by Chris Arnold

UPDATE September 2020: The Bialetti Diva I Caffe d’Italia is now not accessible for buy.

There are a number of single-serve pod-style coffeemakers available on the market: the ever-present Keurig that takes Okay-Cups, the Tassimo, and the Espresso Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) Kaldi, simply to call a number of.  The most typical use for these is for brewed-style espresso, sometimes at 6-8 ounces of espresso per serving. However on the subject of the espresso pod machine market, there actually has solely been one title: Nespresso. Till now.

Bialetti, identified the world over for its iconic Stovetop Moka Pot, is trying to compete within the single-serve espresso machine market.  The Bialetti I Caffe d’Italia Diva is a diminutive machine that guarantees genuine tasting espresso, in a small enticing package deal that can be simple to make use of.

So what makes the Bialetti particular?  How does it examine to the Nespresso and different espresso machines?  How does the espresso style?  Learn on to seek out out.

Bialetti’s Distinctive System

Bialetti has a number of claims as to what makes their I Caffe d’Italia system particular:

• A 20-bar pump (290 psi), guaranteeing enough stress to provide correct taste and crema
• 5 completely different espresso blends, every made in Italy, every representing the completely different areas of Italy
• Every espresso pod is available in a sealed aluminum container, promising 2 years of shelf life

What’s within the Field

The Bialetti Diva comes with an instruction handbook, the primary brewer unit, and a sampler pack of espresso pods (2 every of 5 completely different picks):

1. Milano – 100% Arabica: Mild Roast with Flower and Contemporary Fruit Aroma
2. Venezia – 80% Arabica / 20% Robusta: Mild Roast with Spices and Vanilla Aroma
3. Roma – 50% Arabica / 50% Robusta: Medium Roast with Dried Fruit Aroma
4. Napoli – 30% Arabica / 70% Robusta: Daring Roast with Bitter Cocoa Aroma
5. Italia Deca – 60% Arabica / 40% Robusta: Medium Roast with Cereal and Bread Aroma, Decaf

Utilization

We gained’t cowl an in depth how-to, because the Bialetti web site or handbook covers that fairly properly. The essential operation is fairly easy:

1. Plug the unit in
2. Fill the tank with water
3. Watch for each lights to show inexperienced (about 60 seconds)
4. Insert a pod
5. Place your cup on the tray
6. Press a single or double-shot button
7. Get pleasure from your espresso!

Machine Options

• Contact Delicate Buttons
• Adjustable cup holder and drip tray
• Detachable water tank (holds roughly 20 ounces)
• Bin for used pods (holds 10 pods)
• Customized Programmable shot time (as much as 55 seconds)
• A “Service” gentle that illuminates the realm round your cup
• Standby mode after quarter-hour of inactivity

How Does it Examine? How Does it Style?

I’m evaluating the style of the Bialetti Diva espresso to the next:

• My present espresso machine, an Izzo Alex Duetto III
• Tremendous-Autos, just like the Philips Saeco Syntia
• ESE Pods (Simple Serving Espresso), in a Pasquini Livia 90
• Nespresso Espresso machines, each a bit of man and the massive boy industrial measurement
• My journey to Italy (Rome, Florence, Orvieto, Volterra)

I’ve additionally made a number of tasting notes beneath for the assorted Bialetti espresso pod blends included.

Alex Duetto III

The fast reply is that the Bialetti Diva won’t provide the high quality of utilizing freshly roasted beans in one thing just like the Alex Duetto 3, however that could be a $2500 machine with a $500 grinder to match.

Tremendous Autos

The standard of the espresso from the Bialetti Diva is unquestionably higher than some Tremendous-Autos I’ve reviewed, costing upwards of $1000, and requiring recent espresso beans, making fairly a little bit of noise, fiddly changes, to not point out common upkeep and cleansing. The Bialetti Diva is much better at 1/tenth the price.

