Alfonso Bialetti

Alfonso Bialetti (* 1888, † 1970) was an Italian inventor. He is best known for the invention of the " Moka Express" ( 1933). The Moka Express was the first espresso pot for the private household, which works according to the percolator principle. Today it is part of most Italian kitchens ( cucina italiana ). This classic has been aggressively marketed by Alfonso's son Renato after the Second World War and gained world fame thereby.

Bialetti worked in France in an aluminum factory before 1918 Omegna - Crusinallo, Italy, returned and set up his own engineering works. Bialetti came up with the idea to not make espresso under the high pressure that the Bar equipment produced by a compressed spring (nowadays by means of pump ), but to force the water only by the low vapor pressure in the can by the coffee - allegedly after he saw washing machines had that worked on a similar principle.

By 1933, he had solved the technical problems. In the design of a classic Italian coffee machine similar, he brought the completely made ​​of aluminum Moka Express on the market. The advertising after they allowed without the slightest technical skills in casa un espresso come al bar ( at home an espresso in a café ). Bialetti but did not have the business skills to market the coffee in a big way. He sold the Moka Express personally especially on market and similar items. Therefore, the machine was initially only known regionally. Bialettis son Renato recognized the potential of the Moka Express, applied for a patent and marketed them professionally. As a result, Bialetti built the world's largest factory for coffee machines.

The design of the machine has remained virtually unchanged to this day.