Bialetti Musa 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator

The most common problem is user error
I've read reviews saying the unit explodes or doesn't make the same coffee as the Moka models and it's really difficult for me to believe. I have both the Moka and Musa 6 cup models and measured the water and filter volumes. It's not surprising that they're exactly the same.

Is it possible for these units to explode? Yes, it is as with any contained steam generating item, but only if you don't follow any directions. When you fill the bottom up you only fill it to the bottom edge of the safety valve. The coffee you use should not be an espresso grind. It should be between a fine drip and an espresso grind. If you use a very fine grind you're going to clog it up and allow pressure to build. If you should ignore both of these very simple things then you'll have a clogged unit and a covered safety valve which can result in it blowing up on you.

These are very simple things with only a few parts and the only wear item is the gasket which will last well over a...

Fantastic Unit for Great Coffee
Moka pots are an excellent way to make coffee at home. They're fairly easy to use and will produce very full-flavored coffee. For the price, the coffee can't be beat.

The Musa is a very nice pot from Bialetti. The satin finish is attractive and the shape allows for easy pouring. My only complaint about the design involves the thumb-tab to open the lid. It's a bit awkward -- luckily, there's almost no reason to ever use it.

For half the price, you might consider one of Bialetti's basic aluminum moka pots. With the Musa, you're essentially paying for a little bit of extra style. You may also want to consider paying a little more for Bialetti's Brikka pot, which uses a special valve to produce a stronger espresso with crema.

Bialetti Musa - Very Nice
This little pot makes a great, smooth cup of coffee, and I like its appearance. There are two drawbacks. First, the lid opening mechanism is a lovely sculptural shape, but doesn't really work. As a previous reviewer mentioned, one doesn't have much reason to use it, so it's not a serious drawback. The other, more serious problem is the difficulty I've had in tightening the base when assembling the pot after filling with water and ground coffee. The base is quite wide, and for those with small hands, or with arthritis, this can be very hard to do. I have found my way around this by cutting a small piece of non-slip rug padding, and using it to get a better grip. One can also use a damp paper towel for this purpose. Overall, I'm very happy with this product.

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