Alessi Espresso Maker 300ml 9090 by Richard Sapper, 6 Espresso Cups

After a mostly happy 10 years of using a standard 9 cup Bialetti moka pot, it was undeniably pitted, rusted, leaky and suboptimal. I decided to do a “quick” search to see what alternatives were out there. I only knew I wanted stainless steel. Many, many, way too many hours later I was mired it choices with a very wide price range that all claimed to be the best and all had similar ratings.What really made this pot the standout choice was the the “snap on” upper chamber. Being able to get rid of the “screw lid on tight - but not TOO tight” nonsense is a real bonus as I have small woman hands and little patience for it being my fault that my much needed morning coffee was ruined because I was half awake and didn’t screw on a lid with perfect precision. ....And then being forced to unscrew a blazing hot, very tight lid to try again. Another perk absent from many of the other brands is that the base is wider than my 9 cup Bialetti and therefore a better fit on my gas stove. I also found it visually appealing. Still, the $$$ was high and I was worried that I would just be spending an exorbitant amount of money (in my opinion) for coffee I could have made just as well for a third of the price.When it arrived last week I was immediately impressed with its elegance and beauty. I ran it through the trial brewings per the instructions using cheap, standard pre-ground coffee. I could not believe how well the pot performed on the very first run. The flow of liquid was silky smooth and the seal was perfect. I made the full 6 cups and then the 3 cups using the reducer filter. Both were equally successful. The handle got a bit hot making the 6 cup and I used a towel to pour. But it wasn’t hot enough to leave a burn or make me drop it so I don’t have a problem. I can see the issue others have mentioned with the inside bottom rim being hard to dry, but 30 seconds on the stove at very low heat takes care of it.After the 2 throwaway pots I used a burr grinder for my good beans, set on a coarse espresso size. Or notch 3 out of 12 with 12 being most coarse......and I suddenly found myself drinking the BEST cup of coffee I have ever made. I was so happy I texted my whole family pictures.And I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure the coffee is stronger. I am accustomed to drinking a full pot of the 9 cup Bialetti every day. Sometimes 2 pots. I drank a full 6 cup pot from this beauty and I FELT the caffeine. Same coffee beans at the same grind and I buzzed like I haven’t done since I was a teenager eating chocolate covered espresso beans. Totally different feeling. Now I use the reducer and just drink half a pot.In conclusion....Where has this beauty been all my life? Who knew wonderful coffee could be SO easy? And at the same time looking like a piece of art on my stove? What more can I say? I’m not just satisfied; I’m thrilled! - and a newly minted coffee snob. :-)

Very high quality. I think this is the real, made in Italy Alessi product. The pot and the box are well marked (see photos), and not likely a made in China knock-off. I've used stovepot "espresso" makers for 30 years. They do not produce real espresso, as the pressure is too low. I own a high end Italian espresso machine, so the difference is very noticeable. That does not mean the Alessi 9090 does not produce good coffee - it does. The Alessi produces a strong coffee. The 6/3 cup size produces about 8 ounces of strong coffee, to which I add about 4 ounces of hot water. The result is like a good Americano.I make my coffee in the Alessi 9090 starting with very hot tap water. Studies have shown the stovetop makers actually can push water through the coffee that is too cool if they are not preheated. With hot water, the coffee starts oozing through the coffee after 4 to 5 minutes on the stove (set to high) and is done making coffee after 5 to 6 minutes. I turn the stove down to medium heat when the coffee starts to ooze out.In the past, I used a GAT aluminum stovetop moka pot, which worked well, but I always wonder if it is so good to use aluminum for food and drink prep. The stainless steel of the Alessi 9090 seems safer. I will say my 25 year old GAT appears to develop more pressure and a little creamier coffee. Perhaps the screw tops have a higher pressure safety release valve? I do like the snap on feature of closing the Alessi 9090, which seems to work well.Some reviewers have complained that the Alessi can have rust inside the pot. There is a seam inside at the base of the pot (see photo), where water can reside after use - causing some rust. Make sure to get that seam inside the base dry. It is a well known fact that stainless steel will rust if you let water sit in a crevice. The potential rust is very, very minor, and not a problem for health or taste - but if you want to avoid it, just make sure to dry well. I put the pot base on the stove for about 30 seconds after washing to warm it up and the seam then dries easily.

My small Cuisinart electric suddenly stopped starting, so I checked everywhere - no longer made. Searched and read reviews [wirecutter, amazon recs, etc] of so many attractive designs - though a lot of people don't mind paying $300 ++ which I was not going to do - and decided to give this a try. It took a while to figure which size: this size makes about 10 oz, coffee, just about what 2 cups made in Cuisinart and the flavor is much richer. The coffee strength is far better than the electric, and it is easy to fill and set up. My family uses two different sizes of Bialetti Moka stovetop pot - but it is aluminum. The click opening seems easier to me than the Bialetti twist, which is difficult to open to clean. So I am keeping it, though it is almost 3x the cost of the electric-heat kind I had used before.