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.

This is terrible. They no longer produce these as they used to. The rubber isn't properly aligned, causing spills every time I make coffee and creating a mess to clean up.

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.

OK, since Amazon now has this policy of publishing reviews to similar items as though they were for the specific items (beware of this when you read reviews! Read the fine print at the top of the review!), I hope this appears for all of these similar espresso makers, regardless of brand, because it works in all of them. I've owned several of these, different brands and different sizes, and have been somewhat underwhelmed with their performance. "Emergency coffee" is what I used mine for. So one day I was at my son's house and he made me this incredible dry cappuccino. I immediately went to his kitchen to see what kind of machine he had bought, and was blown away when he showed me his old, beat-up and stained "6-cup" espresso maker, just like the ones in these reviews. I asked him how he managed to get that kind of performance out of this thing and he said the secret is in ignoring the published instructions and pretty much doing the opposite of what they suggest. Here's his instructions: 1. Grind your coffee to espresso fine. If you don't have a burr grinder capable of this, buy your coffee in small quantities and have them grind it for you. 2. Fill the coffee holder to a bit over-the-top and then tamp it lightly. A shot-glass or anything else that fits into the holder will do. 3. Then proceed as normal: fill the boiler to the brass safety valve with cold, filtered water, screw on the top, and put it on the stove. 4. Leave the lid open so you can watch what's going on, allow the coffee to flow until it starts bubbling a bit but not so long that it will boil! 5. Pour off the most amazing cup you've ever experienced from your Primula (or similar) espresso maker! I now use the Primula more often than my $500 Gaggia machine. Less fuss and just about as good. Not better, but just about as good, and that's pretty darned good.