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The Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker has been around since 1933, and it is still the best stovetop espresso maker you can buy to make strong, delicious coffee right at home.
True coffee lovers know there's more than one way to make a cuppa, and they've tried them all: French press, drip coffee, cold brew, fancy espresso machines, and so on. One of the most humble and effective machines for making a strong cup of coffee is the stovetop espresso maker also known as the moka pot.
The moka pot, or macchinetta del caffè, which literally translates to "small coffee machine," is a stovetop machine that moves boiling water, pressurized by steam, through ground coffee to make a delicious brew.
Back in 1933, an Italian inventor named Luigi De Ponti patented the design for Alfonso Bialetti, and the company is still making stovetop espresso makers with the same basic design. Bialetti's classic moka pot is so reliable, that it remains the best stovetop espresso maker you can buy.
If you want to learn more about how stovetop espresso machines work, jump ahead to our explainer page. We've tested several stovetop espresso makers over the years and we've done a lot of research to find the best ones you can buy.
Updated on 03/27/18 by Malarie Gokey: Added the Bialetti Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker, updated prices, and added links to related coffee gear guides.
Read on in the slides below to learn why the Bialetti 6-Cup Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker is our top pick and why you might also like the Cuisinox Roma 6-Cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker, the Bialetti Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker, the 6-Cup Alessi Pulcina Stovetop Espresso Maker with a red handle, and the Delonghi EMK6 Alicia Electric Moka Espresso Coffee Maker.
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The best stovetop espresso maker overall
Why you'll love it: The Italian Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker was the first moka pot, and after all these years, it's still the very best.
Bialetti made the first stovetop espresso maker back in 1933, and it's still using the exact same patented moka pot design. The company may make many different models now, but the original Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker is still the very best one you can buy.
Unlike the cheap imitations you'll find in kitchen stores, the Bialetti is made right in Italy with craftsmanship and care. Although it's made of aluminum and not stainless steel, it's a sturdy, durable little machine that will last you a lifetime. I've had mine for seven years, and it works like new after daily use.
The aluminum pot has an eight-sided base that diffuses heat equally, resulting in evenly brewed coffee with a delicious rich flavor. To make coffee, you simply fill the base up to the water line, spoon moka ground coffee into the funnel, and twist the top closed securely over the grounds and water.
Put a gas burner on low so the flame doesn't go outside of the pot's base and burn the handle. You can also use it on an electric stove, just be careful to place the handle well away from the heating element.
Using less heat ensures that your coffee doesn't burn, either. A few minutes later, you'll hear the pot begin to gurgle as the steam-pressurized boiling water passes through the grounds and up through the spout of the moka pot to become strong, rich coffee.
You can get the Bialetti Moka Express in a variety of sizes from 3 cups to 12 cups. The 6-cup machine is best for most people, but if you like to entertain or you have a big family, the 12-cup machine will be just right. I actually own both the 6-cup and 12-cup machines, so that I always make the perfect amount of coffee for every situation.
The traditional moka pot comes in silvery aluminum, but you can also get it in blue, orange, red, and purple color options.
If you're still on the fence, experts, reviewers, and websites like Best Products, Espresso Corner, Coffee Gear At Home, Good Housekeeping, Espresso Perfecto, Little Coffee Place, and Home Grounds all recommend the Bialetti Moka Express. It's also a number one best-seller on Amazon with consistently high reviews.
Pros: Inexpensive, comes in fun colors and different sizes, makes great coffee, easy to clean, made in Italy, and it has a two-year warranty
Cons: None!
Buy the Bialetti 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker on Amazon for $34.95
Buy the Bialetti 1-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker on Amazon for $20.20 (originally $24.99)
Buy the Bialetti 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker on Amazon for $28.48 (originally $29.99)
Buy the Bialetti 9-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker on Amazon for $37.20 (originally $44.99)
Buy the Bialetti 12-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker on Amazon for $45.91
The best expensive stovetop espresso maker
Why you'll love it: The Cuisinox Roma 6-cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker lasts a lifetime, and it brews delicious strong coffee.
