Aroma AWK-115S Hot H20 X-Press 1-1/2-Liter Cordless Water Kettle

[Originally review January 2009 (3 stars), Updated July 2010]

We bought one of these for our home and liked it so much I got another for my office. It is a quick safe way to boil water. It works much better than our teapot on our conventional stove and you can leave the room without worry about all the water boiling out and a possible fire.

It is so efficient that we often use it to heat up water before putting it in a pan on the stove. It is much faster. When we are making pasta we will put a small amount of water in a large pan and fill the teapot. The water in the pot is boiling before the water on the stove. The pot is light, even when full, and has no aftertaste like I have read some of the plastic ones do.

HOWEVER, we had owned our home pot for less than six months when the 'on' switch broke off. The pot was still usable, but you have to reach in and activate it with a fingernail. It was under limited warranty, but that involved mailing it to San Diego at our own cost and sending them a check for $8 to have it returned. Including the time and materials to package it up and then drive to the post office and have it gone for 2-4 weeks wasn't worth the effort.

I have concluded we just got a lemon. Because this happened and the warranty policy was so cumbersome, I originally gave this 3 stars. But our other one is working fine and the broken piece has turned out to be a small inconvenience, so I have revised my rating to 4.6, rounding up to 5.

It's not often that one finds a product that's both visually attractive AND functionally satisfying. This kettle is one of those rare items: the shiny stainless steel body is beautiful to look at, and it boils water very very quickly! It features a nice big and sturdy handle which is very comfortable, and the spout is perfectly designed so that you'd have to be a real klutz to spill things. The cordless feature is wonderful, I tried a cheap ten dollar "Hot Pot" for a day or two and hated having to deal with the cord, plus that model doesn't have automatic shutoff despite what it says on the box---huge fire hazard! There is also a power-indicator light and water-level indicator gauge which are both handy, and I like that there is no exposed heating element inside which would be a pain to clean. Instead it's all smooth clean lines, inside and out!

Sure the outside of the kettle does get a little hot so you probably don't want to have this within reach of toddlers or anything, but if your toddlers can get up on your kitchen countertop then you have a LOT of other problems as well! I appreciated not having to deal with how plastic inevitably gets dirty-looking and sometimes leaves a funny taste in the water.

My only slight concern is that the lid needs a little bit of force to shut completely...probably some kind of insulating seal that shortens the time needed to bring water to a boil, but makes me wonder how durable that part of this kettle is going to be. Oh well, will find out in a few months or (hopefully) years, I suppose!

*UPDATED 2/14/2011: Still going strong, no complaints at all. I use it at least twice a day, most days. The lid has held up well. Highly recommend!

Buy Aroma AWK-115S Hot H20 X-Press 1-1/2-Liter Cordless Water Kettle Now

I bought this after I was so disappointed with a Breville one. The pot does get hot but I don't have any children or pets to worry about. The boil time is very fast and there is no coil on the inside so I do not have to worry about the build-up or rust I have experienced with other kettles. The water tastes good and clean. For this price it is very affordable! I do have to admit that the pot seems a little cheaply made, but I didn't expect much since it seems to be less than half the price of others of the same volume and style. I am very happy with this!!

Update (more than a month later): this is still working so quick and perfectly! I couldn't be happier!

Read Best Reviews of Aroma AWK-115S Hot H20 X-Press 1-1/2-Liter Cordless Water Kettle Here

I bought it last month and used it over one month now. Heat quickly, looks good on the counter, easy to use and cheap.

The big problem for me is it failed to shut itself off about 10% of times, with the lid closed completely, even minutes after water boiled and the plastic handle became too hot to hold. I have to stay nearby when I using it, otherwise it could be dangerous. I contacted Aroma service people today, they told me that I can send back to repair, but I need to pay the shipping cost by myself. For a 30 dollar stuff, it is not worth it. Kind of disappointed.

New update in 1/12/2012.

I use it over two years now, almost every day. I feel good about this product now. It did fail to shut itself off around 10% of times in the first month. But it is OK after that. I guess it maybe caused by the built up water stain near the edge of cover. It made the cover close tighter to trigger the detector. I change the rate to 4 stars from 1 star. Feel surprised that this kettle last pretty long.

Want Aroma AWK-115S Hot H20 X-Press 1-1/2-Liter Cordless Water Kettle Discount?

Whether for tea or or hot oatmeal, this water kettle has performed perfectly. Before I purchased this I tended to use the microwave to heat water. Can't believe what a waste of time and energy that was, not to mention possibly unhealthy. This kettle is even faster than your stove top.

