If you’re not ready to splurge on an espresso machine (or don’t have the space for one) but still want to make a good cup of espresso at home, a stovetop espresso pot could be just the thing.

Compact, inexpensive, and easy to use, these pots have three parts: a bottom chamber for water, a metal filter to hold coffee grounds, and a top chamber for the brewed espresso. As water heats in the bottom chamber, pressure builds and forces the hot water up through the ground coffee and into the top chamber. The result is a rich, concentrated cup of coffee.

For stovetop espresso makers (Bialetti makes good ones), visit Laprimashops.com. Go for a large model if you’re using it to make tiramisù—a 12-cup version sells for $40.99 (the 12 cups refer to small espresso shots, not 8-ounce measuring cups). If you’re just looking to make espresso for drinking, though, a smaller model will do just fine

How it works