italian stove top espresso maker....anyone use this poncetastic device?

[brimfull]

and manage to make nice coffee?
I'm a cafetiere girl and have no idea!
Right explain to me how to use it?
I put coffee in the little compartment and fill the bottom with water,put on stove and wait,is that it.
Now is it espresso as in really really strong you need to add water stuff,that comes out?

You need to get the right grind of coffee to make the best stuff - it might need finer stuff that the cafetiere if the mesh size is smaller (look for one that says 'ground for stovetop makers' or 'ground for plastic filters', or get it ground to the right level at Whittards or Waitrose or somewhere)

It only comes out as strong as you make it, so if in a cafetiere you'd use 2 dessertspoons of coffee to 2 cups of water do the same and it'll come out the same. If you use 2 spoons of coffee and 1 cup of water it'll be twice as strong and might need water. It won't be vicious violent espresso though as it's not forced through under high pressure like (eg) a Gaggia does.

this is pretty handy.

I use it all the time, but then I live in Italy and not many Italians use poncey plug in espresso machines .

You put the water in the bottom up to the bolt you can see on the inside, fill the coffee container right up with coffee (dont press it down though), screw the lid on, put it on a low flame on the smallest hob you have and wait till it starts bubbling. Have a peek under the lid and if all the coffee's up turn of the heat. Voilà.

If the coffee hasn't come up try running cold water over the bottom bit than putting it back on.

The coffee that comes out is pretty much espresso but it doesn't come out frothy like the espresso machines as there's not the same pressure. Still nice and does its job.

Mrs Badger's right, you need the right coffee. Most Italian makes are perfect, try Lavazza, I'm sure I've seen that in Sainsbury's in the UK.

oh yes, Lavazza makes decent coffee even when run through a cheapo filter jug like ours - def worth seeking out.

There's another Italian brand that DH likes as well but I can't remember it offhand... in a gold packet?

Caffe Kimbo? Illy? Lavazza Oro? There's another brand with funny lettering that I can't for the life of me remember. Might have to pop out to the supermarket and have a look.

Illy, that's the one.

I live in Italy too, so consider myself an expert

Trouble with those machines is you have to use them every day or the coffe tastes funny. Actually I think it tastes funny (a bit metallic) anyway, but that could just be the cheap machines everyone has here.

If you want to be a real purist about it you should make sure you have the right size machine, usually they are for 3 cups but you can also get 1 cup or 5. This is because if you fill the funnel bit fully and quite tightly then you should get a bit of frothiness. Just be aware that you are then driking 3 cups worth of caffine!

Can't see the point really if you have to use less coffee or water it down to get it how you like it, why not just use a caffetiere?

I personally have a poncey worktop machine, as it makes frothy milk for my cappucino too, essential in my view

Oooh I have a stove top cappuccino maker too.

They're great to take camping or boating and then of course the coffee tastes brilliant as you are drinking it in the open air!

thanks for your replies

already using lavazza coffee ,when I make it it comes out so strong I need to add water.Is that right?

So they're called mokas???
Ok will never wash it again.Suits me fine!

you ponce!

I got one of these for christmas '05, used it religiously for the first few months, then gave up as it was so much more effort than just making a cup of instant.

But, the coffee did taste fab, I used to heat up some milk, whisk it (insert ponce emoticon here ) and make a nice frothy cappucino. Yum!!

we have three - one cup, three cup and five cup (I think!)

agree with what you have been told on here - esp. not washing them and using everyday. I find it the least hassle way to make coffee - no messy dregs, just bung the grounds striaght into compost thing.

I love it - is my favourite part of the day.

if you get a new one run it in but brewing it a couple of times.

If the rubber corrodes you can replace these (like huge washers) I didn't know this and went out and bought a whole new one!

'by' not 'but'