Coffee is a beautiful hobby at the best of times, but what if I told you that you could make your coffee designer without breaking the bank? I know, it sounds too good to be true, but I don’t joke about coffee. And I certainly don't joke about the Bialetti x Dolce & Gabbana Moka Express.
Bialetti are famous for producing their iconic moka pots. They’ve gone down in history as some of the best coffee makers of all time, renowned for their quality, robust build and style. My Italian friends tell me you’ll be hard-pressed to find a home without a Bialetti in the cupboard.
So the credentials of the coffee pot that's sitting on my mantle are already impressive. Introduce some Dolce & Gabbana and you’ve got yourself an all Italian design piece that just so happens to make coffee on the side. If I thought my Technivorm Moccamaster Drip Coffee Maker attracted attention, this (and the £16 Dolce & Gabbana coffee grounds container) got those results, double espresso style.
Specifications
Unboxing
It’s rare that I comment on the box of a coffee maker, but I know you’ll want to keep the packaging. The box in and of itself is gorgeous, for storage, for your cupboards, for your filters and your coffee accessories. Find a way to use it, because it's are beautifully designed and well-made.
Inside, all the packaging is recyclable, which is great for the environment. It keeps the Bialetti x Dolce & Gabbana Moka Express in good shape and won’t fill up your kitchen bin. It’s a win win.
Even the size won’t pose a problem, because you can choose between a single pot option and a 5-cup model. I wouldn’t be worried about storage, since these are made to be admired. However, if you want to pack yours into a cupboard, moka pots will always squeeze in. That’s their nature.
Who would it suit?
If you’re not familiar with moka pots, their style of coffee is the closest you’ll come to an espresso without a plug and a big machine. It uses the pressure of boiling water to force coffee into a chamber, so the resulting coffee is rich, intense, and delicious. Whilst I say that it’s similar to espressos, these do take about five minutes on the hob, so you’ll need to allow yourself a little more time for your coffee. It’s worth it though. I love moka pots.
If you’ve never tried this style of brewing before, you might be smarter to invest in a cheaper Bialetti. You can pick these up for around £30 at John Lewis and they’ll last you for a lifetime. Then, once you know you love them, you can make the splurge on this incredibly attractive pot.
If, like me, you’re a magpie when it comes to coffee the Dolce & Gabbana X Bialetti collaboration is a dream come true. The coffee pots are absolutely stunning. I kept mine on my mantle for a very long time before I could bring myself to use it and I still place it back there after my morning brew, every single day. The combination of a retro silhouette and a designer’s pattern more than appeals to me (and, as it turns out, seven of my friends all bought one after admiring mine). It really is a piece for the style-conscious.
And, whilst it’s expensive for a moka pot, for a designer coffee maker, it’s a steal. One of my friends who bought this doesn't even like coffee, but it was cheaper than the vase on her wish list.
What is it like to use?
The designer moka pot, rather humbly, is just like her contemporaries. She’s simple to use: add ultra finely ground coffee to the funnel, place that onto the boiler, screw on the top, and then sit the moka pot on the hob.
There are little quirks to note: I always use cold, filtered water. If you add hot water from the kettle, you'll not get a good extraction. You also want to research your beans first, because some will grind to moka pot size better than others. There's nothing worse than a grain cup of coffee.
Whilst those sound like two negatives, they're general notes for all moka pot coffee. The Bialetti X Dolce & Gabbana Moka Express actually has some special, subtle extras. For example, when you screw the boiler onto the body, the Dolce & Gabbana name always faces forward. It sounds like a silly thing to praise, but designer pieces really come down to the details. This is certainly one of them.
Once I'd loaded in the coffee, I placed the Dolce & Gabbana X Bialetti Moka Express (yes, you have to use her full name when talking about her) on the hob. You'll need to use a low to medium gas setting, as with all moka pots, and then just wait,
After about thee to five minutes, you should hear a gurgling sound. I tested the three cup version, so mine only took three minutes before I could see all my coffee in the chamber, ready to pour.
