Taming the Moka Pot

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Sheffield
The Moka Pot is the only brewing method I'd yet to try so I decided to give it a go. I received my Bialetti 4 cup Moka Express a couple of days ago. Love it. Initially it was pretty frustrating getting anything drinkable out of it until I realised I was grinding too fine. This had two effects, firstly the finer grinds meant the basket accepted too much coffee (25g) and of course you always fill the basket in a moka pot, secondly the fine grind created far too much pressure. These two together created quite a disgusting drink! So I ground coarser (22 on my Rocky) and the basket was now full with 20g of coffee.

Brew time came down to a total of just under 6 minutes (starting with cold water) and it tastes great black, strong but not too bitter. Great with milk too and I never have milk with coffee but I've become addicted to frothing up a little milk and plonking it on top of my Moka brews.

The 4 cup doesn't seem to be very common. I think it's only available in Europe and Bialetti don't even list it on their web site. Not that it matters really, but I couldn't really find any owner reports of the 4 cup model for any guidance. I use our smallest hob on full and turn it to the lowest setting once coffee starts coming through, then I take it off the heat when the coffee has reached the point of the V on the spout. There's enough residual heat left to carry on the extraction a little longer. I never get any hissing or hot steam coming up afterwards using this method. It's all very gentle and relaxing! Some of the videos I've watched it's like a volcano erupting and I thought that can't be good. Most of the written brew guides thankfully shared my opinion so I must be doing something right for once! I pretty much followed this excellent Moka Pot guide by RoamingBarista.

It really is quite a different coffee drinking experience and I like that. All in all it's a very addictive way to make coffee. It doesn't quite have the drama of my syphon but it's close. The clean up is certainly easier than a syphon brew. It probably doesn't have the subtle flavours that a pour over with a V60 and Gino/Kalita Wave can produce but I don't think Moka coffee is about subtlety. It has a character all of its own. The only thing I'm not impressed with is the paint is already wearing off the Bialetti man and the writing. Rub a finger nail over the paint and it completely comes off! Oh well no big deal. The quality of parts seem excellent.

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Taken before I coarsened the grind. Too fine here.

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Nice review. Thanks for posting I like my Moka pot too, but I don't have a grinder so just use Lavazza pre-ground coffee (in the red foil bag). It seems fine. I went though a phase of buying special Illy coffee for Moka pots but it's stupidly expensive and I didn't think it was worth the money. I often add hot water and a little milk after brewing in an Americano style just to make it a longer drink. Not always though, it depends on my mood. You can't beat a good strong cup of Joe!
 
I've had some of my best success using boiled water. Fine ground coffee tamped down. Then added to milk that's been in the microwave for a minute. Heresy for some, but it makes a good strong brew. I've got 3 of these. Normal sized one at work, normal and large sized at work. Love 'em.
 
Yes the Illy Moka grind coffee is ridiculously expensive. I tend to roast my own most of the time (what a learning experience that was!) but I do by whole beans from Rave and HasBean every now and then. The postie delivered a bag of Rave Signature blend yesterday so I'll try that in the Moka Pot later. The trouble with the Moka Pot is it's such a nice thing to use that I end up drinking too much coffee.

Herbert1804 said:
Nice review. Thanks for posting I like my Moka pot too, but I don't have a grinder so just use Lavazza pre-ground coffee (in the red foil bag). It seems fine. I went though a phase of buying special Illy coffee for Moka pots but it's stupidly expensive and I didn't think it was worth the money. I often add hot water and a little milk after brewing in an Americano style just to make it a longer drink. Not always though, it depends on my mood. You can't beat a good strong cup of Joe!


I tried boiling the water first a few times and it works well and obviously speeds up the whole process. I know a lot of people say that using cold water can cook the coffee as you're waiting for the pot to heat up. I imagine that's more of an issue in larger Moka Pots. I haven't had any burnt flavours when using cold water.

The grind I found works is what many use, inbetween Espresso and French Press. That covers a wide range. It's pretty much what you'd use for drip or in my case Pour Over. I pushed the pot to see how fine I could grind before the pot popped it's pressure release valve (I always have to do things like that) and on my Rocky it's a setting of 12. Most people grind for Espresso on the Rocky at around 8.

