Bialetti 6799 Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker

Love this! I only wish I'd gotten the next size up so I could make several drinks at a time.

This is a beautifully designed device, but the marketing people misdescribe it. They say the "3 cup" Moka makes three 2-ounce "cups" of coffee. It fact it makes very precisely two 2-ounce "cups," not three.

When you fill the water chamber to the top (just below the coffee chamber) it holds exactly six ounces of water. But the water stops coming out as coffee when the water level in the chamber drops below the funnel mouth. This is when the machine "burbles" as people say. Then you have two ounces of water still in the water chamber, and four ounces of (quite good) coffee in the coffee chamber. That is all the coffee you will get in one brew. Two 2-ounce "cups," not three.

The engineers designed a very precise two "cup" model. But then marketing said "Hey, this takes six ounces of water! Let's tell people it makes that much coffee!" It does not.

Many of the other reviews give specifics on why this is a superior way to make coffee and great tips, I recommend reading those. Especially this review: Follow these tips for a unique coffee, February 3, 2007

I just wanted add my 2 cents and say YES, this does make a good brew. If you are serious about coffee get this. If you don't care, then you probably are not reading this review anyway. I will say it might seem more difficult than drip, but it is not. French press makes a good brew too, but I think those makes an even better cup.

This unit works perfectly and brews an outstanding cup of strong expresso coffee. I would call it a 2 cup unit rather than 6 cup and is ideal for a single person or a couple.

Don't wast your time with the expensive expresso makers. For a fraction of the cost you can have a perfect cup every time. I love this thing!!

What can I say...like everyone else, this is a great coffee maker. It is so simple to use. I use my little battery operated frother and have an average of two non-fat lattes a day.

this is an excellent little machine.. simple, well-constructed, extremely affordable & yields high quality espresso.. perfect!

I can't believe I waited as long as I did to purchase a Bialetti. Cheap imitations are cheap imitations. I'd like to thank all the folks who've left positive reviews, as they were the reason I decided to try a Bialetti 3-cup and I was so thrilled with the coffee it produced, soon-after ordered the 6-cup and couldn't be happier.

Regarding the comment suggesting the handle is weakly constructed, I disagree; when tightening or loosening the wisely designed metal top, resist grabbing the handle and all will be well. Rinse with water after every use and go to bed peacefully every evening knowing Bialetti will manufacture 'the Moka Express Stovetop Percolator' until the end of time...I hope.

We already had a 3-cup and 6-cup Bialetti when we got this one. We loved the coffee so much in the smaller models that we wanted a bigger one so that we could drink multiple cups. The 9-cup makes enough for me and my husband both to have 2 5-6 oz. cups of delicious coffee. We are very happy with our purchase.

It's really cute but it won't make a cup. It'll make at most two ounces. It's only like four inches tall. I was hoping to be able to make enough for two people to have a few ounces so I guess I'd need to buy the 3-cup.

This li'l jasper makes some great coffee and it's so easy, too. And fun. It's also fun to read the English instructions, trans. from Italian: "suitable for the food use and right for the gas cooker, the electic [sic] plate and the pyroceram." And Don't put too much water in the "little tank"!!! This coffee maker also has the "Little Man" emblazoned on it to "guarantee of the genuine article." I was worried...(The "Little Man" resembles the old Pizza Hut character from the 60's, and in French is called "Pere Moustache!") I'm glad they spent their time and resources building a good product and not on stupid marketing efforts.

About 50 years ago I worked for a few months in a coffee house in Dallas, TX. I recall that we made the coffee using Bialetti coffee makers just like the ones that are produced today. It's a classic design that has been often copied. I like a strong cup of coffee and sometimes use a French press device, but more often I used this 6-cup Bialetti. I have also used the 3-cup Bialetti and actually find it makes a slightly better brew, but I want a bit more coffee in my cup than the 3-cup version produces.

My coffee machine stopped working, and so I decided that I would try out the Bialetti Moka Express to tide me over until I could buy a full size coffee maker. It is satisfying my need for a delicious freshly brewed coffee quite well! In fact, I may not go back to a regular coffee maker after this.

I looked very hard for a replacement for my little Krupps
expresso before I gave up, because similar electric machines
all had serious quality issues. Back to basics--I'm convinced
that Bialeti got it right in the 1930's. Still made in Italy.
Very drinkable coffee. I don't think it can be beat for
anything under $250.

