Bialetti Moka Express Review and Demonstration
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- čas přidán 29. 07. 2013
- The moka pot is the classic and typical Italian way of making coffee at home. In this video I review the latest iteration of the Bialetti Moka Express, and demonstrate how to make coffee with this iconic coffee maker.
For more on my relationship with the Bialetti Moka Express, see www.themoveablechef.com/my-affair-with-bialetti/ - Jak na to + styl
I own a $20,000 espresso machine in my café (see my café vlog), but use a Moka pot every morning before I go to work. Love it
Bro who buy $20,000 Expresso machine for a personal used? Coffees shop that's understandable.
@@kibakun5748 a café is a coffee shop lol
Me n the hood boys gonna smash n dash ur shit
Would u share any gd tips /technique for using mokapot?:)
I’m sorry you could buy a 40 dollar chemex for better coffee then that 20,000 dollar machine and for bitter coffee you get from the Moka pot
I've had my Bialetti for over 40 years. I've replaced the gasket several times, but since no moving parts, nothing to break. Thanks for posting! I think I'll make a moka right now.
Oh you mean the silicone/rubber ring.
@@sO_RoNerY Aka gasket ^^
dont forget the "ecologic" side of this affair, the only thing you throw away is the coffe, no capsules, no filters...
And you can also clean up the parts, so no mold and bacteria in plastic tubing and resevoirs.
Why would anyone throw away the grounds!?! Compost that stuff! ;)
Except for the natural gas that you used to heat the pot is drilled and taken out of the ground where I live in the fracking pollutes the damn groundwater and also all the pollution from them Drilling so maybe it's less waste on your end
@@squarehammer4619 You can put it on a wooden stove, or an electric hotplate powered by an array of hamster wheels.
If I wash the paper filter off sometimes I can reuse it. Especially the small aropress filter But I also have a mesh filter and a metal filter. They make a muddy coffee but its not so bad
First Class Presention: This short clip leaves no stone unturned, and puts to shame the instructions included with the new product.
The chef covers essentials as grind, brew time and the all important fact the product is produced is not espresso (but very good coffee). For fanatics, he even touches upon the all important principle of pressure (espresso vs.stove top). You can' rush good food, nor can you rush a presentation on the Bialetti Moka pot. I have recommended this chap's video to many to improve their coffee making skills from mediocre, to excellent.
Clear, concise and a pleasure to watch, in spite of using the Bialetti for 33 years.
Wel done Moveable Chef!
SVE, Edinburgh, U.K.
The stone he leaves unturned is the cleaning aspects of the pot after brewing!
Just disassemble (when cool!), throw grinds in the compost bin, and rinse under hot water. Never use detergent - it spoils the taste of the next potful, and stops the pot from becoming properly seasoned.
@@leslyjmoore full stop - thank you - now I'm ordering mine. I've been using an AeroPress for years and like this coffee when I've had it at a friend's house.
True, it's not comparable to a commercial espresso machine as those exist today. But when the Moka Express first came out, it was. Commercial espresso machines couldn't produce much pressure or take an extremely fine grind, even if you neglected to tamp it. Moka express basically gives you your great-grandfather's espresso, not your modern espresso. In fact, much of the reason espresso machines produced gradually more and more pressure and could take a gradually finer and finer grind until the current specifications was likely to compete with the rising popularity of the Moka Express. Maybe this rant isn't relevant, but I hope it's interesting.
I just got one of these (the 3 cupper) and had NO idea what to do with it, lol! Thank you, Peter, for a very informative video. I also have no idea why anyone would click thumbs down for this...you answered every question I, as a new user, had about the Moka Pot. Thank you!!! :)
we agree with other comments indicating this is an excellent review! it is especially nice in that the presenter did not add a loud, distracting and annoying musical sound track as soooo many reviewers like to do. kudo's to the MoveableChef !
Thank you, Peter! I enjoyed your presentation. I also learned a few things. First of all, I shouldn't expect my Moka to produce real espresso because it can't. Second, I can lower the burner temperature to minimize cooking the product. Third, I can use more coffee and tamp it a bit more than I do. Lastly, don't over-think it; just enjoy the fine cup of coffee made by the Moka Express (like the rest of the world does.)
I love using the Bialetti Moka Express because it makes freshly-brewed, delicious coffee- no more instant coffee for me!
This video clarified for me once and for all the issue whether this coffee-maker makes espresso coffee or not. Now, thanks to you, I know that it doesn't! It just makes delicious, freshly-brewed, strong black coffee.
