would do in an espresso machine!!! Drop the basket into the base, screw the top on until it's a bit over snug, then place on heat. I brew mine on the lowest heat possible, it will eventually boil due to the confined environment and I don't have to worry about a poor cup. If you heat it with high heat, the water will boil too fast and cause a rush through the grounds leading to a weaker cup or a "burnt" taste as the water was too hot. Moka pots take time to brew, but well worth the wait.
The media could not be loaded.
Regarding function, when compared to others I have owned. The handle is sturdier, this was the reason for replacing my older one which had the handle break off. The handle on this model is longer towards the body and made of a different composite. My old one lasted about 2-years and the handle just fell off one morning while preparing coffee. Just glad it wasn't full of hot coffee!
The pour is smooth, no slow pouring off an inferior molded lip. Since I drink 3-shots every morning, I don't want to sit and pour slowly like I am filling demitasse cups. My older one's pour spout looked exactly the same, but if you pour too fast it would run down the side.
No leaking on back hinge. Older generic one leaked on the back once the coffee boiled up. This one does not and the lid actually has a "snap" like closure when pushed down. Not loose, a very secure lid.
The weight of this one is a bit less than my older non-Bialetti, but it is still just as durable. My older one would leave about 1oz or more of water in the base after each brew, and this caused pitting/buildup even though I used filtered water. The Bialetti probably has about 1/4oz of water left in the bottom, meaning more is being pushed up into the basket. Regarding the basket, one of my pots baskets were so thin it actually bent when tamping out the grounds! The Bialetti basket it stamped "made in Italy" and very sturdy. Nice to see Country pride!
Overall - after having several stainless and generic (similar in style) pots, I like the fact that Bialetti sells parts. Replacement gaskets and handles are available on Amazon and direct from Bialetti, allowing me to repair the pot instead of replacing it. The gasket is the biggest bonus, as most gaskets don't last over two years and finding an exact match for a generic pot was impossible.
Coffee - I find Lavazza, Bustello and La Llave to be good in these pots. When you first get your pot just run a couple pots through of any generic coffee - don't' wash the pot! This allows it to get cleaned via boiling coffee and "seasons" the pot. Never wash the inside of the pot, seasoning helps to obtain the best possible cup.
Brew - When you are ready to make your first pot fill the water to the line, which is just below the pressure purge valve. Bottled or filtered water is best. Then fill the coffee basket with grounds, don't pack them in, just heap it on top then use the straight edge of a spoon or scoop to level off the top. Then tap the basket bottom on the counter twice to get the grounds to settle. Do not tamp the grounds as you would do in an espresso machine!!! Drop the basket into the base, screw the top on until it's a bit over snug, then place on heat. I brew mine on the lowest heat possible, it will eventually boil due to the confined environment and I don't have to worry about a poor cup. If you heat it with high heat, the water will boil too fast and cause a rush through the grounds leading to a weaker cup or a "burnt" taste as the water was too hot. Moka pots take time to brew, but well worth the wait.
