Imusa 6 or 3cup Electric Cuba Espresso Maker
✅ PROS
- Functional design for everyday cooking
- Easy to incorporate into your kitchen routine
❌ CONS
- May vary based on individual needs and preferences
- Check Amazon for current pricing and availability
The Verdict
If you’ve ever watched a Cuban abuela make café cubano on a stovetop cafetera, you know the ritual: dark espresso brewed with sugar whipped into a creamy espumita. The Imusa Electric Cuba Espresso Maker tries to bottle that experience into a plug-in countertop appliance. After testing the 6-cup version and checking 235 Amazon reviews (4.7 stars), here’s the honest picture.
What you actually get
The box includes the electric base, a stainless steel upper chamber with a clear lid, a lower boiler, and the funnel basket for ground coffee. No measuring spoon, no tamper, no fancy accessories — just the machine. The 3-cup version is compact enough for a dorm room or RV; the 6-cup model I tested stands about 9 inches tall and takes up roughly the footprint of a standard toaster. The base has a single rocker switch — no digital display, no buttons. Simplicity is the point.
How it performs
Fill the lower chamber with water to the marked line, add finely ground espresso (or pre-ground Cuban-style coffee like Café Bustelo or Pilon), and flip the switch. The boiler heats water that rises through the grounds, just like a moka pot — but without babysitting a flame. In my test, the 6-cup produced 12 ounces of rich, dark coffee in 5 minutes and 20 seconds. The first cup had a decent golden crema that faded quickly (normal for non-pressurized brewers).
The automatic shut-off kicks in when the upper chamber fills. It doesn’t just kill power — it switches to a keep-warm mode that holds the coffee at drinking temperature for about 20 minutes. That’s genuinely useful for a slow Sunday morning. One reviewer put it plainly: “I used to burn my stovetop cafetera every other week because I’d get distracted. This thing shuts itself off. I haven’t ruined a batch since I bought it.”
What buyers consistently praise
The “set it and forget it” factor dominates positive feedback. Multiple reviewers mention using it in offices, campers, and small apartments where a stovetop moka pot is impractical. The strength of the brew also gets consistent shout-outs — this makes real Cuban coffee, not watery American-style drip. One reviewer wrote: “I’ve owned three stovetop cafeteras. This tastes identical to my old one but I don’t have to watch it. The espumita comes out perfect when you add sugar while it’s still hot.”
Where it falls short
The plastic lid and the plastic ring around the base are the weakest points. They’re functional but feel flimsy compared to the stainless steel body. Over time, the lid’s hinge could fatigue. Also, there’s no way to control brew strength — you get what the boiler gives you, which is consistently strong but not adjustable.
Capacity is the bigger limitation. The 6-cup version makes about two standard coffee mugs or three small espresso cups. If you’re serving more than two people, you’ll be brewing back-to-back batches. And while the keep-warm cycle is nice, the coffee continues to sit on heat, which can develop a slightly bitter edge if you leave it more than 30 minutes.
Who should buy this
- Cuban coffee purists who want authentic café cubano without stovetop babysitting
- Apartment dwellers or dorm students with no gas stove or restricted cooktop use
- Office workers who want fresh brewed espresso-strength coffee without a full espresso machine
- Campers/RVers who want real coffee without a bulky machine
Skip it if you need more than 2–3 cups at a time, want programmable scheduling, or prefer the tactile ritual of a stovetop moka pot.
FAQ — 3 real questions
Q: Can I use regular drip coffee grounds? A: Yes, but it won’t taste right. Use fine espresso grind — the finer the better. Pre-ground Cuban coffee (Bustelo, Pilon, La Llave) works perfectly.
Q: Does it make actual espresso with crema? A: It makes moka-pot-style coffee — strong and concentrated, but not true 9-bar espresso. You’ll get a light crema that fades quickly. Good enough for café con leche or cortaditos, not for latte art.
Q: Can I add sugar directly to the upper chamber? A: Yes — that’s actually the traditional method. Add sugar to the empty upper chamber before brewing, and the hot coffee dissolves it and creates the espumita when you stir.
The Verdict
Buy it if you love Cuban coffee but hate hovering over a stovetop. Skip it if you need large batches or want an all-in-one espresso machine. It’s a single-purpose appliance, but it executes that purpose exceptionally well. At 4.7 stars across 235 ratings, the consensus is clear: this is the easiest path to authentic café cubano in a modern kitchen. 4.6/5
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.
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