Alessi MDL02/3 R Pulcina Stove Top Espresso 3 Cup Coffee Maker in Aluminum Casting Handle And Knob in Pa, Red

The Alessi is a definite improvement over the standard Moka pot in a few ways. First of all, and most importantly, it makes better coffee. I had read this in reviews but had some admitted skepticism until I tried it. It produces a rich, full-bodied demitasse strength cup with none of the burnt notes I would always get with my old Moka. Also unlike the Moka, it consistently uses all of the water in the base, whereas the Moka pot would start to sputter and gurgle after using only half the water. The thick plate on the bottom of the pot seems to do a good job of dispersing the heat evenly, even on an electric stove.Second, the build quality is impressive. I have had several Moka pots of various sizes over the years and they felt, for lack of a better word, cheap. The aluminum felt flimsy and the pieces fit together in a haphazard sort of way. The Alessi, by contrast, seems to be engineered and manufactured to much tighter specifications. The aluminum feels heavier and the parts fit together snugly. The lid on the upper part opens and closes smoothly without being loose or rattling around.Third, but partly an extension of the point above, the Alessi is beautiful. Both the aesthetic and functional design elements are outstanding. It looks great on the shelf, its crisp, smooth lines (presumably from CNC machining) when viewed up-close become sweeping curves when viewed from a few feet away.The only real downside to the design is the handle. It is a bit small and awkwardly shaped, making it difficult to pour without your fingers bumping the hot metal. I usually grab it with a towel or oven mitt if I am pouring right off the stove.Also, in case anyone is not acquainted with Moka-style coffee makers, this device does not make espresso. Coffee from the Alessi is never going to taste like a shot of espresso from your favorite coffee shop. That said, it does produce a stronger brew with more body than a drip-style coffee maker, and it is appropriate for a demitasse serving. It is called a 3-cup maker, but I get just a bit over two espresso cups' worth of coffee per brew.Overall, if you are like me and had given up on Moka-style coffee, you might consider giving this one a try. It is a big improvement over the Moka, and will look great on the shelf even when you aren't using it.

( my 1st review)LOVE LOVE LOVE this pot! Quick easy and DELICIOUS! Not to mention BEAUTIFUL!!UPDATE!! I have had this pot for less than 5 MONTHS and it is falling APART!!I am 65 y/o who takes very good care of this pot.There’s no one else that uses it.I HAND WASH IT OCCASIONALLY WITH LITTLE TO NO MILD SOAP.The hinge that holds the top lid is to cheap to handle the weight of the lid. So it easily bends and gets crooked. I can hear things rattle around in the fallen off handle but there’s no way to get the screws out to try and repair it yourself!!And worst of all shortly after I received mine I ordered a second one as a birthday gift for a friend!! I feel embarrassed.It’s high on beauty and formBUT IT GET’s AN “F” FOR EVERY THING ELSE!!What you get this pot is WAAAAY over priced. Had it been sturdy and functional I would have gladly paid the price.I plan to avoid this company from now on.

It makes espresso and looks GORGEOUS. What more could I want in life??

Alessi describes the Pulcina as "revolutionary" and promises a "substantial design innovation" to improve the taste of the coffee. Shockingly, they actually deliver on their promise and then some. The coffee tastes better than with any pot I've used. Also, although tank holds slightly less water, unlike every other mocha pot I've used, every drop is used. This actually makes slightly more coffee than the 6 cup Bialetti coffee makers I've tried. And, again, the flavor is tremendous. I know this isn't technically espresso but the flavor is as close as you can get without a big expensive machine.Also, it's drop-dead gorgeous!A genuine triumph!

Ive had a Bialetti for a decade, but let it fall out of favor while using an aeropress. Started a new job, earlier, so my mornings became more rushed. i have one of those water cooler things with instant hot water and by starting with that i can have coffee in barely a minute.This things looks great and works great, and unlike the bialetti it actually uses up all the water in the bottom.

I have no experience with moka pots, so I read a lot about it and watched a lot of videos before I received this item. Much of the advice said to put hot water into the water chamber, but I followed Alessi’s instructions to fill the chamber with cold water. I also used an Aeropress filter, and coffee ground not too fine (as instructed). I also removed the pot from the heat as soon as the coffee started coming up intensely. I also stirred the coffee after brewing. The coffee came out delicious, and not bitter at all! I was so pleased - even with my first cup. Strong, flavorful coffee, and not bitter.I disassembled the machine, and washed the parts with hot water only as instructed. Love it so far!!!

Love the Deco style of this Alessi espresso maker! The 6 cup espresso pot makes 1 pretty large cup of regular brew. I ditched my electric drip pot after this purchase because the brew from this pot is superior. It's not recommended for the dishwasher, but it's easy to clean. And it looks great on my stove!