Review on Premium Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker with Insulation Pad and Brush - 3 Sizes (600ml) by Andy Quade

I ordered the 450ml version of this product. I have used a smaller espresso machine in the past and have been surprised by the results. When I saw this larger version I decided to give it a try. The concept is the same as the famous brand, and the function is the same: fill the bottom reservoir with water, then pour coffee into the strainer. Unscrew the lid and heat. As the water boils, steam is created that travels through the coffee and into the container above, where it becomes espresso. It takes a while to start boiling, but once it's done, the espresso brews quickly. When the brewing stops (and you have to open the lid to see it), remove the pot from the heat and you're ready to serve. I found the manufacturer made a good strong espresso and even added some foam during the brewing process. I found a couple of things that didn't bother me: There is no marking on the bottom of the boiler for you how much water you can safely add. If you overfill, the water will be squeezed out when you put the strainer back in. If you don't add enough, you're not using the pot to its full capacity. The pot came in a box with no instructions. Nothing. Having used Bialetti before, I know how it works. But for a new user, this can be a problem. There were also no cleaning instructions. At the top of the pot are the top strainer, steam concentrator and espresso tank. This piece does not disassemble, so while you can wash it, you cannot disassemble it for a thorough cleaning. On the unit I received the pot lid does not fit properly (hinge issue) and sits next to the lid. Pot. Overall the device works as described and works well. Due to the lack of instructions and the difficult cleaning of the pot, I deducted a star from my rating. Otherwise it works well and is my go-to resource for power outages when I don't have access to power for my traditional system. I am not aware of other products of this design, size and price so I cannot compare them. It will work fine for my purposes, but if used daily I doubt it would be my product of choice.