Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator

It's very easy to use and clean. 3-cup is very small though and it really shouldn't cost as much as $20 based on the simple construction but that's life.

I discovered this little device while looking for a simple stove top percolator to augment my other coffee making methods -- Melitta, Drip, Espresso and Senseo. This is the closest thing I've experienced to a good coffee shop espresso or latte. To make a latte you simply add milk to the upper reservoir before placing the pot onto the stove. I make several 10-12 oz lattes a day with my Bialetti Moka. Although described as a "6-cup" percolator, it only makes one American sized cup of coffee (8-12 oz). I imagine the 6-cup description refers to demitasse cups. I plan to buy a larger one. The coffee making methodology used by this device is quite ingenious. The bottom reservoir is filled with water and a metal filter in the middle holds the coffee. The water heats up and is forced through the coffee, percolates through a second filter and then out of a tube into the top reservoir. The result is brew very similar to espresso in taste but less concentrated. As others have stated, choice of coffee as well as quantity used make an enormous difference in the result. The closed system design results in a very efficient process that requires very little heat. The 'low' setting on my electric stove takes about 3-5 minutes. The process may sound complicated but it's no more involved than making a cup of coffee using the Melitta filter method.

Excellent results but 6 cup size only produces 11 oz at most (one mug). The diameter ( 4 inches ) is too small to cover the flame on a gas cooktop unless turned down to minimum.

Buy one of these a can of Illy and get addicted to some of the best coffee you will ever drink.

If you like more then 5 ounces of coffee at a time, buy the 6 serving.

I have owned this little baby (as a part of Bialetti Cappuccino and Latte Set) for about 2 weeks now and just love it!

A quick question about safety / pressure valve. One user mentioned that you should check the valve regularly, but I am a bit confused as to how to "check" it. Should I unscrew the valve, see if there is any clog inside, if there is, clean it, then screw it back?

PLEASE let me know, cause I really don't want mine to explode on my stove top!

Thanks so much! :)