bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

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.

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

Month ago, i decided to bought a moka pot - Tescoma Monte Carlo - first couple brews were bitter, and steam was also escaping from my safety valve. Then i realized, that my coffe was too fine (Lavaza La Rossa pre-ground, 250g can). I tried different cofffe (Lavaza Crema e Gusto pre-ground, 250g can) with which I achieved relatively good results. When i turned heat higher, water came through coffee fast and taste was wattery, when i turned it at lowest, it was a bit bitter. Then i found perfect spot, and learned to stop the flame at right time, so the vapour didn"t come through, so there wasn"t any bitterness resulting in perfect coffee.. Nice dark, and bit transparent when i look through the light.

I wanted to buy Bialetti Moka Express 3 cup size, this time aluminium. But my mom was faster than me and yesterday she gifted me GAT Splendida 3. First, I was "omg, this is Chinese one (no offense to China, but you know..). Then I made a little research and found that it is Made In Italy. "Oohh, OK

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

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.

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

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.

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

This moka pot—which, of the four models we tested, comes closest to Alfonso Bialetti’s original design—has a classic look, is dead simple to use, and brews coffee as rich and flavorful as that of any model we tested.

In my own kitchen in St. Louis, I conducted a taste test with four 6-cup moka pots: my Bialetti Moka Express, the Alessi Moka, the Grosche Milano Red, and the stainless steel Ilsa Turbo Express. Dozens of variations are available—from IKEA’s Scandinavian spin on the classic moka pot to the MoMA Design Store’s cute and colorful Cocca Moka to innumerable knockoffs on Amazon—but we concluded that the four models we chose represented the range of options well.

I am by no means a coffee expert (as I said, I just started drinking it regularly in the past year), but I did find some obvious differences between the pots’ brews. The Bialetti Moka Express performed the best overall, producing a smooth, full-bodied flavor profile—chocolatey, smoky, and just a bit acidic—compared with the rest of the bunch. The Alessi Moka’s brews were a little more acidic and slightly less rich, but they were otherwise almost indistinguishable from the Bialetti’s. Results from the stainless steel Ilsa Turbo Express were drinkable, if somewhat hollow and flat, and brews from the Grosche Milano Red were the worst—watery and flavorless.

The Bialetti pot that I’ve had for years—which my boyfriend and now I have put through some serious wear and tear—seems mostly infallible. Other than a hairline crack on the hinge (which is a stress point if you try to screw the top on one-handed, as I have), it hasn’t sustained any major damage. The cast-aluminum pieces fit together smoothly and are fairly easy to clean. When the pot is not in use, it fits into my mid-century modern decor as a piece of functional art.

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

Bialetti is a company that invented moka pots. However, today many other brands offer Italian stove top coffee makers for 2 or even 3 times lower price. Is there any real difference between them except the famous ‘little man with the mustache’ logo, which Bialetti proudly put on its models? (Spoiler: yes)

I decided to compare stainless steel versions, since my new kitchen is equipped with a induction stove (classic aluminium moka pots like Moka Express or Brikka can’t work with it). I choose a Bialetti Venus by Bialetti (‘Made in India according to Bialetti’s quality standarts’ was written on the box) and a similar moka pot by some unknown brand from China (almost 3 times cheaper). Both are for 4 cups, which equals to 160ml. Here they are:

So let’s investigate the differences between cheap Chinese moka pot made of steel vs original Bialetti Venus.I will not describe the unboxing process (though Bialetti packaging was better) and focus on the materials, construction, coffee taste and temperature:

Both coffee makers are made of stainless steel. However the thickness of the metal is different, Chinese one definetly has more slim edges (hereinafter on photos the Bialetti is on left while the Chinese one is on right):

The fact that Bialetti uses a lot more metal while producing their stove top espresso makers is also proven by the weight. According to my kitchen scale it’s 544 grams (19.2 ounces) in the case of Bialetti vs 330 grams (11.6 ounces) in the case of its counterpart. Both measurements are made without boxes:

❕ The main thing, that dissapointed me was the weirdly coated bottom section in Chinese moka pot. While the Bialetti has a equaly shiny polished steel both outside and inside, the bottom chamber of the second coffee maker has a layer of some strange material:

My last observation is about emergency valve that is located one the side of the bottom chamber and that is used to lower the pressure if the funnel would be clogged. They are different:

The Bialetti inspection valve is a patented valve, which has been designed to guarantee the use of the coffee maker in complete safety. Using the coffee maker with drinking water entails the risk of formation of lime scale in the hole of the safety valve, causing the clogging of the valve itself and the malfunctioning of the product.

With the Bialetti inspection valve, it is very simple to avoid clogging arising from lime scale: just move the small piston coming out of the valve along its axis when washing the coffee maker.

As I mentioned above the fact that Chinese has thinner metal body affects the brewing proccess. Bialetti’s upper chamber stays cools longer, while all parts of Chinese coffee maker becomes hot very soon. That means that temperature of extraction is higher on Chinese one. It’s generally condidered to be bad for the coffee taste (because it may become bitter), however it’s better for lovers of hot coffee.

