VonShef Stovetop Coffee Maker 300ml
About this item
- AUTHENTIC: Bring a taste of Italy to your kitchen with the VonShef stovetop coffee maker, perfect for early morning wakeups or mid-afternoon pick-me-ups with its intense full-bodied brews.
- 6 CUP CAPACITY: Your 300ml espresso maker is the ideal size for those long-awaited catch ups with friends and family. For a solo coffee break, just fill up as much as you fancy and sip away!
- EASY TO USE: Satisfy your caffeine cravings with ease; simply fill with ground coffee and water, place on your gas or electric hob, let it boil through the funnel filter and pour out with ease using the ergonomic handle and hinged lid.
- ENDLESS COFFEE: Made from durable aluminium, your Italian style percolator will see you through endless cups of coffee. Complete with a replacement gasket and filter, you’re set to get brewing!
- THE VONSHEF PROMISE: All our products are backed by a minimum 2 years warranty, so you can be safe in the knowledge that if anything happens we’re here for you. Use our products with confidence.
16.00€
The VonShef Stovetop Coffee Maker sounds like a standard 6-cup aluminum Moka Pot designed for brewing strong coffee on a gas or electric stovetop. Here’s a breakdown of its features to help you decide if it’s a good fit for you:
Possible Pros:
- Strong Coffee: Brews a strong, concentrated brew similar to espresso, but not quite as intense, ideal for those who enjoy a bolder cup.
- 6 Cup Capacity: Brews up to 300ml (around 6 cups) of coffee, suitable for a small pot or several servings.
- Aluminum Construction: Affordable and lightweight.
- Gas and Electric Stovetop Compatible: Works on most common stovetops.
- Includes Replacement Gasket & Filter: Ensures you have everything you need to get started and replace worn parts over time.
Possible Cons:
- Not True Espresso: While it brews strong coffee, Moka Pots don’t reach the high pressure of professional espresso machines.
- Attention Required: You’ll need to watch the Moka Pot while it brews and remove it from heat when finished to avoid burnt coffee.
- Learning Curve: There might be a bit of a learning curve to perfect the grind size and coffee-to-water ratio for the best results.
- Aluminum Taste (for some): Some coffee drinkers perceive a slight metallic taste from aluminum Moka Pots.
Overall, the VonShef Stovetop Coffee Maker could be a good option for those who:
- Enjoy strong coffee: If you prefer a bolder coffee than drip coffee, a Moka Pot is a good alternative.
- Want an affordable option: Aluminum Moka Pots are typically less expensive than stainless steel models.
- Need a 6-cup capacity: This size is suitable for brewing for a few people.
- Have a gas or electric stovetop: This Moka Pot is compatible with both.
However, if you:
- Need true espresso for latte art or other drinks: A Moka pot won’t replicate the high pressure needed for true espresso.
- Prefer a completely hands-off brewing experience: Moka pots require attention during the brewing process.
- Dislike the potential for an aluminum taste: You might want to consider a stainless steel Moka Pot.
Here are some additional things to consider when purchasing a VonShef Stovetop Coffee Maker:
- Reviews: Read reviews from other users to get a sense of the quality, performance, ease of use, and potential for an aluminum taste.
- Alternatives: Explore Moka Pots from other brands with similar features or consider stainless steel Moka Pots from established brands.
- Grind Size and Coffee: Moka pots typically require a finer grind size than drip coffee makers. You might need to adjust your grind or buy a grinder if you don’t already have one.
| Asin | B06WD3YX91 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | VonShef |
S. Bianca Cioropariu –
J. D. Garten –
No issues with dripping when pouring, easy to clean, only aluminium but sturdy for all that, and you get a spare gasket & filter; what’s not to like?
