Review on ☕️ M. La Cupola Espresso Coffee Mug by Alessi: Sleek and Stylish in Black by Ken Wilson

Like the original Bialetti Moka Express, these jugs are modified percolators that apply gentle pressure to the sealed lower chamber to prevent the coffee from boiling before it reaches the upper serving chamber reached . The drink, which is a cross between espresso and regular coffee, is called mocha java or "moka" and is served almost everywhere in Italy. This particular pot was designed by Aldo Rossi for Alessi and is the largest of the 3 sizes available. Rossi also designed the $300 Alessi La Conica in stainless steel with a copper back. This model shares a similar design but is made from thick, polished die-cast aluminum with a sleek and chunky handle. It's beautifully finished to the standard you'd expect from an Alessi product and after a few initial disposable pots it's a great drink. I buy Lavazza beans and use the same blend as for espresso but a ground medium that gives a full-bodied cup. You should not use an espresso grind as it is too fine and will muddy your coffee. If you're using cream or frothed milk, you can use a darker roast that will stand up to dilution. illy makes a pre-ground "mocha" mix that's pretty good, albeit quite expensive. This is a premium product and the only downside is that it's a little fiddly to wash. It should never be washed in the dishwasher as the chemicals in the soap can oxidize bare aluminum and turn it grey-black. A simple sponge and a hot rinse are all you need, plus a thorough towel drying before reassembling the top, bottom, and funnel. Allow it to cool completely before disassembling and always scrape the hopper screen with a spoon as the compressed washer creates a vacuum seal in the lower chamber making it almost impossible to remove the hopper until the seal is broken. Finally, you shouldn't slam the funnel on a trash can or trash can like you would with a postage filter, as you'll have to disable and replace it on the first hit. I doubt you will ever regret your purchase.