The moka pot, or macchinetta (Italian), is a stove top coffee maker, based on the principle of preparing coffee with pressurized boiling water. It was invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933 and while there are currently many manufacturers, his company Bialetti continues to market the leading model, known by the brand name Moka Express. It is sometimes referred to or marketed as a stove top espresso maker, though strictly speaking moka coffee differs from true espresso.

 

 

In Italy, where Bialetti is based, the moka pot is in almost every home; elsewhere, it is known as an iconic design, displayed in modern industrial art museums, such as the Science Museum in London. Mokas come in different sizes, from one to eighteen 50 ml cups. The original design was made from aluminum with bakelite handles. Every Bialetti model has the famous Bialetti logo adorned to it. 'Omino Con I Baffi' or the 'Little Man wth a Moustache' is based on a caricature of Bialetti's founder.

Water is poured into the boiler and the funnel-shaped metal filter is inserted. Finely-ground coffee is added to the filter. The upper part is tightly screwed on the base. By placing the pot on a heat source, the water is brought to boiling point creating steam in the boiler. A gasket ensures a tightly closed unit and allows for pressure to safely build up in the lower section, where a safety valve provides a necessary release in case this pressure should get too high (with clean filters, that should not happen). Then enjoy the espresso on its own, or with hot frothy milk that makes it a delicious cappuccino or latte.

Moka Express is the world’s number one coffee-maker and has been manufactured in over 200 million units. For an excellent cup of Italian coffee, Moka Express is the classic household coffee-pot and the only one to bear the unique mark of the “little fellow with the moustache”.

The original 'little man' moka pot stove top espresso maker is a 3 espresso cup size. Others sizes also available.

In fact, it is steam power that conveys the hot water from the bottom section of the pot up to, and through, the filter holding the coffee. From the filter the water, now coffee finishes its short journey in the upper part of the pot, ready for serving. However, saying this, please don't for one moment think that the quality of a Bialetti Moka Express stovetop espresso pot isn't good ... it's simply exceptional!

Moka Express can boast a lot of records: it is even the most copied coffee-maker! What else could be said? That its quality just improves with use. A stovetop Bialetti Moka espresso pot can probably be found in every Italian home. The coffee they produce, whilst not technically espresso, is dark and aromatic and served in Italian style espresso cups. The Bialetti Moka espresso pot comes in various sizes ranging from single, 3,6,9, to 12 cups. However, please don't buy a Moka unless you intend to use it regularly. The quality of the coffee, if the pot hasn't been used for a week or so, is quite undrinkable. Also, when it is new, use the pot with coffee not just water, for at least three times before offering a cup to your friends.