Abstract: The invention relates to a steam generator with direct evaporation comprising a first plate provided with an inlet channel for a pressurized fluid to be evaporated, a second plate independent of the first plate and superposed thereon, a steam recovery cavity in communication with a peripheral part of the first and second plates, and an electric heating resistor located at least approximately in a plane parallel to said first and second plates. The pressurized fluid inlet channel opens out freely from the first plate perpendicularly thereto and to the second plate, in a central part of the generator, and has an outlet diameter greater than about 2.5 mm, and the face of the second plate located opposite the first plate is maintained applied against the corresponding face of the first plate by elastic return means.The invention finds an application in hand-operated ironing presses.