Angelo mule –
millie –
Rachael Balderson –
L34 –
NickyW –
I have not used my new espresso pot which arrived yesterday, as I want to send it back. I use the six cup model for making a latte for either myself or for myself and my partner. Filling the perforated coffee chamber with proper espresso coffee grounds to the top will, in my opinion, make two strong large shots of coffee to act as a base for your coffee. (A typical espresso is apparently only 50ml, hence this 300ml coffee maker produces 6 ‘cups’). I like a large mug of latte type coffee in the morning, so fill the coffee chamber half way with grounds and fill the water chamber to about two thirds. If making for two of us I pack the coffee chamber to the top with espresso sounds and can obviously only fill the water chamber to the highest level, ie, just touching the valve and this will make two smaller but stronger shots. I then top up my shot with hot milk and this makes a stong’ish large cup of latte, or milky, coffee. If it’s too strong then you can top it up with hot water. Your coffee maker should not dribble when pouring, nor make a weak shot of coffee, nor exude water down the sides when bubbling on the stove.
If you look at the Von Chef espresso maker and a lot of the other models of similar price, the spout is quite small which explains why some other reviewers found it messy to pour out their coffee – unless you pour slowly and in a thin stream, it will tend to dribble. This is partly why I ditched my cheaper espresso maker a few years ago and bought the proper Italian model even though it was almost twice the price.
The other reason I am returning the Von Chef is that the coffee chamber is, in my opinion, too shallow. It is about two thirds the depth of the Bialetti six cup so will not hold enough espresso grounds to make a decent strength coffee. Again, I noticed a few comments about the strength of the reviewers’ coffee, one of them blaming the coffee. It is more likely to be the limitation of the amount of coffee you can put into the coffee chamber. Maybe this doesn’t matter to most people but as I like a BIG mug of good strength coffee, I need a good strong shot to accommodate the amount of milk I top it up with.
I would reiterate again that I have not used the Von Chef as I want to return it untarnished as it is not faulty. I am simply stating the reasons why the design is, from past experience, likely to give me the two problems I have had in the past and provide other purchasers with the explanation of why it might dribble when pouring and provide a weaker coffee for some users’ taste. The quality of the pot looks nice and sturdy.
IntensiveCareNurse –
On examination on arrival it did look exactly the same in components and mechanics, and so I naturally thought it would be as good (but less than half the price).
You are provided with a spare filter and seal which struck me as a bonus, and it’s definitely of good quality build.
In all honesty in subsequent use and in comparing this to my excellent Bialetti, I nearly sent it back twice. I was finding that on making my coffee in the same way as with the Bialetti only half the water was finding its way to the upper pot on boiling. I was also initially finding the taste of a coffee that I know to taste great in the Bialetti was just not doing so made in the VonShelf.
At first I thought the fact the water wasn’t going fully through the coffee to the top jug had to be down to it being manufactured with a thicker stovetop base, which was not allowing the water to boil to the extent it would all find its way up.
After much experimentation I realised that I was putting too much coffee in the filter funnel. This was causing the hot water to make the coffee grounds expand against the filter above which blocked the full transfer of the hot water through it…
Now before that seems obvious, can I just say that my Bialetti never seemed to have this problem and pushed the water through easily despite the coffee expanding in the same way…
By filling only to 3/4 capacity or less it now does make very good coffee.
Reviews here also state that it leaks at the middle seal (mine does not) and that the poor fitting lid causes spills when pouring also. This is true, but not an issue to worry about…
Just open the stiff lid by a few mm when pouring and there is no spillage.
Very happy with it now. Despite a Bialetti clearly being the perfect forgiving design, using this VonShelf one correctly and with my considerations produces as decent coffee.
The handle on it is also as good quality as the Bialetti… This should be a big consideration when you buy one as the handle is subject to repeated stove heat exposure.
Many other similar non Bialetti pots for sale suffer failure on this score according to a great many reviews, and this VonShelf one appeared the best budget one during my lengthy pre purchase assessment.
I wish I could give it 4.5 stars of 5, ascannot give it 5 as a Bialetti is definitely slightly better and it seems to me cannot be beaten.