9090/3 - Design Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker, 18/10 Stainless Steel, Mirror Polished, 3 cups

This is a coffee maker like no other. There's a reason it's in the design museum. I'd like to go over a few highlights: 1) It's made in Italy of high quality, heavy stainless steel. Read the other reviews and see how many people have owned this product for 20 and 30 years. You have to decide if Chinese made competitors--some are quite expensive-- will have this longevity. 2) Because it's a design classic and has been around since 1979, replacement parts will always be available. That's very important when you're making an investment like this. 3) The unit seals by use of a clamp. To the best of my knowledge, this is unique. There's no chance of stripping threads or faulty seals after years of use which can happen with units that screw together. 4) The coffee doesn't splatter when first pouring, a welcome relief from a unit I had from another manufacturer. Yes, it was much less expensive. 5) I grind coffee beans on the drip setting and it works out perfectly. I just get the tiniest bit of sediment at the bottom of the cup, much better than french press. Too fine a grind or packing coffee in will lead to disappointing results 6) Low heat is the way to go. Brewing time is about 5 minutes. The water passes through the grounds at a slower pace and extracts more flavor. An added bonus is no discolored bottom of the pot. 7) When the coffee gurgles as it reaches the top, take it off the burner and pour. Leaving it on the burner any longer cooks the coffee doesn't improve flavor. 8) After washing the pot, running a paper towel along the bottom interior rim (which collects moisture) will make sure it's dry and avoid any chance of rust or corrosion. I've heard some people put the bottom on a burner for just a few seconds and thoroughly dry it that way. 8) Most important of all: the coffee it makes is absolutely great-no metallic or burnt taste which I've gotten from any other moka pot I've owned. I'm a coffee obsessive who owns about 10 coffee makers- 3 and 6 cup Alessi--and various others that make coffee by many different methods. I put this at the top.

With moka pots you want to heat up the water first so that you don’t scorch and burn the beans in the process. Gives a better taste. I bought this so that I could heat up the water in the base, then attach the rest of the moka pot. This is made possible because of the clamp on design, instead of a classic screw on. The second reason I bought it was for the stainless steel. I’ve had no issues with any sort of rust. It is quality stainless steel. I have been drying out the base by putting it on the stove for a minute or so, and have been cleaning it out with a half vinegar/ water mixture once a week, so I cannot say how this product will age if you neglect it. I can say however that if you take care of it, it will last a lifetime. An important note for brewing: Grind size and how much coffee you put in is VERY IMPORTANT. It’s really easy to mess up moka pot coffee and it takes a moment to dial in. Do your research and I promise you it will make a good cup. Anyone who thinks moka pot coffee tastes bad either doesn’t know what they are doing, or just doesn’t like to drink stronger coffee. If you don’t want to mess around with getting a perfect grind, I would recommend getting a pre-ground Coffee. My Italian friend told me to try lavazza Qualità Rossa and I really like it. Not endorsing any specific product over another because this is the first that I’ve tried but it can be convenient. Just some sort of Italian moka pot pre ground coffee would work great if you want the ease. Some are super expensive though and If you let it sit out in a airtight container it will still goes bad after awhile so just drink it every day. I like moka pots because I can use it to make other drinks and it allows me to get a espresso taste without an expensive setup. Important note: this is not espresso. It’s just a deep rich cup of coffee.

My favorite brand of moka pot. Works great and is easy to use. I use a paper filter between the coffee and the screen, measure the coffee and water. Heat the water then drop the funnel in and snap the top on. One and a half minutes later I pour the coffee into the cup.

Trying to open this moka pot the first time was a bit difficult and loud… enough to make me initially think I was going to return it. After the first time opening it was easier and I’ve had no problems after. Been using it for over a week as my daily coffee maker. I bought the 3 cup size, in reality this size is one mug of delicious coffee for one. You could make a few espresso cups sizes I suppose. I love my coffee strong and this makes the perfect cup, extracts the true flavor of my French roast. The design is beautiful as expected and the quality is superb, very easy to clean. This is something that will last for years so the price for me is worth it. It’s a beauty!

I bought this because it looked cool and because I thought the price indicated that it was superb. Since I drink coffee a lot, I wanted something superb. Not to mention all the amazing reviews. The first problem I encountered was that after I used it only one time the reducer filter bent inward. It bent significantly to the point where coffee grinds were coming up in my coffee. So I thought, no problem, I ordered a new one which was only about five dollars. The same exact thing happened after the very first usage. But I had paid so much for the damn thing, I continued to use it. I have been using it now for about a year. And when I originally went through the reviews I noticed that some people had some concern with the inside of the tank (broiler) -whether or not it was coated with something. Before I purchased it, I read as much information as I could, I watched videos, and it seemed to me that it was made of stainless steel and nothing else. First I noticed it was rusting around the bottom- inside the tank/broiler. Not much, but it was rust. Then I started to notice that the inside of the tank is peeling. I started picking at it one day with my nail and it feels like some kind of calcium deposit or paint chipping up.. and it's all over the bottom of the tank. And it gets worse the longer I continue to use it. So no, the inside of the broiler is not 100% stainless steel.

Love this coffee pot for my expresso clean looking and delivers a great cup of espresso use it ever morning easy to clean

This design is simply perfect, and it works like a charm producing excellen espresso. No, you will not get any of that crema that comes out of those more expensive espresso makers, but you'll definitely get fast, wonderful coffee with very little effort. Best to use medium-to-low heat and follow the instructions to stir the coffee once it is done. The snap-on mechanism is nothing short of brilliant, and having used the screw-on types in the bast, I find the Alessi approach light years ahead of the rest, even if it is an old design. In fact, I like it so much, I bought the 6-cup one for when my wife and I want a larger cup of coffee in the mornings. And this from someone who has owned a Pasquini professional espresso machine for over a decade. Just buy it and you will be happy.

I wanted to love this espresso maker. However, it has a couple of drawbacks that detract from its gorgeous design. The top section is not easy to clean... too narrow and tall. And, water in the bottom half is never fully boiled and pushed through the coffee. Most of it is, and it's great coffee/espresso, but I often try to get the last bit and end up burning my brew. Also, beware the handle which can get very hot, but that's the price of having all metal.