The interior is about 98% metal except for a very tiny amount of plastic. I didn't taste anything bad regardless and my sense of smell/taste is fairly strong.

My only concern is that the instructions clearly say to unplug the kettle when not in use. There's an auto shut-off after the water is boiled so either the manufacturer is being extra extra cautious or they believe there could be a problem. Would prefer to just leave it plugged in and not worry about it, but I follow the directions.

A great buy overall have owned it for months now without a problem.

Save 6% Off

Espressione CA4865 Supremma Super-Automatic Coffee/Beverage Center

After almost a month and a second try, I give up.

There are some pros, though, and it would be unfair not to mention them ...

Nice design, very attractive.

The coffee is not bad at all.

And, the customer support very competent and knowledgeable.

But ...

The machine seems to have a mind of its own.

The first one didn't work at all. I called customer support, but more to accomplish a formality ... When you pay $1,000.00 for a product, the last thing you expect is to have to spend the first day trying to make it work.

But I decided to give it another try.

The second one started just fine. User friendly, great coffee, stylish (looks great on the counter)...

After a couple of weeks, the output became inconsistent (some shots not even enough to fill a tablespoon). Resetting the amount of water didn't help. Customer service suggested that I avoid using the fine grind settings ... in other words: avoid certain settings, you may mess-up the machine. Well, this is not what I was expecting from a $1,000.00 machine.

At the same time, the brewing group started spilling the ground coffee all over the brewing compartment, without apparent reason (and, therefore, no way to fix it). Cleaning became a hassle.

The bottom line is ... not worth $1,000.00. This is the reason for the single star.

Purchased in June 2010. Went through a pound of coffee and contact with customer service just to get it operating correctly. Very tempermental. Requires constant cleaning, and need to adjust grind with every coffee purchase to minimize either clogging or grounds in base of unit. After eight months, the computer board fried. Sent it in under warranty. After return, worked better, but certain functions like cups made and adjusting grind period, no longer available. After another six months, the power board fried. Estimate is another $200 for repair plus shipping. Presently sitting on counter as decoration because it looks great. Should be more robust internally considering the initial price. Limited repair facilities available. Deciding whether to spend another $260 for repair plus shipping, or cut losses by buying cappucino at local barista. With only one year warranty and DIY manuals unavailable, appears there is an exclusive stream of income through constant repair and service. What do you think?

Buy Espressione CA4865 Supremma Super-Automatic Coffee/Beverage Center Now

Purchased this as a Christmas present for my wife who happens to love all things coffee. I figured a high-end, touch-screen coffee machine was the perfect gift, and it was, until it stopped working. Less than a full month into use this $900 coffee maker has begun to leak and won't even brew a cup as the equipment states there is an error. I gathered there was an error when water started to spew out the rear of the device, but there is no fix in sight and I already have been forced to take it into a repair shop. But at least the cool blue light on the side of the machine still works. Maybe the light was just foreshadowing how blue I'd get once I learned how much money I'd lost on such a shoty product.

Read Best Reviews of Espressione CA4865 Supremma Super-Automatic Coffee/Beverage Center Here

We've used this machine at our home overseas in 220-240V version for over four years and have found it to be flawless in performance, effortless in programming and use, so uncomplicated to use that we had this in a orthodontists office where adults and children alike used the machine. Purchased the 110-120V version and am delighted with performance (seems to be some improvements over orignal model we own) Creates an excellent crema at the perfect temperature when pulling a shot(s) of espresso or an americano. Preinfusion feature insures great results. Plenty of powerful, dry steam for frothing milk. A breeze to use the cappucinador by placing line into milk jug or container, frothing milk directly into the cup. Touch screen panel gives clear and straightfoward commands. Audible bell tone advises if there is an item not in place, not enough water or dump bin needs to be cleaned. Generally I make between 18-22 coffees before needing to remove and clean the dump bin. Pleasant cobalt blue power switch and cobalt blue light that illuminates the large water tank. Grinder adjustment is very easy. customer service taught me a trick where you can "increase the grind time" thus receiving optimum results from a hard or heavily roasted coffee bean. This gave us the capability of achieving a sold coffee cake or puck after each coffee. We owned another brand here in america and it was difficult to remove the brewing group (a key was required). This one extremely easy to remove for cleaning with one turn of a clip and one knob that you unscrew. All in all we view this machine as outstanding and our thrilled that we can recommend our friends to buy it on Amazon. Although the water reservoir and bean container is larger than a unit that we used from Switzerland, I'm going to contact the maker to see if it's possible to get even a larger water reservoir and a larger bean container.

Want Espressione CA4865 Supremma Super-Automatic Coffee/Beverage Center Discount?

