Bialetti Brikka 4 Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker 06988

by Bialetti

Product Features

• Internal Valve Creates A Rich Coffee With Crema
• Clear Window In Lid Lets You See The Coffee
• Distinctive Puffing Sound Lets You Know The Coffee Is Done
• Precise Measuring Cup Included
• Makes Coffee Utilizing The Pressure Principle

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• ASIN: B000HCNRVU
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,072 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #93 in Home & Kitchen > Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso > Stovetop Espresso Pots

Product Description

In Italy, espresso is coffee. Any other type of coffee is foreign. When made with a professional pump machine, espresso has a crema - a creme like froth floating atop the coffee. It isn't milk. It's the coffee itself. It adds a rich coating to an already delicious brew. Stovetop espresso makers generally can't produce that crema. That's where the Bialetti Brikka shines. It's a stovetop espresso maker that has a special valve that allows crema to form. So now you can have espresso with crema and celebrate the taste of true Italian coffee anytime. Stylish Octagonal Design Aluminum Coffee Maker And Filter Stainless Steel Funnel Size (HxWxD) - 8 x 4 x 4

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, August 3, 2007

By 

A. Bernstein "aberns" (Cary, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bialetti Brikka 4 Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker 06988

Excellent coffeemaker! Makes perfect espresso. Don't be fooled by the size. Four cups means four tiny cups, one sip each. Don't plan on using this thing to make coffee for your friends. Maximum two people can enjoy this at a time and only if they are used to drinking coffee in European quantities.

One con: hard to clean and the old smell tends to linger, especially in the bottom part of the apparatus. Another, do not attempt to wash it in a dishwasher; though nothing dramatic, but the chrome plating is gone, which gave the thing older vintage look :-)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than Moka Express, December 19, 2010

By 

JR - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bialetti Brikka 4 Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker 06988

Love this little guy. Certainly makes better coffee than the Moka Express but definitely not as much. I get two servings from this and find myself preparing it over and over if there's other people around (because they want one too!). This is the price you pay for wanting good coffee though - same thing would happen if I had an espresso machine. Anyway, on the coffee spectrum, this is closer to true espresso than the moka express but by no means is a substitute for a coffee house espresso. As far as the crema, not that big of a deal to me but it definitely makes a crema - nothing like a $6,000 machine does but it makes it.

Praise
- Better than moka express
- Quick
- Cheaper than cheap auto-espresso makers
- Puts a little crema on top

Complaints:
- No options to make more than 2 servings (not that big of a deal)
- Hard to unscrew when you're trying to clean it (could be unique to mine)


Notes for new owners:
- Do NOT put it in the dishwasher or it will come out looking like a 10 year old alternator
- The more meticulous you are with your procedure, the more predictable and better your cafe will be
- Split it up between two espresso cups and top off with warm milk and a little foamed milk on top for the perfect affordable-at-hom macchiato/cortado
- OH, and a couple times, I've accidentally put too much water in there and it made a MESS. Granted, I think I put twice as much water as I was supposed to but when this thing blows, it spews.

In all, I definitely recommend it if you're looking for something better than drip coffee in the mornings. I prefer this to starbucks. Make sure you get dark beans and a decent grinder!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great home coffee maker, March 19, 2011

By 

NTD - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bialetti Brikka 4 Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker 06988

Just got my second one of it. It is one of the best "Moka" coffee makers, especially for its unique pressure valve that could produce crema. It is the prefect entry level coffee maker for people trying to do espresso at home. Simple and fast!