Bialetti Mukka Espresso Machine

It's not too terribly often that I'm completely bowled over by a product.  Most things I come across in my daily life fall into one of two categories; 'useful', and 'useless'.  Ocassionally, I happen upon something that I can pigeon hole as either 'really great', or 'really crappy'.  The Mukka Express, fortunately, falls into the 'really great' category; possibly even creating its own sub-category of 'gee whiz that's really cool'.  And even better, it actually works as well and as simply as advertised.

As you know from having read the product description, the Mukka Express will make two 5 or 6 oz. cups of cappucino or latte, and with a minimal amount of muss and fuss.  Okay, you do have to clean the thing afterwards, but name me one thing you use in your kitchen that does not require some cleanup, disposable things not withstanding.  The accompanying instructions actually make it seem more daunting than it really is.  Using the Mukka Express is no more difficult than using their standard Mokka Express pot.  You just add milk to the upper half, and push down the valve for cappucino, or leave it up for latte.

Rather than have you fiddle with the instructions, or surf the web looking for an instructional video that is sure to cause your IE browser to lock up, I will make this plain and simple.  Accompanying the Mukka Express is a little plastic cup with two plainly marked lines; one for use with gas ranges, the other a little higher for use with electric ranges.  Apparently, you have to add about an ounce more water for use with an electric range.  I have a gas range, so I don't need to use the measuring cup, as the proper amount of water sets right at the lowest line in the base, or exactly 2/3 cup.  If you have an electric range, fill it to just over this line.  And use cold water.

The filter basket is much like in the other Bialetti moka pots, only the bottom  is spring loaded with a little stem potruding upwards.  When filling the basket do NOT tamp.  Simply fill the basket to slightly overflowing, so there is a small mound of coffee above the top level of the basket, and be sure there are no stray grounds around the outside edge that could interfere with reassembling the pot.  Once you have filled the filter basket, screw the top onto the base tightly, and pour milk in up to the level of the little ledge running around the inside.  Don't worry, you cannot miss this measuring line.  You will notice that the milk is cold.  This is why you want to use cold water; so that the milk has time to heat in the upper part before the coffee starts coming out.

Be sure the pressure valve is installed correctly.  It only goes on one way.  Holding the pot so that the handle is in your right hand, spout facing to your left, place the valve on so that the little steam nozzle on the side is at the 8 o'clock position.  Turn the valve to just past the 9 o'clock position where it will lock.  For cappucino, push the valve button down, for latte leave it in the up position.  Place the Mukka Express on your stove, and heat on low/med.  What's important is that the heat source not extend out past the edges of the base, but the slower you heat it the better the results.

Be sure to keep the lid closed.  I know that those of us who use the stovetop moka pots are accustomed to keeping the lid open to prevent excessive condensation from weakening the brew.  But, on this model, you absolutely must keep the lid down.  Depending on how high the heat is, you can expect to wait about five minutes for the thing to do its job.  Now, how will you know when it's done?  Trust me, you'll know.  The coffee slowly makes its way up into the upper chamber, and eventually enough pressure builds up to pop the pressure valve, allowing the rest of the coffee and steam to escape, and froth the milk.  There will be a loud 'shooooooooch' as the steam froths the milk.  If you've ever been to a coffee shop and heard them steaming and frothing the milk, you'll recognize the sound.  Turn off the heat once it has started doing this, or you will have foam escaping out the spout, and running down the side.

Now, the first time I used this, I got perfect results.  A word of warning, though.  The foam will not be white, so too bad for you latte artists out there.  It will be a light tan in color.  Personally, the results are more than satisfactory, but ubber snobs may believe that the cappucino lacks that certain 'body'.  True, nothing can beat milk that is slowly heated, and then frothed with steam; it has something to do with sugar molecules.  But, most of us will either not be able to tell the difference, or simply not care.  The fact is that this $89 contraption does for most of us as well as a $300 machine.  A big plus is you are like me, and only wish to enjoy this type of coffee on an occasional basis. 

As I mentioned earlier, there is a bit of clean up with this.  After the thing has cooled to the touch, remove the pressure valve by twisting counter clockwise (back to the eight o'clock postion), and pulling off.  Wash it thoroughly with hot soapy water, using a toothbrush if necessary.  And, for the big difference between this and the standard moka pots, you have to wash out the inside with hot soapy water.  Oh, but you've always been told not to clean a moka pot too thoroughly.  While you may wish to leave built up coffee residue inside your moka pot, it is not a good idea to leave milk residue, as this will encourage all kinds of nasty bacteria to grow, giving you an intimate familiarity with another kind of pot.  So scrub the thing out good, but not with any harsh cleansers; just hot soapy water.  Allow the Mukka Express to dry before putting it away, and put it away disassembled if possible.  At any rate, do not screw the top on tightly if you choose to store it assembled.

There you have it; how to use this fantastically really cool thing.  I stated in a previous review on the Moka Express that I feel this to be a 'manly' way of having what I would otherwise classify as a 'foo-foo' drink.  Lots of measuring, putting together parts, and plenty of noise.  Almost like having a shop tool in your kitchen.  But seriously, the Mukka Express really does work, and at a fraction of the cost of a good espresso machine (and let's face it, no sense buying a 'bad' espresso machine).  Cleanup is relatively simple and fast.  And, it doesn't waste a whole lot of space, so you can keep it tucked neatly away until you want to use it.  To recap; it's cheap; simple to use, nearly foolproof; cleans up with ease; takes up very little space; and most importantly, it works great.  So what are you waiting for?  Go out and buy it right now!