Here are photos of coffee temperature measurement in Bialetti Venus and in ATWFS moka pot just after brewing on gas cooker (photos kindly provided by my reader kroleg-m):

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

While some claim that the highest quality percolators are made in Italy – which is no wonder, they are often simply called Italian espresso pots or ‘Bialetti’s’ – we don’t find this necessarily to be the case. On average, it’s fair to say that whenever it says ‘Made in Italy’ you can be rest assured the quality will be great, while China is more of a mixed bag. To boot, having an authentic Italian stovetop espresso maker does add to the charm a bit, doesn’t it?

Bialetti is the number one player in the stovetop espresso maker market, which is not a surprise once you see the thousands of happy customer reviews on their Moka pots. Due to its features, the Bialetti Moka Express has long been dubbed as one of the best coffee makers. The octagonal shape of the coffee maker allows the heat to distribute perfectly while your coffee brews, resulting in a strong Moka pot coffeein under 5 minutes (4).

I personally only use this Moka pot nowadays – I’ve been through other models and the consistency you get is unbeatable. Read my Bialetti Moka Express review if you wish to learn more. The Bialetti Brikka, a modern alternative to the Moka Express is also worth checking out.

The Bialetti Venus features soft lines and a harmonious design that gives it just as the name suggests an elegant look. It’s a beauty to the eye. It also produces great tasting coffee. Its stainless steel construction means it’s suited for induction cooktops. The handle is insulated to resist high temperatures, hence you can use the unit without having to worry about burning yourself when pouring.

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

If water comes out of your pot"s safety valve, the good news is that it"s probably fixable. The bad news, though, is that it will take some time to fix it.

If there"s a jet shooting out of your pot"s pressure valve, it could be because of too much water. You"ll want to always pour water into the bottom edge of the safety valve.

The most common reasons for safety valve leaks are coffee residue and limescale buildup. This may be why the valve may be opening or closing incorrectly.

I. The easiest fix is to push the valve closed (or open). If there isn"t too much buildup or it"s not completely dry, this may push some of the buildup away and let the valve move freely.

Now, even this may not fix the leaks. If your Moka pot is old, the valve might have worn out. Inside there"s a small rubber ring that will harden and eventually break over time. If that happens, water may be leaking out of there.

For some high-end pots, you can simply buy a replacement pressure valve. You"ll have to make sure ordering the new part and paying for shipment is less expensive than getting a new pot, though.

It"s a good idea to check the pressure release valve of the pot works properly between brews. It"s there to release the excessive pressure out of the pot, and if it"s not working properly, your coffee maker might leak or even explode.

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

The original Moka coffee pot: Moka Express is the original stovetop espresso maker, it provides the experience of the real Italian way of preparing a tasteful coffee, its unique shape and the inimitable gentleman with mustache date back to 1933, when Alfonso Bialetti invented it.

Made in Italy with an ergonomic handle and a patented safety valve which makes it easy to clean. Available in many sizes and suitable for gas, electric and induction (with the Bialetti induction adapter plate)

How to prepare the coffee: fill the boiler up to the safety valve, fill it up with ground coffee without pressing, close the Moka pot and place it on the stovetop, as soon as Moka Express starts to gurgle, turn the fire off and coffee will be ready

Cleaning instructions: The Bialetti Moka Express must only be rinsed with clean water after use, with no detergents, the product is not to be washed with a dishwasher as it will be irremediably damaged and the taste of coffee altered

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

I bought a Bialetti Brikka (new-ish version with black bottom but still with the gravity valve) in 2020 for my Covid-Coffee and it was an okay quality. Still lots of aluminium chaff flying around everywhere, definitely needed more cleaning than Bialetti says is “permissible” because dish soap supposedly harms the metal (not true).

The valve is simply a rubber membrane that is not sold as a replacement part, have fun with that I guess. So much aluminium dust and shavings everywhere, even in the valve, where the consumer should never look I guess. The paint on the bottom is even worse than on my old brikka.

And to top it all off, I am not even sure if that valve rubber is silicone or not (confusion with old Bialetti descriptions since the gravity valve Brikkas all had a clear silicone nozzle to constrict flow against the valve). The new valve rubber is white like the main gasket (which is natural rubber IIRC), so have fun when that gets icky and there are no replacements (it’s a rather complex moulding with a tapered inside ending in a slit which gets compressed by the top part of the valve).

I will get my 45€ back and invest that in a cheap espresso machine (I didn’t want to make 4 cups with my old Bialetti all the time, so this should be worth it).

bialetti safety valve leaking made in china

The Bialetti two-part cast aluminum espresso pot has long set the standard for stovetop espresso makers. With the invention of the Bialetti in the 1930s, espresso—long a staple of Italian cafés and bars—became available for home consumption. Today, this classic of twentieth-century industrial design can be found in 90 percent of Italian homes. Now Italy’s favorite pot can go to work in your kitchen, making delicious espresso on gas or electric stovetops.