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Stovetop Espresso Makers

mombo | Apr 15, 2010 |

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Are you wondering how a stove top espresso maker was made or who thought of even making one? This article will take you on a quick journey and help you learn how a stovetop espresso machine made it into our homes. After reading, you will have a better appreciation for your espresso maker and will be able to make it as a topic of conversation while enjoying a good cup.

It began in 1918, when Alfonso Bialetti from France was returning home to Italy. During this time, he thought of a way to make a simple coffee maker that would enable Italians to enjoy a good cup of coffee with an authentic espresso feel. His idea came from a washing machine. While he was observing the local women of Crusinallo doing laundry, he noticed they were using a sealed boiler with a small pipe in the center. The pipe drew up the soapy water and distributed it to the clothes being washed. Mr. Bialetti then thought that by scaling it down, he could actually use the same principle and make his espresso maker.

Since then, he worked on prototypes made of aluminum, but it was not until the year 1933 that he was able to make the world's very first stovetop espresso maker. After solving technical problems of all sorts, he finally came up with a very distinct octagonal shaped Moka Express. The invention made a delectable espresso like the ones that could be purchased in Italy's coffee shops.

When Bialetti started selling his machine, he managed to put it on the market at a rate of 10,000 units per year. After the Second World War, his son joined him in the business. Together, they made the Moka Express a market leader in Italy. The Moka Express's design has hardly undergone any changes for the past 70 years. Aluminum is still used and the machine itself is still very popular.

There are several stovetop espresso makers available today. However, most people enjoy using automatic and semi-automatic espresso machine, because they are quick and easy to use. If you are looking for a good espresso machine, you might want to take a look at the DeLonghi EC155 espresso maker.