Ok... this little Moka is AMAZING. I LOVE espresso, but I hate spending the money on Starbucks' specialty lattes. I wanted an espresso machine, and have been researching for months, but I just don't have the money for it. So I started looking into percolators, and soon found that this was the true Italian way to make espresso. I was intrigued. Then I realized, this thing is a pot - with no mechanical parts like an espresso machine. So all those problems that the espresso machines have I might avoid with the Moka. So I bought it. For $27 shipped, it was worth a shot. WOW. I am so glad that I did!

I also bought the aerolatte milk frother on Amazon for $17. I then researched how to make coffee syrups. So I made my ultimate craving today - the pumpkin spice latte. I am so ridiculously excited. No more $4.50 lattes for me! Seriously, don't hesitate to try it. I have never used a percolator and it was so easy. Just follow the directions and take care of it like you would anything else. I have never had an issue with an appliance or kitchen gadget I have purchased because I keep my things clean and taken care of, and follow directions! That is all it takes. Yes, you can be unlucky and just get a lemon, but that does not mean that the product itself is not fabulous. So just try it! You will not be disappointed!

I am a certifiable coffee nut (or snob, if you wish!) The Bialetti 9-cup Moka express makes the best coffee I've ever had. I frequent local coffee houses as well as chains, have had my own 'automatic' espresso maker, used coffee presses, coffee makers, and percolators. My last automatic espresso maker gave up the ghost about 2 months ago (my 3rd one in 4 years, expensive, but not as expensive as stopping at DazBog or Starbucks every morning.) I decided that there had to be a better way - I had already switched to a stove top milk steamer and decided to look for something I could use in the same manner. I decided that I really had nothing to lose by trying this one. The price is excellent, the reviews are stellar, and if it turned out to be a pain to use, I could save it for camping trips and such.

1. It is very easy to use. Fill water to the line, place basket in, fill with coffee (use a medium-fine grind, freshly ground, pack lightly with fingers - don't over pack.) screw on top, place on med-low heat (at least on my stove top - I use 3.) The coffee may be even better if I was more patient, but 3 gets the job done and the coffee tastes fabulous.) Take off the heat as it finishes percolating into the pot.

2. The 9 cup seems very sturdy. I find it makes the right amount for 3 people to get properly buzzed on coffee. I've had no problems with the handle or any part of the moka maker. I like the fact that the safety release valve is very easy to check each time a rinse the pot.

3. The coffee tastes so good that my nine year old took a sip and said "IT TASTES LIKE IT SMELLS! This isn't bitter mom!"

I broke my French press and decided to get a moka maker to try it out. The price was right and I'm always looking for new gadgets. Not only was the whole process easy, the coffee was amazing. With the right blend you can easily replicate coffee as you remembered it in Italy right in your kitchen.

This expresso maker is the real Italian-made thing, not a cheapo imitation made in China. I bought one of the Chinese-made ones and the handle burst into flames when I put the pot on the burner. No such problems with the Bialetti. Easy to use and clean, too.

After a two week trip to Italy our return home seemed imcomplete without a Bialetti Moka Express. Thankfully, our Amazon order filled the bill. It's easy to operate and I use it almost daily. The aroma of Illy coffee fills our home with memories of Tuscany.

This great little espresso maker does the trick. I love making my own mochas at home using this single-shot espresso maker, and it's great if you've got limited space. (We have no counter or storage space for a bigger coffeemaker.)

Just a tip: if you get beans ground for espresso, it will still sort of work, but not as well. Apparently they need to be slightly more coarsely ground than the espresso grind. Just a handy little tip I learned a bit too late for my first time!

Bought for my hubby as a father's day gift and it's great (our last elec expresso machine died after a year of no use so we went for the low tech but stylish version this time!)! We have a glass top stove, set it on the small ring on high and it works perfectly. I know you should use low heat on gas stoves, but as glass top stoves are so much less hot and responsive, I find high works fine and heats at about the same rate as low to medium on gas. Easy to use, easy to clean, and FAB coffee :-)

this is a well made,reasonably priced coffee maker I recommend it to all my friends.

Although "original" it is suprisingly cheap. I thought the product from Italy had more refinement. It is an alloy with crude edging, nicks and a poor engraving of the logo and signature. I don't dispute that it is simple to use but perhaps it would be better if made of stainless steel (and I don't mean from India).

The Bialetti Expresso Maker is the best one can buy. Unlike the many copies, made in China, this little gem makes the best coffee.
The pour spout is just the right shape so that it doesn't spill all over the counter when pouring into a cup. The weight of the metal allows the perfect brew. Unfortunately, and sadly, I have heard that the company, Bialetti, has recently closed its' doors, due mostly to the competition from the cheaper brands out on the market. Due also to the ignorance of the general public in seeking out the cheap stuff.

