Cuisinox 12 Cup Espresso Stovetop Coffeemaker (Mirror Polished Aluminum)

by Cuisinox

Product Features

• High quality, mirror polished aluminum
• 12 cup size ( based on 1-1/2 ounce cups )
• Dishwasher safe

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B001RNXYOS
• Item model number: cof-1200
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,820 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #80 in Home & Kitchen > Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso > Stovetop Espresso Pots

Product Description

With the invention of the stovetop espresso coffee maker, espresso - long a staple of Italian cafés and bars - became available for home consumption. As the cold water in the lower chamber heats, the pressure from its boiling forces the water up through the coffee grounds. In just a few minutes, espresso emerges from the spout into the upper chamber as the pot hisses and gurgles. Remove the pot from the heat and let it stand until the lower chamber is releasing only steam. The lower water tank holds a metal filter and features a safety valve. The upper tank fills with perfectly brewed coffee. Now Italy's favorite aluminum coffeemaker can go to work in your kitchen, making delicious espresso on gas or electric stovetops.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It works.... at the very least, July 14, 2010

By 

BigTop "tcdahlberg" (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cuisinox 12 Cup Espresso Stovetop Coffeemaker (Mirror Polished Aluminum)

This is the second stove top espresso maker I have purchased from Amazon and the third I have owned. The first two were Bialetti branded 3 cup and 9 cup. I used the Bialetti until the seal between the two sections started to disintegrate and I had no idea where to buy another one. So, I thought I would give a different brand a try. Why not the Cuisinox 12 Cup Stove top espresso maker? Who doesn't want even more espresso?

When I opened the box there were noticeably no instructions for the product. It's not like this is rocket science, but if I hadn't have already been a regular user of these devices I might have been befuddled. What made me want the instructions was the presences of two seals. One seal was silicone and the other rubber. My other espresso makers used the rubber kind. Was the silicone one an actual seal? Was it just a place holder? Why two kinds? Well I decided to try the silicone version. I had some success, but it did not seal very well and splattered out the middle. I switched to the rubber one and had better success.

On the topic of the seal. It doesn't fit as snugly as I am used to in these devices. The filter it is paired with seems fairly cheap and was slightly dented right out of the box.

The construction of this espresso maker feels flimsy. The lid closes slightly askew of how it obviously should close. The handle is plastic and feels unsubstantial. The handles on all my espresso makers have been unimpressive and usually break at some point.

I gave this two stars because it actually does make espresso with the taste and flavor I am used to. Otherwise I am unimpressed with the quality of this product.