Hello! Can anyone direct me in the basics of preparing espresso in my never-used Bialetti stovetop coffeemaker? I've lost the instructions. I will be hosting my Italian cousin and his fiancee this weekend and could probably ask them, but I'd like to surprise them with some home-made coffee after their long plane ride. Can anyone offer me some tips (or direct me to the info) on types of coffee to use, quantities per unit of water, intensity of heating and time of cooking? And should they prefer cafe latte: will milk heated in a simple pot suffice, or must it be steamed, as with cappucino?\r\n\r\nRob

This is what I know about stove top makers - how to use them step by step\r\n\r\n1. Remove the top part of the espresso maker. \r\n2. Remove the filter funnel insert. \r\n3. Fill the lower part of the stove top espresso maker with cold fresh water.Avoid filling past the safety valve!\r\n4. Fill the filter funnel with fine ground espresso coffee. You can also use a medium blend to make a milder tasting coffee for breakfast. If you need some different taste characteristics, you should experiment with the degree of your grind. \r\n5. Put the filter funnel back into the lower part of the espresso maker. \r\n6. Screw the top part back onto the lower part firmly (don't force). \r\n7. Place espresso maker onto stove top (boil setting) \r\n8. Remove espresso maker from stove immediately once the top part of the espresso maker is full with coffee. \r\n9. Enjoy your freshly brewed espresso

The Bialetti stovetop espresso maker is easy to use and care for. Simply fill the bottom portion of the maker with water and its basket with fine ground espresso coffee. Screw on the top and place the entire unit on a burner. As the water boils, the coffee is brewed into the upper portion and is ready to enjoy in a matter of minutes. \r\n\r\nThe aluminum Bialetti stovetop espresso maker works on all cook tops and makes 3-2oz. cups (demitasse). Not dishwasher safe.

__________________
Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs

Yes, Pete, you are right.\r\n\r\nActually I think stovetop makers are very easy and convenient. They are nice small units in comparison with espresso machies

There is nothing that difficult in using stove top maker. You should simply know which grind to use and take pure water

\r\n\r\nPleople are different. Someone believes that's easy, others need to read manuals and ask for help.

Exactly my question, Rob. My dad gave me his old gB pot (that he said didn't work very well) after xmas because he got a new one. But I think he had the gasket in the wrong place--he had it above the upper mesh screen, and I think it goes in between the upper mesh screen and the lower half/basket assembly. It still doesn't make the coffee so great though...I've followed those steps from Lacey yesterday and today and am wondering if there's some additional "touch." Yesterday was with the Braun burr grinder set in the middle of its range, and the coffee was sort of a soup of very find grinds and coffee. Tasted good though. Today was with the grinder on full coarse, and it doesn't have grinds but tastes like crap. I read somewhere that the faster the brewing cycle, the finer the grinds, but how does one keep the finished coffee from being soup? Is there a paper filter that could go inside?\r\n\r\nThanks,\r\n-metro

Yes, my friend owns stove top maker and he uses paper filter to get the coffee he likes.

__________________
I am making the very first steps in coffee world