I first heard of the BIALETTI MOKA EXPRESS back in the late 1950s when it was frequently advertised on Italian television, which was transmitted (in black and white) to Malta (where I'm from).
My mother used to serve me coffee made with the BIALETTI MOKA EXPRESS.
When I lived in Canada later on in my life I used to use it on weekends.
When I returned to Malta 20 years later I forgot all about it. Over the next 20 years I used instant coffee which I often found bland and unsatisfying.
About 2 years ago, a local supermarket was offering, as a gift, small, stylish, glass coffee glasses made in Italy by Luigi Bormioli.
These glasses consist of a "double wall" which make up a cup within a cup. This feature enhances the flavour and the aroma of the coffee while also maintaining the temperature of the coffee for longer.
I just loved these glasses - and that's when I remembered to start re-using the BIALETTI CAFETERIA MOKA EXPRESS (which I hadn't used for the previous 20 years).
Now, I'm hooked on this coffee maker and I'll never use instant coffee again!
Excellent demonstration! Grazie!You are an excellent speaker and a very good teacher. THANK YOU for doing this. I took notes.
John Penumbra thank you very much for the presentation!
I pulled mine off the shelf after many many years of non-use, your video was the best I viewed.Great help!
Thankyou! Sitting in my apartment in Bari where the only coffee machine is one of these. No idea how to use it. You just saved my morning coffee.
Found mine at the Goodwill for $1! Nice video, thank you 😊
Thank you, Peter for your easy to follow presentation. I have been making Italian coffee for years and I learned a few things from you and am grateful!
Polished, well-spoken, very informative presentation-no wasted words. Excellent!! Really enjoyed and learned a lot. Thank you!!!
Really good tutorial. Turns out I’ve been doing it right the whole time 😁 don’t understand why anyone would bash this vid. Very in depth but not droney. History I loved particularly, felt like I was in Italy for a moment. Thank you 🙏
great video sir, I don't drink coffee but want one of these for guests, there is a certain romance to putting for an effort , that coffee pot has soul, like shaving with a straight razor, or manual transmission, or growing your own tomatoes, but not in that order,
ciao
Its like art and your guests will appreciate it.
Love this comment. Yes!
This guy GETS IT
Just a side note, if you have an electric stove ( for us ) we need the temp to be on 8-9 ( out of 10 ) high for it to work properly.
cDSTheBlackRose actually, you can do it with less, just needs a bit more patience :) i‘m very impatient myself so i always preheat the water before putting it into the moka express and then let it come to a boil on 5 or 6 out of 9
Electric stoves are not made equal seems quite useless detail. I brew mine on low low heat and it works, at least 5 minutes before it's making coffee.
@@-.acnm.- I have an electric stove too. Thanks!!
Best tutorial I've seen. I just bought a Bialetti moka pot because I got tired of my Keurig machine. Also, shout out to the Omega Seamaster you're wearing! Pure class video!
. . . . . and u will save an incredible amount of $$$ :)
I second the incredible savings! Not to mention... you will now know what an incredible cup of coffee tastes like! ;)
Maybe he bought the Omega with the money he saved ising a Bialetti over the Five thousand dollar Rocket espresso machine? Just teasing -- that's probably STILL not enough for the watch!!
TGV
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Very helpful and you sure brought out all the experts.
Excellent video and explanation. I have seen many but this tutorial is the most comprehensive. Thanks, Peter!
I own 3 different sized Moka pots, I knew they were from Italy, but had no idea the history and such. Thank you for this extremely insightful video! It convinced me to brew a cup with my tiny pot at 10pm! Love these pots!
What you describe at 8:33 is exactly how Cuban coffee is made. It's very common in Miami.
Good video. 2 things: Use coarser coffee and don't press on it after filling the funnel/filter.
This gives you much better looking and tasting coffee.
I just used mine for the very first time - it had been packed away for years - & on the advice of James Hoffman, I did not tamp it. I did use my regular grind because it's all I had. It is absolutely delicious (had some crème fraîche that I jerry rigged in a hand frother, and it took it over the top). A great experiment. This video was so interesting.
there are blase reviews, and then there's what you just laid down. your nuanced knowledge, attention to detail, and candid delivery just put a big smile on my face. i watched three or four commonplace moka pot reviews, learning virtually nothing, before discovering what you have to say. this review left me feeling like i now know what's up, and i felt a touch of italian magic through your references to the old country. bravo, bravo!
