Go for it... you'll love it. (regarding the Bialetti)
I never really knew about them until we moved out to New Zealand. I've seen them in a lot of homes here and the Italians I know here tell me that every family in Italy has one.
It makes something between a coffee and an espresso, called "Moka"
I fill my coffee cup 1/2 way with milk, warm it in the microwave and fill the rest with the Moka and I'm telling ya... it's the best damn latte you can buy. Seriously.
Velvet.
Plus... there's no moving parts.