Originally I had high hopes for this fancy looking coffee/espresso machine. Being paranoid about setting up the machine correctly, I reviewed all of the poorly translated directions carefully.

Pros:

* Fancy design, automatic, decent water reservoir, easy to use point and touch selections

Cons:

* Produced severely watered down coffee even with fine grind setting and strong coffee setting.

* Even after several tests and inspecting the internal parts and brew group, non-drinkable coffee was produced.

* Significant amounts of water produced in the drip tray every time (not due to cup misplacement, apparently an internal function of this machine)

* After several more tests (10 cups), the machine internals were extremely clogged. This is most likely due to using the fine grind setting however all of that great coffee was inside the machine and not in my coffee cup.

If you are looking for an over-priced water cooker to clean often, this is your ticket. Otherwise, pass!

Save 32% Off

Espressione Café Minuetto Professional Thermoblock Espresso Machine, Silver

Just purchased this unit, (actually the 1334 not the 1334/1, the only difference is less stainless steel exterior). I read hundreds of reviews on all kinds of models and spent way to much time going to the stores here in Florence, Italy looking and comparing and talking to the sales reps. Like most items if you get a bad one you hate it and if you get a good one it is the best there is! So many units are plastic and so light weight that they really scared me. Even the old names out there seem to have models that look and feel cheap and you wonder how long they will last? I narrowed it down to the Ariete Minuetto, Gaggia Evolution and the DeLonghi EC 310 models. I was on a tight budget so that made things a little difficult to sort out as well. The DeLonghi had lots of reviews and the highest user satisfaction rating but two things turned me away, 50 euros higher in cost and it felt light and seemed kind of cheap. The Gaggia was pretty plastic and light as well and was supposed to have good inner working parts but the reviews were a 50/50 thing for the most part with not good ratings on after the sale service. The Minuetto had only 2 or 3 user ratings on it that I could find and they were 50/50 as well but the negative one seemed more like user error to me than the brands problem. So after a lot of scrutiny I decided on the Minuetto at a cost of 99 euro. I looked at the Minuetto pro with all the stainless on it but decided that another 35 euro was not worth just the look of more stainless steel.

The unit was very well packaged and there was no damage of any kind to the exterior of the unit and the fit and finish was excellent. The unit feels very solid and has a good weight to it like something that is made to last for a while. Not bright and flashy in appearance but just simple and very professional looking with stainless steel parts and brushed chrome and the darker areas are a dark gray color. The foamer wand is stainless steel and not plastic like so many I looked at and feels solid when I turn it and not wobbly like it is going to fall off at any moment. The drip tray grate is stainless steel as well. The drip tray is easily removed for cleaning and even has a float gauge to tell you if it gets full of water. The top has a stainless steel plate over the cup warming area but like so many I don't think it will get warm enough to want to use it for cup warming. The plate is removable for cleaning so that makes cleaning the top of the unit very easy. The water tank is on the back side and is clear so you can see the water level with ease and it hold a very good amount of water so you won't be filling it each time you use it. The tank is also very easy to remove and the top of it also is used as a handle to lift the tank from it's position on the unit.

The filters it comes with are, one for using pods and one for a one cup espresso using ground coffee and one for a two cup shot using ground coffee. The filter wand and housing are solid but the handle might feel slightly light weight. Time will tell how it hold up. There are two indicator lights on the front, one for power being on and the other letting you know it is up to the right heat level to use. Their is a rocker power switch on the back left side of the unit. The main control knob on the front is chrome plastic but feels very solid and turning it to the left produces steam for the wand and to the right for pouring the espresso and in the center for standby mode. User manual is shown in several languages and is clear and easy to read. Not hugely in depth but adequate for the most part. There is also a service center brochure supplied.

A short word about service. I had one very simple question that I emailed the Ariete customer service center about and within 4 hours I had a return email with a very clear answer. If that is typical of their response I give them high points for taking care of their customers.

I followed the instructions for preparing the unit for use. Some talk about noise of espresso machines. What came from this unit was nothing alarming at all. You of course heard the pump running but what do you expect? The unit heated up quickly after priming the pump etc and ran hot water through the filter well and also steam through the wand very well. No leaks of any kind, no water spraying where it should not etc. but just worked like it was supposed to work. I filled the two cup filter with ground espresso coffee with the supplied measuring spoon and tamped it with the other end which is a tamper. Not heavy duty but it did do the job. Positioned the filter and snugged it into place. Allowed it a couple of minutes to warm up and then turned it to the espresso switch side. In a couple of seconds great looking espresso began to flow with a great creama effect on the top. I then ran the steam wand in a glass for a few seconds to allow it to warm and produce good steam and then with a cold cup of milk in a stainless cup began to produce great looking frothy milk. Espresso and milk were nice and hot and looked great. Taste was not perfect but that was because I used a cheap espresso brand to begin with to get the hang of things.