If Bialetti's Moka Express is too old-fashioned and quaint for you, you'll love the slick modern look of the Cuisinox Roma Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker. It's a high-end, fancy moka pot that's not made out of aluminum. You will pay a premium for it — it's nearly five times more than the Bialetti — but it has a 25-year warranty and top-notch reviews.
Cuisinox used stainless steel to make its stovetop espresso maker, so you know it's going to be durable. The design is more slick, shiny, and curvy than the traditional 8-sided aluminum Bialetti moka pot. Since it doesn't have corners, the insides are easier to clean. However, just like with the other moka pots in this guide, you really don't need to scrub it like crazy.
The process of making coffee in the Roma is the same, too. You simply fill the base up to the water line, spoon moka ground coffee into the funnel, and twist the top closed securely over the grounds and water.
Put a gas burner on low so the flame doesn't go outside of the pot's base and burn the handle. You can also use it on an electric stove, just be careful to place the handle well away from the heating element.
Using less heat ensures that your coffee doesn't burn, either. A few minutes later, you'll hear the pot begin to gurgle as the steam-pressurized boiling water passes through the grounds and up through the spout of the moka pot to become strong, rich coffee.
You can get the Cuisinox Roma in 4-cup, 6-cup, and 10-cup sizes to suit your needs. The 6-cup model will be best for most users, but bigger families will want the 10-cup machine.
Most reviewers consider the Cuisinox Roma to be the best stainless steel stovetop espresso maker and recommend it right alongside the Bialetti. Coffee Gear at Home, Espresso Perfecto, Little Coffee Place, and Home Grounds all say the Roma is a great machine for making strong coffee at home.
Reviews on Amazon are incredibly positive, too. One reviewer expressed"unreserved admiration" for the moka pot and even pitted it against high-end espresso machines. Although it's not made in Italy like the Bialetti, the Cuisinox Roma is very high quality and reviewers on Amazon praise the build quality and durability.
Pros: Stainless steel design, comes in multiple sizes, easy to clean, affordable compared to high-end machines, it works on gas or electric stoves, and it has a 25-year warranty
Cons: Expensive
Buy the Cuisinox Roma 6-Cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker on Amazon for $140.90
Buy the Cuisinox Roma 4-Cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker on Amazon for $99.99
Buy the Cuisinox Roma 10-Cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker on Amazon for $139.74
The best affordable stainless steel stovetop espresso maker
Why you'll love it: The Bialetti Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker is made out of stainless steel to create a classic look and brew great coffee.
If you want a stainless steel stovetop espresso maker but you're not looking to spend $100+ on one, Bialetti's Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker is the answer.
This stovetop espresso maker is made from 18/10 stainless steel, making it more durable and very attractive to look at. The Kitty looks elegant and classy next to our top pick, the angular Moka Express. It also has a nice wide handle that's easy to grip when you need to serve the espresso.
The Kitty works on gas, electric, and ceramic stovetops, so it should work in most kitchens. You can get it in several different sizes, but we recommend the one that brews 6 cups of espresso or about 12 fluid ounces of coffee.
As with any stovetop espresso machine, you need to follow the instructions precisely to get a good brew. Never overfill the water chamber and always make sure that you use only coffee grounds in the built-in filter.
Most people who bought the Bialetti Kitty gave it positive reviews on Amazon. Negative reviews mention defective units and poor brewing, though some of those bad stories may be down to a faulty technique. The Kitty comes with a two-year warranty in case you run into problems.
Pros: Stainless steel build, durable, attractive design, great handle, affordable, makes great coffee
Cons: It's pricier than the standard aluminum Bialetti Moka Express
Buy the Bialetti Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker on Amazon for $46.36 (originally $59.99)
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