I really had to dust off my Bialetti Moka Express stovetop espresso maker. I bought this about four years ago and it had probably been three years since I’ve used it. I moved a lot during those years and it got lost in the shuffle a few times. Instead of using it again once I found it, out of pure laziness, I bought the Keurig. This espresso maker is quite easy to use though. It only takes finely ground coffee, fresh cold water and a stovetop. It’s made up of three parts: the bottom chamber (where the fresh water is stored), the funnel filter (where the finely ground coffee is stored) and the upper chamber (where the freshly brewed coffee will magically appear).

Fill the bottom chamber with fresh cold water up to about the pressure valve.

Add finely ground coffee to the funnel filter. Ehow said don’t pack it in unless you want a smaller, more bitter brew.

The funnel filter fits right into the bottom chamber.

Then screw on the upper chamber. Place over medium high heat and take off heat as soon as it starts gurgling. You can open the lid and peek in to see the coffee brewed in the upper chamber.

While the Bialetti is heating up on the stove, heat up about 1/4 cup of milk. I have to use my stovetop since I don’t own a microwave.  Once heated, I placed in glass measuring cup (you could use any glass) and got out my La Cafetiere milk frother.

The fun of milk frothing. Highlight of my day.

Pour the espresso in a coffee cup.

Spoon on the milk froth.

As I was adding the milk froth, I was trying to figure out what this drink would be classified as in coffee lingo. I looked up some coffee definitions on Talk about Coffee. (Love the definition for ‘Americano’ which was named from an insult to “uncouth Americans who weren’t up to drinking full espresso.”) I think it’s a Dry Cappuccino, which is made with a shot of espresso and a smaller amount of foam with no steamed milk. Definitions aside, I liked this even better than yesterday’s French press coffee. It could be that I ground my beans too finely for the French press or could have used a stronger coffee to water ratio. I just liked the espresso’s deeper, richer flavor. I also liked how there was no real measurements to making espresso. You just fill the bottom chamber and funnel filter to their respective lines. Anything that takes extra steps out of the equation in the morning makes me happy.