The Bialetti has been the iconic home coffee maker since 1933. Over 330 million of these have been made. The Bialetti is a classic part of Italian culinary culture in any home, and using it as one of your brew methods will add a bit of coffee romance to your day.

The Moka Pot can be used to produce a cup which, while not quite espresso, is viscous and rich. Frankly a pod machine doesn’t get closer.

The Brikka is an improvement on the classic Moka Express – its patented valve produces more crema and an enhanced mouthfeel.

You are getting close to espresso without a lot of fancy and expensive equipment. With great, freshly and correctly ground coffee, a bit of effort and some frothed milk you can even produce a flat white that is pretty darn close to acceptable. Froth your milk with a Bialetti hand frother (if you want to stay away from electric gadgets) or get an induction milk frother – these do a pretty solid job. Consider using a moka pot at home and drinking your espresso in a cafe where a skilled, experienced barista is making your coffee on a top quality (and very expensive) commercial machine.

• Resulting brew: intense.
• Best with: can be used with all coffees and roasts. Modulate dosing and water temperature to tune the brew for your favourite coffee
• Body: rich, heavy and intense, but not quite espresso
• Acidity: low — medium
• Effort: medium
• Grind: slightly coarser than espresso but finer than for a traditional moka pot like the Moka Express