Review on Alessi Espresso Maker 9090 by Richard Sapper for 6 Espresso Cups by David Olson

A high-quality heirloom that makes great coffee. A pleasure to use and see. Use a finer grind than normal, but less fine than espresso. My local says to ask for the #4 grind. Obviously some of the negative reviews here are not using them properly or don't care about them. It is common among the creators of the caffettiera style for people to raise the temperature too much. Slowly brew coffee on a SMALL FLAME (see photo). The coffee should drip out of the spout slowly and without making a sound. You shouldn't hear a loud seep until near the end of the brew, when most or all of the water has been brewed. Immediately turn off the fire when you hear this sound. People complaining about the base turning into a rainbow are definitely fanning the flames too much. The flame should not be near the edges of the base, otherwise stainless steel will become iridescent. Rinse and dry after each use. Wash it once or twice a week by heating a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water to wash away old coffee oils. Do not store it with the handle pinched, so that the washing machine does not constantly shrink.