5 Reasons I love my Bialetti-the best Stovetop Espresso Maker

Where did my love for the Bialetti stovetop coffee maker begin?

During a one-year study abroad program in Florence, Tuscany back in 2005. I was quickly clued in to the fact that almost every Italian made coffee at home on their stove-top with a little metal stovetop coffee maker or espresso pot- the Bialetti Moka.

I thought I was crafty and headed out to the nearest cheap goods market to grab a $10 pot. I went through three cheap pots before I realized I should just get an actual Bialetti (still cheap but I was a poor student at the time). After figuring out that the Bialetti was the best stovetop espresso maker in existence, I’ve been using a Bialetti Moka pot at home ever since.

Why?

It’s on of the most affordable ways to make espresso from home

Instead of dumping hundreds or thousands into fancy at-home espresso machines that still aren’t ever as good as the proper Italian espresso machines in the best cafes (those are MEGA expensive) I spend about $30 on a Bialetti Moka pot and use it for many years before having to replace it.

This way-my money goes to buying good espresso! And of course, I still go out for a proper cappuccino or espresso when I want the absolute best. What a talented barista and a $15,000 or $20,000 espresso machine can do, just can’t be done at home.

A Bialetti Moka pot lasts many years before having to be replaced.

Whenever I tried non-Bialetti versions I had problems with melting handles pretty much immediately. Bialetti is better crafted and therefore lasts longer.

It’s SO Simple

Pour water in the bottom portion of the pot, put your espresso in the little espresso funnel, screw the top on and boil for 2-3 minutes. Voila!

You can take a Bialetti anywhere

You don’t even need electricity! I used to keep an extra Bialetti Moka stovetop coffee maker on hand to take with me camping so I could make my espresso there (the campfire discolors the bottom of the pot so I liked to keep my main pot at home).

I also often throw my Bialetti in my suitcase when I’m going to be staying in an Airbnb and I don’t know what type of coffeemaker will be there. I don’t like coffee from American coffee makers or Keurig.

Making coffee in a Bialetti pot requires no plastic, metal or paper.

Enough said. Why contribute to your carbon footprint when it is not at all necessary?

I love to start my day with a cappuccino so I almost always also use a handheld milk frother to froth my milk before adding my espresso (Illy espresso is one of my favorites and relatively easy to get in the U.S). I’ve been doing this for over ten years and it is not only a cheap and low maintenance way to make a cappuccino at home but my cappuccinos taste great! 🙂

Below are the items I use at home to make my morning cappuccinos.  At around $30 for the espresso pot , about $15 for the frother and $13-$14ish for great espresso this is the absolute most affordable way to make a good Italian style cappuccino at home :).

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