What is a Moka Pot?
The Moka Pot is a stove-top or electric coffee-maker with a history as rich as the flavour of coffee it creates! Invented in 1933 by the Italian engineer Alfonso Bialetti, the Moka Pot became a staple of Italian coffee culture. The Moka Pot is a method very similar to an espresso beverage with a twist. Brewing with your Moka pot will give your coffee a deeper, sweeter, and darker flavour profile. Another unique aspect of the Moka Pot is that instead of the hot water dripping DOWN through the grounds, it’s forced UP through the grounds with pressure.
How to Brew!
If your coffee grounds aren’t brewing “under pressure”, then neither should you! Follow these easy steps here to brew the perfect Moka Pot!
1. Have your favourite Velo coffee beans, Moka Pot, a cloth, and a serving cup ready (easy-peasy, right?)2. Put on your water kettle.
3. Grind your beans (or use finely ground beans – we can do it to order here at Velo) and fill the Moka Pot basket with them.
The best kind of coffee grind for this is medium-fine to fine. The grind should be a bit coarser than for an espresso machine, but finer than for a drip coffee maker. Think like Goldilocks, you want it to be “just right!”
4. Fill up the bottom part of the Moka Pot with your boiled water.5. Insert the full basket and screw the bottom and the top parts together.
6. Immediately put on the stove (or source of heat) and brew.
7. Remove from the stove once you hear bubbling and cracking noises & cool down the brewer with a cold/wet towel.
8. Pour the coffee into your cup straight away.
And now… for the most important step
9. ENJOY!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Patience is certainly key with your Moka Pot brewing until you get the hang of it! There are a few missteps with brewing Moka Pots, but don’t worry because we will hopefully guide you through the most common mistakes that can mess up your brew.
1. Choose the right beans. We suggest using a darker roast, so you can get the most body and flavour out of your Moka pot. You’d often use an espresso blend, so we suggest our Morning Fixie or single origin DR Congo. These coffees have the darker notes you want without the bitterness. We always suggest grinding your coffee fresh, but if you are buying pre-ground coffee just make sure it is between an espresso grind and a pour over grind.2. Always, always preheat your water. Once your favourite Velo coffee beans are ground, make sure that you preheat the water going into the base of the pot. This will reduce the amount of time that it takes to brew the coffee and keeps the grounds from being cooked. Cooked coffee grounds will taste metallic and bitter, which is not the dark and sweet brew we are looking for!
3. Never tamp the grounds. That’s a one-way ticket to coffee brewers’ jail. Although we often treat Moka pots like an espresso alternative, this is one way they differ from espresso machines . Espresso machines are made with fail-safes that will keep the machine from actually exploding if too much pressure is generated. However, this is already nearly impossible because the water is forced through the grounds so intensely. Moka Pots are built different. Even with a release valve, too much pressure can cause the pot to explode. The pressure that Moka Pots create is not enough pressure to force water through the ground coffee if it’s packed too tightly (safety first!)
Time to Brew!
So, you have your Velo coffee beans, Moka Pot, and the steps and common mistakes to look out for when making your first brew. Brewing with a Moka Pot can have a small learning curve, but it is certainly worth the trial and error. Remember, the best cup of coffee is the one that you enjoy. With a properly brewed Moka Pot, you’ll have the perfect balance of dark and sweet that is perfect on its own or with a dollop of perfectly foamed milk!