So in summery this unit did all that it was supposed to do the first time out. Looks good, feels good and is very easy to use. My first impressions are 5 stars! If you are looking for a well made and put together easy to use espresso machine take a look at this one. It is worth the look and I think you will be impressed especially if you compare it to others in the same and even slightly higher price range.

I purchased this espresso machine in Nov '11 as a birthday gift for my husband. Since then it has been used minimum twice a day. it makes excellent coffee, espresso, and latte's... perfect temperature, perfect rich taste. IT is very easy to use, and clean... it takes very little for the water temperature to warm up, and it makes little noise. Granted the knob did come off a month ago, but unlike the previews reviewer, we are a little more handy and figured out it only needed two screws to fix, now it will never come off. it is incredibly sleek, and professional looking, takes little space, and still have not tasted better drinks on any other machine or shop. We've saved soooo much money and gas! :)

Buy Espressione Café Minuetto Professional Thermoblock Espresso Machine, Silver Now

Okay, seriously this lil machine (not a lightweight one either) really puts out a fast and furious brewed espresso! I LOVE it! super fast, super easy to use. I honestly have no complaints about it. I am such a "detail" person who does all my legwork before I purchase and I scored with this one! The "knob" is fine, IF it does fall off like others have claimed, it would be such an easy quick fix. Don't NOT buy it because of this. Really it's a strong knob. I place my muffins on the warmer on top occasionally...so nice! The first time I used it I packed the espresso grounds too tight, ya barely need to press them down. The key to a good perfect flow is packing them just lightly, otherwise it will clog the holes and cause it to not flow smoothly. You will get a nice lil foamy topping automatically on the espresso, just like a quality coffee house. Finally a machine that DOES what it says. Be blown away, get one!

p.s.....add a lil brown sugar to bottom of cup before dispensing....ooooh la la!

Read Best Reviews of Espressione Café Minuetto Professional Thermoblock Espresso Machine, Silver Here

Let me start off by saying this product is definatly worth your money. I have never written a review before but this product deserved it. I myself have been a barista for several years. With that you become accustomed to good coffee. However you are not used to paying that $4 for every lattee. Now being a stay at home mom I wanted the product without the price.

The machine makes shots that are as good as the big expensive machine at the stand offer. The steamer not so much if you want just warmed milk with a little foam on top you will be fine. However if you want the milk to all have a marshmellow whip texture to it spend another $20 and by a milk frother to.

Do not use tap water. I know it says to but it will really ruin your machine quickly. Use DISTILLED water only. All other water have lots of minerals. Not only will you get better tasting coffee but prolong the life of the machine. Use half a teaspoon puro cleaner or another type of decalcifier once a month with about the filter with no holes on the bottom leaving it turned to the espresso side for two minutes p.It pushs the liquid back up cleaning you machine. All espresso stands do this every night before they shut down the machine.

Now onto to how to make good lattees.

First you will need a better tamper. I bought the one that amazon recommends to go with it.

I bought a simple $15 coffee grinder from walmart that has a hold button. Make sure that you use whole beans that are ground fresh every time. Good espresso is oily and fresh. Bad flavor happens once it has been oxidized to long. You want to make sure when grinding that the coffee is ground to just above powder texture. Then you want to fill the espresso holder filter as full as you can. The first time i did this I tried to not over pack it. Do not worry you probably wont. You will know if you do because your shots would literally only drip thru. Now take the tamper and press between firmly and hard. You will know that you are packing it correctly by your shots take around 45 seconds to fill. I personally like to pour my shot right away half carmel color and half espresso (when you are getting the correct pressure your shots come out carmel colored and then turn espresso starting at the bottom of the shot glass. This colored changed is considered the shot burning itself.) If you want a stronger flavor wait for the shot to completely change color.

Before you make the espresso shots steam your milk. NEVER add espresso to only flavor. You need milk to keep from burning the syrup. If you dont your flavor will be very gross. So to steam the milk you need a refriderated metal pitcher. I would choose the 20 oz one because to steam you need to tilt the pitcher so the milk will circulate. You can tell your doing it right by the milk moving in a cicular motion on top. Your milk may take a minute to start doing this, on account of it being cold and that cold particles move slower than warm ones. Start steam at the bottom of the pitcher.