I can see myself getting different sizes like yourself. My wife will be delighted :)

rangers62 said:
I've had some of my best success using boiled water. Fine ground coffee tamped down. Then added to milk that's been in the microwave for a minute. Heresy for some, but it makes a good strong brew. I've got 3 of these. Normal sized one at work, normal and large sized at work. Love 'em.
 
Moka Express is the only method I've used for the last 35 years or so. In that time I've gone through 2 pots, and the first I lost during a move, otherwise I might still be using it! You can't beat the simplicity combined with the quality of hardware and brew IMO. Just remember to rinse the pot out after use and keep some spare rubber gaskets on hand.

I use the pre-ground 'red' Lavazza, put the pot on a small burner set to medium and 5 mins later... hey presto. Heat some milk in the microwave and you've got a perfect latte every time.
 
Nice write up, I was brought up on the Moka so I have a particular affection for it as do 15 million Italians. Those into light roasts and citrus notes forget it, you are never going to get the flavour profile of a proper espresso either but it does produce an enjoyable style that I agree judging from the repondents is best served with milk, sugar or both.
 
Completely agree. It is what it is, if that makes sense. I brewed earlier with the 4 cup and enjoyed it black with no water added. Very smooth with a thick mouth feel. Not at all bitter either. Then brewed again and made a rough looking but tasty Cappuccino.

antdad said:
Nice write up, I was brought up on the Moka so I have a particular affection for it as do 15 million Italians. Those into light roasts and citrus notes forget it, you are never going to get the flavour profile of a proper espresso either but it does produce an enjoyable style that I agree judging from the repondents is best served with milk, sugar or both.


Yes I think a decent Moka Pot will outlive most people!

FrankieG said:
Moka Express is the only method I've used for the last 35 years or so. In that time I've gone through 2 pots, and the first I lost during a move, otherwise I might still be using it! You can't beat the simplicity combined with the quality of hardware and brew IMO. Just remember to rinse the pot out after use and keep some spare rubber gaskets on hand.

I use the pre-ground 'red' Lavazza, put the pot on a small burner set to medium and 5 mins later... hey presto. Heat some milk in the microwave and you've got a perfect latte every time.
 
This thread inspired me to try a new coffee blend so I went along with wifey to Tesco's at the weekend (a rarity for me) and spotted Lavazza Ora (Gold label) pre-ground. Never seen or tried this before. I'd love to report my findings here but made a stupid schoolboy error - I set the pot up and lit the gas burner then the phone rang..... The result was bloody disgusting! Burnt and undrinkable! Ah well. We all have to learn this lesson sometime! Don't allow yourself to be distracted while brewing coffee in a Moka Pot!!!
 
My journey to enlightenment began with a Cona siphon, then a French press, then a dripper followed by a Bialetti and finally culminating in a domestic-sized (2 cup) espresso machine which serves very well.
However, my large Bialetti is always on standby in case I have more than one guest!
 
Looking for some advice, just purchased a 3 cup moka pot at tk Maxx today for £4.99 so it's probably nothing special. Did what it said ran a cup through and chucked away.
I ground some beans bit courser then for the aeropress? Put some cold water in the bottom to the valve. Heated it up on full(small hob) turned it to half when it started appearing then off totally when near the spout.
When I poured this into my mug it only went to half way. How do I make this in to a nice coffee au late? Just warm soy milk in microwave and pour in? Or should I put cold water in too?
 
A Moka Pot has been on my 'want' list for ages....just need to justify it.
Great write-up!


Do you need to use it on a stove with a flame? I only have one of those dumb modern stoves sans fire :(
 
Yes, pretty much what you said. Cafe Au Lait is half coffee half milk so you're just adding milk. Adding just water would get you a kind of Americano.

greyhounddad said:
Looking for some advice, just purchased a 3 cup moka pot at tk Maxx today for £4.99 so it's probably nothing special. Did what it said ran a cup through and chucked away.
I ground some beans bit courser then for the aeropress? Put some cold water in the bottom to the valve. Heated it up on full(small hob) turned it to half when it started appearing then off totally when near the spout.
When I poured this into my mug it only went to half way. How do I make this in to a nice coffee au late? Just warm soy milk in microwave and pour in? Or should I put cold water in too?
 
Preground :icon_eek:

;)

Speaking of grinders. May have my Rancilio Rocky up for sale soon if anyone is interested. I've just bought a OE Lido 2 hand grinder :)

Nishy said:
I use the lavazza beans ready grinded, great coffee. Also waitrose have a good selection of pre ground coffee beans.
 
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