Bialetti Moka Express Review
As the first ever moka pot, this iconic design by Luigi Di Ponti has barely changed since its inception in 1933. With its versatility, durability, affordability and ability to make great coffee, it's no surprise that this is the most popular stovetop coffee maker still today.
Product recommendation
Table of contents
Taste
Although we've been using this model of moka pot our entire lives, we put it through the exact same taste test and compared it to all the others.
It produced a creamy, sweet, espresso-like brew — exactly what you'd expect from a moka pot, but where so many other moka pots fail.
Aesthetics
It's almost impossible to have an issue with the way the Bialetti Moka Express looks — its iconic design is the archetype for all moka pots.
The materially is simple — made with cast aluminium with a thermoplastic handle.
Every part of its design is functional, but works well aesthetically. It's simple and functional design makes it look at home both by a fireside or in a professional kitchen. Over time the aluminium will get scratched and dented giving it a more rustic look.
Usability and cleaning
The Moka Express is very user friendly and easy to clean.
The moka pot consists of just three main parts — the upper chamber, lower chamber, and funnel. So assembly and disassembly is easy, and you won’t have to worry about misplacing any parts.
The Moka Express is predominantly made of aluminium, so there's no issue of rusting, staining, or odours — problems which are common with steel moka pots.
The handle shape is well designed and is comfortable to hold, and we’ve never had any dripping issues with any of the Moka Express models when pouring.
It's easy to clean, and unlike some moka pots doesn't have any difficult to reach crevices for old coffee grounds to get lost in. Although as with all moka pots — you will have to remove the gasket and clean the metal filter every now and then.
Sustainability and repairability
Moka pots are a very sustainable form of coffee brewing. The Bialetti Moka Express is especially sustainable, as long as you service it correctly and dispose of it properly at the end of its product life.
The simplicity of this moka pot’s design makes it very durable — but as long as you maintain it properly. Some wearing will occur over time, and replacing parts will be necessary. Fortunately, Bialetti offers most of the parts as replacement, such as gaskets, funnels and filter plates.
The Moka Express is made almost entirely of aluminium, which is very easily and widely recycled. So it won’t be hard to dispose of it correctly when it can no longer be used.