There are too many ways to make coffee; this app has already three documented methods (1, 2, 3). The tinkerer in me though, always gravitates to new toys to scratch that itch. Seeing Little’s cute toy moka pot and then actually purchasing the real thing (made in Italy no less) has me convinced a synchronicity moment occurred. Very funny. So of course I dig into the wikipedia page on the subject and find out it was invented by an engineer in Europe in the 1930s and uses physics to implement its almost espresso-like result. CLOSE to the actual espresso but no cigar. And that’s fine. Because this isn’t a bulky/expensive contraption that froths the impeccable espresso (nor does it aim to be). One day. 🥲
Somewhere in between a French press coffee and a pure espresso lies the Moka. It’s another tool in the coffee-making arsenal. I love coffee, though the time and the grind (pun intended) of preparing it every single morning has made me bored of the hobby tbqh. This octagonal pot has enough architectural austerity to keep things novel and the stopwatch test yielded a faster 0-to-sip time than both the French and Chemex coffee. Nowadays, I forgo those techniques to brew this kinda instead; based on the speed and efficiency bump. This brews a highly potent dose of caffeine (being the 3 cup size), you get two perfect shots–OR you can get two cups if you Americano this (variant below👇).. Essentially diluting it to bring it closer to a Chemex coffee. I am still experimenting, as no two cups of coffee are ever 100% mathematically identical. Debates aplenty on roast types to use: darks-meds-lights; but I prefer darker. 🌚
Factors to never experiment with: the grind size and heating method. The former needs to be fine but not espresso fine (powder) but not as coarse as French pressing (grinds 📷). The latter; heat the water prior to pouring into the receptacle (where you fill it until the safety valve). Never say never; however, if experimenting 👩🔬👨🏻🔬, there is a fine line between grind size and HOW/WHEN the water heating occurs and the infamous bitter taste 😖 a poorly brewed moka can produce. Details abound below in the exact science/steps of this marvelous invention.
