The moka stove-top coffee pot is the standard in almost all Italian households for making coffee.  It is instantly recognizable for its octagonal shape, usually aluminium, and black bakelite handle.  It was first conceived of in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti who was inspired by watching his wife do laundry in a machine called a lisciveuse that used the same concept of heating water and forcing it through a tube.  In the moka, water is put into the bottom of the coffee pot, then a filter, which fits into this bottom, is filled with finely ground coffee and the empty top is screwed onto the bottom of the pot.  As the water heats, it is forced through the coffee filter and, under pressure, it slowly fills the top part of the pot with a strong brew similar to espresso, often also with a crema.  The moka comes in different sizes, the two-cup pot probably being the most common.  This common kitchen object is an icon of Italian industrial design and is featured in the collections of museums world-wide.