Bialetti Musa 4Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker
by admin on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 | 15 Comments
| Brand: | Bialetti | ||
| Average Rating |
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Stainless steel, stovetop espresso maker produces 4 cups of rich, authentic Italian espresso in just 4-5 minutes. more info
all about the taste
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’m comparing the 4 cup Musa to the 6 cup Moka Express. First, the Moka Express takes roughly 3 oz of fine ground to fill while this Musa takes about 1.5 oz to fill. If you follow the directions, the end product for the Musa will be very weak compared to the Moka Express. I’ve learned that even though the directions say not to tamp the grounds, I lightly tamp the grounds to get a little over 2 oz of ground to make a product with the same potency as the Moka Express. The brew time will take a little longer, but worth the wait.
With that said, it all comes down to how the end product taste doesn’t it. The Musa may win the looks contest, but the aluminum Express version wins on taste. Not sure how and why they taste different, but I did a taste test with friends and all agreed that the Express taste better and it’s cheaper.
I would say get this if you a have fear of aluminum products and still want the Moka experience. I would pass on it if you’re looking for a better product than the original Moka Express. For that, I would recommend you try the Aeropress, it takes more grounds, but the taste is worth it.
Would I buy the Musa again? Yes, it’s another weapon in my arsenal for java nirvana. Although it may not be the most tasteful I have, it works great for 2 people having 2 shots each. Also, if you’ve never had the express version, you won’t know what you’re missing and this is a very good substitute. One last thing, it’s very well constructed, you can see and feel why it’s more expensive than the aluminum version.
Great when it works…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I had to re-order the item three times to finally receive a good one. The first one came with a broken handle, the second one with a leaking valve…Funny when you think that Chrysler is now going to get the Italian technology (sic). In all fairness, Fiat won’t get much from Chrysler either.
made in India
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
We having been using the Italian made Bialetti aluminum espresso maker for about 4 years and really like it. However, the aluminum Bialetti can’t be used in a dishwasher (it oxidizes and turns dark.) We thought that a stainless model would be more convenient to clean. However, this Indian made coffee maker isn’t made to as exacting a standard as the aluminum Italian one. The top and bottom pieces don’t screw together as well and is very hard to prevent the steam from leaking.
Excellent little Expresso Maker
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this little thing. The expresso section of my Capresso wore out and I was missing my Expresso. This works out great. I can still froth milk with my capresso and make the expresso with this. If I get another one I will get the larger size, but this is perfect for a large latte! The stainless steel is easy to clean and it looks good in the kitchen.
Works well, but not foolproof
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this Bialetti for about eight months now. Apparently I got somewhat lucky in that the first one I received didn’t have any defects. I like it. There’s essentially nothing to break, and it’s rugged – heavy gauge stainless. No problem taking it camping. A few things to keep in mind about these type of coffee makers:
– A “cup” is like a “shot” at Starbucks. Think demitasse.
– The strength of the coffee produced can be somewhat modulated by how much ground coffee is put in the basket, how much it’s packed in the basket, and how finely ground the coffee is. If you pack/fill the basket, it will be slow to brew and come out very strong. If you partially fill the basket and don’t pack it, the coffee will be weaker and come out quickly. Slight changes seem to make a fairly large difference in the results.
– One minor gripe is that I don’t like the handle that’s on the flip top lid. The way mine is installed, it’s not possible to flip the lid up with your thumb while your hand is on the main handle. Sometimes I like to flip the lid up to check the brewing process and there isn’t an easy way to do so. Not a big deal..
I’ll have this coffee maker forever.
Bialetti Made in India
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The description of this item did not state it was made in India, not Italy. It is poorly made and the lid does not fit properly. Potential buyers BEWARE!
Cannot survive without.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The stovetop espresso is the best little thing. This model works well and will yield a cup of coffee. The only complaint would be the amount of water that doesn’t bubble up, about 3 tbs. This might just be mine though.
replacement gaskets
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I can’t find replacement gaskets for this size of Bialetti. Does anyone have suggestions?
Compare to the Aluminum Moka Pot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bialetti Musa 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator
I’ve owned a 6-cup “Moka Pot” for a couple years and recently purchased the Bialetti Musa 4-cup stovetop perconlator for $39 from amazon.
Moka Pot: Your standard Italian stovetop percolator that will last forever despite cheap construction. About $6 from the second-hand store, and very easy to find. Unfortunately, they’re a bit more work — the aluminum construction results in a metallic taste if not properly cleaned. The “proper” way to clean it is to use only hot water and leave the oily coffee film in the pot (to coat the aluminum and provide a barrier). So, it provides increasing returns if *not* cleaned.
Bialetti: Stainless steel — easy cleanup, can use soapy water, no metallic taste. Harder to find (check amazon, health-food stores). Mine arrived via Amazon.com yesterday, no metal shavings or grease (as an earlier reviewer experienced).
As other reviewers have pointed out, the “4-Cup” version does 6-8 oz of espresso, so that’s like that Starbucks “Venti” wonder that you’re trying to avoid.
Here’s an easy recipe that should kick you out the door in the morning:
6-8 oz espresso from Stovetop (1 Moka Pot)
1-2 Tbsp of sugar
6-8 oz of half-n-half
Throw it in the microwave for 30s, some like it hot.
Enjoy!
Twice burned.
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
First the handle was broken, when they sent me a replacement the gasket was too small and didn’t work. Made in China. Wound up going to buy one at a kitchen store where I could check the product before buying.
Arrived dirty & scratched, with machining grease inside
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This is the second Bialetti stovetop coffeemaker that I’ve ordered in the last two weeks that has arrived scratched up and dirty. This one had machining grease in the top chamber which was easily noticeable after one swipe with a paper towel. The shape is such that there was no way I could get it clean without putting it in the dishwasher, which you aren’t supposed to do. I don’t know what’s going on here, but something seems to be awry in the factory. I ordered the first one, a different model, on Amazon through a third party, and the second one was this model direct from Amazon.
Good things come in small pacakages..
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought the Bialetti Musa Espresso Maker and it does everything I need it to. I Set it up and and pit it on the stove by the time I go into the bedroom and put on my shoes its done. I would reccomend this product..
Great Little Pot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great little pot & oh so stylish. Folks find it hard to believe it’s a moka pot! It’s perfect for one super strength latte, or 2 slightly weaker ones. I love this pot.
Simple Espresso
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I received the Musa as a wedding gift 4 years ago and have used it nearly EVERY MORNING since. It has held up extremely well to regular use- I have only had to replace the rubber seal/gasket once so far and there is a small 1/2″ crack on the top of the handle. I even take it on trips since it is so small! I rinse it after each use and clean it with a paper towel and mild dish soap and water about once a month or so- if you have hard water you can end up with a bit of calcium buildup in the bottom reservoir- a bit of watered-down CLR left to sit for an hour or so will clear it right up (rinse well!!). Highly Recommended.
misrepresented
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
4 CUPS?! NO WAY! I’m writing to save you time on returns. Amazon should warn it’s shoppers of the gross exageration of the claimed product output because they’re loosing money on shipping costs. You’ll get HALF a cup of expresso from the 4 cup machine. My mom has a 3 cup (at the time I thought it was a 1 cup) and had to serve a guest 3 times. Another reviewer said he got 2 cups from a 10 cup maker… which I just ordered. One wonders what other “things” Italian men are wont to exagerate about, wink, wink, “it’s small volume is made up for by potency,” – you roll your eyes.