****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I have been using a Bialetti and an Imusa moka pot daily for years. After the Bialetti broke, and realizing the potential danger of heating aluminum, I decided to get something better quality. First the cons:It is very expensive! For the price I was expecting better packing but it arrived in a beat up, unpadded cardboard box, shipped in a bag. In fact, the packing and presentation is so poor that it makes me a little suspicious of this thing. I hope the claims are truthful. And luckily it wasn’t damaged in transit.I have always put cold water into the bottom reservoir of my mokas, and got piping hot coffee in the end. The base of this pot is very heavy, and perhaps because of the steel, it will brew the coffee lukewarm if you turn up the heat too high to brew. I keep a very low flame so the water can properly heat up in the reservoir. Alternatively you can fill it with water that is already hot.The handle gets very hot so don’t forget to use a potholder!Pros: The coffee tastes amazing! It is so smooth and clean. I use my usual cheap Bustelo grounds but it tastes like entirely different coffee now.The pot is very durable and heavy. It’s understated but elegant. Nothing too special to look at, but it feels like a very serious piece of equipment.It is easier to clean than any other pot I’ve owned, since my hand can actually fit into all the spaces. (I’ve uploaded a photo of the upper reservoir side I couldn’t find any online.) I was worried about the interior shape being hard to clean. My old pots had grooves that were impossible to get at. It’s not perfect but definitely better, and therefore more sanitary. HOWEVER, since this is stainless steel, it can be put in the dishwasher!! Something you can’t do with other pots. This alone makes it worth it.The little tamper-looking tool is awesome. With it, you can fill the basket with half the amount of grounds to make less coffee, if desired.Overall, I’m not sure $90 (after tax) is a steal for this, but hopefully it will be my forever moka pot. If it lasts at least as long as my former models, and doesn’t give me heavy metal poisoning, then it will be a good deal. If you have money to burn and you’re tired of dirty interiors, inconsistent results, and substandard coffee taste from your current moka pot, give this a try.
