History of the Stove-top Espresso Maker

The story of the stove-top espresso maker begins in 1918, when Alfonso Bialetti returned to his native Italy from France, where he had worked in the aluminium industry, to start a small workshop manufacturing metal household goods.

The actual idea for the stove-top espresso maker came from a simple washing machine. During the 1920s Alfonso Bialetti observed the local women of Crusinallo washing their clothes in a sealed boiler with a small central pipe. This pipe would draw up the soapy water from the bottom of the boiler and redistribute it over the laundry. Alfonso Bialetti hit upon the idea that he could adapt this washing machine and scale it down to make a simple coffee maker that would allow Italians to enjoy real 'espresso type' coffee in their private homes.

Alfonso Bialetti began tinkering away, building various prototypes. His prototype stove-top espresso makers were manufactured out of aluminium. This was due to there being an embargo imposed by Mussolini's government on stainless steel. As Italy had a rich source of bauxite (aluminium ore), aluminium became the 'National Metal' of Italy.

It was not until 1933, after solving many technical problems, that Alfonso Bialetti invented the world's first stove-top espresso maker; the Moka Express. The distinctive design and octagonal shape of the Moka Express was based on a silver coffee service, popular at time in Italy in rich households. Alfonso Bialetti Moka Express said her "no quality" can enjoy "the UN is the espresso bar at home" - an espresso at home or in a bar (coffee).

Alfonso Bialetti began selling his Moka Express local and regional markets later, to produce and sell about 10,000 units per year. It was not until after World War II, when the son of Alfonso Bialetti Renato joined the family businesssales of the Moka Express really took off. Renato Bialetti realised the potential of the Moka Express and launched a major national advertising campaign. This risk was greatly rewarded, with increased sales, production levels had to be raised to a rate of around 1,000 units per day. The Bialetti Moka Express soon became the market leader in Italy, suppassing sales of the traditional 'Neopolitan' percolator style coffeemaker, in which brewing occurs without pressure. Not only did the Moka Express produce 'espresso type' coffee, which Italians adored, it was also brewed coffee much quicker then its rivals.

Many companies saw the success the Moka Express was enjoying and copied the design to manufacture their own version of the stove-top espresso maker. This is why, in 1953 Renato Bialetti came up with the idea of adding a company mascot to every Moka Express to help promote the brand identity that is Bialetti. He used a caricature of his father Alfonso Bialetti to invent "Omino Baffi With Me" - the man with a mustache. This pet of his popularity, because it creates an image of an Italian father or a male relative aged amateur who had lived all his life in the coffee.

The design of the Moka Express has hardly changed in more than 70 years of production. Aluminum is still used today because it indicates that the residue of coffee brewed before, which pollutes the sides of a pot of Mocha, adds flavor and depth of the beer in the future.This is why it is recommended that you do not clean your Moka Express too thoroughly.

Bialetti, now the world leader in the manufacture of domestic coffee makers, still strives to offer "in casa un espresso come al bar". With the improvement in espresso machines in coffeehouses, Bialetti has sought to develop new technologies, creating new stove-top espresso maker models. They now produce: stainless steel models, such as the Venus; an electric model, the Moka Easy; a new pressure system, the Brikka - which produces a 'crema' top on your coffee; and now a stove-top cappuccino maker, the Mukka Express.

Thanks To : Jura-Capresso 13531 Hamilton Beach 47665