I've been using this product for about a month now, and I realize that my technique may still need some work. I have the 6-cup size, and I'm happy with it so far.

The coffee that this pot produces falls somewhere between drip coffee and espresso. It's stronger and darker than drip coffee, but lacks the refinement and consistency of store-quality espresso.

The coffee that comes from the top of the pour is noticeably lighter and thinner than the stuff that settles at the bottom of the pot. I suspect that this has something to do with the espresso grind I'm using, and I wonder if switching to a slightly coarser grind would eliminate this.

Also, you can't really be in a hurry when you're making coffee with this machine. If you mess up somehow, like not screwing the pot and base together tightly enough, you'll have to wait ten minutes for the machine to cool down so you can take it apart and start another pot.

The 6-cup size really only produces a little more than 1 regular sized cup. You could get 2 cups out of it if you're using small, espresso-type cups.

Thanks to the great reviews and tips on Amazon, I got a perfect cup the first time, and every time it makes perfect coffee. I have the 9 CUP Moka, which is really about 9oz, good for 2 people if you both use some cream. 6 Cup would be too small for me. I was about to invest $$$ in a cappuccino machine, thank god a friend turned me on to this coffee maker first. So easy to make a perfect cup:

1. Fill water to the line in base
2. Place coffee in filter, do not pack
3. screw top on firmly, avoid using handle to tighten as it has broken for some people
4. Place on medium to medium-low heat, keep handle positioned off of direct flame
5. When you hear the gurgle and whoosh sound, it's done!
6. Rinse with water only (you can run under cold water if you want to make more before the pot cools)

To get a jump start in the morning, I put the water and coffee in the Moka and set it on the burner so when I wake up all I have to do is light the flame and my coffee is ready in a few minutes! Coffee is piping hot and deliciously perfect every time.

I'd purchased another brand, and had to replace it twice--this one works, and keeps working.
This is the best one to get.

This Bialetti Moka Express is so awesome! I almost wish I would have gotten the 9 or 12 cup one. My husband and I drink cappuccino's every single morning now. There is also no need to buy creamer. We just froth up some milk and we have our cappuccino. It tastes just like the cappuccinos that we had in Italy. You can use regular coffee or espresso coffee and it tastes great. We have a gas stove so we put it on between Medium and Low. You definitely don't want to put it on just Medium or even on High. This will make the coffee not come out right. If you put it on Medium/Low you get a richer, creamier, and less watery coffee. It's amazing! I wish I would have known about this thing a long time ago; I wouldn't have bought a coffee maker. I ended up storing my coffee maker in one of the cabinets because it won't ever be used now. You can't go wrong with buying one of these. I'm very picky when it comes to coffee so if I think this makes good coffee then you should take my word for it.

Although the coffee coming out of the machine is not as strong as espresso, it is good enough to make latte at home.

My main issue is the size. The 3-cup is smaller than what I expected. The description at Amazon.com states the machine makes three 2-ounce espresso. Actually, a cup is about 1.5 ounces (as described at http://www.fantes.com). So you get about 4.5 ounces, just enough for two people.

This stove top Espresso pot makes great coffee. It is the strong Esspresso type coffee much like the kind you get at those coffee shops. Make your own great coffee drinks at home or on the road since all it needs besides water and coffee is a heat source.

good price, great service as always. makes great coffee, makes 2 (normal American)sized cups of coffee, cleans easily

I had been debating whether or not to purchase this little coffee pot, as I wasn't really sure if my husband & I would use it very often, or if we would really like the coffee that it produced, as I knew that it was strong. But I finally decided to get one after reading other reviews & I am SO happy that I did! Before it even came, I bought a medium-bodied coffee & had it ground as for espresso. I also asked an Italian friend of mine how much coffee she used, & pared it back from there, only filling the basket to the top. Also, only fill the bottom with water to the line, & be sure to tighten the top on well (but don't use the handle to tighten or it could break!!). She also cautioned me not to set the heat too high (I have a gas stove, so the flames should come only to the edge of the Moka Pot). Pay attention when the coffee is heating, & when you hear it gurgle, it's done! Now here's where we may differ from everyone else....My husband & I use the Moka Pot coffee as a 'base' for a large cup, adding plain hot water to fill the cup the rest of the way, so one pot makes 3 large cups of coffee for us, & they're still very strong cups at that, & SO delicious! I read many reviews here that said not to use soap to clean the Moka Pot as it will change the taste of the coffee, so I haven't, just rinsed it well after each use & dried it with a paper towel. I hope this helps anyone thinking of buying this neat little pot. We're thinking of getting a bigger one!

