Bialetti has been a leading brand when it comes to Moka pots. Traditionally, it has made and has been known for their Aluminum Octagon shaped Moka Express Pot, which only works with traditional Gas cook tops. With the introduction of newer cook tops like electric and induction, Bialetti has introduced a new line of Stainless steel moka pots that work with all kind of cook tops, these pots include the Musa, Venus and Kitty Moka Pots.
As a buyer, you must be wondering, is there a difference between these 3 stainless steel stove top moka pots? That’s what we will be uncovering in this post….
Bialetti Musa vs. Venus vs. Kitty: What Is The Difference?
What we found in our research was…
- All three models are available in 4 and 6 cup size options.
- All are made of Stainless steel, and work with all stove tops including gas, electric and induction.
- All are dishwasher safe.
- All feature heat-resistant handles with extra wide reach to avoid any accidental touching while the pot is hot.
So, what’s the difference?
There is no real difference between them. All three models work the same way and provide the same quality of coffee. The only difference is in the design and shape of each pot. So when buying, simply choose your favorite shaped pot with full confidence that they all work the exact same way and should provide you with delicious traditional coffee easily, no matter what type of stove top you have.
What Is Bialetti Brikka? How Is It Different Than Bialetti Musa, Venus or Kitty?
- Brikka, the only stovetop coffee maker capable of dispensing espresso cream.
- New column with silicone membrane, studied and developed to enhance the maximum creaminess of the coffee.
- The new silicone membrane technology, combined with the characteristics of the Moka, ensures a result in cup similar to the espresso of the bar: full-bodied, intense and with persistent cream
- Suitable for all hobs, excluding induction hobs
- 2 cup stovetop coffeemaker (90 ml coffee)
When you use a moka pot to brew coffee, you’re probably looking at the closest thing to espresso without the need for a machine. However, moka pot’s coffee isn’t exactly espresso. It is less concentrated and it lacks the crema layer that an espresso machine produces. Enter Brikka..
Bialetti designed Brikka with a special valve and column that promises to make you a brew with espresso crema. In fact, it is the only moka pot (as of the time of writing) capable of doing this. So if you want a more authentic espresso like coffee, the Brikka would be a good choice for you.
Please note that Brikka is aluminum, and not stainless steel like the Musa, Venus or Kitty models. It will work on gas, electric or ceramic stovetops but will NOT work on an induction top.
Common Questions About Bialetti Moka Pots
What Is The Best Grind for Bialetti? Or (Moka Pot in General)
If you’re grinding your coffee fresh, which is the best thing to do for a great cup of coffee, by the way, then you’ll want to grind your beans as fine as possible. About the same grind you’d use for Espresso. If you want to use pre-ground coffee, then you’ll find moka-pot ready packages, or anything that says ‘for espresso’ would work, too.
Why Is My Bialetti Coffee Bitter?
There are a few factors that contribute to bitter coffee, in general:
Old, stale coffee – over extraction (brewing the coffee for too long) or over heating.
So make sure you’re using fresh coffee, that would be a good start. If you’re grinding your coffee at home, you can try adjusting the grind. Making your grind a little coarser would result in less bitterness.
Overheating and over brewing could come hand in hand. Sometimes the water takes too long to reach boiling temperature, which means the coffee percolates longer than it should. Other times, the heat is higher than it should, so it boils faster but the coffee is under brewed. What do you do, then? You can try two things:
A simple solution would be to adjust your heat and see how that goes. Medium heat should be enough.
Another tip you can try is to bring your water to near boil separately, then add it to the moka pot. This will bring down the time it requires for it to boil and will require less heat.
Should I Wash My Bialetti Moka Pot?
You might have heard that a Bialetti moka pot shouldn’t be washed. Which sounds strange, but here’s the deal…
This refers to aluminum moka pots only. The tradition goes that you shouldn’t wash the pot using detergent. Rinsing it with water would be enough. Why is that? Because you’ll want the coffee aromas and oils to stick to the aluminum, which apparently makes your coffee taste better every time you use the pot.
When it comes to stainless steel though, it’s not the same. Stainless steel is nonstick, detergent isn’t as harsh on it as aluminum, so you can use it if you wish. You can use polish on the exterior, too, to keep your stainless steel moka pot looking new.
How Do You Clean Bialetti’s Musa, Venus or Kitty Moka Pots?
These models, which we talk about at the start of this post, are all stainless steel models. So just like previously stated, you can wash it regularly as you wish, either by just rinsing or by using a mild detergent. Liquid chrome polish can be used to shine the exterior of the pots.
Bialetti’s pots are not dishwasher safe. You can read full cleaning tips here.
Is Bialetti Still Made in Italy?
Unfortunately, no they are not. You might find some of the older aluminum models to be still made in Italy, but the majority of their manufacturing has moved to different parts of the world. Some are made in China, India or some Eastern European countries. However, that does not mean that are not as good. All of Bialetti’s products are made to their Italian standards using high quality materials.
