Home Basics 6-Cup Aluminum Stovetop Espresso Machine

I am an avid coffee drinker and always picky about my coffee. I received what is described on the box as an espresso maker. When I opened the box I did not find any instructions. None printed on the box either. Not a big deal I looked it up online and figured it out from there. I also found that it does not make espresso. Not a big deal to me either. I still made the coffee in it.This coffee maker is typically called an italian moka pot. When you put the right amount of water into the bottom vessel (don’t fill past the pressure valve on the side of the pot) then place coffee into the filter inside the pot. Put the pot on the stove top to heat. Making sure that the plastic handle is not over the source of heat. The water you placed into the bottom will start to heat and create steam that passes through the coffee grounds and will come up through the middle and spill over into the top portion of the pot like a tiny volcano erupting. The coffee is very concentrated and you can either drink it black or you can add hot water or steamed milk or cream to make it to your liking. I added hot water to mine and it tasted great ! I will use it again and may even travel with it since it’s so compact and less likely to break inside a suitcase.

This is a great espresso maker, as the Italians intended. Buy great espresso beans, grind them up right, put in the water and set on the stove. And soon enough you have a great cup of espresso! After a cleaning it’s ready for the first brew. Simple, easy to use and a flawless cup of espresso. Sure you can try to fake it with a keurig brewer. A Nespresso machine does a pretty good job for a whole lot of money. This is the original home espresso maker and a great addition to any fine kitchen.

Its NOT stainless steel. Its polished aluminum. Flimsy compared to Primula but it works.

We are an Italian family so an espresso machine is a morning necessity. We tend to use this 6 cup model when we have guests. As you can see from the photo, it is a stovetop model that is easy to deal with and maintain. It is a hand wash model, not for the dishwasher. It makes great espresso and easily keeps it warm without over percolating it.The handle allows you to handle it without getting burned.

This Home Basics stovetop espresso maker is also known as a “moka pot” which brews a strong concentrated coffee using the pressure of steam. It’s octagonal shape is made of aluminum, a classic design for this type of coffee maker. It is ideal for making a cappuccino or latte, however, there are no instructions so I’ve included what I learned online how to use the pot, which produces excellent results. First fill the bottom with water a little over half full staying below the little relief valve. This will make about six ounces of espresso. Loosely spoon ground coffee into the funnel filling it completely. Screw the top chamber on tightly so that it won’t lose pressure.Use a medium heat and remove the pot once it starts to steadily flow into the top and it will complete its brewing off the burner. You don’t want to burn the coffee or make it overly bitter. Once it’s finished, you can add steamed and foamed milk for a latte or cappuccino, or hot water for a cafe americano (my favorite), or just drink it straight. It’s easy to disassemble and clean. Just rinse with hot water NOT using any detergent, wipe with a paper towel and let it dry.This pot makes enough espresso for a couple of small servings or one grande 14 ounce size cafe americano (my preference). It is sooooo smooth, absolutely no bite or acidic twang – the best I’ve ever made! I look forward to using it on my leisurely mornings when I have the extra time to both prepare and, more importantly, enjoy it.

I usually use an espresso machine that uses pressure, but I wanted to try something different. The home basic 6-cup aluminum stove top espresso machine was new to me and uses a boiling method and is affordable. However, there were no instruction that came with it and with a little reading and researching I was quickly able to produce a nice brew. The coffee beans are also an important factor in making a good espresso and I used a grinder for whole beans. You don’t get the same consistency and bitterness as the pressure system. I like that I was able to produce more cups than the other way.