I was looking for a way to save some money and make my own espresso drinks. After some research, I discovered the Bialetti Moka Express. I always thought they were more expensive and difficult to use, but I thought I'd try it. To my surprise, I got perfect espresso on my first try. It is so easy to use. Just unscrew it, fill the bottom with water to the little grooves at the bottom. Fill the little cup with grounds, and screw it together. Put it on the stove on medium and Poof! Espresso!

It's pretty easy to clean too. Just unscrew everything and run it under hot water (no soap) and let it dry. I have made espresso, and then varied it with americanos, lattes, and even caramel macchiatos with my own syrups.

All in all, it's much less complicated and less space hogging than my regular espresso maker. That one will continue to sit in the cabinet after this purchase.

It performs as promised. Using it as directed seems to yield slightly weak espresso. I have experimented a bit and now use less water which helps a lot. The price/performance ratio is is outstanding.

After reading all the great reviews on this product, I decided to purchase one. Well, it's only made coffee successfully a handful of times. Most of the time, it makes a very small amount of coffee (maybe 1/2 a cup) and stops - even though I've filled the water up to the notch like it says in the instruction pamphlet. Could it be a defective pot or is there something I'm not doing right?

I owned the 6-cup Moka for quite some time and absolutely loved it. I only hand rinsed it with water and stored it dry and disassembled. Even with all of this attention and care I managed to ruin it, but I'm back buying another and will be more careful this time.

While using the Moka on my stovetop I either answered the phone, tended to one of the kids' needs (or both?) and allowed it to boil over. Not just a little. A LOT. I'm talking huge mess, burned gasket and a horrible smell. Even after replacing the gasket the pot smelled like burned rubber. The resulting coffee tasted about as bad as the smell. I tried rinsing all of the metal parts with white vinegar. It didn't help at all. I tried letting it soak in vinegar water but the smell remained. I finally gave up and am buying another.

This time I'm getting a 3-cup Moka simply because I never needed the 6-cup capacity. I can't wait for it to arrive. I hope any future emergencies will wait until after Mom has had her coffee.

I gave the Moka Express coffee maker to my daughter for Christmas. She loves it. It is easy to use and performs just like it said it would. The coffee turns out perfect everytime.

The Bialetti Moka Express is simply an outstanding product that produces very strong coffee every time. Why spend $100s or $1000s for a machine when you can get the same very strong coffee for so much less!

There is no denying that this pot makes some darn good coffee. I like it better than most drip and french press. However having tried the Brikka prior to this, it is the winner hands down. I was under the impression that the Moka Express would taste the same as Brikka just with less crema. I was wrong, the Brikka simply produces a better brew. I'm convinced it has something to do with the patented valve system, exclusive to the Brikka, which pressurizes the brew as it bubbles up into the main chamber.

great item. i owned the first one for 8 years and the handle finally gave away so i bought another. love it. best coffee out there.

Bought this on a whim and I'm so glad I did! I boil a pot of water at the same time I brew the espresso and add about 1/3 espresso to 2/3 boiling water and we end up getting four nice Americano's out of one 6-cup pot. They must be referring to 6 cups of espresso, because it makes about 7 oz of really rich espresso coffee. I do use the Illy espresso coffee and love it. This is a must-have for any coffee lover. Adds a really nice touch of class to any dinner party, being able to offer deliciously rich espresso coffee....and it looks darn sexy on the stovetop, too. :)

Since I can't stand regular coffee-makers, I like to use this Bialetti or a coffee press. I ordered the Bialetti 12-cup and absolutely love it. It makes about 3 regular mug-sized cups of coffee. Really easy to use and clean up. After each use, all you have to do is empty out the used coffee and rinse it out with water (don't scrub it or use detergents since this will affect the taste of the coffee). The more you use the Bialetti, the better the coffee will taste. Also, its very durable since its made of aluminum (except for the two plastic handles).

I use any blend of beans whether its french roast or a medium breakfast blend and the coffee tastes great every time. The smaller sizes of the Bialetti tend to make stronger coffee; I used to have the 9-cup but it didn't make enough coffee. Keep in mind that this is NOT an espresso maker (it doesn't produce enough pressure to make an espresso and the coffee is definitely not as thick and concentrated) it is a stovetop coffee-maker.

