Vev Vigano 8160 Vespress Gold 12 to 14 cup espresso pot

What a machine! We have been using a stovetop espresso maker for our coffee habits for 12 years. We've had some drip machines and a french press come and go, but nothing stands up to the stove top. We still have our original in great condition. We bought this unit to upsize so we could serve our friends. What a beautiful coffee maker! It looks great in it's permanent home, the stovetop. It shines up well with a stainless steel cleaner. The pouring spout is well designed and does not drip when being poured. What I like about this unit compared to our other, smaller and cheaper one, is that when screwing the top on it doesn't have to be screwed on so tight that it is impossible to unscrew the next time. Sometimes these machines have to be pretty tight to avoid steam loss through the side, but this one holds the steam in just fine and I don't need a second set of arms around to help get it apart later. The quality of coffee is unbeatable. My husband drinks it straight up as espesso (by the mug!), but most people who come over prefer it mixed with near-boiling water to be had as an Americano. This machine is perfection!

The welds for both the handle and lid broke after six months use. Good coffee, good design, bad assembly.

Very happy with this coffee maker. We had the old aluminum one whcih we got rid of because of it being made out of aluminum and wanted the stainless steel one. This maker leaves no metal taste. It make make more than we thought which is great. We use less coffee beans because it makes such a strong cup(s) of coffee. When we got it, you have to wash it with baking soda and then make 3 batches and toss them out. That seasons it. Once the coffee is done, you must stir it. The only not so great thing is the lid tab gets super hot, so you much you a oven mitt.

This is a beautiful coffee pot and easy to use, however after a few months using it once a day the hinge on the top snapped off. Now there is no support for the lid and the force of the coffee coming up sprays the stovetop. Dangerously hot!

Yes I love that it is not made of aluminum. I was using a Bialetti and it made fabulous coffee. When I learned it was made of aluminum I decided to pay what it cost to get the same quality espresso/coffee without the aluminum.This coffee pot is very nice looking. It produces pretty good coffee. Bialetti produces better tasting coffee.The directions tell you to use a low heat setting. I tried that the first time and gave up after a half hour. Now I put it on the stove using a heat setting of 8 (the highest is 10). It takes 20 minutes to begin percolating! I then reduce the temp to a 5, as the water is boiling. Then it takes another 12 minutes to finish!! I don't have 32 minutes in the morning to wait for my coffee.For this high a price I was hoping for coffee that tasted just as good as the Bialetti produces and for it to be faster than 32 minutes!I would not recommend, nor would I purchase it again. I gave it 3 stars b/c it is stainless steel and looks nice.

I have a small one that works great, but I need more coffee. This large size is nice. Just fill the lower pot with fresh water (do not cover small hole.) Use an espresso (very fine) grind of medium roast coffee. (I read that something in the way the dark roast beans are processed makes the coffee flavor less true to the bean.) Tamp the grounds down and heat on stove. Don't let it boil. Remove from stove and be sure to stir it before pouring. It takes a couple of tries, but I think it makes really good coffee.

We have had a 6 cup espresso pot exactly like the one show above for over 30 years. We love the stainless steel espresso pot better than the aluminum pots. The problem with the smaller pot is when you have a dinner and a number of people would like a cup of espresso, it usually takes time to make two pots, because you have to wait for the pot to cool down. Also, especially during the summer months we like to make cold cafè latte, which is very refreshing, and again you need to make a couple of pots, add the sugar and let it chill over night in the refrigerator.Another great aspect of having this larger pot is if you have a gas stove, you have to be so careful placing the small pot on the burner rack so it does not fall and that it is well balanced on the burner rack. The larger pot eliminates or defeats that problem. I was just glad to find a 12 to 14 cup Espresso pot. Now keep in mind that this cup size is for the demitasse cup and saucer, not an American size mug.

True italian way to prepare coffee. No electricity and so much better than our Espresso Machines. We've ditched them all for this. Also no aluminum or heavy metals to leach. UPDATE: Bought this in April 2013 and today the handle fell off. When you click on warranty information, you can't get to one. It has a 5 year warranty, but there is no way to get to the vendor for it????