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Question:

is stainless steel any better than aluminum?

i've been looking at stove top espresso coffee makers and they are all made of either aluminum or stainless steel. so i wonder is one metal any better than the other as far as coffee makers go? i thought before i actually buy one i'd like to hear from you - do you have a stove top espresso maker? what metal is it and what do you think of it? looking forward to reading your thoughts - thanks everyone!cheers!

Answer:

It's actually a lot better
stainless steel is heavier and holds onto heat longer its also non-reactive aluminum can react to acids, changing flavors, and coffee has acids, so this could affect the taste.
Go with stainless steel. It's heavier and more durable. It also won't react with the coffee.
For general cookware both metals have different attributes. Aluminum conducts heat better and therefore pots and pans heat up more evenly. Stainless steel on the other hand has a nicer look and doesn't discolor and oxidize the way aluminum might, and it cleans up better. For an espresso maker you really don't need even heating since you are only heating water in a really small area. Therefore you should go with stainless steel.
Some say that you should avoid using aluminium (yes, that's how we spell it!) cooking vessels. Acidic foods can cause the aluminium to leach into the foods, and after many years this can lead to aluminium poisoning which can lead to an increased risk of Alzheimer's or dementia. This viewpoint is controvesial however, and even if this were true, this isn't going to be such a big problem in the case of an espresso maker. I wouldn't throw away an aluminium espresso maker if I already had one. If I were looking to buy a new one however, I'd always go with the stainless steel because I think it looks better.

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