I'm still using the same 3 cup machina since 1988. I have another 6 cup I've used since about 1997. I haven't had any problems. The rubber gasket has needed replacement every 5 years or so, they are easy to buy and cheap. Yes, the inside of the bottom turns a dull grey - that's a natural oxide coating that forms on all aluminum cookware (as all professional cooks know). True, it doesn't make true sub-boiling water, under pressure, espresso; but it makes darn good coffee. Much better than American drip, and I think better than French press. It does require cleaning after use. Disassemble and clean the parts with warm water under the tap - no soap! Cleaning takes no more than 2-3 minutes, then towel dry. If I need to replace one - say in the next 10-20 years, I will certainly buy another.

This makes an excellent cup of caffè. I call it "caffè" so as not to offend any purists that say this machine does not produce the requisite amount of pressure to be called espresso... but it's certainly closer to espresso than what most people would call coffee. In my opinion it produces a better tasting liquid than what you can pick up a the counter of a [insert large coffeehouse chain]. In addition, I frequently prefer it to the coffee I get at [insert local coffeehouse]; this is because I am able to have control over the cup. My local shop pulls an amazing cup of espresso, but they rotate their espresso beans and often times it is a roast that I find to be rubbish.

I would spend the money on a Bialetti model as I purchased a cheapo model at TJ Max and it took a lot of fiddling to get a good cup. Then I needed to replace the rubber gasket, when I did everything went fubar. I realized that the problem was in the build quality and that the pieces fit together so poorly that steam was passing around the filter rather than pushing water through the grinds. This machine is far more well built and I know I can buy replacement parts that will fit it perfectly. I took off the plastic parts and now my old machine is now dedicated to campfires.

I said it before and I'll say it again:
-Don't wash it, but it's not the end of the world if you do... like some people say. It will ruin the finish (but make it look rustic, if you are into that) and you will have to 're-season' it with few batches of caffe.
-It's not that you necessarily have to use it often for good coffee, it's just that the oils on the wall of the pot (that collect from not washing it) will start to not taste so good.
-If you've been around a bit you know of the differences in tap water. Most tap water in the US is perfectly fine. I'd avoid most well water but a filter would probably make it fine to use. The water may make some difference, but not nearly as much as the bean. Especially in this application where the coffee is boiling up and going through the grounds like passing through a filter.
-I have a 3-cup and it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes, so 10 might be a little long for a 6-cup but not by much. Nothing useful is going on while the water heats up so there is no reason to start at a low heat. It's all about how long it takes the water to pass through the grounds... that doesn't start happening till the water is almost boiling. Therefore I start mine on hot for a minute and then dial it back to medium. The final temperature all depends on your taste, your stovetop, and the size of your pot. If it takes too long, the caffe will be bitter (keep in mind strong and bitter are not the same). If you brew it too fast, you'll end up with something burnt tasting. The easiest way to find the perfect temperature is to watch it brew with the lid up. If the coffee is coming out nice and slow with maximum crema, you are in good shape. If it bursts out of there and shoots all over your kitchen, you might need to check your relief valve, your grind might be too fine, or your temperature might be too hot. Do take it off as soon as it starts to bubble out of the spout and the liquid coming out is lighter in color. Once you are able to hear it, it's almost too late, so hurry. Pour and enjoy.
-If you wanted to speed up the process you could boil water in a kettle, let it cool a bit, pour it in, assemble the pot with pot holders, and get it back on the heat to brew. This is way too much work and clean up for me.
-Keep in mind you can't screw the pot together too tight... unless you can't get it apart.
-I use locally roasted beans within a month after they have been roasted. That makes more of a difference than anything. Buy a cheap blade grinder (you don't need a burr grinder for this application) and grind it to somewhere between drip and espresso, possibly closer to espresso (again depending on taste, machine, and temperature). My cheap grinder doesn't produce a homogeneous grind, so some grinds are more like drip, others more like espresso, but as long as your median grind is about right it really doesn't matter (not like a true espresso machine that relies a lot more on an exact pressure being created against the grind). Grind the beans right before you put them in, not the day before, not at the store... along the same lines, use the beans soon after they are roasted, not next year. I don't recommend any commercial brands as they are difficult to get fresh and the darker roasts are frequently over-roasted. If you find a commercial brand that has a roasted on date, has been roasted in the last couple weeks, and sounds delicious, give it a shot. Buy beans that you like the taste of, not because they sound appropriate. The world will continue turning even if you use lighter roast in something people frequently refer to as espresso.
-I use a coarser than espresso grind, with very slight packing of the grinds, no 'cupola' just an even pack (as I find a cupola of grinds to sometimes get in the way of the seal as the grounds spread out when you screw the pot together) to make sure the 'puck' is uniformly dense, starting on high heat, then turn down to medium (low heat would never get close to boiling water on my stove), I watch it and move it on and off the heat as needed for optimum crema. If you change any of the variables, and you will (intentionally or not), you will get a different cup of coffee. Some days will always be better than others, but after a little practice it will always be better than what you can get at 95% of the retail coffee outlets.
-For those wondering if you can buy a large size pot for versatility, you can not unless you make a large pot and throw out everything you don't drink (wasting a lot of coffee). If you don't fill the filter basket all the way the water will not have enough resistance to pass through and it would come out weak and probably bitter. If you fill the filter basket all the way but put in less water, you would not get a full extraction and your coffee would not have time to release the flavors and caffeine (also, you would be wasting a lot of coffee).