Great video! I just purchased one and searched videos on how to use it. Yours was the absolute best in explaining everything. Much appreciated!
Nice job of explaining the item and process. I was introduced to the Bialetti in Rome in 1963 but it's been awhile since I've used mine. You prompted me to retrieve it and fire it up again. Brought back memories. Thanks! Cheers!
Just bought one, thanks for the info and demo!!! I love it! 🥰
Thank you so much! This was extremely helpful. You are a great teacher . The details made a big difference. I am enjoying my first GOOD tasting cup from my Moka pot right now!
Super instructional video. Thank you for making this such an easy process!
This by far is the best video for this little pot, I looked at five or so videos and I could not figure out what I was doing wrong, without this video I probably would have taken it back after five attempts.
I got the 3-cup recently, makes the perfect single serving for me. I absolutely love it. Simple as an old-school percolator but much more delicious. I don't find it necessary to pre-heat the water either, the top doesn't get very hot by the time the bottom boils if you heat it on a little over medium heat.
I've recently purchased a 3-cup moka pot and the instructions say for one shot of coffee only use something like 63ml of water (rather than filling up to the valve). Do you do the same? (hoping I get a reply here given its been 3 years since you posted your comment). Thanks!
@@thegreenman941 I can give you the answer , the correct way of making coffe in a Moka Express is only 1 and is to fill the water under the valve and fully the basket, if you change the ratios is not going to work as properly, and if you want to drink less, then you can serve you less, I hope this answer will help you!
@@avasquez94 thank you sir! I finally made sense of the instructions. The water levels they mention are regarding the different Moka pots that are available and how much water should be put in each of them. So yes like you said water should be up to the valve. Thanks again!
@@thegreenman941 That's right! Have a good year 😄👌🏻
@@avasquez94does the roast affect these ratios? A dark roast versus a light or medium?
I did “come across mine in the Wild”... LOL I learned about this first from Clara ( Depression Cooking ). I had wanted one and today found mine at Thrift Store for $1.50 / Needless to say “I was THRILLED”! It totally made my day😀”. I’ve watched other videos today and “Thank You” for the lesson. Can’t wait to use “Clara”... ( Yes! I named my “pot” Clara. She passed but her Vlogs are Wonderful!
Thank-You so much for posting this Video. I love Coffee and your information and the demonstration on how to use this Coffee maker was just what I needed.
I got one of these given to me as a Christmas present and I love it. Simple to use, easy to clean and a lovely cup of coffee.
I just bought this exact pot at goodwill today for $4. Can't wait to try it out now that I know how to use it.
I have the same pot, i watched other videos about it and all said it was for espresso , so I thought i was making my coffee wrong since it didn't taste like a espresso, so thank u for explaining and i loved the background story of this pots! I love how coffee taste in this pots
Best Moka pot demonstration I watched. Very clear, but not drawn out and over-explained. Also, no one else noted that you're not actually making espresso!!!!
So nice to be able to listen to what he is saying without competition from an inane music soundtrack.
Excellent presentation. After almost an entire lifetime, I decided to get one of these again. If you use non-tap water such as Lauretana from the Italian Alps, an Artesian source, you won't have the problem with calcium deposits. According to the company Bialetti, you don't tamp the coffee once in the filter and you don't fill ground coffee to the top. For best result I buy coffee beans and mill myself at home. Cheers!
Been using a stainless Bialetti for one year with coffee ground between expresso and turkish (quite fine grind). It increases the amount of pressure needed to force water up through the grounds. No explosions so far. :-)
OMG this has just been ultimate show off. Now I am totally convinced to click on Purchase. Tons of thanks for the vid
Thank you so very much for the very clear🤔 and detailed information.
You sold me, I am going to buy one today!
Thank you for the pressure BAR and difference from espresso info!
Great video with all the right info. We just left Italy after living there for 5 years, and everything he mentions is true. (we lived in Naples too). It's so hard to find a decent Cafe in the US, but at least I have my Bialetti. Actually we have 3 of them, and replacement parts, just in case.
love your deliverance of this container. The safety valve has been there for more than 30 years. love you show
Excellent video. Was on the fence about buying one of these until I saw this. Thanks!
Really enjoyed this mate. Thanks.
My pleasure - thanks!
Great job explaining - let's give him a break on the tidy thing he was focusing on communication.
