I love everything about this machine, even the waiting is okay. It makes a good strong espresso, with no muss, no fuss, no disassembling a complicated electic machine (which doesn't do crema, btw), just let it cool and rinse. Why did I wait so long? Fifty million Italians can't be wrong (but I paraphrase).

I received this stovetop coffeemaker after placing it on my amazon wish list -- i had heard from a friend that this was a great way to have authentic coffee without an expensive espresso maker occupying valuable counter space. He was right -- after making one pot of "throwaway" coffee to get it seasoned, I was well on the way to making a delicious cup of coffee -- i set the gas burner on medium heat and after a few minutes the coffee was brewed and ready to pour. it makes an incredibly rich cup of coffee -- on the spectrum between coffee and espresso it is closer to espresso, but not as thick. highly recommended and worth every penny. time will tell how long it lasts, but if the other amazon reviews are any indication, i think i'll be passing by the coffee shop in the morning and saving some money whilst enjoying my stovetop-made cup of coffee!

I have tried a couple of the 'espresso' machines from box stores and first few brews seem good. But the machines are so cheap they can't take the pressure and what you get then isn't even close. Figured would have to spend a lot more money if wanted a real one that worked.

Just happened upon this on a forum post somewhere, while looking up why Starbucks employees can't make real cappuccino. They either make you something with espresso and hard foam on top or tell you that what you got in Italy is wrong. The smaller coffee shops usually do it right.

Anyway, another person having the same issues with the same store, said this is usually what most households in Italy use to get stovetop espresso. They said it is about as close as your going to get without buying a real espresso machine. They were right! I really like it, not perfect, but pretty close.

So if you want to try something as close as you can get without busting the bank get one of these. You do have to watch it closely. There isn't any whistles or other sounds telling you that it is done. So rather than burn/melt the o-ring you have to be ready to remove it from heat source. That is the only bad thing about this product. You also have to make a few runs in order to 'coat' the metal or you will get a metal taste.

I have heard the 2-3 cup models make a better stovetop espresso than the larger models, but have no proof myself this is true, just putting it out there.

Espresso doesn't get much better than this. Why spend hundreds when this little gem makes some of the finest espresso you'll ever drink. Of course, the quality of the bean and fine grind is the secret.

We became spoiled with excellent coffee during a trip to Spain. After researching how the Spanish coffee is made, we learned that Spanish households all have a simple stovetop coffee maker like the Bialetti. So we ordered it and it is FANTASTIC! It is simple to use, sturdy, and makes the same wonderful coffee we enjoyed in Spain. And what a value for $20!!!!!!