- Stovetop espresso makers are easy to use, make excellent strong espresso-like coffee, and last for decades.
- The Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker has been around since 1933 and is still the best stovetop espresso maker 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.
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.
We tested and researched several stovetop espresso makers over the years to see what else comes close; the following list includes the best ones you can buy. And if you want to learn more about how stovetop espresso machines work, jump ahead to our explainer.
Here are the best stovetop espresso makers and moka pots:
- Best overall: Bialetti 6-Cup Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker
- Best for gas stoves: GROSCHE Milano Stovetop Espresso Maker
- Best stainless steel splurge: Cuisinox Roma 6-Cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker
- Best stainless steel on a budget: Bialetti Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker
- Best for espresso shots: Bialetti Mini Express Espresso Maker
- Best design: 6-Cup Alessi Pulcina Stovetop Espresso Maker
- Best electric pot: Delonghi EMK6 Alicia Electric Moka Espresso Coffee Maker
Updated on 7/29/2020 to edit titles, prices, and links and remove ratings and references from third-party sites, because we've found them to be unreliable in the past.
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The best overall
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: Handle melts off quickly if you leave it unattended (which, of course, one should never do), but you can buy a replacement.
The best for gas stoves
GROSCHE's stovetop espresso pot has a heavy-duty extended handle made with heat-resistant rubber-coated plastic that sits away from your heat source so it won't melt on gas stoves.
While Bialetti is a tried-and-true favorite coming up on its centennial anniversary, if you're anything like me or some other members of the Insider Reviews team, you've probably burned through any number of them over the years. Not because the aluminum gave way, but because of its cheap, plastic handle.
So, after a third Bialetti handle melted on me this year (it's admittedly more a reflection on me and my ilk than Bialetti, which I still hold dearly), I decided to try a more foolproof replacement.
Enter GROSCHE— The company eliminates the melting handle problem in two ways. One, the handle is farther from the unit and your stove burner, so it's not sitting directly over the heat. Two, the handle is also made out of a soft rubber-coated heat-resistant plastic. So, in case you do make the ill-advised decision to leave the kitchen with a burner on the stove going, you won't be out an espresso pot and $20 to replace it.
The pot comes in 3-, 6-, and 9-cup models, is made out of aluminum, and through the Safe Water Project, GROSCHE pledges to provide 50+ days of safe drinking water for people in need for every product they sell. — Owen Burke
Pros: Handle is heat-resistant, socially responsible company
Cons: None yet, at time of writing
The best stainless steel splurge
The Cuisinox Roma 6-cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker lasts a lifetime and brews delicious, strong coffee.
If Bialetti's Moka Express is too old-fashioned and quaint, you'll love the slick modern look of the Cuisinox Roma Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker. It's a high-end, sophisticated moka pot made from stainless steel instead 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.
The stainless steel design means it's not only more slick, shiny, and curvy than the traditional 8-sided aluminum Bialetti moka pot, but it's more durable too. 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. 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. Then, 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 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 purchase 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.
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
The best stainless steel on a budget
The Bialetti Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker is made out of stainless steel to create a classic look and brew great coffee at an affordable price.
If you want a stainless steel stovetop espresso maker but you're not looking to spend $100+, Bialetti's Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker is the answer.
This stovetop espresso maker is made from 18/10 stainless steel, making it durable and attractive. The Kitty looks especially elegant and classy next to our top pick, the more 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 buy it in several sizes, but we recommend 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. The Kitty does come 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
The best for espresso shots
Bialetti's Mini Express Espresso Maker produces rich, crema-capped espresso shots more consistently than any other stovetop espresso pot I've tried.
Bialetti's Mini Express Espresso Maker isn't for everyone, but those seeking a café-quality espresso shot rich with crema can do no better at this price or anywhere south of about $200. I'll concede that reviews have been mixed for this model, but I've had a wonderful experience with it.
Granted, using it requires a little finesse. You want to make sure that your grounds are fine enough for these devices to build up a little pressure. Too often people complain that they don't get a result anywhere near espresso when they're either using the wrong beans or not grinding them finely enough for such a desired outcome.
Also, as always with espresso, use a light roast to achieve a thicker, creamier shot. I also find that the Mini Express produces a shot far quicker than any other stovetop device I've used. Otherwise, it's similar to Bialetti's standard moka pots.
The Mini Express can, on occasion, produce uneven shots, but try to get your grounds as even as possible in the basin and it should work out well more often than not. — Owen Burke
Pros: Fast, rich shots
Cons: Requires some finesse
Read our full review of the Mini Express.
The best design
The 6-Cup Alessi Pulcina Stovetop Espresso Maker looks like a piece of modern art and makes excellent coffee, too.
If Bialetti's Moka Express is the everyman stovetop espresso maker, Alessi's Pulcina is the high-brow moka pot for artsy types. Alessi's espresso makers are actual works of art that appear in MoMA and other design museums around the world.