Just came across this after putting my Moka Pot back into the line up. What a phenomenal explanation and walkthrough!
Great Video! Through explanation and very well done! I'm buying one of these now!
Great informative video. Thanks for making this!
I prefer the coffee black, but if I am in the mood for milk: after I brew and pour out the coffee, I pour some milk into the top section and let the moka pot heat up the milk, wait about 30 seconds and the milk gets really warm. A lazy but quick way to make a moka coffee with milk.
Oooooh such a good tip - thank you!
Genius, thx
Sorry to give a thumbs-down to this idea. Milk in the pot needs detergent to clean it, whereas much better coffee will ensue with year after year of just rinsing under hot water. 💋
Just a quick tip: I use the 12-cup Moka daily and yes, that rubber gasket can get brittle, dirty and sometimes have coffee bits embedded in the gasket. What I have found, is that monthly, I'll pull the gasket, clean it (dish washing soap, water), then coat the gasket with vegetable oil. This prevents the drying and cracking of the gasket, increasing it's life-cycle. Obviously, if it's beyond repair, replace the gasket (super cheap - caveat - I've been using the same gasket for over 18 months. No cracks, not brittle, very pliable. Stained? Yea, but still very serviceable.).
One more tip - if you do pull the gasket, clean the inside of gasket area and the threads. Super easy.
thanks for the advice on cleaning the gasket plus the vegetable oil step....
That tip about the oil is what I've seen suggested for pressure cooker gaskets, & this is basically a mini pressure cooker! Makes sense.
Now I can confidently use mine! Thanks for this!
Excellent video. I like the comprehensiveness of your presentation.
Thanks! I appreciate the comment.
Very informative video - you have a beautiful kitchen.
Thank you very much for this vid. Super informative and well explained.
I like this way of making coffee better than the pour over method. Much less trouble! Thanks for letting me know I can quit looking for those little lines inside the bottom! Your guidance improved my method!
I turn the stove low if I want it strong and it gets slightly muddy. For less strong and clearer coffee I turn the stove high so the water will have less contact with the grounded coffee in the filteration chamber. I sometimes add whipped cream on top instead of milk for chnage and it gives fantastic special flavour.
very helpful, nice, informative! love the video, thanks. subscribed!
Thanks !
Thanks for the demo wife gave me one for Christmas, tried it today and love it.
Yes, very informative presentation. Many different aspects covered very adequately. I wish to get one of these coffee makers and wanted to make to know what was involved in the Moka process. This has helped a great deal. Thank you very much.
Found out I've been F...ng it up for as long as I've had this thing. Can't wait for tomorrow to try it your way!
Yeah there's only one way really and this is it.
For those who want less muddy and a bit creamier with a bit of créma, I cut paper filters and put one on the metal filter. No grounds pass through, oils are removed, so depending on what you are looking for, this is an option. Some use Aeropress filters so I may get a stainlesssteel aeropress filter for fun.
Вы его положили между кофе и верхним фильтр?
Great video, very informative. I just purchased a 3 cup Bialetti, can't wait to try it out and drink my first cup. Was relived to know I can buy the grounds without having to by the beans and grind them myself.
I don't care about espresso, lattee or other fancy names, I just wanted to try one of these.
I bought a moka pot at Aldi with the Crofton name on the package and it is identical to the one he is showing; the casting marks under the lid are the same. I paid a bit over $10 for mine, about 1/2 of a Bialetti. The replacement parts are the same. The one I have has the older style pressure valve than the new Bialettis do. I don't really know what it does and I don't care.
It is easy to use and makes real coffee, lemmee repeat that, real coffee. I use Aldis coffee or whatever 3 lb cans are on sale - Folgers is great - I used Chase and Sanborn this morning. 1 of those pots is a big mug and a super high octane caffeine dose. It is 7:30 pm now and I am still up from the 11 am cup from this morning. easy to use and clean. No muss, no fuss. if you leave the lid open while its on the stove you better be on top of it as it will blow coffee all over. I let it start flowing coffee a bit, close the lid and set it on the side until it stops gurgling. The gurgling sound what you learn to listen for. I then pour the coffee into my mug and put the pot on the still hot coil of my electric stove to let the rest of the water go up the siphon. It's that easy and I wonder why idiots will pay $5 for a cup of designer Joe when they can do this at home/work. You can put any designer coffee in it. I recommend one of these things. It makes good decaf for when you want a cup of coffee but not a meth level experience. If you like coffee you owe it to yourself.
