Bialetti Amerikana Review: The Italian Moka Maker’s Take on Drip Coffee

If you’ve ever wanted a coffee machine that does something a little different—something other than the usual drip or French press—you might have stumbled across Bialetti’s Amerikana. It’s not your standard drip brewer, nor is it a moka pot. It’s Bialetti’s only attempt at making an American-style coffee machine, and it comes with a unique twist: a recirculation system that lets you control the strength of your brew. But does it actually work?

The Bialetti Amerikana is a recirculating coffee maker that lets you adjust coffee strength by controlling brew time. It uses a built-in water circulation system to pass hot water through coffee grounds multiple times, and you can monitor colour and concentration through a clear observation window. No special technique is needed—just add water, coffee, and heat.

What Is the Bialetti Amerikana?

The Amerikana is Bialetti’s one and only American-style coffee machine—but it’s unlike any typical drip brewer you’ve seen. While Bialetti is well known for its iconic stovetop moka pots, the Amerikana takes a completely different approach. Instead of forcing steam through coffee like a moka pot, or dripping water through a filter like a conventional coffee maker, the Amerikana uses a recirculating water system. That means the same water passes through the coffee grounds repeatedly, extracting more flavour over time—and letting you control how strong your brew turns out.

How the Recirculation System Works

At the heart of the Amerikana is a cleverly designed internal mechanism. The device features a small water reservoir at the bottom with a cone-shaped lid. This cone holds a tiny amount of water, which is heated and pressurised. As the water heats up, it’s forced up through a metal tube and sprayed over the coffee grounds in the upper chamber. Then, instead of just dripping down once, the brewed coffee falls back through the grounds and recirculates. This cycle repeats continuously while the machine is on heat.

The pressure is maintained thanks to a small vent at the base of the cone. Each time water is forced upward, some escapes through the vent to let new water in, keeping the cycle going. You can watch the whole process through a semi-transparent circular window in the lid. The colour of the coffee spraying up gives you a visual cue about its strength. There’s even a black plastic scale inside that acts as a rough indicator of brew progress.

Setting Up and Brewing With the Amerikana

Using the Amerikana is surprisingly simple. Start by filling the base with hot water and adding around four scoops of ground coffee into the upper basket. The basket sits securely on four raised nubs that prevent it from shifting during brewing—an important detail, since any movement could break the seal and disrupt the pressure system.

The coffee grounds go into the upper chamber, which is designed to hold them above the recirculating water path. Once everything is in place, you put the lid on and start heating the unit. It’s important to keep the lid closed during the entire process—if left open, the built-up pressure can cause coffee to spray out forcefully.

Brew time determines the strength. The longer it runs, the darker and stronger the coffee becomes, as the same water keeps passing through the grounds. You can monitor the colour of the brew through the transparent window and stop the process whenever you’re happy with the result. No timers, no complex settings—just heat, time, and observation.

What Kind of Coffee Does It Make?

The Amerikana produces a coffee that’s much lighter than what you’d get from espresso or even a standard moka pot. Because it’s a recirculated drip-style brew, it ends up somewhere between traditional American drip coffee and a percolator in terms of body and intensity. The result is fairly mild and clean, though the repeated circulation can accentuate certain flavours. It won’t give you the crema or boldness of espresso, but it’s also not as thin as some basic drip machines.

Because you control the brew time, you can adjust the strength to your taste—from light and tea-like to richer and more robust. That flexibility makes it a good option for coffee drinkers who prefer a milder cup but still want some control over extraction. Just keep in mind that the coffee it produces is still on the lighter, less intense side compared to espresso-based drinks or immersion brews like French press.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Bialetti Amerikana control coffee strength?

The Amerikana controls coffee strength through its recirculation system and brew time. Hot water is forced up through the coffee grounds, then the brewed coffee drips back down and recirculates. The longer you let it run, the more times the water passes through the grounds, resulting in a stronger, darker brew. You can monitor the colour through the transparent window and stop the process when you reach your desired strength.

Do you need special coffee beans or grind size for the Amerikana?

The article doesn’t specify a required grind size, but given the recirculating design, a medium grind similar to drip coffee is likely ideal. There’s no mention of needing special beans, so any standard coffee should work, though the choice of beans will affect the final flavour profile.

Can you make just one cup with the Bialetti Amerikana?

The article doesn’t state the exact capacity, but based on the description of the internal water system and brewing process, it appears designed to brew a full pot rather than a single cup. The focus is on recirculation and visual monitoring, suggesting a standard batch size rather than single servings.

Is the Amerikana easy to use for beginners?

Yes. The Amerikana is described as a very straightforward, “foolproof” coffee maker. There are no complex settings, and you don’t need any special technique. Just add water and coffee, apply heat, and monitor the colour through the window. It’s meant to be simple and accessible, even for those new to brewing coffee at home.

Does the Amerikana use a paper filter or permanent filter?

The article doesn’t mention a paper filter. The coffee grounds sit in an upper basket, and brewed coffee passes through them directly. It seems to use a permanent filter basket or mesh system, though the exact filter material isn’t specified.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Home Drip Brewing

For use with the Bialetti Amerikana or any home drip setup, FrontStreet Coffee’s Strawberry Candy Espresso (Ethiopia Humbera) is a great pick—offering bright, fruity notes that shine even in lighter brews. For a more balanced cup, try Brazil Queen Manor with its creamy peanut and cane sugar tones. Alternatively, their Strawberry Candy Espresso brings a sweet, syrupy profile that complements the mild extraction of the Amerikana. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.