I purchased this moka pot as a cheaper alternative to an espresso machine for Illy espresso. I'm VERY happy with this purchase. I bought a can of the Illy Moka to use with this pot. So far it works great but I've only just made my first cup. My only regret is not buying a larger one. This moka pot makes only one cup of espresso and after I had the first cup I really wanted another.

I purchased a Mr. Coffee Espresso machine last winter, paid $30+. I can't say the espresso ever tasted "great" because it didn't, I just put up with it as a simpler means than going to Starbucks everyday. So a year later it broke, wouldn't heat up the water and the on/off knob broke off. I revisited Amazon and reviewed all the espresso machines and comments from the consumers who have purchased them. Bialetti consistently got rave reviews. I was nervous about a "stovetop" espresso maker because you always see the electric ones at the coffee shops. After I oredered and received this little Bialetti pot, I visited [...] to watch how to make the perfect espresso -- so EASY. I should have purchased this the first time, sturdy construction - it will last forever, I will never have to purchase another one. This is a NO brainer....don't waste your time or money on anything else. Enjoy :)

So far, this little puppy really works well. It is simple to set up, makes a great pot of coffee in about 5 minutes, and is easy to clean and maintain. Hard to beat for the price. After trying it out a couple of times, we purchased a second one, so that we can simultaneously make a pot of regular espresso and a pot of decaf when the whole family is here.
One precautionary note, make sure that top and bottom are screwed together very tightly to prevent steam from escaping through the O-ring at the junction of the two parts. Also, I suggest not leaving it unattended, as it would probably overheat after the water has percolated out of the reservoir. And finally, be careful when handling, in that the exterior does get hot and requires some time to disassemble before reloading or cleaning.
It is also suggested to buy the appropriate size for the number of cups you would typically expect to make. It may be difficult to set it up for a partial pot. So if you typically would want 6 cups, then don't be tempted to buy the 9 or 12 cup percolator. Also, it makes sense to invest in some spare seals (O-rings), though the shipping cost of these exceeds their price.

The Moka Express makes great tasting coffee quickly and easily. I was very pleased with how easy it is to load, use, and clean. I have no complaints and the money I have saved by making my own coffee in the past month has easily covered the cost of the Moka Express.

I have only one regret, I wish I had purchased a larger version. The 6-cup version does not produce 6 cups of coffee. I have the 6-cup version which is usually enough for me, but if you have friends over I doubt it will be enough. Although it only takes ~12 minutes to make the coffee, it also takes time for the machine to cool down before you can refill it and make more. However, I assume larger versions will take longer to produce coffee as you must always make a full batch (you can't use just 25% water & 25% ground coffee, you must always use 100% of both). If you are purchasing this for just one person, the 6-cup should be plenty.

In conclusion, this machine is great, but make sure you purchase the right-sized one for your needs.

It makes a fairly good cup of coffee in about 4 minutes. But not 6 cups and not even 2 cups. Because you have to use fairly coarse grounds the coffee is not espresso strength so you can only dilute it so much. If you use finer grounds you will get more sediment in your coffee as there is no paper filter. Even with a very coarse grounds you get a fair amount of sediment both in the percolator and in your cup.

This product is very simple to use and makes great coffee/espresso. After little effort we have a hot drink that tastes just like that we had when traveling in Italy last month. I only wish I'd bought the bigger size as it would have been enough for one large, steaming, strong, cup of coffee for two.