The whole pot had gotten really hot, but the heat-resistant plastic handle had managed to survive the heat. I could get a good grip on it to pour myself out a cuppa. And, I'd say that there was probably room for some more coffee, so if you're a house of three, small coffee drinkers, you could get by with this. The handle isn't the most comfortable and, in proportion to a full moka pot of hot coffee, it's a little awkward. It's not a disaster, because all you'll do is pour coffee. Just make sure you're in a comfortable place to pour from (i.e not leaning over your mother-in-law at the kitchen table).
The flavours that this extracted were, of course, sensational. The coffee this brewed was strong, smooth, and nutty. I've tried the complimentary Bialetti Hazelnut coffee grounds in this and they're brilliant. If you're feeling like a treat, you can buy the Dolce & Gabanna coffee grounds too. They're supposed to be very chocolatey.
What's the difference between this and the blue one?
You may have also spotted the Bialetti X Dolce & Gabbana Moka Express in blue, with a slightly different colourway. The body of the moka pots are identical: they're both signature Bialetti and they'll make coffee as delicious as each other in exactly the same time.
The key difference is that the Sicilian Carretto (the red one) is inspired by old Sicily. Dolce & Gabbana has a whole collection dedicated to this theme, in which they want to evoke "the sights, flavours, colours, and unique traditions of Sicily". You'll see the influences of ancient Greek, North African, Normal, and Spanish travellers that contributed to the area's folklore.
This translates as a lot of swirls, distorted geometric, optical illusions and bright colours. There are wheels, Sicilian horse drawn carreto, l'Omino (the little man), and many other homages to their history.
On the other hand, the newer, blue moka pot is Dolce & Gabbana's Blu Mediterraneo collection. I've been in love with the deep blue and white maiolica print since I first saw it, because it captures southern Italy so perfectly. Dolce & Gabbana describes the design as "a tribute to the values of Fatto a Mano handcrafted excellence." If you want to buy this instead, here's where I recommend shopping:
- Brew Italia: the kind people who lent me these
- John Lewis: choose a three or six cup model
- Selfridges: shop the six cup with standard shipping
Where can you buy it?
Whilst you won't find these in the corner shop, they are relatively easy to get hold of. I've put links at the top and bottom of the article, but if you prefer to shop directly, here's how to get hold of the red Bialetti x Dolce & Gabbana Moka Express:
- Brew Italia: where I got the samples from
- John Lewis: choose a three or six cup model
- Liberty: free next day delivery
- Selfridges: the option to pay with klarna
Cleaning, storage, and maintenance
Cleaning is the ugliest part of the whole process and yet, somehow, I felt that it was nicer than normal. All the parts unscrew and will need to be hand washed. You categorically cannot put this in the dishwasher, but, even if you could, I would strongly recommend against it. You'll want this to look pristine for as long as possible. Try to use a soft sponge and a gentle washing up liquid (such as Ecover or Method). These'll stop you from scratching or damaging the pring on the Dolce & Gabbana X Bialetti Moka Express.
Should you buy it?
If, like me, you're a bit of a magpie when it comes to coffee, this is perfect. For a designer coffee maker, £75 is a steal. It's expensive for a moka pot, so if you're buying it for the coffee, just get a Bialetti. However, if you want to impress guests and show-off in style, you won't regret this investment. You could even get the Dolce & Gabbana Coffee Tin too - it's only another £16.
How we test
As a former barista, I take our coffee tests very serious. Even flashy names like Dolce & Gabbana and Bialetti can't sway me from giving an honest, independent review.
I treat all coffee makers in the same way. I make notes on every part of my experience with a model, from what it's like to unbox and use to how flavourful the coffee is and how much hassle is involved in the cleanup. Over that whole process, I'll also chip in with information on the value of the coffee maker, how it compares to others, and more. I like to give you a really comprehensive idea of what a coffee maker is like to use, so that there are only good surprises in store for you if you choose to invest in one for yourself.
You can find out more about the process for how we test coffee makers here.
