Two market leaders have combined forces to produce what they believe will become a "must have" appliance for serious coffee drinkers. Bialetti, who for half a century have established their famous Moka Express coffee maker throughout the world, are now launching an electric version of this design icon using the latest heater/control system from STRIX, the world leader in kettle technology.

These two unique companies can both make claim some remarkable facts and figures; STRIX products are used more than one billion times a day around the world, and a recent survey by Bialetti reveals that every day, somewhere in the region of 120 million cups of coffee are made with their Moka Express.

Over 70 years ago, Alfonso Bialetti conceived the first classic stove top coffee maker, and today the "mythical little fellow with the moustache" is their guarantee that you have the genuine article. This world renowned coffee maker is still manufactured in Italy along with other more sophisticated designs, and their factory produces over 25,000 coffee makers per day.

In the Isle of Man over 25 years ago, Dr John Taylor developed the first kettle control with automatic steam switch-off, a device which has subsequently protected millions of kettles against accidentally boiling dry.

Three Queens' Awards to its name, is the world's leading manufacturer of kettle controls. With 90% of it's production going overseas, the company supplies famous name brands such as Tefal, Moulinex, Morphy Richards, Philips, Russell Hobbs, Kenwood, Bosch Siemens, and Braun to name a few.

STRIX who invented the 360 degree cordless power base, which has revolutionised kettles over the last decade, decided in 1997 to expand the business into the new technology of flat heating elements, utilising fully the benefits offered by their printed element technology. A miniature version of the STRIX printed element, combined with their expertise in the kettle business, generated the perfect solution to convert the traditional stove top Moka Express into an electrically powered appliance which switches off automatically.

The next step for Bialetti and STRIX was to ensure that the tried and tested method of brewing coffee in the Moka Express remained the same when electrically operated. Bialetti's brewing experts and STRIX development engineers spent many hours together perfecting the temperature control and brewing times for this appliance.

"We are delighted to have co-operated with STRIX to bring the benefits of the Bialetti coffee maker to markets which favour electrically operated appliances. Whilst retaining the traditional flavour and aroma of the coffee, we have added the benefit of automatic brewing, and with the freedom of the cordless system, the ability to serve coffee at the table in the traditional way."

Branko Moeys - Export Manager - Bialetti Industrie

"STRIX are extremely excited at the prospect of working with Bialetti to set new standards in an affordable coffee making appliance by repeating the benefits which STRIX has brought to the world kettle market."

John Brodie - Group Sales & Marketing Director - STRIX Limited

With the world-wide trend for real coffee drinking increasing, the Bialetti Moka Express is the ideal solution for making original espresso, as well as providing the essential foundation for real café au lait, cappuccino, latte, macchiato and a host of other coffee drinks, desserts and ice creams.

For more information please email via http://www.strix.com and http://www.bialetti.it.

Or Bialetti's UK distributor La Cafetiere on http://www.lacafetiere.com

You can see this product being demonstrated at the following exhibitions:

La Cafetiere at ISF, Birmingham - February 3rd - 6th

Bialetti at Ambiente Frankfurt - February 15th -19th

STRIX at HomeTech, Berlin - 27th February - 1st March