-It is the cheapest possible option available for making good coffee at home, in the office and anywhere at all
-Not only does it not need renewal but the longer you use it the better the coffee
-It is definitely not a funky design product but it does preserve the character of classic, durable, stylish and italian
-A bialetti can still make coffee without a handle
-It is maintenance free -washes with clear water only

-When it is new one needs to make several cups of coffee to be poured straight in the sink, until the metal absorbs the aroma
-It can get yellowish with time, due to coffee stains
-It can be a bit tiresome to wash especially as it has to be left to cool down and when you need another coffee it is usually still dirty. This can be an advantage if left with coffee in it for the day as it enhances the aroma but after a number of days it can start moulding.. I have not yet left it unwashed that long as I use it all the time
-If an unauthorised person can access your Bialetti, ensure they do not screw the parts together when putting away. If it is wet it can mould, if screwed too tightly you curse the guilty person while struggling to unscrew -the experience totally spoils the morning coffee ritual
-Beware of unauthorised persons in a mission to remove the coffee stains from your Bialetti using abrasive scourers! This is an absolute no go territory and you have the legal right to claim damages

My first bialetti came as a present when I started studying and immediately replaced the big and expensive espresso maker in the studio. The only problem was that my colleague was getting jealous as this was a single cup coffee maker, enough for me only.. and frankly we were both sick of the big coffee maker -I cannot recollect the brand of that one.

Unfortunately my first Bialetti had to be left with my mother in Greece when I left for the United KIngdom, due to lack of space in my rucksack. Back then, in 2000, the coffee culture was not yet invented in Yorkshire so, after 6 months into tea as an acceptable alternative to bad british coffee, I took a trip to London with the sole purpose of buying a new one -a 6cup this time. Having forgotten that it takes time before one can start having good coffee, I got disappointed from the initial results and left it in the cupboard for some time until I met my flatmate Antonio from Napoli who took the task of brewing coffee in my coffee maker every morning alongside his. For 2-3 months we would drink only coffee from his 25 year old Bialetti, inherited by his mama Napolitana, and pour all the coffee made in mine down the drain after a full day of "standing".

It has been a good 4 years that this coffee maker has been serving me with the best coffee in town. I often prefer it to a proper cafe style espresso as in the morning I like my coffee light and big -all 6 cups poured in a large latte mug. The advantage with a Bialeti is that you can customise the amount of coffee/water to meet your specific requirements each time. It also offers a great option of Hot / Freddo - great long summer ice coffee drink.

If made slowly over medium heat, a Bialetti can also give cream, not a very frequent occurence in my case, at least not in the morning. The british speed variation of kettle boiled water added in the tank is also offered without compromising the end result at all. It can stand on any stove top, electric or gas and, if you are patient enough, it can even be held over your campfire. What's more, it does not need a manual to use, it is as straightforward as can get.

And finally a Bialetti is surely a symbol of profound culture -all Bialetti owners are proud to demonstrate it and swear by it. As not a coffee professional in the real term but rather a coffee-aided professional, I can ensure you that the majority of architecture professionals inclusive of myself find the coffee brewed in a Bialetti better than 90% of commercial espresso. Less is more..

You can hardly go wrong when you have paid 28usd for a coffee maker that has a life expectancy of over half a century