This aluminum espresso maker has a couple design flaws.
1) Soft aluminum cup on the inside can often become bent due to people banging the cup against the waste bin to remove the coffee grounds. When it becomes bent, steam will leak around the cup, it is almost impossible to get it to reseal properly.
2) The gasket material burns at a very low temperature.
The Ikea RÅDIG [0] is one of the most indestructible best engineered espresso maker I have ever used. All steel construction (except the handle) and the elastomer seal has never warped or burned. I know people who have melted the handle off and still can use the espresso maker w/o replacing the seal.
How does the Ikea handle hold up after years of use?
My concern is that every time I unscrew a Moka pot, I'm pressing against the (plastic) handle and worry one day I'll snap it off (or mess up the lid hinge). I wish someone would come up with a better shape for a user to grip and unscrew the Moka-style coffeemaker or a different type of attachment.
I know Alessi's 9090 clamps to the base, but it's also 5x more expensive than the original (and lacks the simple beautiful of it).
I have been using the RÅDIG for probably 5+ years, if one doesn't melt the handle off, I think it will be there forever. I gave away the working Moka pot and then recycled the 3 unrepaired, burnt o-ring Moka pots sitting in the cupboard as I am never going back. The filter cup in the RÅDIG is indestructible. We also have a spare incase Ikea decides to discontinue it.
1) Soft aluminum cup on the inside can often become bent due to people banging the cup against the waste bin to remove the coffee grounds. When it becomes bent, steam will leak around the cup, it is almost impossible to get it to reseal properly.
2) The gasket material burns at a very low temperature.
The Ikea RÅDIG [0] is one of the most indestructible best engineered espresso maker I have ever used. All steel construction (except the handle) and the elastomer seal has never warped or burned. I know people who have melted the handle off and still can use the espresso maker w/o replacing the seal.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30149839/