Bialleti - A Leader In Italian Coffee Makers
For a long time Italy has been a pioneer in producing quality coffee makers. The 20th century saw the setting up of many companies that went on to make it big in this field. Italian coffee makers have been associated with state-of-the-art technology, aesthetic looks, and reliable performances. Some of the great companies are DeLonghi, La Pavoni, La Cimbali, Gaggia. Another name which is well-known in the circle of coffee-makers is Bialleti Industries S.p.A. he is famous for the invention of the ubiquitous Moka Express coffee pot. A little delve into the history of Bialleti would throw some light upon the great inventor that he was. He was an Italian metalworker and inventor. He worked as an apprentice in France where he acquired expertise in the use of aluminium which wasn't being used in a great deal back home. In 1918, he came back and started his own establishment in Coccaglio. His greatest invention, the Moka Express Coffee pot was inspired by the methods of washing clothes of the women in his district, a combination of boiling water and a central redistributive tube. He launched the product in 1933 but it sold only 10000 units per year because he didn't export it. The numbers increased and he got international recognition when his son launched the product at giant international trade fairs after the world war. He was instantly honoured and presently his original blueprints are showcased at the Design Museum in London. The Moka Expresso coffee pot is a stovetop espresso maker and uses the method of preparing coffee with pressurized boiling water. Originally invented by Alfonso Bialleti, this machine is produced by many companies but the leading model by the name of Moka Express is produced solely by the Bialleti concern. In Italy where the Moka Express originated almost every home has one but elsewhere it is treated as an iconic product displayed in modern industrial art museums such as the Science Museum in London. They come in different sizes ranging from one to eighteen cups. The brew is a half-way product between drip coffee and the real espresso. BrikkaBrikka and Mukka Express are two improvisations of the original Moka Express coffee pot by Bialetti himself. Gourmet coffee pods are obtained only from the premium Arabica species of coffee beans. The Robusta species is not used to make gourmet pods. Some wholesale coffee packagers use the Robusta genus in a rather careless way on account of its cheapness and it loses its effectiveness even more. The Arabica species sells very selectively whereas the Robusta sells by the ton. But the bottom line is that gourmet coffee pods require three things- quality coffee beans, the proper process of producing the pod, and an oxygen-free environment to maintain freshness. Gourmet coffee pods have played a vital role in introducing the majestic taste of Arabica beans to the world at large. It no longer remains the exclusive right of a privileged few. In conclusion it can be safely opined that Italian coffee makers have taken great strides in reaching out to the world on account of hard work, a knack of recognizing the future talent, and a sense of understanding market needs and trends. An innate desire to innovate and bring to the world the best products used in coffee-making has made them leaders in the field. |
