bialetti safety valve free sample

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.

Thanks to a traditional method of preparation, and a specific texture of the grounds, the Perfetto Moka Bialetti blend guarantees a full-bodied result in the cup, giving it a creaminess and aromatic intensity.

Abstract: Equipment (10) for the preparation of a hot beverage comprising a boiler (10) capable of containing a liquid component of the beverage, for example water, a collection container (14) and means (22, 20, 28) defining a delivery path for the liquid component from the boiler to the collection container. The equipment also comprises valve means (40) located along the delivery path for the liquid component comprising a plug (44) which can move between a position in which the delivery path is closed and one in which it is open and means (70, 72; 74, 76; 78) to immobilise the plug in the open position. These means are arranged in such a way that they can be activated and deactivated by a force exerted in the direction of movement of the plug.

If you do not properly clean your moka pot after every use ground coffee can fall into the chamber, or water residue can build up in the valve. This leads to a blockage which stops the valve from relieving pressure buildup.

To fix this you must take apart the entire moka pot, including the filter and gasket, and give everything a thorough rinse. You can take a toothbrush an clean around the safety valve. Don’t try to disassemble the safety valve, its not designed to be taken apart. For a guaranteed clean, you can descale your moka pot with vinegar and lemon juice. Learn how here.

When adding water to the bottom chamber of your moka pot, you must always fill to just below the safety valve. If you cover the safety valve in water it will malfunction. Its also normal for some water to be left over after brewing.

Its normal to have some water left over in a moka pot after brewing. They are designed that way. The steam pressure pushes water up the funnel, in the gap between the funnel and the base of the boiler chamber.  That leftover water also helps protect your moka pot from being heated in a dry state, which could become a safety concern if left unattended.

The first step to making a fine cup of coffee with a Bialetti Moka Pot is of course acquiring one. I got mine from Amazon, but I’ll let you decide where you get yours.

Fill the boiler or bottom chamber with water. People advocate not to go above the safety valve, but I often do because I purchased the smallest (single cup, 1oz) moka Pot, which does not develop as much pressure as the larger moka Pots do. The water shouldn’t be super-pure, but also shouldn’t be extremely chlorinated. If you are using water that is highly chlorinated, I recommend setting the water open for a couple of hours to let the chlorine evaporate. Otherwise, the chlorine would react with the aluminum and cause dark discolorations.

Note that you should not overfilling or tamp down the permafilter basket with coffee grounds. The moka pot is not an espresso machine; the moka pot can only properly brew coffee at 1.5 bars of pressure, whereas espresso machines use 8 to 9 bars of pressure. So overfilling or tamping impedes the flow of water through the coffee grounds and out of the spout. This causes an increase in pressure, therefore temperature that burns the coffee grounds before it can be properly brewed. The safety valve may release from an increased pressure, and the coffee may either not siphon out from jamming or explode out of the top with force. I find that filling the basket with 4/4 coffee grounds is optimal and allows the water to pass through. Filling all the way is actually prevents the coffee from burning, since more pressure is used instead of more temperature. But be careful when filling all the way, because coffee grounds in the rubber gasket will ruin the rubber.

The Moka. Unique and original since 1933.The brainchild of Alfonso Bialetti, in almost one hundred years of history, the Bialetti Moka has won a place in the hearts and kitchens of all Italians and not only.An excellent example of Art Déco, the Moka Express has become an icon and a symbol of “Made in Italy”, present in the permanent collection at the Milan Triennale and the MoMA in New York.Over the years, Bialetti has perfected its characteristic design, maintaining the functional and use characteristics of the Moka: the octagonal aluminium boiler, the exclusive inspectable and easy-to-clean valve, the filter and the collector that holds the essence of the coffee extraction, black, full-bodied and hot.

This classic stovetop Moka brewer produces 6 two-ounce cups of rich, authentic espresso in just 4 to 5 minutes. It"s made of durable polished aluminum and features Bialetti’s distinctive eight-sided shape that allows it to diffuse heat perfectly to enhance the aroma of your coffee. Flip-up top and side-pour spout provide added convenience.

The brainchild of Alfonso Bialetti, in almost one hundred years of history, the Bialetti Moka has won a place in the hearts and kitchens of all Italians and not only.

