The Moka Pot has been a safe product for coffee lovers for over 80 years and we don't think it will ever go out of style. It was invented in Italy in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti, the founder of the legendary cafetieres brand. Bialetti has revolutionized the art of making coffee with a unique coffee machine: Moka Express. His fame quickly spread all over the world. You'll only know if you pay attention to Moka Pot miniatures from movies or TV shows.
Looking for something stronger than a filter coffee but lighter than an espresso? Then with the Moka Pot you can make a perfect cup of coffee that looks like an espresso without having to spend money on an expensive specialty machine.
But how do you know you've chosen the right moka pot? We've got you covered with excellent content on the pot-sized heating method, as well as how to make Italian-style coffee.
Choosing the right moka pot
How many glasses?
First of all, remember that the standard capacity for a cup of coffee with a moka pot is 50 ml. Therefore, a 4-cup cafeteria has a capacity of only 200 ml. Also remember that a standard glass is 250 ml.
Does this look small? Well, Italy is the land of espresso, friends!
Your choice of cafeteria size will depend on the number of people in your household, how often you drink coffee, and how much coffee you drink.
Do you regularly drink coffee with your friends and family? Then you will need a larger moka pot. A one or two cup moka pot may suffice for daily use.
Which material?
Almost all moka pots are made from one of two materials: aluminum or stainless steel.
Aluminum is light, inexpensive and has a good heat conductor. Moka has always been a popular choice for pot makers. Suitable for all heat sources. Except for induction of course.
Stainless steel, on the other hand, is healthy and long-lasting. It is more resistant to damage from heat, bumps or scratches than aluminum. Another advantage that should not be underestimated is that unlike aluminum, stainless steel moka pots are dishwasher safe. Most are compatible with all heat sources, including induction.
Which heating method?
Of course, if you decide to buy a moka pot, you can even choose from models that are suitable only for your kitchen. For example, if you have an induction hob, you will need a product designed to be compatible with induction.
By the way, there is one point you should pay attention to. A small moka pot on a larger induction plate produces less power. Therefore, the smaller it is, the induction element may not activate or work properly. You should pay close attention to the diameter of the base.
For other heat sources i.e. electricity, glass, ceramics, gas etc. You can choose any moka pot you want, including moka pots made for induction.
Which design?
Appearance undoubtedly plays an important role in your choice. Depending on your personal tastes, you can choose a retro-style Bialetti Moka Express or the elegant Bialetti Moka Pot Venus, or if you want a more colorful option, you can look at the Moka Pot Alpina.
Of course, how it looks does not affect the quality of your coffee. So choose whichever your heart beats for. Moka pots are small equipment. So you don't have to worry about taking up too much space. You can even use it to add decor to your kitchen.
How to make a great coffee with the moka pot?
- Fill the lower chamber just below the valve with water.
- Insert the funnel and fill it with ground coffee. Spread the coffee evenly, but do not compress it. Your coffee grind should be slightly coarser than an espresso, but finer than a French Press.
- Screw the top of the moka pot to the base. Check that everything is safe. Turn on the stove and place the moka pot on the fire with the lid open.
- Attach the service hopper to the base. Check that everything is plugged in.
- When coffee starts to come out of the upper chamber, close the lid and take the moka pot from the stove.
- Serve your coffee in a cup or glass. Now you can enjoy!
Moka pot care
We recommend cleaning your moka pot regularly for best results. By the way, if you bought a moka pot made of aluminum, make sure to clean it using only water.
Extra tips
We recommend using ground coffee specifically for the moka pot. If you don't do this, your moka pot probably won't work properly.
If the ground coffee is too fine, the water will have difficulty passing through, if it is too coarse, the water will pass too quickly and you will get a weak coffee.
Do we need to talk about freshness again? The pleasure of drinking a fresh coffee is completely different! That's why we recommend you to buy a manual coffee grinder. For this, of course, it would be the most logical choice to buy Commandante .
