Just to give you an idea of the direction this post is going, I'm drinking Moka Pot coffee right now as I type these words. (and I also listen to the Queen concert in Montreal in 1981, but that's another conversation).
And, importantly, I didn't spit it out screaming how bad it is, as you might expect a "coffee purist" to do.
So if you're one of those guys, stop reading right here. I'm not going to lynch mocha pots here.
I'm just drinking coffee made this way, like many other people on the planet do.
You think I'm crazy, don't you?
For my morning coffee, I have a lot of options. I consistently drink St. Augustine coffee in-house. And I roast coffee myself. And sometimes I'm offered a bag or two from other roasters. So there are plenty of coffees to drink. And plenty of devices, too. Count me in: Kalita, V60, Aeropress, French Press, Auto Drip, Nespresso, Moka Pot.
So my choice in the morning is something like this: How do I want to take this coffee?
When I have time, it's a filter. When I have time and I'm in the mood for a lot of grinding, it's a French Press. When I want a great, never-ending cup of coffee, I opt for an Auto Drip. When I don't want a lot of work… When I don't want a lot of work, and I want to feel a little "old-fashioned," it's a Moka Pot.
A few weeks ago, I ran a poll on Instagram asking whether people use a Moka Pot or not. I got some unexpected results, by the way. I was thinking most people would say, "No, Moka Pot, never!" And then I got 58% of "yes."
So, 58% of those who responded use Moka, or at least have nothing against it. Those who answered "no" were mostly "coffee geeks."
I'll tell you something, purely my perspective. I feel like sometimes the problem is that "coffee geeks" adopt certain ideas but never try them out themselves. They basically adopt other people's opinions, the opinions of some influential people, and pass them on. Sometimes you talk to that kind of person, and you listen to someone else, and sometimes you can even tell exactly whose opinion they adopted.
I don't want to be like that, so I experiment. That's why I have Auto Drip, Nespresso, and, yes, a Moka Pot at home.
People probably won't like what I say about this device, or even the fact that I'm using it, and I have a recipe for it. But what I have to say is: It's good to know how to work with what you have.
What are the preconceived ideas people have about Moka Pot?
First of all, It's not great, it's a "grandmother's device". What can I say... It's really something retroAnd the positive side of this retro is that almost everyone has one at home. Does everyone have a V60? Nah.
Of course, you may be buying more things, especially when the market feeds you with new coffee-making gadgets every month… But isn't it better, at least, to know how to use what you already have? It feels good to be smart. You know, I'm just saying...
Second preconception. The water passes through the boiling coffee. I say, so what? It would be bad if you boiled the coffee after making it, yes. Or left it boiling on the stove. Or let it heat up in the Auto Drip. But if you don't, it's all good! The water passes through the ground coffee (and it does so in much the same way as when you're making a siphon, by the way), and then cools. The temperature of the coffee grounds is less than 100°C, so the sum of the temperatures will be less than 100°C, if that's something you're worried about.
Third preconception. Stove-top coffee tastes like metal. I say: according to this logic, espresso should also taste like metal. Does it? Nope. It can taste stale if you don't clean your equipment (talking about both espresso machine and Moka Pot). If you are considering purchasing a Moka Pot and are choosing between stainless steel and aluminum, choose steel.
To sum up, a Moka Pot is an affordable, easy-to-use device that almost everyone has at home, capable of producing a thick, thick, and flavorful cup of coffee.
Here is the recipe I use for Moka Pot:
- Boil the water
- Fill the bottom of the Moka Pot with boiling water almost up to the steam valve (for my moka pot it is equal to 235 grams)
- Put the filter basket
- Fill it with 20 grams of coffee, evenly distributed, grinding the way you grind it for V60
- Put on the top compartment of Moka Pot
- Place the Moka pot on medium heat
- When you see the coffee appear in the top compartment, wait 10 seconds and then remove the Moka Pot from the stove.
- Serve and enjoy!
Things to be careful about when making coffee in a Moka Pot:
- When filling the bottom part with hot water, be careful, the whole device gets very hot!
- If the coffee is ground too fine, the water won't pass through it. Pay attention to how the moka pot behaves, and remove it from the stove quickly if water starts to seep between the bottom and top. In this case, change the grind size to coarser.
- After making coffee, serve it immediately, do not store it in the moka pot, it will have a stale and metallic taste.
And the rules of use are very similar to those of any other coffee-making device:
Love your Moka pot, treat it well, clean it after use, don’t let coffee sit there too long and oxidize, use the proper water for making coffee, freshly roasted coffee from your favorite roaster, if you are a coffee lover – buy a good grinder, and grind the coffee right before making it (believe me, it’s worth the investment!).
and stop feeling guilty and thinking about what other people will say: rejoice in breaking the rules, playing, experimenting, trying new things, preparing your coffee your way, and most importantly, enjoying it!
A hug