Alessi has been designing radically different products since 1921, and its moka pots are well known. The Pulcina was designed by espresso maker Illy and Michele De Lucchi, a famous Italian designer who has worked for Olivetti, Compaq Computers, Philips, Siemens, and Vitra over the course of his long career.
According to Alessi, the Pulcina has a special boiler design that stops filtering the coffee at the "right moment and thus eliminates the 'eruption phase' - the final filtering stage that can generate a burnt aftertaste – thus enhancing its full-bodied and rounded aroma" of your coffee. The pot also has a 'V' shaped spout, which is supposed to be "reminiscent of a baby chick's beak."
The name Pulcina (baby chick) comes from the beak-like spout and curvy chick-like shape inside of the machine. It also refers to the fact that De Lucchi designed it in the chicken coop where his studio is set up.
Esoteric design talk aside, Alessi is a trusted brand for stovetop espresso makers, and the Pulcina is a great option. It works just like other stovetop espresso makers, where you put water in the base and coffee grounds in the filter. However, the Pulcina doesn't work on induction stovetops, so you'll need a gas stove if you buy this product.
The Pulcina comes in two sizes: 3-cup and 6-cup models with your choice of a red or black handle. The 6-cup option will be best for most people.
Pros: Cool design by Michele De Lucchi, fun color options for the handle, multiple sizes, and it makes great coffee
Cons: Expensive and it doesn't work on induction stoves, wildly different pricing based on colors
The best electric pot
The DeLonghi EMK6 Alicia Electric Moka Espresso Coffee Maker is great if you don't have a stove but still want the taste of stovetop coffee.
If you want to have a moka pot in an apartment, dorm room, or office without a stove, you'll need an electric one like the DeLonghi Alicia Electric Moka Espresso Maker. It's a modern take on Bialetti's age-old design that combines the tried and true moka pot technique with an electric heating element.
You can make 3 to 6 cups of espresso with it and watch the clear container at the top fill with coffee as it brews. It has an automatic shut-off function that prevents burned coffee and dangerous overflows. The DeLonghi Alicia will even keep your espresso warm for 30 minutes after it's brewed in case you can't drink it fast enough, or you like to have two cups before you head out the door.
You can also take the pot off the heating base to take your espresso to the table if you prefer. The base has an on/off switch that lights up when the pot is heating up. You'll follow the same process of putting water in the base and coffee grounds in the filter before you screw on the top part and pop the pot on the electric heating base.
The moka pot part looks exactly like a traditional Bialetti, the boiler is made out of aluminum, and the entire pot is BPA-free, but the top is clear plastic.
Also, unlike the Bialetti, it won't boil over when you're not looking. It's a nice safety feature for busy adults and families with children. The price is also great, and comparable to some Bialetti moka pots (if they're not on sale).
Pros: Great for people who don't have a stove, electric heater is easy to use, decent price, it makes good coffee, and it keeps your coffee warm longer
Cons: It may not last as long as a Bialetti
Everything you need to know about stovetop espresso machines
Moka pot vs. fancy espresso machine
Although moka pots don't technically make espresso — because they use lower pressures of 1 to 2 bar and real espresso machines use 9 bar of pressure — the coffee you get is very rich and strong. Some machines will even produce a bit of crema just like high-end espresso machines. If you're using this to make cappuccinos or lattes at home, you'll be more than satisfied, but if you want shots of thick, creamy espresso, you need a real espresso machine.
How many cups do you need?
Most moka pots come in a few different sizes: 1-cup, 3-cup, 6-cup, 9/10-cup, and 12-cup. Keep in mind that the cups in question are small espresso shots — not full cups of coffee as most Americans think of them. The 6-cup size is best for couples or people who want to drink two normal cups of coffee with milk on top. The 9/10/12-cup machines are good for families or when you have guests over. I personally own both a 6-cup and a 12-cup Bialetti Moka Express.
Will it work with a gas or electric stove?
Some stovetop espresso makers only work on gas stoves, while others can handle either gas or electric stovetops. We've noted which of our picks work with both kinds of stoves.
Aluminum vs. Stainless steel
Stovetop espresso makers come in either aluminum or stainless steel varieties. Stainless steel models are more fancy, durable, and typically easier to clean. Aluminum machines are typically just as good, provided you buy one from real Italian companies like Bialetti and Alessi. If you buy a cheap aluminum one for $5 at a kitchen store, you may not get the same quality coffee out of it. That's why we recommend you stick to our top pick, the Bialetti Moka Express.
Care and maintenance
It's easy to keep your stovetop espresso maker in good working order. All you have to do is rinse it out after each use and make sure all the ground are removed from the filter. No soap or scrubbing is needed. The best moka pots are the ones that have been loved well and the ones that have aged.
Moka pots can last years — decades, even — so long as you don't burn the handle or otherwise harm it. The only thing you'll need to replace periodically is the rubber gasket and filter that prevent the grounds from infiltrating your coffee.
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We've included top picks for all different types of coffee makers. We tested the majority of our top picks and heavily researched those we have yet to use to bring you the best of all coffee makers.