Ciao Skybird (und Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!)
I've been making espresso for years, mainly with a Ponte Vecchio Lusso (spring lever), but also with the Bacchi stovetop machine, which is a world apart from the Bialetti:
http://caffemotive.com/Bacchi_Espresso.html
This design actually does produce 8-9 bars of pressure by using steam to drive the piston -- brilliant in its simplicity. The video shows the process without need for words.
To keep it short & simple: good espresso depends on using only the
freshest beans -- roasted less than a week before use, if possible -- and grinding them with a
high-quality burr grinder. Lacking these two conditions, one might be better off using Illy iperEspresso capsules for consistent results.
Buona Fortuna,
Wayne