Vesuviana Coffee Maker by Bialetti
Designed c. 1930’s or 1940’s
Bialetti is an Italian manufacturer of espresso and coffee makers, founded in 1919 by Alfonso Bialetti. They’re most famous for their Moka pots, which are still in production. The Vesuviana’s unique shape allows the heated water to travel up through a pipe alongside the the boiler and distribute across the coffee puck in the portafilter basket. Most sources date it's production as being from the 1930’s through the 1970’s, though the pictured patent is dated from 1946 (the patent is English, meaning there likely were earlier versions in Italy). A Vesuviana was used as set dressing for Neelix’s kitchen in Star Trek Voyager, and is visible on the shelf above his cooking utensils.
References:
Drgary, post to "Very Old Vesuviana With Very Special Provenance." Home Barista. February 22nd, 2017, 1:36 am, https://www.home-barista.com/repairs/very-old-vesuviana-with-very-special-provenance-t45672.html.
Used in:
Voyager
