The reason why moka pot is so famous has also to do with massive post-war production. Alessi and Bialetti used to make moka pots with equipment originally used to produce mortar shells for WW2. The main difference between the Alessi and Bialetti coffee makers were that the latter used the traditional 8 sided shape which aided in screwing-unscrewing.

Renato Bialetti, which I was lucky enough to greet, got his ashes put in an oversized moka pot, which was blessed during his funeral[0]. He was known for driving some of his factory workers out for lunch on Fridays, on his expensive car.

[0] https://www.corriere.it/cronache/16_febbraio_16/funerali-bia...

> got his ashes put in an oversized moka pot

basket or collecting chamber? I hope they didn't brew it afterwards...

Yes, they do, except they call it a caffettiera. Every house in italy I've been to has one or more. This is in the north, the south might be different. But it's not the same as an espresso machine.

Hmmm burns the coffee easily when used wrong. You need to be right there to control the temperature and cool it off immediately once the water runs out.