AlessiEspresso Maker 300ml 9090 by Richard Sapper, 6 Espresso Cups

I’m very pleased with the 6-cup (300ml) Alessi. Its elegance and craftsmanship reflect what I love about products that are both designed and made in Italy. In my experience, that combination delivers a level of quality and aesthetic you just don’t get when production is outsourced.The metal handle stays cool—contrary to other reviews and videos showing someone using a heat glove. I can pour hot coffee comfortably without any protection. The unique snap-on upper chamber is another standout feature. It seals tightly and doesn’t leak any steam, unlike my old twist-on moka pot which constantly did.I also appreciate the wider base, which fits my induction burner much better than previous models.In short, this is a beautifully functional piece that performs flawlessly and looks stunning on the stovetop.

This is my favorite stovetop mocha pot. It is not cheap, but the build quality, ease of use, durability, and just genuine pleasure in using an excellent tool all make the 9090 worth the money (unless you are on a tight budget). I used Biletti stovetop mocha pots for years, and they work absolutely fine. The Alessi 9090 is easier to use since the top just snaps on and does not screw on. The 9090 is also a work of art or fine design more accurately. So, if you don't mind shelling out more money, you will enjoy it and it makes a fine coffee. A single word of caution: be sure not to fill beyond the pressure valve, do not top the coffee off in the ground coffee receptacle (leave less than you would with the Billet and leave a bit of space from the top for the coffee to expand into), and perhaps grind the coffee a bit more coarse than the Billet. Otherwise, you run the risk of steam escaping the junction of the water chamber cum coffee grind holder and the upper brewed coffee receptacle. The end result is little to no coffee entering into the upper brewed coffee receptacle. Coming from a Billet I made all those mistakes until I read the very wise response in the questions and answers.

The Alessi 9090 M (10 Cup Size) is by far the best Moka pot that I have ever owned. When operated with some variation of the "Moka Pot VooDoo" by Thomas Greene or "The Ultimate Moka Pot Technique" by James Hoffmann, you will produce a world-class cup of coffee. If unfamiliar with these brewing techniques, they can be found on YouTube. This brewer does great with many different roast levels as well as a huge variety of single-origin specialty coffees (not just classic Italian dark roasts).The build quality, ease of use and simplicity of cleaning is absolutely top-notch. The fit and finish is magnificent and without peer. The materials and aesthetics are brilliant. I cannot say enough good things about this particular Moka Pot. I have been brewing with a Moka Pot as my daily brewer for 18 years and I have used a lot of brands and models. The Alessi 9090 is by far the best that I have owned. This Moka Pot is worth every penny.

I bought this because it looked cool and because I thought the price indicated that it was superb. Since I drink coffee a lot, I wanted something superb. Not to mention all the amazing reviews.The first problem I encountered was that after I used it only one time the reducer filter bent inward. It bent significantly to the point where coffee grinds were coming up in my coffee. So I thought, no problem, I ordered a new one which was only about five dollars. The same exact thing happened after the very first usage. But I had paid so much for the damn thing, I continued to use it.I have been using it now for about a year. And when I originally went through the reviews I noticed that some people had some concern with the inside of the tank (broiler) -whether or not it was coated with something. Before I purchased it, I read as much information as I could, I watched videos, and it seemed to me that it was made of stainless steel and nothing else.First I noticed it was rusting around the bottom- inside the tank/broiler. Not much, but it was rust. Then I started to notice that the inside of the tank is peeling. I started picking at it one day with my nail and it feels like some kind of calcium deposit or paint chipping up.. and it's all over the bottom of the tank. And it gets worse the longer I continue to use it. So no, the inside of the broiler is not 100% stainless steel.

This is a well designed pot that is much easier to use than the screw together aluminum Bialetti types. It also brews much faster. BUT do not expect anything like true espresso taste profile - water brew temp is way too low for that. Its taste profile is in fact very close to my Technivorm 781 which I use to make drip to SCAA standards; that should be no surprise because the brew temps aren't much different. A Bialetti Brikka will simulate much of an espresso profile but this pot will not.Note that the gasket must be clean and the lip of the basket free of coffee grounds to get a good seal. While heating you may see some steam from small amounts of water at the sealing surface but this does not mean it is leaking. The coffee grind used should not be a fine espresso grind- that is too fine and will fall through holes in the basket. If you get grinds in the bottom of the pot your grind is too fine and if you plug the screen that keeps grounds out of your brew, it is also too fine. I use a grind just slightly finer than drip grind.Too expensive but its improvements over a basic moka pot are real and effective.Interestingly, the brew basket of this 6 cup version holds the same amount of coffee as my 4 cup Bialetti Brikka - 20 g to full, approx.If used properly without the heat directly under the aluminum handle, the handle does not get hot. If you don't have a small burner you will need to offset.Proper fill volumes come from experience- the bottom has no clear marking nor does the top.A soft dish brush aids cleaning.