9090/M - Design Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker, 18/10 Stainless Steel, Mirror Polished, 10 cups

This is my favorite stovetop mocha pot. It is not cheap, but the build quality, ease of use, durability, and just genuine pleasure in using an excellent tool all make the 9090 worth the money (unless you are on a tight budget). I used Biletti stovetop mocha pots for years, and they work absolutely fine. The Alessi 9090 is easier to use since the top just snaps on and does not screw on. The 9090 is also a work of art or fine design more accurately. So, if you don't mind shelling out more money, you will enjoy it and it makes a fine coffee. A single word of caution: be sure not to fill beyond the pressure valve, do not top the coffee off in the ground coffee receptacle (leave less than you would with the Billet and leave a bit of space from the top for the coffee to expand into), and perhaps grind the coffee a bit more coarse than the Billet. Otherwise, you run the risk of steam escaping the junction of the water chamber cum coffee grind holder and the upper brewed coffee receptacle. The end result is little to no coffee entering into the upper brewed coffee receptacle. Coming from a Billet I made all those mistakes until I read the very wise response in the questions and answers.

I’m very pleased with the 6-cup (300ml) Alessi. Its elegance and craftsmanship reflect what I love about products that are both designed and made in Italy. In my experience, that combination delivers a level of quality and aesthetic you just don’t get when production is outsourced. The metal handle stays cool—contrary to other reviews and videos showing someone using a heat glove. I can pour hot coffee comfortably without any protection. The unique snap-on upper chamber is another standout feature. It seals tightly and doesn’t leak any steam, unlike my old twist-on moka pot which constantly did. I also appreciate the wider base, which fits my induction burner much better than previous models. In short, this is a beautifully functional piece that performs flawlessly and looks stunning on the stovetop.

Very high quality. I think this is the real, made in Italy Alessi product. The pot and the box are well marked (see photos), and not likely a made in China knock-off. I've used stovepot "espresso" makers for 30 years. They do not produce real espresso, as the pressure is too low. I own a high end Italian espresso machine, so the difference is very noticeable. That does not mean the Alessi 9090 does not produce good coffee - it does. The Alessi produces a strong coffee. The 6/3 cup size produces about 8 ounces of strong coffee, to which I add about 4 ounces of hot water. The result is like a good Americano. I make my coffee in the Alessi 9090 starting with very hot tap water. Studies have shown the stovetop makers actually can push water through the coffee that is too cool if they are not preheated. With hot water, the coffee starts oozing through the coffee after 4 to 5 minutes on the stove (set to high) and is done making coffee after 5 to 6 minutes. I turn the stove down to medium heat when the coffee starts to ooze out. In the past, I used a GAT aluminum stovetop moka pot, which worked well, but I always wonder if it is so good to use aluminum for food and drink prep. The stainless steel of the Alessi 9090 seems safer. I will say my 25 year old GAT appears to develop more pressure and a little creamier coffee. Perhaps the screw tops have a higher pressure safety release valve? I do like the snap on feature of closing the Alessi 9090, which seems to work well. Some reviewers have complained that the Alessi can have rust inside the pot. There is a seam inside at the base of the pot (see photo), where water can reside after use - causing some rust. Make sure to get that seam inside the base dry. It is a well known fact that stainless steel will rust if you let water sit in a crevice. The potential rust is very, very minor, and not a problem for health or taste - but if you want to avoid it, just make sure to dry well. I put the pot base on the stove for about 30 seconds after washing to warm it up and the seam then dries easily.

This is a well designed pot that is much easier to use than the screw together aluminum Bialetti types. It also brews much faster. BUT do not expect anything like true espresso taste profile - water brew temp is way too low for that. Its taste profile is in fact very close to my Technivorm 781 which I use to make drip to SCAA standards; that should be no surprise because the brew temps aren't much different. A Bialetti Brikka will simulate much of an espresso profile but this pot will not. Note that the gasket must be clean and the lip of the basket free of coffee grounds to get a good seal. While heating you may see some steam from small amounts of water at the sealing surface but this does not mean it is leaking. The coffee grind used should not be a fine espresso grind- that is too fine and will fall through holes in the basket. If you get grinds in the bottom of the pot your grind is too fine and if you plug the screen that keeps grounds out of your brew, it is also too fine. I use a grind just slightly finer than drip grind. Too expensive but its improvements over a basic moka pot are real and effective. Interestingly, the brew basket of this 6 cup version holds the same amount of coffee as my 4 cup Bialetti Brikka - 20 g to full, approx. If used properly without the heat directly under the aluminum handle, the handle does not get hot. If you don't have a small burner you will need to offset. Proper fill volumes come from experience- the bottom has no clear marking nor does the top. A soft dish brush aids cleaning.

The Alessi 9090 M (10 Cup Size) is by far the best Moka pot that I have ever owned. When operated with some variation of the "Moka Pot VooDoo" by Thomas Greene or "The Ultimate Moka Pot Technique" by James Hoffmann, you will produce a world-class cup of coffee. If unfamiliar with these brewing techniques, they can be found on YouTube. This brewer does great with many different roast levels as well as a huge variety of single-origin specialty coffees (not just classic Italian dark roasts). The build quality, ease of use and simplicity of cleaning is absolutely top-notch. The fit and finish is magnificent and without peer. The materials and aesthetics are brilliant. I cannot say enough good things about this particular Moka Pot. I have been brewing with a Moka Pot as my daily brewer for 18 years and I have used a lot of brands and models. The Alessi 9090 is by far the best that I have owned. This Moka Pot is worth every penny.

Terrible, flawed design as it doesn't have a well-secured seal when closed.

Best moka pot I've ever owned.

I have mixed feelings about this. I also have a Bialetti Venus 6 cup which cost 1/4 as much. They both produce the same cup of coffee. The one advantage of the 9090 is the clamp system. There is absolutely no instructions on how to open it - and I had to find a video on youtube, but once you get the hang of it, its actually pretty fast and efficient to open and close. Its also easier to handle that when its hot after brewing rather than trying to grip the hot bottom to twist it off. (The way to open the clamp is simply to yank on it from the bottom). I would say the Bialetti Venus is actually more attractive. The 9090 has an industrial slightly crude look to it with a more clunky design. The handle is solid metal and slightly rough. The overall look and lines are better on the Bialetti. I would say the build quality and metal thickness seem about the same too. The 9090 has an induction plate at the bottom but it looks flimsy and is not a solid piece of metal like the other Alessi moka pots. It kinda looks cheap. The bialetti has a smooth easy to clean bottom. The 9090 is slightly more hassle to clean. There is always coffee jammed into the top filter. And coffee that has backflowed into the boiler pot. But its not too bad. The pouring is actually better on the Bialetti too. The 9090 pours pretty nicely with the triangular hole at first but to get the last 1/3 of coffee out, you have to tip it up so far, that the lid flips open. The Bialetti allows you to pour it out easier. Its not apparent from the photos, but the other Alessi moka pot with all the ridges is far larger and more a design statement if that is what you are looking for. This Alessi 9090 just looks like an older cruder moka pot, and the Bialetti Venus looks like the more modern stylish version. So for me, that clamping mechanism is so nice that it makes it kinda worth it. But other than that, there is nothing special about this pot.