Vespress Vev Vigano INOX 12 Cup Espresso Maker

I had no idea a coffee maker could make this big a difference in a cup of coffee.Our Folger's Black Silk has never tasted like this before.Even when using the same coffee/water ratio, the flavor is far superior.It does take brewing a few pots before the coffee maker gets "seasoned", and tastes it's best.For that reason, I use no detergents when cleaning it, just a wet wipe and rinse.Coffee will stay hot in the pot for around 30 minutes, and warm after that.Throw it in the micro for a few seconds and it's just like fresh.It will never get the "burned" flavor that a Mr Coffee will induce, sitting on a hot pad after brewing.We'll never go back to a modern coffee maker.

Lid is held onto a hinge with very light solder joints. Rest of the pot seems good quality and did make good coffee. Returning due to breaking in the first week of use

The acid test of any product is how successful it is at doing what it's supposed to. This coffee maker makes very good coffee. A bonus is that it looks good doing it. Mission accomplished, right? Not quite. In no particular order, here are the "lows" from my perspective after two weeks of almost daily use:1) The brass "vent" seems to not function at all: no steam escapes from it -- ever. This feature (or, rather, lack of one) produces two sub-drawbacks: (a) no visual sign that the water in the bottom reservoir has been exhausted (that is, that the brewing process is all-but-completed); and, (b) no audible signal of the same status (no whistling at all to cue you that the brewing process is underway, and no absence of whistling to cue you that your coffee is ready);2) The lid thumb lifter gets very hot mostly, from what I can tell, because the only steam produced during the brewing process escapes through the lid -- mostly in the area of the lid lifter. This, again, relates to another two drawbacks: first, since you really have no clue when the entire pot of coffee is finished brewing, the only way for one to be sure is to lift the lid. Doing that with your bare thumb can produce a scalding injury, especially if the brewing is still underway; and, the instruction sheet advises you to stir the coffee before serving -- ostensibly to more evenly distribute the earlier brewed with the last brewed coffee. Fair enough. But, you still have to lift the lid which, as mentioned, is very hot by this point; and3) Finally, the edge (or, rim) of the lid is made of thin steel which can produce a mild to potentially severe laceration if not handled carefully.As mentioned, the Vev Vigano makes pretty darned good coffee. The bad news is that the drawbacks mentioned above would most likely deter me from buying another one.I STAND CORRECTED. After reading and thinking about some of the replies to my original post, I decided to write to Bialetti, describing the issues. (Granted: this unit is not a Bialetti, but the principles should be the same.) Here is the response I received:"There should be no steam coming out of the safety valve all the time. Only if there is a clog or pressure build up that could become dangerous. Make sure you take out the gasket and filter plate from under the upper unit and hold the filter plate up to the light to check for any clogs. You should be able to see through all the holes in the plate, especially right in the center where the coffee brews up. Do not tamp down the coffee, only fill loosely as it will expand. Use a courser grind of coffee if what you are using is too fine. Don't bang the coffee funnel against anything to get grounds out or it could dent or get out of round causing a problem or whistling."Sorry for my erroneous assumptions about the function and purpose of the pressure valves reflected in my first point. The "cure" I have implemented is this: I do not prepare the coffee at the burner's highest setting, but at about 3/4 heat. Takes longer, but there is no excess pressure. The brewer works fine, now. (I have 3 other similar makers -- all Bialetti brand -- and will follow the same procedure with those. That stated, the rest are, I think, still valid. It would be safer if the lid lifter were coated or if the lid itself has an insulated knob, as do the Bialettis.

Quite large, it will make 24 oz.(700ml) of Italian espresso coffee. The bottom part is heavy gauge metal, and the top part is somewhat thinner gauge. The height of coffee pot is about 9.75 in. (25 cm) tall. All parts are stainless steel construction. The handle is metal also, so it may get hot over the flame.

This is an amazing product, large volume of coffee, more like 14 cups than 12. The coffee tastes the best I have ever had. I have had the aluminum type.. don't go there. The stainless steel cleans up perfectly and wont get moldy left unused on the counter for a week or two. We use propane cook top and these work fine on the gas burner. We don't use high heat .. low to medium flame as to not burn the espresso. We broke in the pot with one cook through, then we used the maker..truely a great design, handle barely gets warm, taste of Starbucks "Komodo Dragon Blend-Dark" is beautiful! I have the 6 cup and the 12 cup now!

We have a Bialetti Venus Stainless Steel Espresso Maker which we have used and loved for years. But it doesn't make enough espresso for more than two people really (even though it's for four cups, I guess our cups are bigger than theirs).So we wanted one that would help when we have more coffee drinkers over and we bought this one.I have no complaints but definitely feel the coffee made by the Bialetti Venus Stainless Steel Espresso Maker tastes better. It's possible that this is just due to the size and the amount of coffee being made, not the design. I've tried, per other reviews, brewing the coffee on lower heat. And then I tried high heat. It just doesn't taste as smooth as the coffee made by my smaller pot. But it is still okay as espresso and I am not regretting the purchase, as I really did need a bigger one! (Based on other Amazon reviews I think the taste issue may be a common issue among larger stove-top espresso makers and is not brand or model specific).

I've never written a review. I always see several others and am happy to see comments much better than I could write when I really like a product. I have never had to really hate a product. Until now. After a month of light use our coffee pot began rusting on the bottom seem where the coffee pot bevels. From the outside it looks like one solid piece. It isn't. Its two pieces welded together - poorly. I was concerned about this and wrote to the seller who said it was normal and that they dont replace anything after 30 days. While the discolorations on the inside might be normal the rusty weld is not. Unless you are missing the flavor of rust in your coffee I would avoid this pot. I guess it will make a very nice and expensive flower pot.