Over the years, Bialetti has perfected its characteristic design, maintaining the functional and use characteristics of the Moka: the octagonal aluminium boiler, the exclusive inspectable and easy-to-clean valve, the filter and the collector that holds the essence of the coffee extraction, black, full-bodied and hot. A Moka is the most sustainable

According to further aspect, this invention relates to a safety valve of a boiler of a device for the preparation of a hot drink, in particular coffee.

In order to avoid these risks, even though they may be remote, it is provided that the boiler be equipped with a safety valve or a vent valve designed to open when a threshold pressure is reached, as a result of which the interior of the boiler is placed in communication with the outside environment.

Known safety valves comprise a valve body which opens to the boiler and to the outside environment. Within the valve body there is housed a plug which is caused to close the opening to the boiler by resilient means, conventionally a helical spring. By determining the type of spring and its level of precompression it is possible to calibrate the safety valve so that it opens as a consequence of a particular pressure within the boiler. With this object the safety valve comprises a cover which is fixed to the valve body in order to hold the plug and the resilient means within the valve body and to suitably precompress the resilient means.

Known safety valves have some disadvantages. For example their manufacture is rather complex and costly in that it is necessary to manufacture the valve body and the cover separately and then assemble them subsequently. In addition to this the calibration of the valve mainly depends on the shape of the cover.

With reference to cheaper known valves comprising a plug of spherical shape, the valve opening may become clogged as a result of calcium deposits which it is not possible to remove from the exterior. In this case low cost is therefore accompanied by precarious reliability.

The problem underlying this invention is therefore that of providing a method for manufacturing a safety valve for a boiler of a device for the making of hot beverages, in particular coffee, which makes it possible to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages with reference to the known art.

The problem underlying this invention is also that of providing a safety valve for a boiler of a device for the making of hot beverages, in particular coffee, which makes it possible to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages with reference to the known art.

Advantageously valves according to this invention are manufactured so as to be economical (reducing manufacturing costs and the number of parts necessary for their manufacture) without compromising efficiency and functional safety. In particular, thanks to the method according to this invention it is possible to obtain a low-cost valve which continues to be reliable even after being used many times with particularly hard water, which provides the possibility for removing the calcium deposits which might obstruct it.

This problem is resolved through a method of manufacturing a safety valve for a boiler of a device for the making of hot beverages, in particular coffee, according to claim 1.

This problem is also resolved through a safety valve for a boiler of a device for the making of hot beverages, in particular coffee, in accordance with claim 24.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a device for the preparation of a hot beverage, in particular coffee, comprising a safety valve according to this invention,

FIG. 4 illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a detail of the safety valve in FIG. 2 during one stage of the method for manufacture of the aforesaid valve.

FIG. 5 illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the safety valve in FIG. 2 during one stage of the method for manufacture of the aforesaid valve.

With reference to the above figures, 10 indicates as a whole a safety valve of a boiler 12 of a device for the making of hot beverages, in particular coffee, 14. More specifically safety valve 10 is designed to be mounted on the boiler of a so-called coffeemaker in order to avoid incidents due to excess pressure within the boiler itself. In other words safety valve 10 is constructed and calibrated so as to open and place the boiler in communication with the outside environment when a particular pressure is reached within the boiler.

Safety valve 10 comprises a valve body 18, or a final valve body defining a seat 20 designed to receive a plug 22 and resilient means 23, preferably a helical spring.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of the valve body during manufacture of the safety valve, also defined as an intermediate valve body 18a. Seat 20 of intermediate valve body 18a opens towards the exterior through a first opening 24 and a second opening 26.

Intermediate valve body 18a comprises at least one peripheral wall 28 located close to first opening 24 and designed to be folded over as will be described below in order to form final valve body 18.

According to a possible embodiment, as for example illustrated in the figures, before being folded over (FIG. 4) peripheral wall 28 has a cylindrical portion preferably located along a circumference having a lesser diameter than the size of the valve body.

With reference to a possible embodiment, illustrated for example in FIG. 4, peripheral wall 28 extends in one longitudinal direction 30 of seat 20 of intermediate valve body 18a. Peripheral wall 28 is designed to be subsequently folded over transversely to the longitudinal direction of seat 20, preferably towards the interior of that seat.

32 indicates a threaded portion of the valve body which is designed to be threaded into a wall of boiler 12, for example obtained before the peripheral wall is folded over. Also 34 indicates a flange portion which is designed to form a stop against the wall of the boiler and preferably has a transverse cross-section of polygonal shape.