E.S.E. Pods

An E.S.E. (Simple Serving Espresso) pod is a small espresso pod with a paper filter in a disc form, that’s appropriate with some conventional espresso machines utilizing a particular adapter, or with pod brewers made particularly to make use of an E.S.E pod. The entire Illy E.S.E espresso pods I attempted with my Pasquini Liva 90 and a Francis! Francis! had been horrific. Skinny, watery, and minimal crema. I attempted another manufacturers that appeared recent, and so they had been additionally underwhelming. The Bialetti Diva is a lot better.

Nespresso

The Bialetti Diva machine is the closest to one thing just like the Nespresso Pixie, however there are a few variations. A cup of Nespresso seems to be higher; extra crema, darker coloration. Though the Nespresso makes a tasty espresso, it has a sure taste of its personal that I’ve by no means truly tasted anyplace else, no matter which of the numerous blends you select.  We’ve got a big one at my work, and the {hardware} that truly makes the espresso appears to provide the identical outcome because the small machine my buddy has at his home. The Nespresso produces virtually an artificial style if there’s such a factor. However it’s nonetheless very respectable contemplating the comfort.

My journey to Italy (Rome, Florence, Orvieto, Volterra)

I can’t actually say if the espresso kinds are completely different between the south, central, and north elements of Italy as Bialetti claims, however I can let you know one main distinction in Italian espressos: they virtually all use robusta at some proportion (besides it appears, the distributors that use Illy espresso). Whereas within the US (at the very least the boutique espresso retailers of California), it’s invariably 100% Arabica.  So I needed to attain again to the recollections of my journey and attempt to keep in mind the way it tasted.

The Diva espresso has much less crema and a lighter, thinner look to it than the Nespresso. However it tastes extra like I keep in mind in Italy.  So yeah, good recollections had been introduced again alive.

Tasting Notes

1. Milano – Common Crema, Malty Taste, Medium Physique
2. Venezia – Common Crema, Gentle Spice Taste, Medium Physique
3. Roma – Good Crema, Fruit Taste, Skinny Physique, Vibrant
4. Napoli – Good Crema, Rubber Taste, Medium Physique
5. Decaf – Good Crema, Blueberry Muffin Taste, Medium Physique

Probably the most shocking to me was the Decaf since Decaf generally is a little underwhelming, even when roasting your personal. It was the most effective of the 5. The Roma was a detailed second, a lot nearer to the espresso I drink at dwelling.  The remainder had been OK, but when I needed to buy pods, I might inventory the Roma and the Decaf.

Execs

• Easy, easy operation
• Slender and brief space-saving design to suit below counters
• Roomy bin for 10 used espresso pods
• Quick 60-second heat uptime
• Standby Energy Saving Mode after quarter-hour of inactivity
• Simple cleanup and minimal upkeep
• Contemporary, tasty espresso
• The entry value of roughly $175, on par with Nespresso
• 2-Yr Guarantee for the USA

Cons

• Pods are proprietary, and availability is proscribed
• $1 per pod price, on par with Nespresso
• Solely 4 common blends and one decaf mix to select from
• The water tank is small at simply 20 ounces, requiring refilling typically
• The drip tray is small, requiring extra frequent emptying
• Noisy Vibe Pump
• Thinner, lighter crema
• Not sensible to make use of as a sizzling water dispenser (too gradual, small tank, not sufficient quantity)
• The machine is nearly totally plastic and has that plastic really feel
• Contact-sensitive buttons can by accident activate the brew cycle fairly simply, like when lifting the lever

The Bialetti Diva is a strong single-serve espresso machine, and competes properly with the Nespresso, with a slight edge on taste. This can be a nice method to stick your toe into the pool of espresso, with out the price or problem of a conventional espresso machine and grinder.

Sources

Bialetti Diva I Caffe d’Italia (now not accessible)

Disclosure: INeedCoffee was despatched this product for gratis, which didn’t have an effect on its overview.

Revealed on November 12, 2014