The Humble Brilliance of Italy’s Moka Coffee Pot (2018) | Hacker News Reader

The Humble Brilliance of Italy’s Moka Coffee Pot (2018)

atlasobscura.com

33 pointsValentineC19 comments

I have used a Bialetti for the last twenty years and will not use anything else to make coffee. Forms meets function meets flavor.

Strong brews. Compact and portable. No filters or expensive grinders required.

Is this a percolator?

https://youtu.be/E9avjD9ugXc

All you ever wanted to know (and some things you probably didn't) about percolators.

Key difference being that the moka pot separates the brewed coffee from the clean water, whereas percolators re-heat brewed coffee to be circulated back through the grounds (thus burning a significant quantity of the resulting brew).

No, this uses steam to force hot water through the grounds and into the upper chamber where it stays and is kept safe from overheating.

It's fantastic and the only way I make coffee.

My wife likes Americanos so I add hot water to hers. I switch between shots and lattes.

No, the moka pot is different from a percolator. A percolator produces coffee in a method similar to drip coffee, where as the moka pot produces coffee under pressure (making it slightly more similar to espresso)

In a percolator, the coffee drips back into the water/heating chamber, while in the moka it bubbles into a separate chamber. In the percolator the coffee continues to boil after brewing.

Any tips on brewing with a Moka pot?

Never wash it, just throw away coffee. Let the coffee stains sink into the metal..

Get a good one like Bialetti Brikka not some cheap Chinese clone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-onwBTm0g8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aT6DCAKQII

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gtKLxl76eE

Experiment and find a mokka blend that suits your taste best - Lavazza Crema e Aroma, Bourbon - I will start with that..

Use a cheap blade grinder for a fine grind.

Add water until it reaches the bottom of the valve.

Fill and gently pat, but don't pack, the filter with grinds.

Screw it together and put it on something hot until it finishes gurgling and starts hissing.

Enjoy!

(I use one twice a day and have been for several years.)

Oh damn I'm going to be one of those guys. Apologies in advance.

Burr grinders, especially manual ones, are fairly cheap. A $40 Hario Mini Mill does a fine job at a fine grind, and won't produce as much powder as the blade grinder.

Pre-heating the water before filling the base will reduce time on the stove, which will help prevent the grounds from cooking while they brew.

I'll try the preheating and see how it goes.

My $10 grinder is simple, small, less than $40, and it's been working great for 5 years now.

If it ever breaks, I'll consider upgrading.

Although now I'm tempted to buy a burr grinder and do a blind taste test.

I’m not convinced I can taste the difference. People think they can. ;)

A better grinder may help avoid powder that can be a problem with some brew methods. And a nicer manual grinder will usually grind faster, which can be convenient in the morning.

But I used a blade grinder and a French press for years. It’s fine. :)

I preheated the water this morning and the difference in flavor was noticeable.

Now I have to reoptimize my coffee routine.

I've been using mine more frequently during the lockdown but I notice that sometimes a lot of water is left in the base. Happens maybe a third of the time even though I follow your routine to the tee. Any ideas what might be causing that?

It's normal for water to still be in the bottom, since the funnel piece doesn't touch all the way down

Some tips/common issues:

1. Make sure the base is screwed on tight. An air leak could cause water to be left (and burnt coffee) 2. The gasket on the top chamber could need replacing (try wrapping a towel tightly around the seam if you can't get a gasket easily/quickly) 3. The coffee could be packed too tightly 4. The bottom chamber could have water above/in line with the safety valve. This will cause the safety valve to leak water 5. Clogged filters in the top chamber or funnel piece

Not a moka expert, I just live near Woodbridge

> Use a cheap blade grinder for a fine grind.

Don't blade grinders heat up the coffee bean as they chop it?

I don't think that makes for a flavorful brew, regardless of brewing method.

If someone wants to send me a quality burr grinder, I'll happily do a blind taste test.

https://youtu.be/rpyBYuu-wJI

I use one every day. Generally, fresh grounds, prewarm the water before assembly.

I also like to wisk in a little sugar in the final cup after pouring out. (Don’t add sugar to the moka pot or it will caramelize/burn)

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