Review on ☕ Ilsa Stainless Steel 6 Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker: Experience Rich and Authentic Espresso at Home! by Alexandergraham Visoro

I like this espresso pot. I had an aluminum one for a few months and was never entirely satisfied with it. The coffee was often too weak, and after reducing the amount of water to make a sufficiently strong coffee, the yield was so small that it wasn't worth the effort, especially as it didn't have the rich flavor I was looking for. Coffee but I had to experiment to get what I want. I use a good dark roast, "ground espresso" (store ground) and the result is rich and chocolatey, much more flavorful than aluminum moka. I've experimented with the amount of water and settled on this: 1/3 cup of water when using a reducer plate (great addition!) and then double that when using a full pot. I actually use the 1/3 cup measure (fills up about 1.5 times) every time I brew a pot so I don't have to guess and then fret over a weaker drink. So play around with the amount of water to see what you prefer. Some reviewers complain that it takes too long to brew and it's hard to know when it's done. I've found that my tendency to overfill (and stuff) coffee is the culprit. When I put it back in, it takes forever to brew and sometimes I have to pour it out and put it back in the burner to finish. Now I fill it with coffee grounds, resisting the temptation to add a little more, just tapping it lightly. A good seal is another important detail and I think overpacking the coffee can interfere with proper sealing. Even if you pack it properly, you still have to turn it around a lot (but not by hand!) to get a good seal. It's not fun because I have small hands that hurt in the mornings, but I'm motivated to make my morning cup of tea! With one hand I grab the top part of the kitchen towel (the design is such that it's very uncomfortable without a kitchen towel because the metal sticks to my hand) and with the other hand I grab the bottom part. Make sure your hand is dry so you can get a good grip on the bottom. I also used one of those rubber can openers to help with the grip. Make sure you don't hold the handle over the burner or it will get hot. I have no problem taking it without a hot pad. It takes a little more effort than a drop, but I don't mind because it tastes so good. Happy brewing!