Bialetti Musa 4-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker

We having been using the Italian made Bialetti aluminum espresso maker for about 4 years and really like it. However, the aluminum Bialetti can't be used in a dishwasher (it oxidizes and turns dark.) We thought that a stainless model would be more convenient to clean. However, this Indian made coffee maker isn't made to as exacting a standard as the aluminum Italian one. The top and bottom pieces don't screw together as well and is very hard to prevent the steam from leaking.

Two year update: This model got better with age. The pieces screw together better and doesn't leak anymore. In addition, slightly looser fit of the rubber gasket made it easier to remove and clean. It cleans nicely in a dishwasher and is very durable. Now will give it a four star.

Bialetti Musa 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator

I've owned a 6-cup "Moka Pot" for a couple years and recently purchased the Bialetti Musa 4-cup stovetop perconlator for $39 from amazon.

Moka Pot: Your standard Italian stovetop percolator that will last forever despite cheap construction. About $6 from the second-hand store, and very easy to find. Unfortunately, they're a bit more work -the aluminum construction results in a metallic taste if not properly cleaned. The "proper" way to clean it is to use only hot water and leave the oily coffee film in the pot (to coat the aluminum and provide a barrier). So, it provides increasing returns if *not* cleaned. :)

Bialetti: Stainless steel -easy cleanup, can use soapy water, no metallic taste. Harder to find (check amazon, health-food stores). Mine arrived via Amazon.com yesterday, no metal shavings or grease (as an earlier reviewer experienced).

As other reviewers have pointed out, the "4-Cup" version does 6-8 oz of espresso, so that's like that Starbucks "Venti" wonder that you're trying to avoid.

Here's an easy recipe that should kick you out the door in the morning:

6-8 oz espresso from Stovetop (1 Moka Pot)

1-2 Tbsp of sugar

6-8 oz of half-n-half

Throw it in the microwave for 30s, some like it hot.

Enjoy!

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I'm comparing the 4 cup Musa to the 6 cup Moka Express. First, the Moka Express takes roughly 3 oz of fine ground to fill while this Musa takes about 1.5 oz to fill. If you follow the directions, the end product for the Musa will be very weak compared to the Moka Express. I've learned that even though the directions say not to tamp the grounds, I lightly tamp the grounds to get a little over 2 oz of ground to make a product with the same potency as the Moka Express. The brew time will take a little longer, but worth the wait.

With that said, it all comes down to how the end product taste doesn't it. The Musa may win the looks contest, but the aluminum Express version wins on taste. Not sure how and why they taste different, but I did a taste test with friends and all agreed that the Express taste better and it's cheaper.

I would say get this if you a have fear of aluminum products and still want the Moka experience. I would pass on it if you're looking for a better product than the original Moka Express. For that, I would recommend you try the Aeropress, it takes more grounds, but the taste is worth it.

Would I buy the Musa again? Yes, it's another weapon in my arsenal for java nirvana. Although it may not be the most tasteful I have, it works great for 2 people having 2 shots each. Also, if you've never had the express version, you won't know what you're missing and this is a very good substitute. One last thing, it's very well constructed, you can see and feel why it's more expensive than the aluminum version.

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I've had a couple moka pots and while this one seems to work fairly well, it's very evident that outsourcing the manufacturing on these from Italy (some Bialetti are still made there) to India has caused quality to suffer. The stamped logo is crappy, the lid hinges are crooked and the pin that holds the lid to the hinge is slightly bent and works it's way half way out each time it's used. The moka pot works fairly well but at this quality it should have been about half as much. This takes longer to heat up than an aluminum moka pot and I did notice that it doesn't like my gas stove tops nearly as much as electric and I think that because the base is so small the gas ring on the stove is almost bigger than the base so you need to keep it on a small burner with the flame on medium to low. The product works, it's just a shame that you can definitely tell the quality has suffered by being made in India rather than the usual quality manufacturing that Italy produces.

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I've had this Bialetti for about eight months now. Apparently I got somewhat lucky in that the first one I received didn't have any defects. I like it. There's essentially nothing to break, and it's rugged heavy gauge stainless. No problem taking it camping. A few things to keep in mind about these type of coffee makers:

A "cup" is like a "shot" at Starbucks. Think demitasse.

The strength of the coffee produced can be somewhat modulated by how much ground coffee is put in the basket, how much it's packed in the basket, and how finely ground the coffee is. If you pack/fill the basket, it will be slow to brew and come out very strong. If you partially fill the basket and don't pack it, the coffee will be weaker and come out quickly. Slight changes seem to make a fairly large difference in the results.

One minor gripe is that I don't like the handle that's on the flip top lid. The way mine is installed, it's not possible to flip the lid up with your thumb while your hand is on the main handle. Sometimes I like to flip the lid up to check the brewing process and there isn't an easy way to do so. Not a big deal..

I'll have this coffee maker forever.