In case this interests anyone, I did a test today of 5 espresso makers I have on hand....
Equipment tested includes:
Elektra "Cappuccina R2":

Avanti "Compact":

Moka pots (left to right): Bialetti Moka Express (6-cup), Monix (3 cup), IKEA (stainless)

From Left to Right: Elektra, Avanti, IKEA (moka pot)

From Left to Right (moka pots): Bialetti, Monix

Conditions of the test:
Espresso machines: Both espresso machines were given the exact same water, beans & grind (from the same grinding session), both pre-heated, and both had the exact same quantity of ground coffee (2T), plus same tamping.
Moka pots: All 3 moka pots were, again, given the exact same quantity of filtered water (which was the max quantity that the Monix could accept), and same quantity/grind of coffee (2T, ground a bit less fine than the espresso machines)).
Elektra:
This, compared to the Avanti brew, was noticeably smoother and less bitter. Color was lighter, too.
Avanti:
The Avanti brew was dark and bitter, compared to the Elektra, tasting burnt. But the bitterness wore off a bit, as the coffee cooled down. Also, less crema than the Elektra (but neither produced much crema). I also noticed, as I usually do with this machine, that unlike the Elektra, the Avanti pooled water on top of the grounds after the portafilter was removed. Even long after sitting around idle. Not sure if the Avanti is a solenoid equipped machine, but the Elektra is probably not.
IKEA:
This was the most disappointing brew of the moka pots. It produced very little to no 'crema' (or "foam", let's not be a stickler for this...). It was over before I could even see it leaving the spout. So, quick. But the brew was dark, bitter, and sans milk, undrinkable, in contrast.
Bialetti:
I believe this produced a better rate of flow from the spout, as compared with the IKEA stainless pot. But more importantly, the color of the brew in the pot was lighter, and most caramel-like of the 3. Tastewise, I preferred it of the 3 moka pots.
Monix:
The brew flowing out of the spout of the Monix was thick and blonde, so most impressive from what I could see. The color was lighter than the IKEA, a bit darker than the Bialetti. Most notably, it stayed way hotter way longer than the other pots. This may be because it was the only one contained in a thick, restaurant-style coffee mug. if so, then it appears the container the coffee is in can affect taste/texture. I poured it out into a mug similar to the others; and it still remained hot a bit longer, then cooled off.
Conclusions:
No big surprises here. The Elektra won out in the machine competition, and the Bialetti pretty much took the prize in the moka pots. Still, I did learn a few things. I had my wife try all 5 brews in a blind test (this was after the coffees became cold... but she rejected the offer to heat them back up). She picked the Monix brew, out of all 5! To put it another way, she picked a $6 moka pot over a $1,000 espresso machine.... (Although, to her credit, the two finalists were the Elektra and the Monix... and she said she couldn't tell much a difference between them! Not so, myself. But then, I wasn't testing blind...).
Equipment tested includes:
Elektra "Cappuccina R2":

Avanti "Compact":

Moka pots (left to right): Bialetti Moka Express (6-cup), Monix (3 cup), IKEA (stainless)

From Left to Right: Elektra, Avanti, IKEA (moka pot)

From Left to Right (moka pots): Bialetti, Monix

Conditions of the test:
Espresso machines: Both espresso machines were given the exact same water, beans & grind (from the same grinding session), both pre-heated, and both had the exact same quantity of ground coffee (2T), plus same tamping.
Moka pots: All 3 moka pots were, again, given the exact same quantity of filtered water (which was the max quantity that the Monix could accept), and same quantity/grind of coffee (2T, ground a bit less fine than the espresso machines)).
Elektra:
This, compared to the Avanti brew, was noticeably smoother and less bitter. Color was lighter, too.
Avanti:
The Avanti brew was dark and bitter, compared to the Elektra, tasting burnt. But the bitterness wore off a bit, as the coffee cooled down. Also, less crema than the Elektra (but neither produced much crema). I also noticed, as I usually do with this machine, that unlike the Elektra, the Avanti pooled water on top of the grounds after the portafilter was removed. Even long after sitting around idle. Not sure if the Avanti is a solenoid equipped machine, but the Elektra is probably not.
IKEA:
This was the most disappointing brew of the moka pots. It produced very little to no 'crema' (or "foam", let's not be a stickler for this...). It was over before I could even see it leaving the spout. So, quick. But the brew was dark, bitter, and sans milk, undrinkable, in contrast.
Bialetti:
I believe this produced a better rate of flow from the spout, as compared with the IKEA stainless pot. But more importantly, the color of the brew in the pot was lighter, and most caramel-like of the 3. Tastewise, I preferred it of the 3 moka pots.
Monix:
The brew flowing out of the spout of the Monix was thick and blonde, so most impressive from what I could see. The color was lighter than the IKEA, a bit darker than the Bialetti. Most notably, it stayed way hotter way longer than the other pots. This may be because it was the only one contained in a thick, restaurant-style coffee mug. if so, then it appears the container the coffee is in can affect taste/texture. I poured it out into a mug similar to the others; and it still remained hot a bit longer, then cooled off.
Conclusions:
No big surprises here. The Elektra won out in the machine competition, and the Bialetti pretty much took the prize in the moka pots. Still, I did learn a few things. I had my wife try all 5 brews in a blind test (this was after the coffees became cold... but she rejected the offer to heat them back up). She picked the Monix brew, out of all 5! To put it another way, she picked a $6 moka pot over a $1,000 espresso machine.... (Although, to her credit, the two finalists were the Elektra and the Monix... and she said she couldn't tell much a difference between them! Not so, myself. But then, I wasn't testing blind...).
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