Stove Top Espresso Machines

[Andy in Sig]

Thanks for the tips and yes it is an aluminium Bialetti one. I have now made the mental commitment to getting a stainless steel one as some of the designs are quite attractive.

 

[jay clock]

Bialetti aluminium. Not gone bonkers yet. Fantastic device

 

[longers]

Talking about this "furring up" problem with a colleague today, after he's washed his, he just pops the bottom section on the stove by itself to heat up and dry out completely in a couple of minutes. No furry bottom for him.

It didn't stop me persuading myself that I needed a new one, 3 cup Bialetti £12 something on Amazon. Nice .

 

[Andy in Sig]

The matter has just been resolved in that I have bought a matt stainless steel one from a firm called Cilio (www.cilio.de) which is actually made in Germany but I suppose they thought they needed an Italian sounding name given the nature of the product. I also bought a little cooking ring in just the right size which obviously means a more efficient use of electricity. It's loads better than the Italian aluminium one.

 

[Niall Estick]

I've been using a aluminium and plastic Bialleti for the last 15 years. No problems.

 

[Andy in Sig]

I've got two Bialettis and they work well. However, this new one, being stainless steel, is easier to keep clean and looks better too.

 

[Landslide]

It would appear that aluminium will conduct heat faster than steel, and therefore provide you with that sweet hit of caffeine that little bit quicker.

 

[swee'pea99]

Looks are of course highly subjective. My faithful old Bialetti has heaps of accumulated character - or as 'er indores puts it, dirt.

 

[Andy in Sig]

It would appear that aluminium will conduct heat faster than steel, and therefore provide you with that sweet hit of caffeine that little bit quicker.

That also means that more heat is required to heat up the steel. However the ring I bought specifically to go with it should mean that I come out marginally ahead of the game in terms of energy savings.

 

[bryce]

My o/h is Italian and confirms what others have said above - that our two Bialettis never go in the dishwasher and are only ever rinsed with hot water, not with any cleaning liquid.

 

[swee'pea99]

Hot water. Posh.

 

[John Ponting]

It is so usefull being on a forum with so many learned members.

Is the Bialetti range suitable for a ceramic topped electric hob ?

 

[MessenJah]

Apparently bicarbonate of soda is good to clean coffee equipment with.

Aluminium is not an ideal substance to be in contact with hot coffee, due to the acidity of the coffee. I'd rather not have traces of dissolved aluminium in my food. It might not be proven to cause alzheimers but that doesn't mean it's perfectly safe either. Aluminium is pretty toxic and it does bioaccumulate, hence the amount of damage that aluminium compounds cause to ecosystems. While such things as aluminium espresso pots might not be proven to cause any serious damage to your health, it is wise to be cautious anyway, and avoid where possible.

 

[Aperitif]

Messenjah - you post conjures up images of school kitchens of yesteryear, boiling up aluminium vats of rhubarb and other acidy things...prior to serving up to the hungry masses at lunchtime. The oversize spoons endowing said concoction with the odd 'fillet of aluminium scraping' too - no doubt.

Err... why am I writing this..?

Oh yes - I use a Bialetti every day, twice, unwashed! (I have a wash afterwards)

 

[MessenJah]

I use one too.

They're shoot.

No crema ffs

Proper espresso machine FTW