If you want foam then this paragraph will help you achieve the best foam possible with this machine. For really good foam use whole milk or add some half and half to milk or even use only half and half(breve). Wait you can feel the pitcher is not cold to touch then move to the top inch if you want foam and pull pitcher up and down the top inch. Swirl the milk in the pitcher for 30 seconds this will clump the foam together. Then tap the bottom of the pitcher on the couter for 30-45 seconds this will eliminate the unwanted large bubble and even the texture. Allow to sit for a minute then pour as much milk out as you want and spoon out the amount of foam you want. A standard latte has a inch of foam on top. A cappuccino is all foam when called "dry" or half milk half foam when called "wet".

Now you pour your shots on top. Stir or not stir its your preference.

When making iced drinks the order is flavor, milk, espresso, ice. If you add ice before espresso you will end up with a watery drink.

I can't think of anymore helpful knowledge to share.

Enjoy your new machine if you get it.

Ohh and you should try tonys cafe camelita. Best coffee ever. Also for those of you who live outside washington state and are not a big fan of coffee flavor try white coffee, it has a very light nutty taste with twice the caffeine of normal esspresso. It only comes pre ground and is much more the texture of coffee pot grinds. Dont grind it more. I cant think of a good brand but i do know there are some not good ones out there so read the reviews.

Want Espressione Café Minuetto Professional Thermoblock Espresso Machine, Silver Discount?

I wanted a machine with a pump in the lower price range. My previous espresso machines had pumps -except oneand they produce a much better cup of coffee with that additional pressure. I wanted something simple without all the added features such as grinders, etc. To make it simple I think this machine is great. I've only used it for a month so don't know about the knob issues that others had but for the price it's a sure winner so far. P.S. I've used the machine for about 6 weeks and the steamer does not work. So now I have to rebox the unit for warranty work. Of course the box has already been discarded. One of the joys of an espresso machine is the steamer.So upon further reflection I'd advise against purchase.

Save 63% Off

TRU Burr Grinder, Holds 1/2-Pound Coffee Beans

I bought this because my Capresso Conical grinder conked out. I didn't want to buy another Capresso because I wasn't that thrilled with its performance. (Ground coffee gets packed around the grinding burr and is hard to get out. Also the machine generates a lot of static electricity, so when you pull the container away from the machine coffee gets all over the place.)

This Tru machine doesn't seem to have those problems, particularly not the annoying static electricity one. No coffee ends up on the counter. It also seems to grind to any size needed. A couple reviewers had problems not being able to grind for espresso. I had the opposite problem, the machine was grinding for espresso and I wanted drip. After playing around with the top (which controls the grind) I got what I needed. The settings on the machine just aren't very accurate or precise. But for under $40 bucks, I can live with that.

I purchased another inexpensive burr grinder that ground beans just fine, only problem was more coffee ended up on the counter than in the container. However, this grinder leaves zero coffee behind, it all goes into the container. I have been using this grinder now for a week, and it is easy to clean, fairly quiet (for a grinder) and not messy. I'm sure some people may ding it for not being able to grind anything other than coffee, but it's a coffee grinder, not a spice or nut grinder. Based on the fact this is a coffee grinder, it is an excellent coffee grinder and it is well worth the purchase, especially if you don't want to drop over a benjamin for a grinder.

I'm glad my blade grinder died, now I can have properly ground coffee with no "half beans" in the mix. Give this grinder a shot, you'll probably be impressed by it.

Buy TRU Burr Grinder, Holds 1/2-Pound Coffee Beans Now

This is one of the best burr grinders I have purchased...consistent grind, very easy to use and very little mess. The biggest problem however, is that it will not grind fine enough for espresso, which is what I purchased it for. Regardless of what the manufacturer says, it's really only made for a French Press (coarse grind) or drip coffee maker (fine grind).

Read Best Reviews of TRU Burr Grinder, Holds 1/2-Pound Coffee Beans Here

When you consider what you're getting for the price, I think this is a great deal!

I have a Drip, an electric (Presto 12 cup) percolator, a Bonjour Monet 8 cup French press, a 3 cup Bialetti Moka Express, and lastly an espresso maker. What can I say, I like coffee. I like the variety of coffees I can produce with this range of machines. Up until now I have been using a Braun Grinder which I bought many years ago for $20. I had successfully, for years, been using that grinder for all my coffee needs with satisfactory results.

For just a little more than I purchased one of those old school grinders I got the TRU Burr Grinder and I love it.

I have not had a problem making the grind fine enough for my espresso machine or coarse enough for my French press and everything in between. Everything is relative however. Perhaps a purist, or retired coffee house barista, would take exception. For me, however, I was able to make the same serious 'get-the-HELL-up-and-GO' strength brew out of my espresso maker with the fine grind of this machine.

