Customer Reviews

Bialetti Venus 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

With this sleek little pot, you can make espresso on the stovetop like they do in Italy. The Venus Bialetti is easy to use-- if you use a countertop drip maker, you can handle this. It takes only 3 minutes on my stove to make 4 shots.

I have been using this daily for a little over a year, usually one pot for myself and one for my husband and the gasket is still doing well.

It does not make the same quality as an industrial espresso maker but it certainly out performs the various countertop models I've tried. I would even go out on a limb and say that a countertop model that outperforms this would be in a price range of roughly 10 times this cost. Those take up a lot more real estate in small kitchen too.

The Bialetti Venus is also adorable. Not that I want to marry my espresso pot or anything. . .

I'm not sure what the other negative reviewers are talking about. It's sturdy, well-made, heat-resistant, I had no problems with jamming or gaskets or anything else. And 4 cups is the perfect amount for a stovetop coffee maker. That's what the two stars are for. The problem I have is with the upper compartment that the coffee pours into. The bottom of it curves downward toward the sides into a thin crevice which is IMPOSSIBLE to clean. After 2 months this thing is so gross I'll probably just throw it away. I love Bialetti and every other product I've had by them, and I've gone through multiple Mokas and I know how to use them. I just can't understand why they would shape the inside of this one differently. I'll be getting another Moka Express and I would suggest the same to anyone else.

After about a month, I'm very happy with this purchase. I originally bought it to have something small for my boyfriend's apartment, but was hoping to re-create the coffee when I lived in Spain. It worked so well on both counts that I bought another (the aluminum version) for my own apartment. I still have a regular American drip coffee maker for when I want several cups of coffee or have guests, but use this most of the time. I can't really detect any difference in taste between the stainless steel and the aluminum, although I have to be much more careful to wash and dry immediately the aluminum.

I've been using my 4-cup Bialetti for nearly a half year now. Unlike other reviewers, I've not had any problem with the gasket. (I don't remove it for each cleaning since the gasket is the weak spot.) My girlfriend has the six-cup model and this smaller Bialetti is perfect for about two cafe-lattes. I enjoy the ritual of making espresso on stovetop on those morning I'm not compelled to rush drip grind through my standard machines. I love coffee. :-)

This little unit is also simply a gorgeous work of art. The stainless steel construction is solid, and the components such as the filters are suitable for reasonably heavy use. The Bialetti makes better espresso than my Mr. Coffee four-cup machine.

I think you have to be willing to risk some hassle factor, as mine arrived damaged (cracked handle). Amazon was great about the return, sending a replacement immediately. Makes good espresso, but there is definitely a learning curve.

A few tips:

It's hard to be sure, but from looking at the interior pieces, they may not be stainless steel like the exterior. The instructions are similar to the aluminum model, to make a first pot of coffee and throw it away and to only rinse for cleaning. This is to coat the interior with coffee oils to prevent a metallic taste. If you do wash it, you'll need to throw out your first pot of espresso again, because it won't taste good at all.

It's important not to pack the espresso grinds so the steam will move properly into the upper chamber. When I packed the grounds, at least half of the water remained in the lower chamber and quite a lot escaped through the release valve and gasket seal.

The grind size is also very important- if it's too fine, steam shoots out the sides.

There should be a little water left in the chamber after brewing, maybe a tablespoon or so. This is to prevent scorching and discoloration. This means the 4-cup unit makes about 7 oz of espresso, not 8oz. For us, this is enough for two small-ish cappucinos.

It's also important to use relatively high heat, and to remove the maker from the heat as soon as most of the espresso has moved into the upper chamber (this takes a little practice to figure out, but the upper chamber looks about 2/3 full at this point and it is at about the time the unit starts gurlging). The espresso is more bitter if there is prolonged contact with the grinds.

I do like Illy brand espresso, and you can froth hot milk with a whisk if you look up the Cooks Illustrated directions. It's basically putting the whisk between hands that are in the same posisiton they'd be in if you had just clapped them, then slide them back and forth in opposite directions (like you would if they were cold).

Good I read the reviews! True, it is standard 2-cup (small expresso cups that is. Works fine, I bought it as 2-cup pot, for I read reviews, otherwise if getting the wrong size would be disappointed greatly.
Made in India, not Italy. Again, I read reviews, knew that, so have no issues with it. Essy to clean, looks good, works OK. Misleading description.

Amazon, we depend on your descriptions! They may be short, but what it is made of, where it was made, and capacity. Is it too much to ask?

I bought my pot 3 years ago and it still works great. I changed the gasket one time. I've found it is better to leave it alone for the best seal. Also I modified the pot by putting a rubber hose (I used fuel line hose) on the end of the spout and having the coffee go directly into the cup. That way all the crema goes right into the cup. Otherwise when you pour the coffee into the cup, somehow the crema seems to disappear before one gets to sip it.

Italian design, stainless steel, get yourself a glass tube milk frother. Who needs expensive franchise prices!

I was concerned by some of the negative feedback about this item and in fact hesitated to buy it because of some of the reviews about its workmanship and quality, but there is no cause for concern. The craftsmanship of the Bialetti Venus 4-Cup Percolator is in fact superior to all the other Bialetti stovetop percolators I have. I currently own three aluminum models and have owned a total of seven. This one is the best of the lot.

I much prefer this to any of the aluminum models. The coffee it makes tastes better, the pot is easier to clean, and the craftsmanship is superior.

Don't hesitate to buy it. It's top notch quality.

This little stainless steel Moka pot has served me well over the past seven months. It makes the same potent brew as the traditional aluminum model, but will not corrode or build up nasty deposits in a short amount of time like the aluminum pots. I feel that in the long term it is well worth the little bit of extra money. I also like the classic minimalist deign.