The Moka pot is a coffee brewing apparatus that was patented in Italy by Luigi De Ponti on behalf of Alfonso Bialetti in the early 1930s. However the name of the pot is actually taken from the city of Mocha, Yemen which was the hub of superior coffee for a very long time. The charming octagon shaped apparatus is also referred to by the name of macchinetta, meaning “small machine”.
While there are many types of Moka pots available, all have some basic parts in common.
- They all have a vessel at the bottom to boil water.
- The bottom chamber also has a basket with filter for holding coffee with funnel-like tube extending into the water.
- A second chamber located on top of the lower one, which houses another removable filter that is fixed in position by a rubber gasket.
Similar in looks to a traditional percolator, the moka pot employs boiling water and steam for working the coffee grounds and converting them to brewed coffee. The use of Moka pots offers a historic connection to the past and not to mention the fact that they are indeed beautiful to look at. They allow you to make a full bodied cup of coffee with strong aroma in the traditional way, yet require little effort. Needless to say they are slower than the more modern cup-based systems. This is mainly due to the need for boiling water on a stove. But then therein lies the nostalgia.
How a Moka Pot Works:
The Moka pot is not too complex to use, although it is a bit more complex than a French press, Chemex or even an AeroPress.
- You begin making coffee in the moka pot by adding water to the lower chamber, then placing the coffee grounds in the funnel like filter basket and positioning it in the lower chamber and finally closing the unit by screwing the upper chamber into position.
- Place the unit on the stove and wait for the water to boil. While the traditional moka pots were designed to boil water on stove, now self-heating pots are available in the market.
- When water boils, steam pushes the water up the funnel tube and into the basket full of coffee grounds. As the water continues to boil, the power of the steam pushes the freshly brewed coffee further up the tube and into the top chamber for collection.
- Upon completion of brewing, just pour the coffee from the upper chamber spout into a cup and enjoy.
Even though the moka pots resemble a percolator, there are some major differences in design. A percolator makes use of a single large chamber which also houses the coffee grounds basket attached to a long tube that extends from the basket at the top of the chamber to the water below. The lower chamber that holds the water for boiling in a moka pot is pressurized with a rubber gasket to keep steam form escaping. A built-in pressure relief valve allows for excess pressure to be released, while keeping what is needed. The percolator brews coffee without the benefit of pressure building mechanism.
Pros & Cons of a Moka Pot
Pros:
- The moka pot allows you to make coffee and enjoy it the way it was done in the past. It requires less effort than some other options, namely French Press.
- Electric versions are available for added convenience.
- Capable of brewing multiple cups, yet portable.
Cons:
- Gaskets along with connecting tubes need to be replaced occasionally.
- Regardless of having two filters, coffee grounds can still slip into the cup of coffee.
- Safety valves do get blocked over time and need regular inspections.
- Coffee prepared in the moka pot tends to be of stronger flavour, which may not suit all tastes.
- Moka pots are not a replacement for an espresso machine. The pressure created in a moka pot is too low to be able to brew a proper espresso.
Moka Pot Coffee Vs. Others
Drip Brew: There is a big difference in coffees prepared with drip brew machines and a moka pot. The moka pot makes use of water that is over the boiling point, due to the pressure that builds inside the chamber. Drip brew coffee is mostly made at temperatures just under the boiling point. The pressurized boiling water is able to extract greater percentage of caffeine compared to the water with lower temperature found in drip brew machines. This means that coffee made in a moka pot is significantly stronger than the drip brew machine.
Espresso Brew: At times the moka pot is also called a stovetop espresso maker. Since, both an espresso maker and moka pot employ pressure, the moka pot is typically compared with espresso makers. In the coffee made in a moka pot, you can get crema just like you would with an espresso machine. Regardless of the similarities, the moka pot is not an espresso maker. According to the standards set by the SCAA and the Italian Espresso National Institute, to prepare a true espresso, the water must hit the grounds under 8.5-9.5 bar of pressure. The most pressure a moka pot is capable of creating is 1.5 bar.
Having mentioned the definition of a true espresso, it should also be noted that only a true coffee enthusiast will be able to distinguish the flavour created under 1.5 bar pressure and roughly 9 bar pressure. A vast majority of the typical coffee drinkers, it just as good as a true espresso!
Which Moka Pot is the Best?
Considering the fact that moka pots work by employing the same basic principles, and are made up of the same basic components, it is difficult one moka pot over another. However there are a few variables to consider before the purchase of a unit.
Traditionally moka pots were made using aluminium, but now steel ones are easily available in the market. While the aluminium pots offer nostalgia and produce a cup of Joe that brings the taste of the past alive, it is harder to clean than a steel moka pot. Additionally, many people complain of a metallic aftertaste.
Many moka pots can now be purchased with built-in heater for boiling water, whereas the original moka pots were designed to boil water over a stove. There is no doubt that the newer versions offer greater temperature control over infusion times. However, with a bit of practice, controlling the brewing is not a major issue; it is simply a matter of personal choice.
Moka pots are available in a variety of sizes. Experts claim smaller units produce better tasting coffee. This is because a larger sized pot passed greater volume of water through the grounds over a longer duration, which may produce coffee that is slightly more bitter.
