My Bialetti leaks water or steam out the sides.
- Check the ring, and replace if worn.
Replacement rings can be purchased from spare parts or your Bialetti stockist. - Ensure the top of the water chamber and the ring are clean and free from coffee grounds
- Ensure you are not using a grind of coffee that is too fine, and it is subsequently getting caught in the spout where the coffee normally comes out. If it is, get yourself a pipe cleaner, take out the ring and filter and give the upper spout a good clean from the underneath side
- Ensure the coffeemaker is firmly screwed together
Coffee does not come up to the top.
- Check filter plate (4) is clean and clear of debris. Replace if worn.
Replacement filters can be
purchased from spare parts or your Bialetti stockist.
- Check funnel (2) fits snugly into bottom chamber (1) and is not bent out of shape or worn around the edges.
Replacement funnels can be purchased from spare parts or your Bialetti stockist. - Ensure the coffee grinds are NOT packed into the funnel as this hinders the flow of the water.
- Your grind may be too coarse or too fine. Do not use a fine espresso grind as this may clog the coffeemaker.
The inside of my coffee maker has gone a white colour.
- This usually happens when the coffeemaker is not dried properly, causing the aluminium to naturally oxidise. To clean the inside, use a dish brush and warm water with a little white vinegar added, and dry thoroughly before storing.
My handle has broken.
- Usually the result of using the handle as a lever to open or close the coffeemaker. Remember to wait for the coffeemaker to cool down and then open by grasping the top and bottom sections and twisting.
A replacement handle (Moka Express only) can be fitted for a small charge. Please contact us or your Bialetti stockist to arrange this service.
The safety valve is releasing steam and/or pressure.
- 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 stockist for checking/servicing.
There is water left in the bottom chamber.
- Not all the water goes from the bottom to the top as it is impossible to do so. This is because the funnel is designed NOT to touch the bottom of the pot. Otherwise it is difficult for the water to flow under pressure from the bottom chamber, and up the funnel into the top chamber. For this reason, there is always liquid remaining in the bottom chamber after brewing. Typically what remains also includes coffee infused water that has dripped back down from the funnel. This water left in the bottom chamber is perfectly normal and should be discarded once the pot has cooled.
What size Bialetti Stovetop should I buy?
- 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.