Are they made in Italy?
Yes! The Alessi 9090's are
made in Crusinallo, Italy by an Italian company named Alessi
which has been around since the 1920's. For those familiar with
Italian designs - you probably have heard of them.
Their focus is to design high quality products
which can be used decoratively in the kitchen. The Alessi 9090
is a perfect example. Made with 100% mirror polished stainless
steel from top to bottom - it is absolutely stunning.
Alessi is considered one of the most important
"Factories of Italian Design". Their reputation goes
beyond espresso makers and reaches into other products giving
themselves a reputation for high quality and sophisticated items.
I was impressed to learn they employ over 500
workers, and use top designers from around the world to craft
quality products which are trendy, aesthetically pleasing and
completely functional at the same time. This is their trademark.
Vev
Vigano
is also an Italian company located in Briosco, Italy, - in the
center of Brianza. The company has been around for decades and
are most known for their Kontessa
stovetop espresso makers
and Pento-Nett saucepans.
Vev Vigano like Alessi, puts a high emphasis
on quality - hence the stainless steel construction and attention
to aesthetics.
They too use designers to pour out their creativity
into the designs of their espresso makers and other products
for us to enjoy.
Design
and Elegance
Both the Alessi and Kontessa are elegant in
design with their stainless steel construction and decorative
handles. Similar to a tea pot, they are meant to be attractive
for serving as well as for decorative purposes.
Alessi 9090:
For starters, it has a gorgeous elegant design which is suitable
for kitchen decoration. It uses 100% mirror polished stainless
steel which does not lose it's shine.
The 9090 has even earned its inclusion in the
Permanent Design Collection display at the MOMA (Museum of Modern
Art) in New York City, as well as winning the Compasso d'Oro
Award in 1979.
In regards to functionality, they use a locking
mechanism to attach the top to the bottom. Other makers screw
the parts together. The base is wide and heavy which makes it
suitable for use on gas stoves without fear of it falling through.
Vev Vigano Kontessa: This model
(shown to the right) is made of stainless steel 18/10 gauge.
Which means it is sturdy. In accordance with the more traditional
espresso maker design, the top and bottom screw together.
The handle is gold in color adding a very sophisticated
look. 
Other Kontessa styles have either silver handles or black. You
can see the various styles on Amazon.
The Kontessa can be used on gas, electric and
even induction cooktops. The Alessi will not work on induction.
Are they sturdy?
Both the 9090 and Kontessa are sturdy products.
However, from using the 9090, I was surprised at exactly how
sturdy it is. I know this espresso maker will last for a very
long time!
It is solidly built from top to bottom, inside
and out. There isn't one cheap part in it that I could find.
Once you hold it in your hands I'm sure you will agree 100%.
Does the 9090 have a
copper handle?
Yes. At first I was puzzled
by this, until I did some research. Let me share with you why
this handle is so unique.
1. Good Conductor of Heat.
Copper is a great conductor of heat and reacts quickly
to temperature changes - meaning it will cool quickly. When
I tested this product I placed the handle directly over the
small burner (glass stove top), and could easily grasp the handle
without any issues.
On a large burner where the heat was more intense,
it was too hot to grasp. However, there would be no need to
ever use this over a large burner anyway.
2. Locking Mechanism.
The handle has a locking mechanism which locks the top and bottom
pieces together when assembled. There is no screwing of the
pieces together which is the more common design among other
styles on the market. This locking mechanism rates as one of
the best features when it comes to ease of use and functionality.
One note: Although this is an excellent feature,
it does take a good tug to pull the handle out of the locking
position. Make sure to hold the top part of the espresso maker
with one hand while you pull the handle, otherwise it can go
sliding on you - especially on a wet surface.
I found once I understood how to grasp it in
order to easily unlock the handle, it was very simple. I can
see why this never leaks - it is very solid.
3. Protects Your Hand
From Steam. In the photo above on the left, you will see
that you can lift back the lid with the latch at the top of
the handle. This allows you to open the lid and peer in without
having to grab a knob which is generally placed in the center
portion of the lid.
Why is this important? Because that top compartment
holds very hot steam which shoots straight up when you open
the lid. Yes, I'm speaking from painful experience. By using
the lever off to the side, your hand does not come in contact
with the steam.
However, you can avoid this by using a pot
holder if you choose to get a maker which has the handle on
the top.
What size should you
get?
In general 1 cup size = 2.5 oz serving of espresso
(a single shot) and a 3 cup size = 5 oz serving of espresso.
The Alessi is offered in a 1
Cup
,
3 Cup
,
6
Cup
and even
10 Cups
.
The Vev Vigano Kontessa also has many options
and are available in 2,
4, 6, and 12 cup sizes.
Why is stainless steel
better than aluminum?
I have a few reasons for this actually. The
main reason is that the cheaper quality of aluminum will corrode
and pit over time. I think I replaced mine 3 times before I
realized they were offered in stainless steel.
In addition, there are many reports claiming
aluminum is linked to Alzheimers. I for one, tend to play it
safe and prefer stainless steel.
Is it dishwasher safe?
Yes! These are dishwasher safe which is great
for those like me who don't want to take the time to clean items
by hand, or are always in a rush.
Important Features
As with nearly every other espresso maker made
for the stove, the top and bottom parts screw together. However,
Richard Sapper, the original designer of the Alessi 9090, used
the handle as a locking mechanism to lock the top and bottom
segments together. 
As mentioned above, the locking mechanism creates
a very tight seal and requires a good pull in order to unlock
the two pieces. It also needs a good push to lock the two together.
After a few times of just getting familiar with the handle,
I became very fond of the feature.
Both the Alessi and Kontessa have wide bases.
For those who use a gas stove you will understand the importance.
The wider base allows it to easily fit on top of the grates
surrounding the flame. If the espresso maker is too narrow -
it may be prone to tip and not sit firmly over the flame (as
happened to my sister).
How much should you
expect to pay?
Stovetop espresso makers come in a variety
of price ranges. If you want the cheapest ones around go with
the aluminum ones (the famous Bialetti
Moka Express
for example). However for those who want the stainless steel,
which is what I recommend, you will usually pay a little more.
I've owned a number of espresso makers and
in my experience you get what you pay for. I paid a good penny
for my Alessi, but I know it will last for many years and save
me a lot of money by having espresso at home rather than from
a cafe.
On Amazon,
espresso makers can range anywhere from the low 20's on up around
$200 and I suggest you start there first. I've included a few
links throughout this review, plus some below to help you get
to the right place.
Where to Buy?
I suggest checking out Amazon
as I have found that they have the most competitive prices and
also offer the most comprehensive options.
To view the award winning Alessi 9090 on Amazon
Click here.
To view Vev Vigano's Kontessa on Amazon Click
here.
Still interested in those cheap aluminum ones?
Click
here
Salute!
When
I was in Italy, I learned about making espresso on a stove.
I had never heard of a stove top espresso maker before and what
a shame really.