What are the advantages and disadvantages of making coffee in a Moka pot?

What is a moka pot

Moka Pot is a tool used for extracting espresso. The Moka pot is made of aluminum or stainless steel and is divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower. The lower seat is a sink containing water, the middle powder trough holds coffee powder, and the upper seat To hold the extracted coffee liquid, the pot body has a pressure relief valve that automatically releases the pressure when the pressure is too high. The traditional Moka pot is made of aluminum and can be heated with an open flame or an electric stove; modern Moka pots are mostly made of stainless steel and can be heated with an induction stove; there are also electric-heated Moka pots like electric kettles.

Moka pot principle

The working principle of the Moka pot is to heat the pot on the stove. The water in the bottom of the pot boils and is converted into water vapor. The pressure generated by the volatile steam when the water boils is used to push the hot water from the pipe into the ground coffee powder above. trough, filtered by the filter and then flowed into the upper pot.

The difference between a moka pot and a coffee machine

The appearance and structure of the Moka pot and the coffee machine are different. The former is divided into two layers: the upper pot and the lower pot, while the latter is mostly boxy in shape. The working principles of the Moka pot and the coffee machine are different. The former uses water vapor pressure to penetrate the coffee powder layer for extraction. , the latter is mainly divided into drip type and high-pressure steam type; the taste of Moka pot and coffee machine is different, the coffee made by the former has a lighter taste, while the coffee concentration of the latter is very high and rich in oil; the use method of Moka pot is slightly different than that of coffee machine. Complex; uses different types of coffee beans; Moka pots are less difficult to clean than coffee machines.

The difference between Moka pot and French press pot

French press and Moka pot are very popular tools for making coffee. The difference between a mocha coffee pot and a French press pot mainly lies in flavor release, taste presentation, and cleaning difficulty.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Making Coffee in a Moka Pot

Advantages: The method closest to the Italian machine Espresso among home-made products, just heat it with direct fire. You can get started with just 300 yuan. Compared with the starting price of 2,000 yuan for a general Italian machine, it is affordable and easy to operate. Some Moka pots with double valves can reach critical pressure to extract oils if the coffee beans are selected and ground properly.

Disadvantages: The coffee made with a moka pot has a low upper limit of flavor, that is, it is not as clear and bright as hand-brewed coffee, nor is it as rich and delicate as that made by an espresso machine. Therefore, there are almost no Moka pots in specialty coffee shops. But as a home coffee appliance, it is a 100-point appliance.

What kind of coffee is suitable for Moka pot?

Appliances such as Moka pots are suitable for making high-concentration coffee. Judging from the manufacturing principle of Moka pots, it uses high temperature and high pressure generated by steam to extract coffee. However, "high temperature and high pressure" is the least suitable for making single-origin coffee, and only Suitable for Espresso, so the correct choice of coffee beans for the Moka pot should be Italian blended beans. Its requirements for roasting and grinding are completely different from single-origin coffee beans.

How to choose a Moka pot

Material selection

This is the primary consideration, because the Moka pot will generate high pressure when heated, and the quality of the material directly affects the safety of use. Generally, water storage containers are made of edible aluminum and stainless steel. The editor of Maimao.com recommends that it is best to choose stainless steel. When purchasing, firstly, weigh the weight of the kettle, so that you can know the thickness of the dosage, and choose a heavier one; secondly, look at the smoothness of the appearance of the kettle.

Sealing options

The sealing performance mainly depends on two aspects, one is the sealing performance between the upper seat and the lower seat, and the other is the sealing performance of the pressure relief valve and whether there is water leakage. The sealing can only be discovered through use. It is recommended that the top ten brands of Moka pot products are relatively quality-guaranteed.

Pot type selection

Different pot types are suitable for using different coffee beans. For example, the slim and long Moka pot has a high and deep water storage container, slow heating and high pressure, which is suitable for steaming light roasted coffee; the medium and high type Moka pot is suitable for steaming and cooking medium roast coffee; the short and fat Moka pot The water storage container is wide and low, heats quickly and has low pressure, making it suitable for cooking dark roasted coffee.

Cup selection

Moka pot models are usually distinguished by the number of cups, but here the cup refers to the concept of espresso. One cup corresponds to about 45ml of espresso. It does not correspond to the number of people drinking. It should be selected based on the daily coffee drinking habits. , it is generally recommended to buy a Moka pot with a range of 3-6 servings.