CUISINOX ROMA STOVETOP ESPRESSO MAKER: SLEEK SOPHISTICATION

The sleek Cuisinox Roma impressed me equally with its coffee quality and build quality. This is a stovetop espresso maker of note!

There’s nothing like the strong aroma and bold flavor of freshly brewed Moka pot coffee to kickstart a busy morning. The Italian-style Moka pot is a practical way to enjoy an espresso-like coffee without the effort or expense of an espresso machine.

Today, I’m reviewing the Cuisinox Roma Stovetop Espresso Maker. It’s an updated take on the classic, keeping the traditional brewing method but adding an elegant stainless steel build. It’s one of the more expensive Moka pots on the market, so I was curious to see if it justified its cost. Read on for my conclusion.

A Full Review Of The Cuisinox Roma

The Cuisinox Roma delivers an upscale take on the classic stovetop espresso experience. Whether you’re a loyal veteran of Moka pot coffee or new to the genre, you’ll appreciate its ease of use, richly flavorful coffee, and sleek design.

How I Rated It:

• Brewing Capability
• Ease of Use
• Coffee Flavor
• Build Quality
• Value for Money

4

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The Cuisinox Roma In A Nutshell

Despite its modern exterior, the Cuisinox Roma is a traditional Moka pot at its heart. The Moka pot is a simple but clever design first developed by Alfonso Bialetti in the 1930s to make “espresso” more accessible to the average home brewer (1). Today, nearly 90% of Italian homes own a Moka pot.

The Roma consists of a bottom chamber for water, a top chamber for brewed coffee, and a funnel-shaped filter that sits between them. 

Add water to the base and coffee grounds to the filter, then screw on the top chamber and place the whole thing on a stovetop. As it heats, steam pressure eventually forces hot water up through the ground coffee in the filter, filling the upper vessel with a strong and aromatic brew.

What sizes are available?

The Cuisinox Roma Stovetop Espresso Maker is available in three sizes: 4-cup, 6-cup, or 10-cup. Remember that when we’re talking about stovetop espresso makers, a “cup” is defined as two ounces – roughly a double shot of espresso. 

A few years ago, this model included a reducer adaptor, which allowed you to halve the capacity of any model. The reducer is still available, but disappointingly, it’s now sold separately. 

If you want my honest opinion, you can probably skip the reducer and just use half as many grounds and half as much water to brew. The coffee might lack slightly compared to brewing at full capacity, but I doubt you’ll taste the difference – especially if you’re using it as the basis for a milky drink like a cappuccino.

How To Use The Cuisinox Roma

Stovetop espresso coffee makers like the Cuisinox Roma are very easy to use. You don’t need to dial in as many variables as when brewing espresso or master any special pouring techniques like you would for a pour over. 

It allows you to brew rich, strong coffee without a cumbersome trial-and-error learning process, making it an excellent tool for the coffee lover who doesn’t have time to be a coffee snob. That said, a few little tips and tricks can take your Moka pot coffee from good to great.

The Basics

The basic technique is to fill the lower chamber with water to just below the valve and then cap it with the funnel-shaped filter. Fill the filter with finely ground coffee (no tamping necessary), and screw on the top chamber. Place the espresso maker on the stove over medium-low heat. It’s ready when you hear a gurgling sound.

The Upgrades

Here are a few key tips I’ve learned after a few weeks of brewing extensively with the Roma. Feel free to implement as many or as few as you like. All are helpful; none are mandatory. 

• Grind size matters. For best results, I like to use a grind slightly coarser than I would for my espresso machine but finer than the standard medium grind.
• Use hot water. If you have time, fill the base with hot water from a kettle rather than cold water. The less time your coffee grounds spend on the stove, the better the flavor of your brew.
• Don’t be tempted to set Roma over high heat. I know you’re impatient for your coffee, but a maxed-out burner can easily introduce burnt and bitter flavors. Even keeping it low and slow, it only takes about 5 minutes to brew a 6-cup pot.
• I like to brew with the lid open so I can cut the heat as soon as I see coffee start to flow into the upper chamber. Then, as soon as the sputtering begins, I take it off the stove to serve. Just remember to snap the lid shut first; you don’t want those steaming sputters on your hand.

Cleaning And Maintenance

The Cuisinox Roma isn’t dishwasher safe, but it’s pretty easy to keep clean. Unlike the iconic octagonal Moka Express, there are no hard-to-scrub corners where coffee residue builds up.

My strategy most mornings is to dump the spent coffee grounds in my compost and rinse everything under warm water. Once or twice a week, I give it a more thorough scrub with dish soap.

