Bialetti Venus Stainless Steel Espresso Maker

With this sleek little pot, you can make espresso on the stovetop like they do in Italy. The Venus Bialetti is easy to use-if you use a countertop drip maker, you can handle this. It takes only 3 minutes on my stove to make 4 shots.

I have been using this daily for a little over a year, usually one pot for myself and one for my husband and the gasket is still doing well.

It does not make the same quality as an industrial espresso maker but it certainly out performs the various countertop models I've tried. I would even go out on a limb and say that a countertop model that outperforms this would be in a price range of roughly 10 times this cost. Those take up a lot more real estate in small kitchen too.

The Bialetti Venus is also adorable. Not that I want to marry my espresso pot or anything. . .

I think you have to be willing to risk some hassle factor, as mine arrived damaged (cracked handle). Amazon was great about the return, sending a replacement immediately. Makes good espresso, but there is definitely a learning curve.

A few tips:

It's hard to be sure, but from looking at the interior pieces, they may not be stainless steel like the exterior. The instructions are similar to the aluminum model, to make a first pot of coffee and throw it away and to only rinse for cleaning. This is to coat the interior with coffee oils to prevent a metallic taste. If you do wash it, you'll need to throw out your first pot of espresso again, because it won't taste good at all.

It's important not to pack the espresso grinds so the steam will move properly into the upper chamber. When I packed the grounds, at least half of the water remained in the lower chamber and quite a lot escaped through the release valve and gasket seal.

The grind size is also very importantif it's too fine, steam shoots out the sides.

There should be a little water left in the chamber after brewing, maybe a tablespoon or so. This is to prevent scorching and discoloration. This means the 4-cup unit makes about 7 oz of espresso, not 8oz. For us, this is enough for two small-ish cappucinos.

It's also important to use relatively high heat, and to remove the maker from the heat as soon as most of the espresso has moved into the upper chamber (this takes a little practice to figure out, but the upper chamber looks about 2/3 full at this point and it is at about the time the unit starts gurlging). The espresso is more bitter if there is prolonged contact with the grinds.

I do like Illy brand espresso, and you can froth hot milk with a whisk if you look up the Cooks Illustrated directions. It's basically putting the whisk between hands that are in the same posisiton they'd be in if you had just clapped them, then slide them back and forth in opposite directions (like you would if they were cold).

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I've been using my 4-cup Bialetti for nearly a half year now. Unlike other reviewers, I've not had any problem with the gasket. (I don't remove it for each cleaning since the gasket is the weak spot.) My girlfriend has the six-cup model and this smaller Bialetti is perfect for about two cafe-lattes. I enjoy the ritual of making espresso on stovetop on those morning I'm not compelled to rush drip grind through my standard machines. I love coffee. :-)

This little unit is also simply a gorgeous work of art. The stainless steel construction is solid, and the components such as the filters are suitable for reasonably heavy use. The Bialetti makes better espresso than my Mr. Coffee four-cup machine.

Read Best Reviews of Bialetti Venus Stainless Steel Espresso Maker Here

I have a Bialetti 2-cup stovetop espresso maker that I bought while we were in Italy 5 years ago and we use it all the time and love it. I soon after bought a 4-cup maker here in the States that is also Bialetti and is made well and works well. I have just received the Bialetti that I ordered to give my daughter as a gift and it is made in China and not of the same quality. The coffee basket is cheap, and the water belly is coated on the inside with some brushed-silver finish. It makes me think there may be something internally that I can't see that is cheaply made as well. I am sending it back and buying a Veg Vigano instead simply because they are still made in Italy and completely made of stainless steel. I don't know what Bialetti is thinking having their products made in China and India and allowing the quality to slide downhill. The customers who buy these products are looking for quality stainless steel products made in Italy that will last forever and actually get better with age. What a disappointment...

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I was concerned by some of the negative feedback about this item and in fact hesitated to buy it because of some of the reviews about its workmanship and quality, but there is no cause for concern. The craftsmanship of the Bialetti Venus 4-Cup Percolator is in fact superior to all the other Bialetti stovetop percolators I have. I currently own three aluminum models and have owned a total of seven. This one is the best of the lot.

I much prefer this to any of the aluminum models. The coffee it makes tastes better, the pot is easier to clean, and the craftsmanship is superior.

Don't hesitate to buy it. It's top notch quality.

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