Caffe Mercanti Stovetop Moka Pot 6 Italian Espresso Cups - Limited Edition made by Bialetti

I have been on the hunt for a Moka Pot, and what better place to get one than one from Italy? The world capital of espresso? Thankfully, the craftmanship of this pot is excellent. The metal is shining but the pot still has some weight, it feels and looks well made, and the handle is metal wrapped in plastic to prevent overheating. The pot is a decent size with a 6 cup (FYI this is 6 espresso shots, not ounces of liquid!) capacity. The pot came with clear instructions for use and care. One thing to note: they do recommend not using soap and only water to clear...which takes some getting used to! As for the espresso quality...excellent! Full bodied and delicious. I had no issues with this pot causing the coffee to heat too quickly and sputter or burn. It also had a smooth pour and did not leak or drip down the side when pouring. One negative; honestly, the white coloration. I didn't think it would be an issue, but I've gotten espresso on a couple spots when cleaning and was surprised to find that it was difficult to get the stain out, especially when using just water (I broke and used soap to get it out) and I still have one stain that won't come out. It makes me feel like maybe white coloring was a bad idea for an item designed to make a stain happy substance like espresso. Be careful when using to prevent stains. Overall, though - I'd highly recommend!

I'm a big coffee drinker and I've tried from drip, KCups, French press, cold brew and espresso. I like smooth and strong coffee and I'm into cold brew and espresso nowadays. I've been fascinated by moka pot way of brewing coffee for awhile and I'm glad I tried this gem. Setup and brewing process is relatively easy. I grind my coffee beans to a drip coffee setting as recommended for a moka pot brew. For reference, a drip coffee grind produces a finer texture than coarse grind (for French press) but coarser than an espresso grind. So the quicks steps are to add hot water to the boiler base, add coffee, and brew. So the brew produced is stronger than a drip bew, closer to espresso brew without the crema. My reference is coming from my Nespresso brewing experience. It's smooth and strong. I love it. I've read and watched some videos that you can produce a crema using a moka pot by using a finer ground coffee and tamping it but I've also read that it might damage the moka pot and some argue that it's safe. Anyway, I'm happy with the regular moka pot brew and it means smooth and strong brew. Important note: I followed the instruction I read from a coffee expert to add hot water (not warm water as suggested in the product page). The main reason is that when you start heating warm or cold water, you're heating longer and the coffee produces a bit more bitter coffee taste than intended. This works and I love the espresso brewed from this moka pot. I enjoy it by adding some creamer or frothed milk, and some sweetener to make a delicious latte. Build quality is solid cast aluminum and is made from Italy. I just wish that the instruction included is more user friendly. It's a small folded leaflet with very small prints. While I was able to follow the instructions, I had to search and watch a Youtube video showing how to brew using a moka pot to be sure. Cleaning It's in the instructions to never use a detergent on cleaning this unit, just wash with running water. Cleaning for first time use is in the instruction leaflet. I actually find this moka pot easy to clean. After pouring the coffee to your cup, I learned a tip to place the bottom boiler to a cold running water to cool it. I guess that's optional and that is if you want to clean the pot right after brewing. You can use a soft sponge to clean the main parts with running water. I'm happy with this moka pot and glad to add this special brew to my coffee servings. If you find this review helpful, please click the Helpful button. Thanks!

its a simple machine, and it makes coffee if you know how to use it, ie, boiled water in, med-fine ground beans to the top, assemble, high heat until coffee comes out, then reduce to low, until the brew in the upper reservoir reaches bottom of spout bevel. On first cleaning it, there were a couple tiny burrs and sharp bits in both reservoirs, but they cleaned up easy with a flathead screwdriver. Something on mine isn't sealing 100% because it hisses no matter how tight i screw it down, but it doesn't leak otherwise or seem to affect brewing at all. someone said to not machine wash because its aluminum and enamel, that sounded ridiculous so I ran it in my dishwasher multiple times and nothing happened. presumably because I did a preliminary rinse and got all the grounds out first. The biggest reason to not run it is its shaped too weird to sit in there properly. like others have said, the included coffee is NOT good for a moka pot, or a french press. it's tolerable out of a drip or pour over, but I've had cheap instant that tasted better

This is my first Moka pot, and recently added it to my arsenal of coffee makers (French Press, Cold Brew pot, Pour-over brewer) for more variety. I've previously watched a million videos about how to use these, what kind of coffee they make, how they compare to other methods, and other various tips/tricks to improve the process. From what I researched, Moka pots are ubiquitous, simple, and hard to mess up. This one looks pretty much identical to the Bialetti (main brand) but has a nice white enamel finish that I'm fond of and may improve insulation/handling. It's worth noting that it is Aluminum, which means you can't put it in the dishwasher. Cleaning is just a hot water rinse. Compared to similar pots, this is extremely overpriced ($10 more expensive than the Bialetti, and easily $30 over budget knockoffs). That being said, it does appear to work well. I use the James Hoffman Ultimate Moka Pot technique, which has you pour boiling water into the bottom of the pot (instead of starting from cold like the directions and classical technique say), then heat to pressure over mid-low heat. I tried medium-fine, freshly ground Bourbon Barrel-aged beans from a local roaster, and the resulting coffee was great: heavy-bodied and exhibiting all the tasting notes on the bag...burnt citrus, oak, and caramel. Unfortunately, my first batch of coffee made using the included Italian Roast grounds was NOT pleasant. I still have enough of the stuff left for at least 4 more pots, and good coffee is expensive, so I'll use it...but I'll need to heavily water it down or saturate it with milk. It was almost drinkable diluted with hot water, but is just not good coffee. Also, it's too finely ground. This resulted in a lot of bitter, fine sediment passing through the metal filter, up through the spout, and into the tank, and right into my cup. Overall, here are the key takeaways: 1) Overpriced, but nice finish and performs as expected. 2) Use fresh ground quality coffee that's a little coarser than the included coffee. 3) Ignore the directions and research better brewing methods (i.e. James Hoffman) to get the best results.

