Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Maker
The octagonal aluminium pot in production since 1933. Steam pressure — around 1.5 bar, well below an espresso machine’s nine — pushes water up through a fine-ground bed. Not espresso, despite the shorthand, but concentrated, and the most forgiving concentrated brew there is.
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What it does
- Aluminium, no electricity
- Roughly 1.5 bar pressure
- Fine grind, not espresso-fine
- Sizes by cup count
Specifications
- Type
- Moka with an octagonal aluminium boiler
- Material
- Aluminium body; thermoplastic handle and knob
- Works with
- Electric and gas hobs; induction hobs only with the Bialetti induction plate
As published by Bialetti (read 7 October 2026). Specifications change between versions; the maker's page has the current ones.
Who it suits
- a strong, concentrated coffee on a hob without an espresso machine
- anyone with a gas, electric or ceramic hob
Who should skip it
- anyone expecting true espresso: a moka pot works at lower pressure and makes strong brewed coffee, not crema-topped espresso
- induction hobs, unless the listing says the pot is induction compatible
The thing worth knowing
A moka pot is sized by the water and coffee it holds, so use the size it is made for. Fill the basket level without pressing it down, and keep the heat moderate to avoid a burnt taste.
Suits these methods
What we have not done
We have not independently tested this product. The description above is compiled from the manufacturer’s published specification and from what the category demands, and it is written to tell you who the equipment suits rather than to sell it. Where we have no first-hand experience, we say so rather than inventing a star rating.