There is a cult of coffee to which I cannot claim membership. It requires extreme devotion, fanaticism, and a level of gadgetry for which I have neither the budget or room in my tiny kitchen. I do, however, need a good strong cup of coffee in the morning before I can truly consider myself awake. Somewhere along the way I got rid of my ancient Braun coffee maker, so now I rely upon the cafes in my neighborhood for my morning caffeine fix.

A couple of years ago a friend of mine, taking pity on my lack of ability to make my own coffee at home, bought me a French press. I’d had French press coffee in restaurants – wonderfully rich and creamy – and so I had high hopes. I also found the fun science project quality to using the beaker-like Bodum glass appealing. Yet even using freshly roasted coffee beans brought straight from the hills of Kona, most of my French press coffee making experiments fell short of the desired level of yumminess. I still pull it out sometimes when I’m desperate – like winter days when it’s single-digit freezing and the snow is up to my knees – but most mornings you’ll find me at Flour getting coffee.

Another low-tech devise of which I’ve heard much is the moka pot, stove-top espresso maker. The most famous of these is by Bialetti, who started making the Moka Express in 1933. The image of “the little man with a moustache” was created in the 1950s and today still is the symbol that is synonymous with their espresso makers.

I’ve seen Bialetti for sale in many places, from the little Syrian market in my neighborhood to the august Williams Sonoma, for whom Bialetti makes a custom, high-end version. Somewhere recently I even saw a pink one, for those who like a bit of girlishness with their coffee making. The best place, though, if you want to look for a Bialetti coffee maker is their own website – it’s like a candy store of coffee makers.

There is, of course, the original aluminum Moka Express. The charming Moka Sound is “the traditional Moka Express with an extra function: a Knob with an electronic system that warns you with an unmistakable melody, brought to you  by the little man with moustache, when the coffee is ready.” And the Mukka Express, which is designed to make cappuccino, adorned with white and black milk cow spots naturally. The lid of the Thermovisual changes color to let you know when your coffee is ready. The Dama Deco combines trendy colors with a polka dot design.

My favorite, the one I’m feeling an overwhelming compulsion to possess, is the Cuor di Moka.

Cuor di Moka, for the coffee lovers, was born form the collaboration between Bialetti and illycaffè ! The innovative extraction system “Cuor di Moka” unique and patented by Bialetti, allows to enjoy the very hearth of flavour, for it yelds the pure essence of coffee.

Is it the romantic in me that is drawn to this lovely coffee pot, with it’s curvy lines and red heart? Or simply the coffee lover?

Dolce, dolce, dolce!