Primula 6-Cup 18/10 Stainless Steel Stove-Top Espresso Maker

by Primula

Product Features

• Heavy Cast Aluminum, Octagon Shape Construction
• For use on gas or electric stovetops
• 6 cup capacity
• Classic Italian method of brewing espresso
• Makes great tasting espresso in about 4 minutes

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.2 x 8 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001J1L59E
• Item model number: PES-3306
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,867 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #29 in Home & Kitchen > Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso > Stovetop Espresso Pots

Product Description

Size: 6 cup | Color: Aluminum

The Primula Aluminum Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker is the classic solution for brewing espresso coffee on your stovetop. Made of heavy-duty cast aluminum. Primula coffee makers will change the way you experience coffee. Primula elevates the sensory qualities of your favorite coffee and espresso to allow you to truly savor every aroma and flavor to its fullest.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here's how to use these things!, April 16, 2011

By 

Skip Thomsen "riverguy" (Forestville, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Primula Stainless Steel 4-Cup Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker (Kitchen)

OK, since Amazon now has this policy of publishing reviews to similar items as though they were for the specific items (beware of this when you read reviews! Read the fine print at the top of the review!), I hope this appears for all of these similar espresso makers, regardless of brand, because it works in all of them.

I've owned several of these, different brands and different sizes, and have been somewhat underwhelmed with their performance. "Emergency coffee" is what I used mine for. So one day I was at my son's house and he made me this incredible dry cappuccino. I immediately went to his kitchen to see what kind of machine he had bought, and was blown away when he showed me his old, beat-up and stained "6-cup" espresso maker, just like the ones in these reviews. I asked him how he managed to get that kind of performance out of this thing and he said the secret is in ignoring the published instructions and pretty much doing the opposite of what they suggest. Here's his instructions:

1. Grind your coffee to espresso fine. If you don't have a burr grinder capable of this, buy your coffee in small quantities and have them grind it for you.
2. Fill the coffee holder to a bit over-the-top and then tamp it lightly. A shot-glass or anything else that fits into the holder will do.
3. Then proceed as normal: fill the boiler to the brass safety valve with cold, filtered water, screw on the top, and put it on the stove.
4. Leave the lid open so you can watch what's going on, allow the coffee to flow until it starts bubbling a bit but not so long that it will boil!
5. Pour off the most amazing cup you've ever experienced from your Primula (or similar) espresso maker!

I now use the Primula more often than my $500 Gaggia machine. Less fuss and just about as good. Not better, but just about as good, and that's pretty darned good.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars obnoxious stinky gasket smells like tires, July 19, 2009

By 

badger (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Primula 6-Cup 18/10 Stainless Steel Stove-Top Espresso Maker (Kitchen)

Like the other stove top espresso makers, including the now discontinued Walmart brand that cost half as much, it does nice work brilliantly. Various reviewers of these devices obviously don't understand how to operate them. Read the six line instructions.

The stench on the gasket is so nasty, it stinks up the house. I tried soaking in vinegar for 24 hours, isopropyl alcohol for 24 hours, lighter fluid for 6 hours. It is no longer as bad as it was. This stinky gasket must be redesigned. There is no excuse for it.

epilog: Bialetti 06951 replacement gasket is clean and sweet.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Gasket made this espresso maker no bargain, September 14, 2009

By 

David Ammerman (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Primula 6-Cup 18/10 Stainless Steel Stove-Top Espresso Maker (Kitchen)

I too had the "stinky gasket" problem, and I was also able to solve it with the Bialetti replacement gasket. The interior had a rough finish with irregular globs of aluminum, suggesting that their factory quality control is poor, but that does not seem to affect the function of the coffee maker. When I was done, I had spent about $25, so this cheap espresso maker was no bargain. If I had to do it again, I would buy one of the products with a silicone gasket.

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