Last month, for my birthday, my wonderful husband gave me a gift that I had been eyeballing for a year or more. It is a stovetop cappuccino maker made by Bialetti, an Italian kitchenware manufacturer, called the Mukka Express. The idea behind this machine is that you can make 16 oz. lattes or cappuccinos at home with just a few easy steps.I had not purchased a Mukka Express due to the somewhat high retail price, around $80, and the mixed consumer reviews that I had read online. It seemed that the opinions about this product were very much split down the middle, love or hate.
This clever machine works simply by the following few steps:
- Fill bottom tank with water up to the fill line.
- Place basket/filter with ground espresso on the top of the tank.
- Carefully screw on top tank.
- Add milk to the fill line.
- Push down the valve button.
- Set the machine on the stovetop and turn it on medium-high.
- Wait 4-6 minutes for 2 cups of hot, frothy deliciousness.
Sounds easy and trouble free, right? Well, wait right there before you place your order. Let me tell you about my initial experiences with my Mukka. I followed the included instructions to the tee, making the first three batches and dumping them. Each of these three attempts (plus about seven to ten more) resulted in coffee leaking out between the two tanks, everything from a little steam to a full-blown boil over. The idea behind this all-in-one wonder is that the pressure builds up from the bottom tank of water and is released thru the top tank valve to froth and steam the milk. So, a steam leak with definitely result in a not-so-foamy, not-so-fun drink. My solution, which may or may not actually be working, is to get my finger wet under running water and run it around the seal on the bottom of the upper tank.
Fast forward a month. I have now mastered the art of the Mukka and I LOVE IT! As most reviews that you may read will say, it takes a couple weeks of practice and more than a few disasters. I will also say that the coffees produced taste better each day. You just need to allow your Mukka to “break in.”
Now, go ahead, place your order. I would recommend Amazon.com, since they occasionally will run a special price and offer free shipping. Now, the big decision… which model do you get: the classic stainless steel, the whimsical cow print, the new pink model or, for you office dwellers, the electric version. Hmmmmm…. Or should I say yummm!
