All You Need To Know About The Moka Pot That Took The 2026 Winter Olympics Milano-Cortina By Storm

At the 2026 Winter Olympics Milano-Cortina, spectators expected the usual swirl of spectacle: athletes marching, pyrotechnics popping, orchestras swelling. What no one predicted was an army of dancers dressed as oversized moka pots gliding across the Opening Ceremony stage with the confidence of seasoned performers. In that moment, Italy, a country that takes both coffee and showmanship very seriously, slipped in a delightful cultural cameo. And the star? The unmistakable silhouette of the Bialetti stovetop pot suddenly elevated from everyday kitchen companion to global design icon. 

Italy’s decision to place a moka pot at the heart of its Olympic storytelling was definitely a cheeky nod to how important this everyday object is. The moka pot became a shorthand for warmth, heritage, and the kind of daily comfort that connects generations. On a stage built for athletic triumphs, it served as a reminder that culture is also brewed each morning, in kitchens filled with steam, chatter, and routine.

From Italy, With Love

This humble object was first created in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti, who designed the octagonal aluminium pot that would go on to define Italian home-brewed coffee for nearly a century. The iconic "l'omino con i baffi" or "the little man with the moustache" that appears on the moka pots is a signature mark of the pot, letting you know what it is at the first sight. The moka pot, especially the original Moka Express, is a three-chamber coffee maker that uses steam pressure to create a strong, velvety brew. Water heats in the bottom chamber, rises through the coffee grounds in the middle, and gathers in the top as an aromatic, espresso-like potion. Its octagonal body, brushed aluminium finish, and little knob of a handle are instantly recognisable. The design is so functional that it has barely changed since its invention. In an age when appliances keep getting smarter, sleeker, more app-driven, the moka pot remains stubbornly analogue, and that’s precisely its charm.

In Italy, the moka pot is the heartbeat of mornings. It fills homes with that familiar hiss signalling that coffee is ready, threading together decades of routine. Families pass moka pots down like heirlooms, often slightly dented, always deeply loved. It stands on the stove even when not in use, becoming part of the visual language of the kitchen. It makes sense, then, that it was a proud part of the opening ceremony.

Moka Express 3 cups - Milano Cortina 2026

In honour of its Olympic appearance, Bialetti unveiled a limited-edition Milan–Cortina moka pot that looks like it should be displayed under gallery lights. Its body carries the energy of the Winter Games: cool colour palettes, sharp graphic lines, and the sense of motion that mirrors ski tracks carving through fresh snow. It sits at the intersection of design object and collector’s item, the kind of piece that homeowners buy not because they need another coffee maker but because they want a slice of this cultural crescendo on their shelves.

Here are some Bialetti creations you can get your hands on, right here in India:

Bialetti Moka Express Coffee Maker 3 Cup

Bialetti Rainbow Stovetop Espresso Maker

The Rainbow edition adds a playful twist to the iconic silhouette, infusing the classic moka shape with bold, cheerful yellow. It’s the kind of piece that brightens a countertop instantly, turning coffee-making into a small daily celebration while still delivering the same dependable stovetop espresso the brand is known for.

To Shop: Here

Bialetti Moka Express Iconic Italian Stovetop Espresso Maker

This is the moka pot as the world first fell in love with it: octagonal, aluminium, intuitive, and unmistakable. The iconic Moka Express remains one of Italy’s most recognisable design exports, a coffee maker that has become both a cultural emblem and a permanent fixture in kitchens everywhere.

To Shop: Here