I use this grinder 1-3 times a day. I've made coffee for 12 with my Presto perc and coffee for 2 for my wife and I with consistently delicious results. I like strong coffee. Very quickly I determined the ratio of 2 to 3 when I make coffee with this grinder. If I make 6 cups in the perc, I set the quantity selector to 9. If I make 10 cups I set it to 15. Works every time! Of course you may have to come up with a ratio that suits your tastes, but that's easy.

I did a lot of research and this price point is pretty much the entry point for burr grinders which go up into the hundreds! So, if you'd like to treat yourself, and don't consider yourself a coffee 1%'er then you'll probably be quite satisfied.

I'm no coffee snob but I'm no slouch either. If this thing sucked I'd tell ya.

Other Pros:

Nice, attractive design.

Relatively small footprint.

Quantity setting with auto off.

The ground catcher does not shimmy away while grinding. All the grounds go into the container and not on your counter.

Again, for the price, it would be hard to do better!! I am completely satisfied. With that, I highly recommend the TRU Burr Grinder.

Want TRU Burr Grinder, Holds 1/2-Pound Coffee Beans Discount?

This is not a burr grinder. It is an impeller grinder masquerading as a burr grinder. Underneath a metal plate meant to look like a burr are impeller blades like those found in the high speed impeller coffee grinders. You can tell this the instant you turn it on because it makes the high pitch whir of an impeller grinder. Like all impeller grinders, this grinder produces a grind with a lot of fines no matter how coarse the setting, which makes for very BITTER coffee. The low cost IS too good to be true. Don't buy it unless you want something a little more automatic but which produces the same results as a conventional impeller grinder.

Save 9% Off

Espresso Stovetop Coffee Maker By Cuisinox (Mirror Polished Aluminum)

I purchased this Cuisinox Espresso Stovetop Coffee maker for my sister for her birthday and she loves it. She uses it every morning and it is probably one of the best gifts she has ever received. Very simple, inexpensive, no fuss, quick, strong, concentrated Espresso. The term "3-Cup" is giving a few customers a problem. It, in this case, does not mean 3 full cups (24 ounces) of watered down, drip-brewed coffee, but 3 shots (1/3 cup or approximately 2.6 ounces) of pure, strong, concentrated coffee with a thicker consistency. Espresso has more caffeine per unit volume than drip-brewed coffee, and this is what Expresso drinkers want. A quick shot to get them going; Espresso! This Espresso maker is probably not for those who want to drink coffee all morning, but for those who want the instant, long lasting charge to get them going and keep them going for hours and it works for her. I am giving this 5 stars because it does exactly what is suppose to do, make strong, concentrated shots of coffee (Espresso cup-sized). She says "It's just perfect!", "I love it!", "It's just right!". I hope this review helps coffee drinkers understand the difference in what they are buying. Do you want to take a shower or would you prefer a long bubble bath?

This item is very small. The description says that it's "1 cup" but that is misleading. It's certainly not 1 cup of liquid that it produces. And it's not for a coffee cup size drink. The bottom part that you fill up with water would hold about a half cup of water--at the most. And the espresso part holds about two tablespoons of espresso. It's tiny! I used to work at a coffee shop, and we used more espresso to make one small espresso drink. One shot of espresso would require double the amount of espresso that this maker can hold. So even if you did use this product to make yourself a shot of espresso, it would be a very weak one because it doesn't hold enough espresso to make a normal espresso shot.

I can't imagine how you would ever use this espresso maker. I guess it might be good for a dollhouse....

Buy Espresso Stovetop Coffee Maker By Cuisinox (Mirror Polished Aluminum) Now

If looking for a 1 cup espresso maker, this is a great value. It was given to my son as a gift and he appreciated receiving it.

Read Best Reviews of Espresso Stovetop Coffee Maker By Cuisinox (Mirror Polished Aluminum) Here

This is a great stovetop espresso maker. We enjoy espresso just about every day and whenever we go to Italy we stock up on the good stuff. This espresso maker is great quality for great coffee. I've had a few espresso makers of this style but this is the best one yet. Instead of the normal plastic ring that most others come with this one comes a silicone ring which I notice is MUCH easier to clean and it does a better job of keeping the coffee in the pot as it bubbles to the top reservoir. With the others the coffee sometimes spewed out the side a bit. What we also notice with this one is that the inside does not change much or oxidize as previous makers did. Highly recommended!

Want Espresso Stovetop Coffee Maker By Cuisinox (Mirror Polished Aluminum) Discount?

Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker

Every family in Italy owns one of these machines. Here are a few tips:

1. In Italy this is NOT called an espresso machine, but a Moka machine. An espresso is what you would drink in bar made with a steam or high pressure machine with the crema on top.

