Bialetti - New Venus Induction, stainless steel hob espresso coffee maker, suitable for all heat sources, 6 cups, aluminum, silver

This is an awesome piece of kit, very high quality and easy to use. It is nice and weighty, built really well and quick to prepare coffee - usually just a few minutes. I have read different techniques from other users, i.e. fill with boiling water and when the coffee starts to boil through, take it off the hob, but this didn't work so well for me. I usually boil from cold with a couple of heaped tea spoons of coffee which is enough for just me. This has now become my daily coffee maker and I highly recommend it.

I had a well known brand basic electric espresso maker which I used for years but it started playing up - I bought a new one, same issues occurred. I now have a gas stove and decided to try one of these little stove top coffee makers instead. At a fraction of the price of my electric espresso maker, I wasn’t sure it would do the job - how wrong, it makes fabulous coffee. I got the 6 espresso cup size and that with milk added makes a huge mug of coffee, probably two normal size mugs. I followed the instructions- did three coffees and threw away before making the first coffee to drink. You fill the water below the seal, add coffee put together and put on stove using a modest heat - you don’t want the flames to extend beyond the base. It doesn’t take long before you hear it gurgle and coffee is brewed. It pours nicely and the handle isn’t hot - probably helped by not having the flames beyond the base. The instructions advise you to replace the seal every year if it doesn’t need replacing before then. I have made a note in my calendar. I would agree with another reviewer a fill line inside for the water would be handy but minor niggle. It’s a very smart machine that’s easy to clean. Best thing though is definitely the fab coffee. I’m going to look at getting the bigger size for when I have guests.

New Bialetti Venus with changed design. Made in China. Previous version was not made in Italy either(was made in Romania) only classical aluminium version is still made in Italy. But this is Bialetti designed. Made from stainless steel which is easier to clean and no aftertaste of aluminium version. The lower section designed work on any stove including induction. I use it on electrical stove it works like a charm.The main advantage to buy Bialetti is service parts availability. This makes this moka pot last forever ( which I could not say about expensive expresso machine which start to leak after one year and no spare parts on internet). The service parts are the another reason to pick up major brand like Bialetti over no name, no service parts alternatives. This moka pot are simple to maintain and lots of service gaskets available from any retailer. Consumer grade expresso machines (under £200) are disposable items with little chances to repair it and would last for just a little over one year on average (till warranty last).Results of the coffee is in between of French press and Electric Expresso machine: no muddiness of french press and as strong as expresso machine but flavours extracted slightly more blunt that from expresso machine but more tasteful than filter coffee maker.So this is excellent budget buy. Makes a good coffee, inexpensive to buy and maintain. As alternative good professional grade expresso machine (over £200 budget) will gives better results. But moka pot is still better than cheap consumer grade electric expresso machines.

The Bialetti Venus is the perfect coffee maker for anyone with an induction hob. Clean, shiny and efficient it heats up rapidly and brews your coffee in minutes. The only drawback is the circular design which makes it a bit difficult to screw together tightly, the stark edges of my old Bialetti allowed it to come together with ease.

Item fab, however packaging damaged on arrival. A little bit of an issue , as it was a gift.

Bought a second with a (very) minor scratch for £26, which was a bargain. Has made in China sticker despite Italian company. This was a concern till I got the product. Thick enough steel, especially the base. Internal coat of something within the reservoir base. Steel not plastic hinge on top. Cute Bialetti man embossed on the internal coffee holder. Approx 3 min on the gas. Good coffee. One can vary reservoir coffee amount to alter strength from weaker americanos upwards. The 6 cup makes a mug volume. No complaints and consider a second if available as minor cosmetic damage is really nothing on a kitchen item. Also excellent for camping stove. Would recommend a good condition second if available.Minor point, but would prefer if Bialetti: a) Made it obvious is was made in China. b) Repatriated manufacturing or changed their outsourcing to another country in the fullness of time, even if the cost rises.

Nicely made and should last a long time. It's a little more expensive than the generic Chinese copies, but not by much, and for that you get more durable construction and a premium feel. The base especially is very solid, and I like the way you can pull on the pressure relief valve to check it's not blocked with limescale – other designs are harder to test.

Looks nice in the cupboard where it stays. Makes really nasty bitter coffee, aeropress is much better.