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What is moka pot?

Moka pot is steam based coffee maker
that brews dark and very strong coffee.
Many people also call it stovetop
espresso pot, however, this beverage is
not exactly the same as espresso,
because the pressure of the water going
through the grounds is not high enough.
Occasionally you might come across the
names like ?macchianetta? or
?caffettiera? - these are both just
different ways to call moka pot.

Moka pots are three chambered devices:
lower chamber is for water, middle is
filter funnel where the coffee grounds
go and the top chamber is where the
coffee ends up. Additionally there is a
filter plate that goes in front of
central column in top chamber and rubber
seal which ensures that hot liquid
doesn?t leak from between the lower and
the top chamber.

How does it work?

When heated up, some of the water
evaporates creating the steam which
reaches the pressure high enough to
force the water from lower chamber up
the filter funnel and through the coffee
grounds to the top chamber where it is
collected. Finally when the lower
chamber is nearly empty steam bubbles
mix with upstreaming water creating
gurgling sound, which indicates that
coffee is ready.

How to make coffee with moka pot?

* Fill the lower container with water so
its level is lower than the safety
valve. Don?t put in more water than
that. It is very important that water
level is below safety valve, because it
provides release if pressure should get
too high. If the safety valve is blocked
by too much water and pressure gets too
high your moka pot can actually explode.

You can use either hot or cold water, it
really is a matter of taste and you can
do some experimenting here to find the
best option for yourself. However it is
recommended to use hot water, since it
lessens the time that grounds are
exposed to heat, which makes the brew
less bitter.

*Fill the filter funnel with the coffee
grounds. Use bit coarser grind that you
would for the regular espresso machine,
because if the grounds are too fine they
might block the holes in the filter and
the water can?t get through anymore.
Also, do not tamp the coffee grounds,
since if the coffee is pressed too tight
it also may block the water flow.
Tamping is also not necessary, because
grounds will expand with the heat and
create its own tamp. Instead lightly
knock the filter downwards, which helps
to distribute the grounds evenly.

* Screw on the top chamber and place the
moka pot on the stove. Use medium level
heat, since too high temperature might
create the steam too fast. Keep the pot
on stove until you hear a gurgle. It
means that the water in the lower tank
has been exhausted. Take the pot off the
heat. Note that the metal handles and
surfaces get very hot, so be careful
when handling the pot. Your coffee is
ready.

Enjoy!

What is moka pot and how to brew coffee with it?

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