2. Smaller size Moka machine tend to make better coffee.

3. Never wash the Moka with detergents, just rinse it under tap water

4. You've gotta use it often for a good coffee.

5. If you haven't use it in a while, make a weak coffee ("lungo") and discard

6. DO NOT put the MOka in the dishwasher.

7. Use drinking water. Avoid tap water especially if very chlorinated

8. Never compress the coffee.

9. For a strong coffee fill the filter with ground coffee and make a small cupola that slightly protrudes beyond the rim. Do not press down.

10. For best coffee, heat at very low heat. It's ok if it takes 10min.

11. As soon as coffee reaches the top, remove from heat

12. Do not let the coffee boil

13. Use good quality coffee, not too strong, medium grind (try Illy for a good commercial brand)

14. Sip while still hot, enjoy!

15. (Added Nov 2012) Wait until all the water has reached the upper chamber before removing from the heat. You will be able to tell by the sound (takes some practice) or simply visually. As soon as no more coffee reaches the upper chamber remove from heat. Do note let the coffee boil. With practice, you may remove from the heat even sooner, by just using the residual heat in the lower chamber.

16. (Added Nov 2012) Some times you may put too much coffee, or the coffee is too finely ground, or it's been packed too hard. In all of these situations, the end results is typically that the coffee struggles reaching the upper chamber. You can tell by the spouting noise occurring too early, the foam occurring too early, and how slow the whole process is. You can try increasing the heat if that helps. However, you will likely end up with a coffee that is too bitter and tastes burned. Back in the old days, this was dangerous business with many machines exploding (they had no safety valves). Regardless, your coffee is ruined and I would suggest removing it frmo the heat immediately, let it coold down and starts all over.

17. (Added Nov 2012) What kind of coffee should I use? Experiment, experiment, experiment! Here are some tips I have learned by experimenting. Until you become confortable with the operations of the machine, you can use a good commercial brand like Illy (although it's quite expensive). I wouldn't want you to blame the machine, just because you happened to use a bad coffee. Then start trying different varieties from different roasters. If there are independent roasters near you, why not giving them a try? I haven't had good experience with roasts marketed towards Espresso machines (I find the roast too excessive). Try to buy whole beans and grind them yourself. I find the cheap and popular brands pretty bad for Mokas, even if they happen to make good American style brews. I have had pretty good luck with small roasters and Colombian varieties (or Costa Rican). I have also had outstanding African coffees (Ethiopian). Unfortunately, I found they are seldom consistent.

About 12 years ago I was in Milan, and a friend gave me one of these to take home. I have used it nearly every day since (I don't take it out of town), so that should give you an idea of how sturdy it is. It is the best coffee maker I have ever owned. To compare, I also have a high-tech espresso machine with frother; a state-of-the-art automatic drip coffeemaker; a French Press; and a different style of stovetop maker, which, surprisingly, makes a different brew. But I ALWAYS go back to my Bialetti Moka 6-cup for the best espresso and lattes. You even will get a crema effect with this simple pot. For lattes, I simply fill half a coffee mug with milk, heat it in the microwave until it's hot, and then top it off with espresso. It's low-maintenance -every once in a while I replace the internal rubber gasket, which costs a buck or so, depending upon where you buy it. If you like your coffee like the Italians and the Cubans, then you will like the brew this serves. I am loyal to this simple little pot, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Buy Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker Now

Works great on the stovetop, works great when you're CAMPING..!!! No plugs, no cords, no nonsense -fill the lower half with water to the indicated mark, put your grounds in the upper basket, join the two halves, wait for it to gurgle and you have EXCEPTIONALLY DELICIOUS espresso the way it ought to be made.

The device is simple and beautifully made. I'd recommend the six-cup version, the smaller versions just don't make very much espresso -I mean, get the six-cup version if there are two of you, since that will make an adequate amount.

Really a brilliant product. I wish that everything was so well-designed and robust. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Read Best Reviews of Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker Here

***DO NOT OVERHEAT!***DO NOT OVERHEAT!***DO NOT OVERHEAT!***

There. I've done my good deed, and passed along the warning for the next person. Reading the translated-to-English directions, it's easy to miss this important cautionary note. In fact, it's not even IN the directions. It's written on the side of the box.

But fortunately, before my Moka Express ever arrived, I read another reviewer's cautionary note about avoiding HIGH heat (which can destroy the rubber gasket), so I didn't have any problem from the get-go.

