(map) 
He didn’t paint the Sistine Chapel, fight for the unification of Italy, or invent the radio. Yet in 1933, Alfonso Bialetti, a simple aluminum manufacturer, created one of Italy’s greatest icons.
The earlier new-fangled steam espresso (literally, fast) technique was a turn of the century invention that was pretty much available only to those affluent enough to afford going to a café. Bialetti’s genius consisted in inventing a low-cost domestic device that made coffee that was similar enough to espresso, but accessible for every household.
Named after Mokha, the town in Yemen known for its superlative arabica coffee bean, the Moka Express is the stove-top coffee machine per eccellenza, even more astounding given that its rise in popularity is a relatively recent post-war phenomenon.
How popular? Bialetti produces 30% of the stove-top coffee makers in the world, cranking out 26,000 units per day, for a total of 270,000,000 Moka Express in the world so far!
Buona pausa caffé!
– Contributed by Valentina Nesci, writer, American University of Rome Senior, Italian Notebook Editorial Intern.
I can smell the espresso all the way in Chicago! Can’t wait to hear what the “girlfriends” have to say as well….
Every Italian-American household has one, passed down from Nonna!
After a trip to Italy, I came home and purchased a Bialetti. It is the only coffee pot we use. I don’t even own a drip anymore. In fact, I have several sizes of the Bialetti.
We also have Illy coffee beans shipped to our door. I have a small milk frother and make a cappuccino every morning.
The combination of the Italian coffee and the smooth process of the Bialetti, foamy milk on top, gets me out of bed each morning!
There is no need to purchase a $1,000 espresso machine, when you can buy a Bialetti!
MMmmm…..what wonderful memories return each time the Mokha is used. Recently family from Oklahoma and Arkansas went to Castelgomberto to meet and visit with family. Wonderful, wonderful memories. We too purchased a Mokha and brought several different types of coffee back with us. The coffee has such a smooth, vibrant favor…unlike the coffee we have in Oklahoma! All of our friends look forward to having coffee with us. Our daughter is getting married this year and she is going to have a coffee bar with many different italian coffees for friends and family!
Everyone….enjoy an espresso today…..
It is a very good thing they produce so many. We become fanatic in our use of such a grand tool, I own eleven (various) sizes and use them all regularly! bravo Bialetti,
GB has a rival. Great writing, Valentina, keep it up, and a great topic for the Note today!
Another very touching and beautifully written note & photos Bialetti & VEV are known the world over, including the U.S.A. We must have a dozen or so in mostly fancy types..
Is Miss Nesci from Calabria? There was a great family by that name in my home town of S.Lucido (CS), and I remember tutoring one the two daughters during Summer Vacations..Probably,some relatives, considering my age.
Best wishes to all of you!
Would someone please tell me exactly how to make coffee in the Mohka ie: how to use it. I have a red one, lost the instructions, and am afraid I’ll blow up the kitchen. Thank you so much
Salina
Hi Salina, take a look at this blog post for a step by step on using the moka:
Dear all, thank you so much for all the comments, I’m delighted that you liked the article ( and Italian coffee!)
To Frank: My family is indeed from Calabria! (Reggio) so it could be very likely that you met relatives of mine..
To Ronda: Illy coffee to your door!? Che dire? ( lit. What to say?)You’re a true Italian!
To Yolanda: thank youfo rthe compliments, this proves that coffee is an excellent muse!
I love my Bialetti… I’ll never have an automatic cafe machine in my house. pah! I also have the Bialetti Cappucinno/Cafe latte stovetop… I love my cafe latte on sat and sunday morning! Reminds me of my days living in Firenze!
just sent the Professor out to pick up a mokka. . . have you seen the Bialetti store in Firenze? Love it!
Thank you Valentina, I love my Bialetti too, and really get where you’re coming from. However, the how-to-make a caffè debate rages on in our house.
Himself invested in a fancy, automatic coffee machine not too long ago, which he loves (it’s a bloke thing), whilst I have a like-hate relationship with the thing. Yes, it does produce consistent espressi with a perfect crema, and the de-caf option actually tastes acceptable. And I cannot deny that the quick click-whoosh-click dispensing of 8,10 or 12 perfect post-prandial espressi is a boon, but I it lacks romance. It is to coffee what the kindle-reader is to books; effective, efficient, no clutter, but just missing the point – and the pleasure – of what is ultimately an indulgent, sensory activity.
sorry – that should be “it lacks romance” – I clearly am a romantic :-)