6 Cup Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker, Stainless Steel (PES-4606)

Even though it has only been one day that I have had this, I feel confident in its build quality and am convinced that it is an excellent value at $23. I can tell the handle will not and is not meant to withstand any torque as a result of joining or dismantling the unit. It is meant to hold the unit, and allow pouring and that is it. The reservoir holds 8oz, no more on this 6 cup model. Do not put more than that in the reservoir or you may have problems such as leaks. It is the perfect amount for 2 cups with steamed or warmed/frothed milk. I used some old freezer beans for my first run, I was also using a new hand grinder so I am still getting used to the grind settings. It was a fine grind, I tamped lightly. The first pot smelled fantastic! but I dumped it down the drain and waited for things to cool down to clean things up and go again. This time with a french roast bean and a slightly more coarse grind but still fine. Assembled the halves being sure that there were no loose grinds to interfere with the 2 parts joining properly and put it on the heat. I preheated the water this time and it started brewing a little faster. It gives the same auditory signals that an electric espresso machine gives, the sputtering means it is about done and remove it from the heat when it is mostly silent. It was a fantastic cup of espresso, well cappuccino I suppose, just like I remember from my old machine. This type of coffee making takes some attention to detail and careful execution to be successful. It is not a set it and forget it kind of thing. You are committed to the process for about 12 minutes, depending on your heat source and barista skills. Of course once you have enjoyed your Java, you have to clean the unit and dry it for best results. I experienced no leaks, no surprises just a splendid cup of espresso. The unit is easy to clean, no soap just hot water and brush or cloth. maybe occasionally remove the silicone ring(takes a little effort) and give the filter a good cleaning especially if it ever gets left for extended periods after use. I use baking soda to remove any stains where coffee is involved. I will add any updated information as time goes by but for now I have full confidence in this product and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an economical way to make espresso that is full stainless steel. Seeing how things have changed in the last few years where old time quality has given way to new world garbage, it is refreshing to see that a quality item can still be had for a decent price amongst all the inferior options.

This is exactly what we needed! This little gem of an espresso maker works perfectly with easy clean up and the most important part, it's all stainless steel so it won't leach aluminum into your drinks or your body! IT is so easy to use. You fill the bottom with water, fill the removeable filter with espresso coffee like LavAzza which is awesome, and put it on the stove top for a few minutes, mine is a gas stove. It rinses clean in seconds and looks nice on the counter top for daily use. My son has made lattes with frothed milk and added syrups and a little whipped topping and says that it is as good as any he has purchased. I'm not much for sweetened drinks and I use only full fat cream, I use 2 oz full fat cream warmed and 3 oz espresso and it is fantastic! We couldn't be happier and from the reviews I read on counter top machines, this seems like the way to go. We have 4 coffee drinkers in the house so we use K-cups, a french press and now this. My poor old coffee pot sits unused unless we have a large gathering. Thank you for this quality Primula espresso maker!

I've had some sort of espresso maker for about 40 years. I started off with a cheap little aluminum stovetop item that provided great espresso. After years of great service, my wife gave me an electric espresso maker. I have suffered with that item for almost ten years. When it worked, it made great espresso. When the check valve had some aluminum corrosion products in it -- the water tank was aluminum -- or hard water deposits, it made great steam ... no espresso though. I was then forced to go through the vinegar cleaning process. That worked well enough for a while, but was a pain in the ... . Lately I had to run the vinegar cleaning solution through several times, then I'd get maybe one pot of espresso before the check valve became non-functional again. Time for an alternative. I never had any problems with my old stovetop unit, so I researched for a while and decided on the Primula 18/10 stainless steel unit.. It arrived today and I was immediately impressed by its heft and construction. It's much heavier than I would have expected, and that's a good thing. It's also a beautiful item compared to the hexagonal aluminum alternatives -- nicely polished stainless steel and elegant proportions. the handle is covered in a silicone layer that makes picking up the unit from the stove a snap; no hot pads required. It is very precisely made ... the bottom threads into the top perfectly. Note that 18/10 is a high-quality stainless steel. How does it do making espresso? Perfectly. And. And, I'll never have to face vinegar fumes again. Eureka!!!