We preboil the water with an electric kettle before filling the pot. You need to be careful when you screw it all together (towel to hold the bottom bit) not to spill near boiling water on yourself but it is way quicker. UK Based: we use Lavazza Espresso or Taylor's Hot Lava Java, both readily available at supermarkets. We also zap two (huge) mugs half-full of milk in the Microwave for 2 mins then froth using a cheap hand frother. Fill up with coffee from a 12-cup pot then top with ground cinnamon. Couldn't start the day without it !
bull crap... see above... Electric kettles are for homosexuals and lazy people...What else :-)
The last time I used mine, I was talking to a friend while I was packing the maker. I must not have screwed the components together correctly because it exploded and sent coffee grounds grounds everywhere. It took all day to clean up the mess. No one was hurt, though one side of my head was covered in grounds, to my friend's delight.
Well done presentation, very informative. Thank you.
Peter, thank you for the great video. Buying one today.
Oh Yes! You mentioned BELGIUM! you made my day amigo ;-) I actually use this on a daily basis to make my morning coffee. It`s lowtech and tastes good.
Also nice when you go camping.
I bring all 3 of my Moka pots camping, we usually have a big party of 10+ people on our trips. I am known as the guy that makes amazing camp coffee, well little do they know all the credit belongs to the pot it is made in!
Wish I'd watched this before I blew coffee all over my floor and stove top... Lower heat next time. Great video!
Same!
fantastic tutorial. thank you so much! any suggestions on cleaning it?
Hands down the best video I've seen I certainly will follow it step by step thanks for making the process so simple
Hi. Just wanted to say that this was an excellent video. On a side note, my sister leaves a little bit of room in the coffee basket, and adds two teaspoons of sugar at the top. This seems to help in producing a wee bit of crema. I don't do this, but I do like to add some heated milk to the finished coffee...
I love pouring my brewed coffee over a clove or two and sometimes I use star anise also to spice up my morning café con leche.
Going to try this ^^
I wonder if I can add piece of cinnamon sticks?
@@MsLiaStyle of course. I sometimes use a cinnamon stick to stir.
Thanks for the excellent review!
Excellent explanation and demonstration , thank you.
Great video! I use a 9 cup Bialetti Moka Pot. The coffee I use is Café Bustelo and I use preheated distilled water (2 to 3 minutes in the microwave). I've tried Illy and it was good, but not nearly as strong/concentrated as the Café Bustelo. Also, I make the moka express on a gas range/stove (starting at 7 on the burner, then going down to 4 as soon as the coffee begins to brew). With that combination, I get a good crema with every pot. It's a very strong, full bodied flavor. It can be slightly bitter (on the first sip or two), but not in a bad way, if that makes any sense. On top of that, I heat milk in a sauce pan. Once the coffee is finished brewing, I pour it into the heated milk and then into coffee cups. It's very good!
I prefer low heat on a gas stove. Electric should be a bit higher since its less hotter than gas.
Makes the best coffee I've ever had!
Thanks. Been using one of these for years and put it away cause of the sputtering and burning. Can’t wait to dig it out and make a cup now that I understand how to use it. I had just been filling it up, past the valve, putting it on high heat til it stopped pushing the water up then pouring. Duh! Excellent video.
I recently got a Bialetti and wanted to properly use it; yes, the instructions are sorely lacking, except for filling up to the valve, that was new to me as I'm a rookie in the kitchen. But I want to learn. Loved the back story as well as the demonstration. Thanks for putting this video out there.
Nice! Preheating the water prevents the top from getting too hot and boiling the coffee ("café bouillu, café foutu"). I keep the lid open until the steam coming out starts sounding like “bgrrrr bgrrrrr” at which point I close the lid and switch the fire off.
Very nice video and great explanation. One thing I can add to this is that when cleaning the Moka it is best to avoid using any soap. I usually clean it just by rinsing it out by hand without even scrubbing. When using a new moka, it usually needs a few "runs" before the flavor stabilizes and it stops tasting a bit like aluminium. After that, as you said, you can use it for 10 years straight..
Thanks Marco. Good point on the cleaning. I haven't really noticed as much with the Bialetti, but with my big espresso machine after cleaning you certainly have to 'season' it by pulling a couple shots that get thrown away. And that's all brass and stainless.
Excellent point, just rinse. You can always put a "dry run" through a pot to clean it. I must say I have seen some horrendously dirty Moka pots, even on CZcams.