I have enjoyed espresso coffee for years! I have had many pots in the past, but this is really the most elegant one that I have ever seen. It provides a really nice cup and one that you will enjoy for years. It is authentic Italian, so much so that the instruction manual which was packed with it was written exclusively in Italian. What you need to do when using this pot is remember to copy the material on the website if you do not know the intricacies of brewing espresso. In case you missed it, I have copied them here! AUTHENTIC ITALIAN COFFEE — experience coffee the Italian way, with the original stovetop espresso maker! This traditional way of brewing creates rich, heavy-bodied coffee that is full of flavor and versatile, perfect for everyday use 6 CUP MOKA POT — Piazza Mercanti Moka Coffee Pot holds 6 espresso cups of coffee at a time. Whether you want to indulge in a latte or get a buzz from an espresso, our Moka pot brews delicious coffee every time! INCLUDES 8.8OZ MEDIUM ROAST COFFEE — Oro (gold-quality) Italian roast ground coffee has an intensity of 3/5 and an aromatic bouquet of tobacco and spices that will transport you straight to Italy! Delight the palate with its cream and honeyed tones EASY TO USE — fill the Moka pot’s bottom chamber with warm water, then add your medium roast Oro ground coffee to the inner compartment and place inside. Gently screw on the top before placing it on the stove for authentic Italian coffee! CLASSIC AND DURABLE DESIGN — the Piazza Mercanti Moka Coffee Pot is made using quality materials from Italy, and is made to last. The classic double-bottom design and heat release allows for a smooth, gradual coffee overflow for the perfect espresso The coffee that comes with this is authentic Italian as it is prepared in Italy. The inside of the pot is shinny aluminum and the outside is a white surface. You can keep this on your stove and when you have guests they will really admire what you have and most likely ask for a cup! Highly recommended!

I'm really on the fence about this moka pot. It makes good coffee, yes. All moka pots do, if they work. But for a moka pot that costs more than a Bialetti of the same size, I kind of expected the quality to be as good as Bialetti. In that sense, I'm a little disappointed. While beautiful, there are flaws in the paint that stand out on close inspection. There's a lack of attention to detail in the manufacturing process. The included coffee is not very good in my mind, but it might be your favorite. I can't stress enough that with fresh ground beans it does make a nice cup of coffee, and works like a moka pot should, it's just overpriced ($50 as of this review). There are less expensive options available though, including those made of non-reactive stainless steel. They might not look as nice, but you'll be drinking the same coffee and saving money.

For the best online info about moka pot and other coffee brewing, YouTube the work of James Hoffmann. I use his methods to make coffee in this moka pot. How to have a nice cup of coffee with this moka pot: - clean the pot with soap and water (some techniques suggest warm water rinse for aluminum pots) - if you have an electric stove, preheat a burner--mine works on med-high - pour coffee grounds into the funnel (should be coarser than espresso) - pour freshly boiled water into the bottom chamber - close the moka pot using a towel to hold the bottom chamber and prevent burns - put the pot on the stove, heat until the overflow gurgles, take the pot off the stove and pour your coffee Things to like about this moka pot: - the heavy base makes it feel pretty sturdy, and probably adds to even heat distribution while cooking on stovetop - pretty Italian moka pot design - makes a decent, rich latte with provided coffee - quick cleanup compared to 12 cup coffee pot - a new fun gadget to explore coffee brewing Things to watch out for: - if you close the lid while on the stove, steam escapes from the back of the lid. Which could cause burns while taking the pot off the stove or pouring coffee Overall, I'm pleased with this moka pot, and will likely get a lot of use out of it.

The moka pot itself is top-notch. High quality materials and the screen is a great size to let in just the right amount of water without letting too much go through so pressure can build up better. It takes a bit to heat up though, and will hold on to heat more than a cheap one, so be ready to have a cold rag or something else nearby if you don't want to burn your coffee. The coffee it came with was lackluster though. The grind was actually pretty spot on, so if you aren't sure how fine-ground moka should be this is a pretty good display. But the coffee itself just didn't really taste like much. I used a nice freshly ground medium roast with amazing results, but i would say the included "gold quality" is far from it. Maybe it just wasn't fresh. Overall a great moka pot, and even better if you can get it without the ground coffee