bialetti safety valve leaking quotation

Been using my Vigano stovetop coffee pot on an electric stove for about 6 years. When I first got it I meticulously filled it to just below the safety valve yet was still scared to death of the thing blowing up if I left it too long on the hot ring. Immediately it began to glub and blub Id take it from the hot ring and stand back until it became quiescent.

That was then! I gradually discovered that as long as one does not too strenuously tamp the coffee in the basket (an unnecessary step in any case), filling the base to above the valve and leaving the pot on a low, low setting after it has "perked", is perfectly safe and gives me several cups of HOT coffee instead of one hot and the rest increasingly cooler.

The safety valve is an important safety feature of your Bialetti pot.  If steam or pressure is being regularly released from the safety valve, do not ignore as your pot may be blocked, or have a faulty safety valve.

To check for a blockage, disassemble your pot by removing the ring and filter, and cleaning inside the column of the upper chamber. Then check the funnel to ensure it is not bent nor restricting the flow of water. Finally, located in the middle of the safety valve is a small piston, move the small piston in a circular motion to remove any clogging within the valve potentially caused by lime scale or other sediment.

Should after these actions the safety valve continues to activate, cease using your pot immediately and return to your authorised Bialetti stockistfor checking/servicing.

The size of your Bialetti stovetop depends on how much coffee you like to drink in any one sitting, how strong you like it and how many people join you. When Bialetti says "2 cup", that is to say your stovetop will produce "two espresso cups" of coffee. An espresso cup of coffee generally amounts to approximately 30mls.

You must not underfill the water in the base or put too little coffee in the filter to try and achieve a lesser quantity of coffee output because this will affect the pressure and effectiveness of your stovetop. Therefore, when you purchase your Bialetti make sure you are buying the correct size for your typical use. In many Italian household"s, there are a couple of sizes in the cupboard to accommodate everyday use, versus when guests are around.

Often in New Zealand, people like to drink their coffee with milk and often quite strong (like a classic Flat White). If you were to make a Flat White with a Bialetti stovetop, it would take approximately "2 cups" of coffee, and added milk from a Tuttocrema.

If water is leaking from your safety valve, either before or during a brewing cycle, something is not quite right and it will need to be resolved before your machine is able to produce coffee again. The leak from the safety valve could be coming from one of three places:

If the leak is coming from the gold coloured safety ring, you simply need to replace it. Further details on how to do that, as well as how to prevent it happening again, can be found here. You will have received a spare safety ring with your machine.

If water is leaking from the head of the safety valve, it’s likely that the internal seal has become dislodged and damaged. Though this is a rare event, in this case the safety valve will need to be replaced. You can purchase a replacement safety valve here, and there are instructions showing how to replace the safety valve here.

A leak from this point suggests one of two things. The first is that the safety valve isn’t screwed on tight enough. Screw it in hand tight, then use a 13mm spanner to tighten it so that there is ‘metal on metal’ contact between the boiler and the safety ring. You won’t need to tighten it very hard, the thing to feel for is a sudden increase in resistance when screwing it in.

The second thing to check is whether the two red o-rings on either side of the safety ring are in good condition. Simply check that they’re well-seated either side of the safety ring and that they are clean and free of damage. Then screw the valve back onto the boiler. These o-rings form the seal between the safety valve and the boiler, so if they’re not in place the safety valve will leak. If you need some replacement seals, you can buy those here.

The devil is in the details. It is often the smallest things, the particularities, that make all the difference. This is also the case in regards to the preparation of a good coffee, a ritual in which all the steps and every single component play a fundamental role. Among all, one of the most important elements is the Moka valve. Often ignored, it is vital not only for the quality of the coffee, but also for the safety of those who prepare it.

The valve was born with the invention of the Moka Express in 1933. It is a safety valve positioned on the bottom chamber. To better understand the importance of the valve and its use, we need to take a step back and illustrate step by step

This is where the valve of the Moka comes into play. It must open when the pressure is too high. By doing so, it allows the steam to escape regularly, without causing any damage. In short, the Moka’s safety valve provides security. Hence, it should only intervene when the coffee maker is used under abnormal operating conditions.

A long-standing and debated question: how far can you fill the bottom chamber for a state-of-the-art coffee? The Moka valve can come in handy to answer this dilemma. Another important role of the valve is that it acts as a "measuring cup". Its position on the bottom chamber is not accidental. Rather, it indicates to those who prepare the coffee the correct amount of water to use. The only exception is for some special coffee pots that are already equipped with a measuring cup. Ideally the water should reach just below the safety valve.

The Moka valve, therefore, is not a decoration or a mere design element. Rather, it is a very important component for the correct functioning of the coffee maker. It guarantees safety and plays a part in the making of an excellent coffee.

Consequently, it is necessary to keep it clean and maintain it regularly. For example, using tap water to make coffee brings with it the risk of limescale deposits obstructing the hole in the valve. The resulting danger is that it could get clogged.

We have seen that one can simply use hot water to clean the Moka valve. To avoid limescale obstructions, simply move the piston that comes out of the valve along its axis when washing it. To ensure the Moka functions correctly, it is recommended to repeat this checkup periodically.

Maybe your moka pot is hissing and spitting steam or your coffee is too weak. Here are the ways to fix the most common problems with a Bialetti to make sure your morning brew is everything you expect.

Three possible reasons: Either the safety valve is clogged, you’ve filled the reservoir above the fill line, or the filter may be clogged up so that the water isn’t escaping into the jug part of the pot as it should.

