INTRODUCTION: A Moka Pot (sometimes called a stovetop espresso maker) can be an excellent way to prepare coffee (though it actually does not, in fact, make espresso). Keys to good coffee using a Moka Pot are: using high quality, fresh coffee; pre-heating the water; removing the pot from the heat at the right moment; proper grind of coffee; and using clean equipment. You’ll need a Moka Pot, an electric kettle or other device to boil water in, coffee, a good quality burr grinder, a heat source (electric or gas stove), hot pads, a bar towel and cups (and possibly a thermal carafe).
-
Preheat the water. Bring kettle water to a boil and remove from heat.
BARISTA TIP: We do this to keep the temperature of the moka pot from getting too hot and cooking the coffee, imparting a metallic taste.
- Grind your coffee on a drip coffee setting, about as fine as table salt. You need enough coffee to fill the filter basket, which is about 15 to 17 grams for a 4-cup Bialetti moka pot.
- Add the heated water and fill to the line in the bottom of the brewer.
- Insert the filter basket into the brewer bottom.
- Fill the basket with coffee, slightly mounded, and level the surface off with your finger. Brush away loose grounds on the top edge of the filter basket.
- Screw the top and bottom together. Use hot pads and don’t over tighten.
- Put the brewer on the stove, use moderate heat and make sure that the handle is not subjected to heat. Leave the top lid open.
- The coffee will begin to come out and you will hear a puffing sound and see a rich-brown stream that will get progressively lighter in color. Once the stream is the color of yellow honey, remove from heat source with hot pads and close the lid.
-
Wrap the bottom of the pot in a chilled bar towel or run under cold tap water to stop extraction.
BARISTA TIP: We do this to prevent the coffee from developing a metallic taste. The idea here is to get a relatively small amount of coffee which is very concentrated and rich.
- As soon as the coffee stops bubbling out, pour it into cups or a carafe. You may wish to dilute with hot water depending on preference.