BialettiVenus Induction 4 Cup Espresso Coffee Maker, Stainless Steel, Pack of 1

This 2-cup Venus Moka Pot completes my trio of Venus pots (2-cup, 4-cup, and 6-cup). Yes, I like this style the best after using numerous others. But this is very personal, so what I liked may not be what anyone else likes. Nevertheless, the ease of using, good looks and easy cleaning has me sold on this line. It also makes amazing coffee. The 2-cup is for when I make my morning cappuccinos for myself. The 4-cup for when the wife joins in and there’s two of us. The 6-cup for when we have visit and we just need a bit more coffee. I also make sure that I preheat my pot’s lower container, preheat the water, and place a small paper filter to ensure a smooth product. It has replaced my espresso machine in the mornings, and that’s saying a lot.

My Dad used the Bialetti Moka classic aluminum for years and ever since I could remember. Only issue with the classic version is that it really only works well on small burner stove tops and some metal stovetop burners. If you use the classic aluminum ones on Induction stovetops (induction = typically glass and glow red when on turning off at times) they will fail hard and sometimes can even melt!This little guy is amazing though! It works on ALL TYPES OF STOVETOPS, so you will never have to worry. Unlike the Amazon description says, IT DOES WORK ON INDUCTION as specified by Bialetti. The coffee maker is made in China however it is quality steel. Only flimsy part is the lid but if you’re not a brute, it’s literally no issue at all.!!!!FIRST TIME USE READ HERE!!!!The first time you get it, simply rinse it with warm water (NO SOAP), fill up the base with water, fill up the coffee chamber with ground coffee, and heat it up. Once it’s done brewing, pour out the first batch and using the same coffee grounds run another pot through it filling the bottom with water and pour out the brew again. After that you should be good to brew coffee to drink.Pro tip: never NEVER use soap unless absolutely necessary. If you do use soap it will ruin your “seasoning”. Every time that you brew coffee and don’t use soap, that seasoning will stick and your coffee will taste better and better each time!Best of luck, also Santo Domingo Brand coffee (red bag) tastes delicious out of this brewer. Another pro tip, on top of the coffee grounds once packed, sprinkle a thin layer of sugar and the coffee will brew through it. It’s a old Dominican trick and makes the coffee taste delicious!

(After one year's use; see photos...not bad!)So this was my first ever stove-top coffee maker and it is by far the best in terms of the quality-price ratio; more affordable than any overpriced espresso machine. It is elegant, old-fashion and the best of all...it is made of STAINLESS STEEL to all those trying to avoid buying aluminum-based products! I had this for almost a year already (10 months).FULL REVIEWTo maintain its upkeep, always opt to hand-wash; NEVER use soap. When brewing, light the flame that covers just the entire bottom base, never more or less (usually a bit less than high, between high-med), this would result in a coffee that isn't burnt (quick impatient brew) or brewed "too" slowly. A flame between this setting ensures that just the base would burn and not an inch or two above avoiding possible corrosion.Use a "fine" grind coffee. An "extra fine" grind is more suitable for espresso machines and in turn, the water will not pass through well with this machine and make a far less concentrated cup. It could still make the coffee, but it would usually produce half than it should, resulting you to unscrew the base and refill water to the top again and then take only have of the brew from that round (anymore would be too watery). Haven't tried a "coarse" grind which is typically used for a French press, but I wouldn't mind betting that the end result would be far better than a grind that is "extra fine."This stovetop's "6-cups" produces far less ounces than what 6-cups American would look like, which is why small porcelain cups are used. 1 cup is equivalent to about 5 ounces. So how I usually get the most out of mine is instead of filling the water right up to the inner screw inside the base, I fill it just above. But if you are going to do this make sure to have a bowl out to pour that extra bit out when it starts to fill to the top so it doesn't overfill the inner tube the water spurts out from; this would result in the coffee that is made, to go back down to the water reservoir (the base) that you originally filled up and you will lose that extra bit of coffee. When the coffee is made (done), you will start to hear it drying up like a someone making a snoring sound with their mouth opened; turn the flame off immediately and pour out and serve. Then, where the coffee was dispensed fill with cold water and around the base to cool itself down (I usually wear an oven mitt as it is hot). This water cool-down is to avoid permanent coffee stains inside the machine. Now you can also safely unscrew the base, dump the used coffee grind and prepare for another round need-be, or prepare for drying. When drying, I hand-dry with a towel especially inside the body and around the inner dispensing tube. You could also use a drying rack and leave all three pieces onto it but I would suggest drying the top piece (body) completely though inside and out. Some of my methods may or may not be orthodox but it has made my machine last and in turn have got the most out of it.Last but not least use some GOOD COFFEE, Haitian is my preference. I just tried a Christmas roast because I received it as a gift and it was HORRIBLE; going back to my go-to. Cheers!

LOoks amazing and works just as well! Only complaint is that it doesn't come in a 3 cup size.

I test ran a few brews of plain water, no coffee. The water capacity between the pressure valve and the bottom of the tube, is 2.5 ounces. This will only boil out 2.5 oz of water. After coffee absorbs, I suspect only 2 oz.I don't yet know if this is strong enough to add 4 oz of hot water for an American cup. I will find out tomorrow. Just know this Venus pot that is claiming to produce two moka cups, which is similar to a espresso cup, does not make more than one cup at a time. The pot has the capacity for 4 oz, but the boiler tank only makes 2 oz.

I like moka pots, but don't want to make coffee with aluminum, the traditional material used for these. I went looking for a stainless steel version from Bialetti and found this. It is beautiful. The blue polished finish looks amazing and appears to be a thermal or anodize process - in that it's how the metal is treated and not something cheap that will peal off. It looks every bit as good as the marketing photos. I bought it to make coffee on outdoor adventures, but it's earned a full-time spot in the house. I keep in on top of the stove to show off. And it makes great, nearly espresso strength coffee.