What to do: Take the whole pot apart, including the gasket and filter, and rinse thoroughly, wiping off any stray or stuck coffee grounds with a sponge. Also, check to see if your safety valve has a tiny protuberance (like a little metal stick that you can push from the inside)—some of my older pots had this, but my newer one doesn’t. If so, push this in a few times (it springs back again) to dislodge the blockage. If the problem continues, you might have to send the pot back or buy a new one, depending on whether it’s still under warranty.

It"s not hard to make a great cup of coffee with these machines, but there are specific things you must do, including seasoning it, loading it properly, and keeping it clean. Read How to Make Perfect Stovetop Espresso Coffee With a Bialetti Moka Pot to learn more.

Sorry, I wasn"t clear. I mean the pressure relief valve that is screwed into the side of the lower chamber. On all of my moka pots, this valve now leaks, so the pot never builds sufficient pressure to function.

I found a similar but slightly larger valve at MSC online, and was able to drill out and re-tap the hole in one of my aluminium moka pots to fit this valve with an o-ring. So that one is repaired. However, drilling out and retapping my stainless steel moka pots will be harder, and I am hoping to find the correct valve as used by Bialetti.

Edit: the valve I found is this one https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/03244811 1/8" thread, 15-25 psi, $2.44. But it isn"t quite the correct thread to replace the original valve.

If you’re searching for the best Moka bowl, you may be shocked to discover the wide variety of choices beyond the Bialetti originals. With reviews of each Moka pot, we have compiled a list of our favorites, as well as a purchasing guide so that you can find the right product for you. In this article, we are reviewing the 11 best stovetop espresso makers (Moka pots). Take your time and go through the article to find out the best one for you.

Bialetti is the original Moka pot manufacturer, and they’re one of the industry’s finest Italian stovetop espresso makers. It’s not surprising; that makes it our top pick. It’s available in various sizes for a range of coffee drinkers to deal with. Brewing on the stovetop takes less than five minutes, comparable to a drip coffee maker.

With this classic octagonal Bialetti shape, this model comes with durable aluminum. It’s made and designed in Italy, so you can be sure it’s an authentic Moka pot. We enjoyed the proprietary safety valve, which is essential because of the strain. Cleaning is easy too.

Coffee Gator Espresso Moka Pot is our runner-up, as it contains two vacuum-insulated mugs made of stainless steel. It is designed in the style of the original Bialetti Moka pot but with a brushed-metal industrial feel. It is made of premium cast aluminum and has a safety valve for eliminating excess vapor.

It can make six cups of shots of espresso size and is made of durable aluminum. On the flip side, this is not the best option if you’re looking for a Moka pot for more than one person to use at once. Capacity is small. It also has leak issues, possibly because it doesn’t have a safety valve as strong as the two models listed above.

The Bellemain 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker Moka Pot comes with a handle and lid knob that both stay cool, so when you remove it from the stovetop, you won’t burn your fingers! A safety valve prevents overheating by allowing the steam to escape. We do understand that a two-year warranty comes with it.

If you’re set to your Moka pot on stainless steel instead of aluminum, then Mr. Rudolf’s 18/10 Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker is a perfect option. It is made of stainless-steel food grade 18/10, which is exceptionally durable. This comes with a safety valve and a fixed filter.

The Italian Bialetti 06800 Stovetop Espresso Maker is our top choice since it is the original Moka pot manufacturer. We feel secure in its simplicity and ability to deliver a delicious cup of coffee like an espresso.

The moka pot is a stove-top or electric coffee maker that brews coffee by passing boiling water pressurized by steam through ground coffee. Named after the Yemeni city of Mocha, it was invented by Italian engineer Alfonso Bialetti in 1933 and quickly became one of the staples of Italian culture.Bialetti Industries continues to produce the same model under the trade name "Moka Express".

The boiler (marked A in the diagram) is filled with water almost up to the safety release valve (some models have an etched water level sign) and the funnel-shaped metal filter (B) is inserted. Italians generally do not preheat the water used, though established baristas such as James Hoffmann and Tristan Stephenson recommend using preheated water in the base.

A gasket ensures a tightly closed unit and allows for pressure to safely build up in the lower section, where a safety valve provides a necessary release in case this pressure should get too high.

Moka pots require periodic replacement of the rubber seal and the filters, and a check that the safety release valve is not blocked. When the rubber seal is new, it might alter the coffee taste, so a couple of "dry runs" can be made, without coffee or with used coffee grounds to "prime" it. It is an urban myth that leaving coffee stains in a moka pot is preferable – the rancid coffee should be scrubbed out of all parts of the pot. Moka pots are generally not dishwasher safe.

The moka pot comes in various sizes based on the number of 50 ml (2 imp fl oz; 2 US fl oz) espresso cups they produce. The following table are the standard sizes for the Bialetti Moka Express.

A few companies have introduced variations to the Moka pot design. One such design has incorporated a weighted valve called Cremator or Cremavent as a pressure regulator on top of the nozzle that allows pressure to build up inside the water tank in a manner similar to a pressure cooker. As pressure builds up more quickly in this method (since there is much less leakage of vapour) compared to the standard moka pot, it reaches the level required for water to rise through the ground coffee in a shorter time. The result is coffee brewed at a higher pressure and temperature than the standard pot, making it more similar to espresso and therefore with more visible crema.