With reference to final valve body 18, peripheral wall 28 is folded over with respect to the intermediate valve body after plug 22 and resilient means 23 have been inserted within seat 20. By folding over peripheral wall 28 a reaction portion of the resilient means is advantageously defined so as to positively press the plug against second opening 26 of valve body 18. Advantageously peripheral wall 28 is folded over by pressing.

According to a possible embodiment, first opening 24 of intermediate valve body 18a is partly closed by folded-over peripheral wall 28. Preferably folded-over peripheral wall 28 partly closes off first opening 24 and the plug partly projects from final valve body 18.

According to one possible embodiment peripheral wall 28 is folded over through a predetermined proportion of the peripheral wall to compress resilient means 23 between the plug and folded-over peripheral wall 28 to a predetermined pre-loading value and to hold plug 22 in the position in which the second opening of the valve body is closed up to a specific value of the pressure within the boiler.

In other words the safety valve according to this invention consists of the intermediate valve body in which the peripheral wall is folded over to form the final valve body, the plug which may be provided with a sealing ring and the resilient means. Advantageously the valve body is constructed as one piece without covers or separate members to close off the seat and precompress the resilient means.

When assembling safety valve 10 on device 14 the safety valve is mounted on a wall 48 of boiler 12 in such a way that first opening 24 communicates with the exterior of the boiler and second opening 26 is in communication with the interior of the boiler.

This invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of a safety valve for a boiler of a device for making hot beverages, in particular coffee. This method comprises the stages of:

Manufacturing an intermediate valve body 18adefining a seat 20 designed to receive a plug 22 and opening towards the exterior of the valve body itself through a first opening 24 and a second opening 26, in which the valve body comprises at least one peripheral wall 28 located in the vicinity of first opening 24,

Then folding over peripheral wall 28 to define a reaction portion of resilient means 23 and to positively press plug 22 against second opening 26 of the valve body, obtaining a final valve body 18.

Advantageously, during the stage of manufacturing intermediate valve body 18aperipheral wall 28 is manufactured in such a way as to at least partly bound the first opening. In the example in FIG. 4 peripheral wall 28 is defined by a cylindrical wall which bounds first aperture 24 without discontinuity. In other embodiments, which are not illustrated, the peripheral wall may also only partly bound first opening 24 for example by comprising a series of teeth designed to be folded over. According to a further embodiment which is not illustrated, during the stage of manufacturing the intermediate valve body the peripheral wall is manufactured in such a way as to at least partly surround first opening 24.

Advantageously, during the stage of manufacturing the intermediate valve body peripheral wall 28 is manufactured in such a way as to have a cylindrical portion located along a circumference having a diameter which is smaller than the dimensions of the valve body.

According to one possible embodiment, considering the intermediate valve body, that is prior to peripheral walls 28 being folded over, peripheral wall 28 extends along a longitudinal direction 30 of seat 20. After folding over, that is considering the final valve body, the peripheral wall is folded over transversely to the longitudinal direction 30 of seat 20, towards the interior of the seat.

According to one possible embodiment the stage of folding over peripheral wall 28 is performed at least partly closing first opening 24, appropriately leaving the plug to project partly from the valve body.

Advantageously the stage of folding over peripheral wall 28 is performed involving a predetermined proportion of the peripheral wall itself in order to compress resilient means 23 between plug 22 and the folded over peripheral wall to a predetermined preloading value and to hold plug 22 in a position closing second opening 26 of valve body 18 up to a specific value of the pressure within boiler 12.

According to one possible embodiment, both plug 22 and resilient means 23 are inserted into seat 20 through first opening 24, that is the opening designed to be placed in communication with the outside environment when the safety valve is mounted on the boiler. As a consequence the peripheral wall designed to be folded over is associated with that first opening 24.

According to a different embodiment both plug 22 and resilient means 23 may be inserted within seat 20 through the opening which is designed to be placed in communication with the interior of the boiler with reference to the condition in which the safety valve is mounted on the boiler. In this case the peripheral wall which is designed to be folded over is associated with that opening. In other words, with reference to the subsequent claims, by first opening is meant the opening with which at least one peripheral wall designed to be folded over is associated. In this case the stage of folding over the peripheral wall would define an indirect reaction portion of the resilient means, that is through a flange 38 of the plug.

According to one possible embodiment which is for example illustrated in the figures, resilient means 23 are inserted around a post 36 of plug 22. Advantageously the resilient means are inserted around the post of the plug before the plug is inserted in the seat of the valve body.

