Espresso maker preparation- Italian lifestyle

The famous espresso maker was invented in 1933 by the Italian Alfonso Bialetti and is the absolute classic in espresso preparation. An Italian household without a "Caffetierra" as it is called there is rather a rarity. The special feature of the espresso pot is the characteristic octagonal shape, which distributes the heat evenly in the pot.

Depending on your preference, you can prepare both coffee beans and espresso beans in the espresso pot. Whether it's a conventional electric stove, a stove with a ceramic hob or a gas stove, all variants are suitable for preparing coffee with an espresso maker. The exception to this is the induction stove. Here you need an espresso maker made of magnetic material.

The right preparation

Actually, the handling is quite simple if you pay attention to a few things. The principle of the stove is always the same, no matter what size, type or brand you use. The preparer consists of three parts. The lower container is for the water, the filter insert is for the ground coffee, and the upper container is for the finished coffee. Important: Preheat the water, because if you put the pot directly on the stove top, the metal of the pot will heat up too much. A bitter coffee with a metallic aftertaste would be the result. Fill the preheated water into the water container, to just below the valve. Insert the filter and fill it completely with coffee. Be careful not to press on the coffee powder.

It is best to grind the coffee fresh. Set the stovetop to medium-high heat. Too high a temperature will burn the coffee and result in a bitter aftertaste. Stay on the stove because your coffee will be ready to drink in just a few minutes. Triggered by the water rising to the top, there will be a bubbling, fizzing sound - as soon as the coffee is visible. Take the pot directly off the stove as soon as the coffee continuously runs into the upper part. The residual heat will push all the water to the top - and you'll avoid burning the coffee this way.

Important factors

Grinding degree: fine - medium
Quantity: Fill sieve completely (sieve corresponds to jug size)
Water temperature: 99 °C

Our tip

You can't actually make a real espresso with the espresso maker, so the German name is rather misleading. A "real espresso" can only be prepared with enough pressure at 9 bar. However, the espresso maker can be used to prepare a Caffé Italiana, exactly the way Italians drink it at home. It reminds us strongly of a mocha.