Five Steps to Brewing Great Coffee with a Moka Pot

The moka pot is a must-have in every Italian home. The rise of the moka pot in Italy is closely related to the Italian political, social and economic environment from the 1920s to the 1940s. At that time, the espresso coffee machine had been invented and initially popular, but few families in Italy could make coffee at home, mainly because the espresso coffee machine at that time was too large, bulky, and expensive.

It wasn’t until Alfonso Bialett invented the moka pot in 1933 that Italy’s coffee culture changed drastically.

It is a direct-fired coffee maker from Italy that uses the vapor pressure of boiling hot water to extract coffee with a flavor close to espresso. Although the operation is not difficult, the timing of turning off the flame requires skill. It has a unique rich taste that is not found in drip coffee maker. It is great to drink it directly, but you can also enjoy the variation of making it into a latte or affogato.

1. Grind the coffee beans into powder (full powder tank). Separate the upper pot and lower pot of the mocha pot, and pour water into the lower pot (under the pressure relief valve).

2. Put coffee powder into the metal filter (powder trough), and tap the coffee powder flat.

3. Install the powder trough on the lower pot, and then tighten the upper pot. (Please be sure to tighten and confirm that the upper and lower pots are indeed connected together.)

4. With the lid open, heat with direct fire, and control the firepower so that the flame does not exceed the bottom of the pot. (Because there is a possibility of boiling and overflowing, it is recommended to do it with the pot lid open until you can master the trick. If the distance between the gas stove racks is too large and the moka pot cannot be placed stably on it, please add a net. Then heat it over direct fire.)

5. When the hot water boils and coffee extraction begins, turn off the heat. When all extraction is complete, in order to avoid over-steaming, please pour the coffee into the cup as soon as possible.