According to one possible embodiment the method according to this invention may finally provide that the safety valve be mounted on a wall of a boiler of a device for making hot beverages, particularly coffee, in such a way that the first opening is in communication with the exterior of the boiler and the second opening is in communication with the interior of the boiler.

In other words, the method according to this invention makes it possible to manufacture a safety valve comprising the intermediate valve body comprising the folded over peripheral wall, the plug, which may be provided with a sealing ring, and the resilient means. No covers or other members which are separate from the valve body are necessary in order to immobilise the plug and the resilient means in the seat and to precompress the resilient means themselves.

The method in which the safety valve described above is used when fitted to a device for making hot beverages is described below. After the equipment has been designed for the required function, for example for making coffee, a source of heat which generally heats the lower part of the boiler is activated.

In the situation in which delivery does not occur the pressure within the boiler would continue to increase until it reached critical values at which the device might explode. The function of the safety valve is therefore to prevent the pressure within the boiler from exceeding a specific threshold value if the device should malfunction. When this pressure is reached the force exerted by the resilient means is overcome and the plug is moved away from opening 26, opening it and placing the interior of the boiler in communication with the outside environment.

With reference to the above, both the method according to this invention and the safety valve make it possible to reduce manufacturing costs and to reduce the components necessary, as well as some stages in assembly.

Also, thanks to the provision of a plug which projects from the valve body, any calcium encrustations clinging to the projecting end of the plug and displacing it with respect to the valve body can be periodically cleaned from the valve. Cleaning is made further effective by providing a plug shape in which tapering portion 46 is inserted into opening 26 in such a way that movement of the plug detaches any calcium encrustation from the edge of that opening.

It is therefore obvious that this invention makes it possible to obtain a low-cost valve which is however highly reliable and capable of being easily cleaned.

In fact, it is steam power that conveys the hot water from the bottom section of the pot up to, and through, the filter holding the coffee. From the filter the water, now coffee, finishes its short journey in the upper part of the pot, ready for serving. However, saying this, please don"t for one moment think that the quality of a Bialetti Moka Express stovetop espresso pot isn"t good ... it"s simply exceptional!

A stovetop Bialetti Moka espresso pot can probably be found in every Italian home. The coffee they produce, whilst not technically espresso, is dark and aromatic and served in Italian style espresso cups. The Bialetti Moka espresso pot comes in various sizes ranging from single, 3,6,9, to 12 cups. However, please don"t buy a Moka unless you intend to use it regularly. The quality of the coffee, if the pot hasn"t been used for a week or so, is quite undrinkable. Also, when new use the pot, with coffee not just water, for at least three times before offering a cup to your friends.

Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Pots, Part of Italian Heritage. For those of you who may not be totally familiar with these hexagonal based pots, let"s take a closer look. Bialetti Moka stovetop espresso pots are, as seen, an authentic part of Italian life. Invented by Alfonso Bialetti back in 1933, the Moka Express coffee pot revolutionized the preparation of espresso style coffee. Bialetti Moka pots feature premium quality construction, that may seem simple but isn"t easy to copy, with a polishes aluminum body made of three components: the bottom part (water well) the filter, and the top part (coffee collector). The pots can be recognized by the cute stylized chubby Italian man with a wonderful moustache that is used as the Bialetti trademark.

Apart from the quality of the pots themselves, over 200 million made, and the wonderful coffee they make, much of their success must be due to their ease of use. Simply pour fresh, cold water into the lower section of the pot until the water level reaches the bottom of the internal safety valve (this is easy to see). Next step, place the filter in position. This fits into the opening of the water section of the pot.

Once the filter is in place, fill it with the ground coffee of choice. Use the back of a spoon to press the coffee until it is level with the top of the filter. Finally, screw on the top part of the pot. The whole operation should take around two minutes, and then your Bialetti Moka stovetop espresso pot is ready for the stove. Heat until you hear it bubbling and the coffee container is almost full. The last and most important step ...sit down and enjoy!

There are many online resources that are able to offer Bialetti Moka pots, and we are pleased to recommend the following merchant:Italian Bialetti Moka Potsand much, much more

For those preferring a smoother coffee taste, Bialetti’s stainless stove-top pots embody our legendary ease-of-operation in a sleek contemporary design.

Bialetti’s legacy of quality and reliability lives on in these lines of coffee makers crafted in high-quality 18/10 stainless with ergonomic, heat-resistant handles.