Bialetti Tazzona Espresso Machine Review: Style Meets Performance

If you’ve ever craved café-quality espresso at home but found most machines either underpowered or uninspiring, you’re not alone. Many home baristas struggle to find an espresso machine that balances performance, aesthetics, and ease of use—especially one that can pull a rich shot and froth milk without taking up a whole countertop. The challenge isn’t just making espresso; it’s making it look good doing it.

The Bialetti Tazzona espresso machine delivers: a 20-bar pump, built-in steam wand, and compatibility with ground coffee, pods, and Bialetti capsules—plus a bold, Italian-designed body in four vibrant colours.

What Is the Bialetti Tazzona Espresso Machine?

The Bialetti Tazzona is an electric espresso machine inspired by classic Italian design and built for home use. Its standout feature? A shape that mimics a coffee cup—sleek, compact, and eye-catching. Launched as a follow-up to the successful Mokona (a machine styled like a moka pot), the Tazzona quickly became a favourite not just for brewing, but as a stylish gift among coffee lovers. Available in red, black, white, and a striking black-and-white colourway, it’s as much a conversation piece as it is a functional appliance.

Key Features and Specifications

The Tazzona is equipped with a powerful 20-bar pressure pump, essential for extracting a thick, creamy espresso with a well-developed crema. It includes a built-in steam wand, allowing you to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes just like your favourite café. The machine accommodates three brewing methods: ground coffee, paper pods, and Bialetti’s own line of coffee capsules. With a choice of four bold colours—red, black, white, and black-and-white—it’s designed to appeal visually as much as functionally. Priced around 170 euros internationally, it offers premium features at a competitive price point.

How the Tazzona Compares to Other Home Espresso Machines

Unlike simpler pod machines or lower-pressure brewers, the Tazzona’s 20-bar pressure brings it closer to the performance of commercial machines found in cafés. For comparison, the earlier Mokona model, shaped like a moka pot, sold for $349.99 on Amazon—but lacked the steam wand and pod flexibility of the Tazzona. While the Mokona leaned more toward traditional moka-style extraction, the Tazzona embraces modern versatility, aiming for café-style results with the push of a button. Both share a bold Italian aesthetic, but the Tazzona steps up with professional-grade pressure and milk frothing capability.

What Makes a Great Home Espresso Shot?

To pull a high-quality espresso at home—rich in crema with balanced flavour—several factors come into play. First, the coffee bean’s origin and roast level matter: blends often combine Arabica for aroma and Robusta for crema, such as FrontStreet’s Commercial Blend with 10% Robusta. Roast level also affects crema; medium-dark roasts typically produce thicker, more stable crema due to higher oil content and proper gas retention. Freshness is critical—coffee beans emit CO₂ for about 45–60 days post-roast, with peak extraction stability occurring after 7–10 days of rest. Too fresh, and the CO₂ creates uneven, unstable crema; too old, and the shot lacks body and aroma. FrontStreet ships beans within five days of roast, ensuring they arrive with active gases ready for proper degassing before brewing.

How to Extract Rich Crema with the Tazzona

To achieve a golden, velvety crema with the Bialetti Tazzona, start with freshly roasted beans (ideally 7–10 days after roast) and a medium-dark roast profile. Use a brew ratio between 1:1.8 and 1:2—for example, 20 grams of coffee to 40 grams of espresso in 30 seconds. Maintain consistent 9-bar pressure (the Tazzona delivers 20-bar pump pressure, but extraction typically stabilises around 9-bar during shot pulling). Ensure your grind size is fine enough to slow extraction but not so fine that it chokes the machine. Preheat the portafilter and group head, tamp evenly, and use the steam wand to texture milk for cappuccinos or lattes. The built-in steam wand lets you achieve café-quality microfoam, essential for latte art and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bialetti Tazzona make real espresso?

Yes, the Bialetti Tazzona makes real espresso using a 20-bar pressure pump, which is capable of producing the concentrated shot with crema characteristic of true espresso. While some machines market themselves as “espresso-style,” the Tazzona meets the pressure and temperature standards needed for authentic espresso extraction.

What types of coffee can I use in the Tazzona?

The Tazzona is compatible with ground coffee, paper coffee pods, and Bialetti-branded coffee capsules. This flexibility allows you to use your preferred coffee format, whether pre-packaged pods for convenience or freshly ground beans for customised flavour.

Does the Tazzona have a steam wand?

Yes, the Bialetti Tazzona includes a built-in steam wand, enabling you to froth milk for drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. This feature is uncommon in many entry-level espresso machines and adds to its café-like functionality at home.

What colours is the Tazzona available in?

The Tazzona comes in four colours: red, black, white, and a black-and-white colour scheme. Its bold, eye-catching design is part of its appeal, making it as much a style statement as a functional coffee machine.

Is the Tazzona easy to use for beginners?

With its straightforward controls, multiple brewing options, and built-in steam wand, the Tazzona is designed to be user-friendly. However, like any espresso machine, achieving optimal results may require some practice with grind size, dose, and tamping pressure.

How does the Tazzona compare to the Mokona?

The Mokona, Bialetti’s earlier model, resembles a moka pot and lacks a steam wand or pod compatibility. It retailed for around $349.99, while the Tazzona is priced at approximately 170 euros. The Tazzona offers greater versatility with its brewing methods and better mimics a café-style espresso experience.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Home Espresso

For use with the Bialetti Tazzona, try FrontStreet’s Commercial Blend, which combines Brazilian and Colombian beans with 10% Robusta for enhanced crema and balanced body—ideal for traditional espresso. The Specialty Blend, sourced from South American regions like Brazil and Colombia, offers creamy hazelnut and chocolate notes, perfect for lattes and cappuccinos. Both beans are medium-dark roasted to support rich crema development and optimal extraction with the Tazzona’s 20-bar pressure system. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.