Bialetti Brikka 4 Cup Espresso Maker with Cream Valve

I've had the 4-cup moka pot for a few weeks now. I was originally planning to replace my old and tattered Whittard moka pot with a new Bialetti moka but then came across the reviews for the Brikka. It sounded like it would create a superior coffee so I decided to pay the extra. Unfortunately my conclusion is that it was an unnecessary extra expense! There doesn't seem to be a notable increase in the coffee quality, and the crema seems very hit and miss (and as another reviewer pointed out, shortlived). Considering the Brikka is over twice the price of the standard moka pot, I just don't think it is worth the money. If you're deciding between the two, I'd recommend just going with the cheaper Moka.

Best home coffee maker I've ever had. Cost a bit more than similar products, but it's superior quality is worth it. Superb coffee, well made product. I did lots of research before buying this and it has exceeded my expectations.

Follow the directions to the letter and gorgeous espresso with crema is the result every time.

Does what it says on the tin and so easy! Let me explain. I have a Gaggia Classic espresso maker at home and a Kitchen Aid burr grinder and they are great but I can't take them abroad camping. But I need espresso first thing in the morning, camping or not. So I purchased one of these (not through Amazon as it happens) and it arrived today. I have experimented using Lavazza Qualita Rossa ground coffee (Sainsbury and Tesco both sell it I think), because I think I am likely to get this Italian ground coffee in Europe while camping and I won't have a grinder. There are two ways to make the coffee, exactly as it says in the instructions, and any other way. Follow the instructions to the letter and it works very well, lots of creamy foam. Deviate from the instructions and it won't. Use the exact quantity of water (fill to the "H2O" mark) but most importantly resist any temptation to press the coffee down. This will be hard to resist if like me you are used to doing it in your espresso maker but in this coffee maker you don't, at all, leave it alone! Spoon it in until full and just let it sit there, all loose, it will look strange, you will want to tap it just a little but don't! Screw the top on tightly otherwise hot water will spurt out the sides and put on the stove. It take 2-3 minutes on high on my electric stove, I haven't tried my gas camping stove. The coffee will suddenly rush out all creamy and remove from the heat immediately and pour. Job done. One word of warning I have the four cup version, there is a two cup too. The four cup does what I regard as one cup of espresso. Maybe I drink big espressos (two every morning!) but I'm going to have to get a second so my wife can have an espresso at the same time without me first having to cool it down and rinse it out which would rather take the fun out of it. I do afterall have two gas burners when camping.