It only gives 1/2 of its capacity as a stove top espresso maker. It was a gift so that is very disappointing . I personally have had several of this style and this falls short of its ability to perform. It was a close family member and so I got to see it first hand.

I didn't use this yet, as the "Stainless Steel" does not apply to the inside of the pot. That is powder coated with some kind of chemical, which is of course exactly what everybody should want tainting the water that is used to make our coffee. We shouldn't complain so much. I cannot fathom why anybody wouldn't want a heavy chemical or even lead, mercury, asbestos etc. tainting our drinking water. THAT would be ridiculous if we lived in a world where we only boiled water in Borosilicate glass or Stainless Steel! I definitely don't want to live in a world like that! I should just use this and be happy that I'm getting free chemical water. I should go get a bunch of Nonstick pans so I can really have a bunch of chemicals! Then when I go to the nursing home, I can get more free chemicals and have no idea what planet I'm on! I'll forget what coffee is, though. OH! I know why the inside of this pot is coated with chemicals! It's so the water doesn't stick! DUH! Silly me!

Not a bad device, but the design leaves much to be desired. By saving on materials and making a top reservoir with a deeply contoured bottom (see the pics), the designers have created a cleaning nightmare. Also, the walls of the top part are not thick enough to be rigid and flex when one is opening and closing the device by turning. The instructions specifically say not to use the handle for leverage, and one can see why: it is either spot-welded or more likely just glued(!) on rather than held with strong rivets. The hinge for the lid is quite flimsy as well. All-in-all, a passable device but not worth its price in my opinion.

Arrived quickly, good quality and works well!