I used this product almost every day for 4 years and it never failed to make a great cup of joe. Cleaning is relatively easy. I always used a scrub brush and mild detergents to clean it and all its divits. You can put it in the dishwasher, but it doesn't come out as clean as if you do it by brush. The only drawback is that the handle is a weak point that will wear out, overtime. Unfortunately, I have to throw away a perfectly good espresso maker because the handle has popped off. I hope that Primula will improve the strength of the handle, in the future.

I’ve used a French press for years, and have been very happy with it. However, I became interested in the possibility of acquiring an espresso machine, but the size, cost and complicated use of one discouraged me. I came across Moki pots and thought one might be a great alternative. I didn’t want one made of aluminum due to health risks. This pot is stainless steel. It cleans as easily as my French press with only water. An added plus is the coffee basket uses only half the coffee I have to use in my French press. While one can use espresso coffee, I am very pleased with the taste of medium roast 100% arabica beans. I have an Oxo coffee grinder capable of a very fine grind, a big help in getting full flavor. I’ve added a frothing machine and enjoy a latte every morning. The pot is well designed. The big plastic handle and ear on its lid have prevented my being burned. It feels substantial and easy to hold despite being small. I have a ceramic top stove, and wondered if it would heat properly given that the bottom is not flat. Instead, it has a circular outer ridge which slightly lifts the center area from the stovetop, but it heats up well. I hope it lasts a long time, as I do like it. I’d look for this brand again if I needed a replacement.

I decided to finally replace my old stovetop espresso pot after many years of often tough use at home and on a sailboat. I took a swing on the Primula and so far I am pretty happy with the choice. The Primula is well built from heavier gauge stainless steel and all the parts fit snugly together. The steel is well polished and my wife no longer gives me the evil eye when the pot is left out on the countertop. The quality of the coffee is excellent, which I have come to expect from this type of coffee maker. The pot is easy to clean. One thing I really like about this product, over the three other similar pots I have used, is the size of the upper tank compared to the lower unit. When the Primula is running at full steam the upper pot seems big enough to avoid the messy boil overs I often experienced in the past. I've been inattentive several times and the pot made its usual highly energetic show, but nothing escaped the pot. For the money I think the Primula is great value and if this is the type of coffee brewing you prefer I don't think you'll be disappointed.

1) When I unpacked the pot, a curled metal filing was attached to the inside of the water chamber where the whole was drilled for the pressure valve. 2) Sharp edges on the lid cut the cellulose dish cloth I used to wash the pot. I have to be careful during cleaning so I don’t cut my hand or fingers. 3) The hinge pin easily slips out. 4) The lid/hinge wobbles and wiggles at the attachment point. I expect it could easily fall out. 5) While snug, the silicone gasket is so difficult to remove for cleaning that I fear it will become nicked or torn. 6) The screen between the lower and upper chambers is not fine enough. I use a fine grind versus espresso grind, yet still get a large amount of bean sludge. Therefore, I would NOT recommend this product and would NOT reorder a stovetop espresso maker from this company. The cheap, China-made and lack of quality control doesn’t warrant more than one star. I can still make my morning Americano, albeit with too much sludge, so one star is all this product deserves.

I searched high and low for a fully stainless steel espresso machine (no plastic or aluminum parts) and when that failed I decided to try the Primula stovetop coffee maker. Love that it is fully stainless steel- something I verified with Primula directly. The water compartment does NOT have a coating. It is sand blasted which is why it looks the way it does. It’s a healthy option for making coffee and it seems well made. It’s on the small side but I brew for one. However, I have yet to make a coffee that produces any crema whatsoever and really struggle to get a decent tasting cup of coffee. Although I follow all the instructions and recommendations, the coffee tends to be weak and light colored though I freshly grind my locally roasted and bagged fave coffee beans daily. Taste is not even remotely as it should be. I popped open a couple nespresso pods to see if their coffee was a finer grain, which it was. I tried making a coffee using that nespresso coffee I dug out from the pods to see if I got a better result and I definitely did - although to be honest, it was still not up to my standards. (But I am looking for more of a European style coffee rather than an American coffee, which is typically much weaker). But a very fine grind does seem to help. I will continue to experiment with this little Primula but I don't know if we’ll ever get there. I like it from a health perspective- no toxic parts - but so far the coffee just hasn’t been that good.