If you live in a region with hard water, I’d also suggest descaling it on occasion. This can be done easily by brewing with a mixture of water and lemon juice or vinegar. You probably won’t need to do it more than once or twice a year; just keep your eyes peeled for limescale build-up.

Does The Cuisinox Roma Make Real Espresso?

The Cuisinox Roma brews a small and intense shot of coffee, but it’s not espresso. You won’t find a thick layer of crema atop your brew. This is true of all Moka pots, despite being known as “stovetop espresso makers.” The Roma hits a maximum of about 1.5 bars, a far cry from the typical 6 to 9 bars used to pull a shot of espresso (2).

Cuisinox Roma makes a boldly flavored brew, like a cross between espresso and coffee (3). I love the robust flavor and full body when brewing with a dark or medium roast, but it can be overpowering when brewing with a lighter roast. The same light roast single origin that I love brewed as a pour over strayed from pleasantly bright into mouth-puckeringly acidic in the Moka pot.

I often hear from readers who don’t enjoy Moka pot coffee because it tastes burnt or bitter. While this can be an issue with this brewer, I find it’s usually alleviated by refining your brewing technique. For the best flavor, heat the Moka pot slowly over medium-low heat and turn off the heat as soon as coffee starts to flow into the upper chamber.

A Durable Brewer With A Sophisticated Luxe Appeal 

The Cuisinox Roma is made of heavy gauge 18/10 stainless steel, and it has an elegant mirror-polished finish that gives it a sleek and stylish look.

There are no electronics, plumbing, or moving parts. The only fault point is the rubber gasket between the two chambers, which can easily be replaced. In fact, the Roma is sold with an extra gasket in the box.

Stainless steel Moka pots like the Roma offer several advantages over common aluminum models. The biggest one is that they are compatible with any kind of heat source, including gas, electric, and induction stovetops. They are also more durable and inert – i.e. less likely to interfere with the flavor of your coffee. The trade-off is that stainless steel is heavier and more expensive.

Great For Camping And Off-Grid Travel

The Cuisinox Roma doesn’t require electricity, making this style of coffee maker popular among outdoor enthusiasts. It brews just as well on a campfire or butane burner as it does in your home kitchen. However, one word of warning: the handle isn’t heatproof. So I definitely advise keeping an oven mitt handy if you’re using it on an open flame.

Where is the Cuisinox Roma made?

Contrary to what the name may suggest, the Cuisinox Roma is manufactured in China, not Italy.

Is The Cuisinox Roma Worth Its Price?

At around $100, the Cuisinox Roma is undeniably more expensive than most Moka pots. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it to the average shopper just looking for a reliable stovetop espresso maker. However, there are a few reasons to consider spending more on this model.

The first reason is that it is compatible with induction stoves, which is not true of most cheaper brewers. If you have an induction cooktop, the Cuisinox is a lovely option at a price comparable to the competition.

The second reason is an industry-leading 25-year warranty – plus the included extra gasket. If you’re the type of shopper who would rather spend more upfront for something you’ll never have to replace, consider the Roma. After all, $100 is pretty reasonable when spread over 25 or more years.

Lastly, the Cuisinox Roma has an elegant, upscale look that distinguishes it from cheaper options. If that luxe aesthetic fits your taste, I think it’s well worth a small splurge.

Don’t Buy The Cuisinox Roma Espresso Maker If…

• You want something more authentic: If you want the most traditional Moka pot, you’ll be happy to hear that the original Bialetti Moka Express is still in production. First invented in 1933, it remains one of the best on the market. Or check out the Bialetti Brikka for a modern adaptation that adds a pressurized valve for more crema.

• You prefer an electric Moka pot: If you don’t have a stovetop—for example, if you want Moka pot coffee at the office—you’re not out of luck. The Delonghi Alicia Electric Moka Pot has its own heating base and plugs into any wall socket. Plus, it has nice perks like an automatic shut-off and a keep warm mode.

• You want to make real espresso: Pulling a true shot of espresso requires a much higher pressure than any Moka pot can muster. The most cost-effective option is a manual lever machine like the ROK espresso maker, but if you prefer something a little more user-friendly, check out an entry-level semi-automatic machine like the Delonghi Stilosa.

The Verdict

The Cuisinox Roma is a stylish stovetop espresso maker that, while more expensive than most, has a high-quality build guaranteed to last decades. Like any decent Moka pot, it brews wonderful robust coffee, but unlike many others, it’s compatible with all cooktops, has a sleek and polished aesthetic, and comes with a 25-year warranty. If you don’t mind spending a bit of extra cash upfront for your coffee maker, you should definitely consider the Cuisinox Roma.