Skip The Bialetti Mini Express 2-Cup Stovetop Coffee Maker
Bialetti has many beautiful and functional stovetop espresso makers, but the Bialetti Mini Express 2-Cup probably isn’t worth the time unless you simply love the look of it.
I am a very big fan of the Bialetti coffee products and on this blog their products have been written about extensively. I plan on continuing to admire their products as well as their impact on Italian culture. I’ve used multiple sizes and styles of their stovetop espresso makers over many years and because of this, I think a product review can be a useful tool for those in the decision making phase of their purchase. It is with this backdrop that I wanted to review the Bialetti Mini Express 2-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker.
The Bialetti Mini Express 2-Cup Review
A few years back we had an eCommerce store that sold Italian coffee related products. This included real Bialetti stovetop espresso makers and some cheap knock-offs. The Bialetti products were well made and had beautiful designs. For these reasons, we decided to sell the Mini Express, but I also wanted to buy one for myself because of how cool it looked.
How Does Bialetti Mini Express Work?
Like most of their coffee makers, the Mini Express sits on the burner and brews two cups of espresso-style coffee. The maker has two little platforms that allow you to place two espresso sized cups (no larger) under the two spouts that fill the cups while it brews. The spouts remind me of the nasone in Rome, but that is an entirely different story. Once the brewing has completed, you take the espresso cups immediately from the stove and start enjoying some hot Italian espresso-style coffee.
How Much Coffee Does A 2-Cup Bialetti Make?
As you might expect from the question, this Mini Express coffee maker makes 2 cups of espresso-style coffee. These “cups” are not 8 fluid ounce cups that you would find in the US, but they are two espresso sized cups (a.k.a. tazzine). People usually convert 1 espresso cup (tazzina) to around 1 ounce, but that is more accurately the amount of espresso, instead of the size of the cup.
What Did I Like About The Mini Express?
What had me from the beginning was the design. The symmetry of the coffee pot and the added romance of brewing a cup for you and your significant other at the same time was delightful, which could make for a fun morning. There is a sense with Bialetti products that you want to buy the “right size” for what you need, and this Mini Express seemed to fit that goal.
What I am describing only focuses on the visual aspects of the design and not the practical ones. Sometimes appreciating the beauty, romance or styling of something is enough to grab your attention, but it isn’t enough to keep you happy, which brings us to what I didn’t like about it.
What Did I Dislike About The Mini Express?
To simplify my dislikes, I grouped them into three main complaints:
- The simplicity of the design allows for uneven distribution of the brewed coffee. One cup always seemed to be more full than the other. This happened because the simple way the coffee is divided. There are two holes dividing the coffee with no meaningful way to regulate the flow.
- The espresso cups can get really hot. Hot cups are a common thing when you get espresso ordered in a restaurant, but less so at home. The cups can get REALLY hot if you aren’t very attentive to the positioning and the height of the flame. It takes some of the magic away when you grab the espresso cup and spill it because it is burning your fingers.
- The pot itself needs to just sit on the burner until it cools off. This complaint might actually be obsolete because of the age of my pot. I noticed that the newer versions have a very improved heat resistant handle installed, which should allow you to move the hot pot immediately after brewing has completed. It confirms my belief that the original design had some major flaws.
Is Bialetti Made In Italy Or China?
This depends on a lot of factors. Which model, when was it made and even which part. Bialetti is proud to say that their stovetop espresso makers are “Italian Designed”, which I appreciate, but they aren’t all made in Italy despite what others claim. I have seen over the years some made in Romania, and it would surprise me if China wasn’t also involved. To make my point, I just bought a Brikka (to be reviewed later), and some parts were stamped with the “Designed in Italy” label and another part was stamped with “Made In Italy”. This isn’t a simple question to answer and I believe that is Bialetti’s intention.
Are Bialetti Coffee Makers Worth It?
In general, yes, Bialetti makes some great products. They partner with designers resulting in some beautiful coffee makers that you might only want to buy for display purposes. Their simplicity of design ensures they will live forever and continue to be an important part of Italian coffee culture.
Is The Bialetti Mini Express 2-Cup Worth It?
In my opinion, even with some of the more recent design improvements, I would not recommend buying this version. Visually it is an amazing product, but the practicality is where it fails for me. Skip this one and try one of their other designs and I believe you will be much happier.
More Italian Stove-Top Espresso Makers
If you found this review of the Bialetti Mini Express 2 Cup helpful and/or informational, please check out some of these other coffee maker articles that I think you will also enjoy:
- Moka Pot Cleaning With Vinegar.
- Moka Pot Mistakes That Can Wreck A Delicious Italian Coffee.
- How To Use Stovetop Espresso Makers.
- Coffee From Italy Can Be Enjoyed At Home Overview.
- The “La Cupola” By Alessi Will Brighten Every Morning.
- The Beautiful Alessi Pulcina Stove-Top Espresso Maker.
- Could A Famous Stove-Top Espresso Maker Go Out Of Business?
- Long Live The Amazing Bialetti Stove-Top Espresso Makers!
- A Neapolitan Coffee Experience.
