The other evening I saw a feature on the Italian news about the 80th anniversary of Bialetti’s Moka Express coffeemaker. Since its launch in 1933 millions of Italians have relied on the steam-pressured stove-top caffettiera to provide them with a homemade pot of espresso. Even today this practical device is probably the one item (along with olive oil and coarse salt) that can be found in every Italian kitchen. Much more than just a beloved household appliance, the Moka (and its famous mascot, the “omino con i baffi”) are also considered a symbol of post-war Italy and an icon of design (you can get a closer look at the Museum of Modern Art). I’ve used a Bialetti every day for as long as I’ve been drinking coffee, and I’ve often had to defend the Moka’s simple perfection to friends who swear by pricier countertop alternatives. In recent years Bialetti has launched an electric version of the Moka as well as a cappuccino maker called Mukka (a pun on “mucca”, the Italian word for cow). But as we all know, when it comes to the classics nothing can beat the original.