Thank you for all the info. Great video.
I just ordered one on Amazon and saw your video linked in the comments. It was very helpful in preparation of using it for the first time. I can't wait!
Be careful bc Amazon sells fakes!!
My beloved moka has disappeared after a family gathering. I think misplaced target them taken. I am really missing my 3 cup midday a Americano. One thing I would highly suggest is pre heating your water. It not only stops the ground coffee from being cooked, it prolongs the life of the rubber gasket and reduces the build up of scale (if you happen to live in a hard water area). The end result can be noted with a much smoother coffee. 15/17 years of use and only one gasket. That was more due to coffee pitting than drying out.
Anyway now I have a great reason to buy a brikka 😳 Although I am sad at the disappearance of my trusted moka pot 😧
It's odd the sentimental attachment that we build to objects like this, but if you use something everyday and it becomes part of your routine then it is missed. I would rather loose one of my newer Henkle knives than my old junky travel knives that I bought in college. Good luck - maybe it will turn up.
Nobody else seems to mention preheating the water in their youtube videos! I find not preheating the water imparts a metallic taste to the coffee...
Jas George
I use another pan to preheat, as it's faster than using the moka itself. The Moka is small and with the addition of the heating ring it reduces the heat it gets. Sometimes I'll just use a kettle but I dislike them because of the scale. I think because the coffee is exposed to heat for so long the flavour is more bittle than not preheating.
Gunzee every italian coffee maker raccomands to use COLD water in the moka, i don't really know why but I also always did it this way
How do you make your Americano and with what?
Thank you so much for this, I now know that I do not need to invest in some fancy grinder designed in pursuit of the perfect espresso. I will use my bialetti as advised, mine being a 3 cup, cheap as chips and a long way from the instant nescafe that I grew up with.
Very true, I find it more forgiving on grind quality and more consistent than any affordable espresso machine that's like 20x the price of moka pot? Espresso is amazing but it requires a lot of skill and proper hardware, and then a lot of care for that hardware to last.
Bought a Moka pot a few months ago & its my go to when I get home...thanks..excellent video!!
Great demo thanks for sharing!
Good advice, I had a pot explode on me before, luckily I was not in the kitchen but I had to repaint the whole kitchen including the ceiling, turned out I used to fine coffee, packed it to tight and the valve did not kick in due to lime scale buildup.
Thanks - received one as a gift years ago and since my italian is so poor I never got formal instructions - I received/was given a second filter screen which I thought was an integral part - thus I was stacking the two screens and tightening the sh*t out of the pot and still could not figure out why it leaked! All this with a MS in Mechanical engineering!
Thanks for your beautiful video and simple instructions - I finally have it right.
Just got one! Thanks for the information...
Thank you... just got one and this was very helpful.
Well, well, a friend who went to Italy turned me on to this, he said its just as good as $4,000 espresso machine, but you have to use the Lazazzo super crema beans, he made me a cup and it was smooth, and delicious, best ever, i just ordered one on Amazon ....and all this time I've been using a French press because Alton Brown said that made the best coffee, Alton screwed up that one.
Excellent review. Most helpful. Very polished presentation
Thanks for the clear and down to earth video.
Very educational. Thoroughly enjoyed this video.
The Bialetti moka express pot has had the pressure relief valve since it was patented in 1933.
I lived in Rome from 1961 to 1971 and the pressure relief valve was a common as saw dust at the butcher's shop.
+Dan Yes, the valve is most definitely not a "new" feature, although I'm not sure it was incorporated into the 1933 original design.
Perhaps the Chinese knock offs may not have them... ?
I hate to say it depends, but, it depends.
For cafe con leche or cafe au lait I prefer the Moka pot. I find that if you are careful and don't let the coffee burn, you can make a pretty drinkable espresso-like coffee. I think it tends to crush the high notes of the coffee, and can tend toward the bitter. Another reason I don't use crazily expensive coffee in a moka pot.
For a single cup of American style coffee, I reach for the Aeropress. It makes a clean, strong cup which I dilute to taste.
The Moka Pot actually boils the water, hence the temperature is 100 C or more (under pressure). That will leach some of the bitter oils out of the coffee. An Aeropress can make coffee as low as 85 C according to Alan Adler the inventor of the Aeropress . . . . Therefore no bitterness. However, I use my Moka pot from time to time just for the pleasure of making Italian style coffee. You're correct, Illy coffee is superb.