And speaking of 'get-go' here's the deal. The FIRST time out (actually the second time, because the directions recommend that you dispose of the first batch), I had THE *BEST* ESPRESSO I EVER HAD. PERIOD. BAR NONE.

Using some Columbian coffee (that a friend had actually hand-carried from Columbia a few weeks ago), and setting my smallest burner (it's a ceramic-top stove) to just under "5" (10 being the hottest), the espresso that came out of this coffeemaker was INCREDIBLY smooth, and totally without the bitter taste that it can sometimes have.

If this is the result after using it ONCE, I'm looking forward to seeing how good it gets after I've had a chance to figure out the best combination of type of coffee/amount to use/fineness of grind/etc.

Also, for the price, it absolutely cannot be beat. The full pot yielded about six double-shots, so after just one use, it's almost half paid for!

I'm going to be drinking a lot more espresso. And cappuccino. And cafe-au-lait.

Oh well. Who needs sleep? It's overrated anyway! ;-)

-Jonathan Sabin

UPDATE... We put it in the dishwasher today.

DON'T make this mistake!

When we pulled it out at the end of the cycle, the shiny aluminum exterior had turned into a pretty ugly, uneven, dull finish. I'm sure it'll still work just fine, but it sure doesn't look as nice as it did before.

(ONE other review, among the 48 thusfar, mentions the dishwasher issue, but doesn't say why.)

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE... It's taken about 3 months, but a BUNCH of hand-cleaning has finally reverted our Bialetti to its former shiny state! It's STILL making the best espresso/cappucino I've ever had!

Want Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker Discount?

My wife and I have been spending a pretty penny at the local coffee shop, so I began looking for inexpensive home alternatives. Most of the coffee snobs claim you have to purchase a $200+ machine and $150+ grinder to have a decent cup of espresso. I turned instead to the frugal Italians. They did invent the stuff, afterall. My Bialetti Moka Express coffee pot came this afternoon. I was a little concerned that a $20 pot might not meet the high standards of the gourmet beverages wifey and I have become accustomed to. I was wrong. The brew made by this ingenious little pot is a little weaker than "pumped" espresso and lacks the foamy cap (crema) that all the snobs rave about, but mixed with some hot, frothed milk and a bit of chocolate syrup I couldn't tell the difference between Bialetti and Seattle's Best.

This rich brew comes from a tiny little aluminum contraption with no moving parts, no electronic gizmos, no pump handle and virtually no wait time or clean-up. You just fill, brew and pour. It's that simple. Its base only covers half of the stovetop's smallest eye and I expect it will be easy to store due to its diminuitive size. I've already had three cups of homemade mocha today, and I've only had the pot since noon! *jitter jitter* The point is this: If you're a coffee lover who is bored with Folgers from a Mr. Coffee drip machine or is spending way too much at Starbucks, the Moka pot is an inexpensive and easy-to-use alternative with excellent results.

Holstein Housewares H-08007 6 Cup Stainless Steel Espresso Maker

I've been using this type of stove-top espresso makers for 30 years and wanted to get away from the aluminum pots... just received this last night as a Christmas gift... this morning i made my first pot of coffee in it... the pressure valve blew out with the first pot... it is rather light weight, i was hoping for a bit heaver duty... I guess you get what you pay for... too bad, it looks good in the picture...

so it has now been a few weeks of use... I replaced the valve with one from an older pot I still had... I also changed out the basket with the old one... reason? I cut my self on the one that came with it... none of the edges on the steel parts are finished, just stamped out and assembled... about the 3rd day as I was making my coffee the bottom popped and now the pot sort of wobbles when setting on the counter... the steel is VERY light gauge...

i will be replacing this ASAP...

It works well enough, just be sure you are sitting right in front of it to adjust the heat at any given moment. Tends to overcook/burn the coffee no matter how low you have it on. The design is nice and sleek, but using this on a gas burner, we tried various temps and got burnt coffee every time. We got another brand aluminum maker for Christmas, and have had no issues with it at all. I would recommend getting one of those before spending the extra ten bucks on the stainless!

Buy Holstein Housewares H-08007 6 Cup Stainless Steel Espresso Maker Now

I got this as a gift and it works great! My kitchen smells delicious after I brew the coffee and it takes no time. I like the handle design and material.

Read Best Reviews of Holstein Housewares H-08007 6 Cup Stainless Steel Espresso Maker Here

This espresso maker is great! It makes really great tasting coffee and it takes very little prep time.

It's super easy to clean and I love having some espresso anytime I want!

Want Holstein Housewares H-08007 6 Cup Stainless Steel Espresso Maker Discount?

I like it , it is not as heavy as my other one though. I wish I had bought a spare since they are hard to find.

Save 34% Off