A rich cup of morning espresso magically transforms the grumpiest beast into an energised go-getter! Unfortunately, the standard drip coffee maker found in most kitchens offers a poor substitute for this powerful Italian brew. Instead of wasting money on an expensive espresso maker or standing in line for whatever the coffee shop has to offer, make just the right amount of authentic Italian coffee in your own kitchen with a Moka Pot.
Contents
- What is a Moka Pot?
- 6 Steps to Quick and Easy Moka Pot Espresso Coffee
- 1. Rinse out your stovetop espresso pot
- 2. Lay out the pieces of your pot and get ready to make some stovetop espresso!
- 3. Fill the bottom reservoir with water up to the line.
- 4. Fill the coffee basket a little over two-thirds with your favourite coffee.
- 5. Screw the top on and you’re ready to brew!
- 6. Once you hear gurgling, it’s ready 🙂
- 7. Steam you milk for your perfect coffee
- Moka Pot Cleaning – Clean Your Gasket!
- FAQ’s
- Conclusion
What is a Moka Pot?
Like a traditional espresso machine, this simple inexpensive device brews rich Italian coffee by forcing steam through ground coffee under controlled pressure, but the pressure is slightly lower making this device easier and safer to use. Best of all, most people can’t tell the difference between actual espresso and the Moka Pot’s near-espresso results.
- Invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933, a symbol of Made in Italy all over the world
- The only one with 8 faces, with the unmistakable little man with a mustache
- High quality: made of aluminum, with ergonomic handle
6 Steps to Quick and Easy Moka Pot Espresso Coffee
Stovetop espresso is my favourite type of coffee because it is quick and easy, and it has a great strong flavour that also works well iced. You’ll want to start with good coffee and a stovetop espresso pot, also known as a moka pot.
1. Rinse out your stovetop espresso pot
It’s a good idea to get rid of any oils or residue left over from the last time you made stovetop espresso. The instructions with most most moka pots say not to use soap. I prefer to use a little soap because it’s helps get rid of the residue. I have tried cleaning it with and without soap, and I can’t taste the difference. It’s a personal preference. However, you should definitely not put the moka pot in the dishwasher! 🙂 I learned that the hard way and ruined my first moka pot.
2. Lay out the pieces of your pot and get ready to make some stovetop espresso!
A moka pot is made of the following (not limited to) parts: a water chamber, a filter basket and a collecting chamber. Unscrew the collecting chamber from the water chamber to discover the filter basket.
3. Fill the bottom reservoir with water up to the line.
If your moka pot doesn’t have a line, stop just beneath the release valve. (That’s the little hole on the side of the pot.)
If you overfill the pot, no steam will be able to escape and the pot will explode all over your kitchen. Not fun. As long as you don’t cover the steam valve with water, you’ll be fine.
4. Fill the coffee basket a little over two-thirds with your favourite coffee.
Grinding your own coffee is always a good idea, but I’ve also had good results with ILLY
and Café Bustelo ground coffee. If you are grinding your own, grind finer than you would for a drip coffee maker. Once you fill the basket don’t tamp, or press down, the coffee. It should be loosely packed because the grinds need room to expand.
5. Screw the top on and you’re ready to brew!
Once you’ve assembled the moka pot, place it on the smallest burner on your stove and turn the heat a little past medium. Just make sure the flame does not come up the sides of the pot.
6. Once you hear gurgling, it’s ready 🙂
Hurry up and pour! You don’t want it too boil for too long, or it will start to taste burnt. The time it takes to brew will vary, but mine finished in just under 5 minutes.
7. Steam you milk for your perfect coffee
Enjoy your delicious cup of stovetop espresso however you like it – straight up, or with milk and sugar.
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Moka Pot Cleaning – Clean Your Gasket!
Here’s a little quick tip for everyone:
Many of us use our stovetop espresso makers daily, and of course we disassemble them and clean them. What many of us don’t realise, because it’s not particularly obvious, is that the gasket and filter plate should also be removed and cleaned.
What lurks behind there?
The filter plate is the perforated plate at the bottom of the top half of your stovetop espresso maker.
The gasket is the rubber ring that holds the filter plate in place and provides an air-tight seal when you screw your stovetop espresso maker together.
The filter plate and gasket should be removed and cleaned frequently. Remove the gasket first by carefully sticking a knife into the space between the outside of the gasket and the inner wall of the stovetop espresso maker. Gently pry inward and the gasket will pop out. (This is a great time to check how your gasket is holding up. They usually last about a year. If it shows signs of wear, it’s time to get a new one.)
Gently pry out the gasket.
Once you’re got the gasket out, tap the top half of your stovetop espresso maker on the counter and the filter plate will drop out. If you haven’t cleaned the filter plate in a while, it will probably be rusty. Do not use steel wool to clean off the rust, mix up a solution of vinegar and water or lemon juice and water and soak the filter and pot for a few hours. You should be able to now clean up the filter and pot back to its original glory.
The most important is thoroughly drying these parts so they don’t rust again. You probably don’t want to drink rust with your morning coffee 🙂
FAQ’s
How many cups does a moka pot make?
A traditional “cup” of espresso is only about one and a half ounces, so a small stovetop espresso maker will make about six of these “cups.” Espresso cups usually hold about four ounces, but the tradition is to only fill them about halfway up. As for you Americans who are used to eight ounce coffee mugs, if you fill one of them up with espresso, it’s possible you might never blink again. (But you’d be happy.)
Conclusion
Coffee has remained one of the most popular beverages throughout the world. Nothing beats the invigorating aroma and taste of a well-prepared espresso. Preparing authentic espresso requires some degree of skill as well as the right equipment at your disposal. Stove top espresso makers are one of the best, at-home, types of bean to cup coffee makers available in the market today.