The Most Beautiful Moka Pots For Italian Stovetop Coffee

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It’s not surprising to see a moka pot in almost every Italian movie or TV show because these coffee makers are such an iconic part of Italian culture.

The most popular stovetop pot is the Moka Express, invented in 1933 by engineer Luigi Di Ponti. However, aluminum vendor Alfonso Bialetti catapulted the hexagonal pot with a “little man with a mustache” logo to national and later international fame. The design was patented in 1950.

It’s said that Bialetti was inspired to design his machine while watching his wife do laundry in a lessiveuse, a primitive French washing machine made of galvanized steel. 

This is the same pot that Detective Montalbano routinely uses in the wildly popular Italian TV series. This quintessential Made in Italy product has even earned a place in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York.

The Timeless Popularity of Moka Pots

The stovetop Bialetti coffee pots are revered for their simplicity, durability, affordability, and design. Many swear that the steam pressure used to brew the coffee makes a richer and more intense brew than drip coffee, rivaling the taste of espresso.

Although many Italians prefer to make a quick stop at a local bar for their morning shot of caffeine, there are probably one or more moka pots in every Italian (or Italian-American) household that carry the nostalgia of being handed down by a mother or grandmother.

While they aren’t yet considered a staple in every American kitchen, data from Google Trends has shown a steady increase in searches for moka pots. Although a Keurig-type coffee machine is faster and requires less effort, moka pots are more economical and sustainable. 

People fall in love with their aluminum Bialetti. Some are obsessed with collecting them and visit Bialetti stores as if they were museums.

A post in a Reddit thread for Moka Pot Enthusiasts recounted the saga of a woman whose boyfriend discolored her Moka pot by putting it in the dishwasher.

Another poster responded (tongue-in-cheek, I hope): Did he offer to replace it? Did he offer to scrub all of this off? If the answer to either of these is no, throw him out.

The Most Beautiful Moka Pots

My husband lived in Italy for a year before we married and became obsessed with moka pots. Decades have passed, and we’ve downsized, living in a smaller house with a smaller kitchen than we once had. But he still obsessively searches for moka pots of different materials, designs, sizes, and manufacturers.

We have more than we can use. But Moka pots are so aesthetically appealing that they add a bit of glamour (and glitz) to any kitchen.

Here are some knock-outs:

MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Flower Market Moka Pot

This three-cup pot is crafted in Italy with the distinctive black and white MacKenzie-Childs check design and a floral overlay. Made of aluminum, it has a stay-cool handle and knob. Retails for $99

Purchase from MacKenzie-Childs

24k Gold Decorative Moka Bialetti Dolce&Gabbana

This top-of-the-line Rolls Royce of Bialetti moka pots is so precious that it is ONLY designed for decoration rather than use. This three-cup version is made of 24K gold-plated aluminum outside with a mirrored gold-plated inside. It bears the embossed Dolce&Gabbana logo and comes with an elegant display case. It retails for $2,645.

Purchase from Dolce&Gabbana

Alessi Pulcina Stove Top Moka Pot

This three-cup pot is a moka pot but not a Bialetti. Designed by Michele de Lucchi and made by the renowned Alessi, it is more contemporary in design but functions the same way as traditional ones. I must admit that I was smitten with its sensuous curves and asked my husband to buy one for me. It comes in a six-cup version as well, with red or black handles. It retails for $115.00.

Purchase from Amazon

Bialetti Moka Express 

Traditionalists will enjoy having the iconic 3-cup aluminum Moka Express to dip their grinds into the proverbial moka waters. Made in Italy, it’s been updated since the original with a patented safety valve that makes it easy to clean. It’s available in many sizes and is suitable for gas, electric, and induction (with the Bialetti induction adapter plate). Users are advised to only use water to wash by hand, no detergent. It retails for $34.]

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Bialetti Moka Express Italian Collection

This tri-color model is a riff on the traditional pot above that comes in red, green, and silver, reminiscent of the colors of the Italian flag. It is an eye-grabber on any shelf. It retails for $42.56

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Alessi Moka Coffee Maker

This is my husband’s absolute favorite. Yes, he bought it in two sizes. Designed for Alessi by David Chipperfield, the easy-grip handle is convenient to grasp, and its matte finish makes it easy to maintain. He uses the flat top to heat his espresso cup while brewing the coffee. The six-cup version retails for $60.

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Bridgerton Bialetti Moka Express

There’s no end to the evolution of Bialetti moka pots. Romantics will fall in love with this pale blue 3-cup Bridgerton Bialetti, licensed in collaboration with Netflix, that captures the essence of the Regency era. It could make an excellent engagement or wedding gift. A set of matchable mugs are also available for purchase. It retails for $49.95.

Purchase from Amazon

Warning: Purchasing one Moka pot may be a gateway to purchasing more than one. Which one caught your eye?

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