I once read a line in my favorite Italian cookbook: 'At the bar, we drink espresso. At home, we make moka.' After traveling across Italy – from Florence to Naples – I discovered how true that is. Step into nearly any Italian kitchen, and you’ll find a moka pot perched on the stovetop, usually a trusty Bialetti, patiently waiting to brew the next cup of rich, velvety coffee.

After extensive testing, I can confidently say: Bialetti reigns supreme in the world of moka pots. The iconic Moka Express remains unbeaten, both in performance and charm (I have a soft spot for the little handlebar-mustached logo – a tribute to Renato Bialetti, the son of Alfonso, who invented the first moka pot in 1933).