How to choose a moka pot

Brief introduction

This classic Italian invention is one of thebest-selling alternative coffee brewingtechniques. Due to their compactness and low price , moka pots can be ideal partners both at home and on the go.

The teapot was invented for the low-cost purpose of creating delicious homemade coffee with a distinctive taste. It isnot directly about espresso, although it is very close to it. Unlike conventional coffee machines, which are capable of operating at around 9 bar, this simple tool can develop 1 to 2 bar.

Functions and design of the pot

The overall process is very fun and anyone who drops the teapot under their handswill enjoy it. The teapots allow coffee to be made under pressure using steam. This traditional brewing method produces a rich and strong coffee with an intense flavor and aroma. For a detailed overview of the alchemy of brewing, read the article on its preparation, as well as to find out what coarseness of grind to choose.

The design of the coffee pot includes a bottom chamber for heating the water, where steam is generated. The increased pressure in the pot gradually pushes the water upwards into the basket for the ground coffee, which is located in thevery centre of the tool. This is also where the strainerand seal can be found, which prevents the ground coffee frompenetrating into the resulting beverage. The extractedcoffee is then captured in theupper chamber and ready for serving. For safety, the lower chamber of the teapot isfitted with a valve to ensure protection against possible overpressure.

I recommend watching the video to get a better idea of the cooking process.

Aluminium or stainless steel - which material to choose?

From cooking to cleaning and maintenance, there are many key differences that need to be considered when handling aluminum or stainless steel kettles. Each material has its functional advantages and disadvantages, which we will now discuss.

Aluminum

Traditional mocha pots were made of aluminum and still are. Don't worry, the aluminum used is health safe. Although high exposure of the body to aluminium particles has been found to cause health problems such as Alzheimer's disease, there is no need to worry - the teapots areexolated like other common aluminium cookware. This treatment ensures that the material becomes non-reactive.

Aluminium teapots are good because of their price - they are cheap. Important properties of this material, and therefore advantages, are that it is relatively light and in terms of thermal conductivity it is fast.

On the other hand, the disadvantage of aluminium is its susceptibility to corrosion. They need more care and caution when washing. The teapot should be washed in hands only with hot water without detergents and wire.

As aluminium is not a magnetic material, you will not be able to place it on an induction cooker, which can be considered a disadvantage if you do not have a gas or electric hob in your home.

Stainless steel

If you're still unsure about the safety of aluminum, the fear of toxicity disappears altogether with stainless steel moka pots. Plus, models made from this material fill in the gaps left by their aluminum counterparts.

These teapots are known for their resistance to corrosion, hence they have a longer lifespan. With proper care, they will serve you well for a good ten years. With the increasing prevalence of induction cooktops in homes, it also has the undeniable advantage of beingcompatible with this type of cooktop unlike aluminum kettles.

There is also definitely easier washability - you can put the kettle in the dishwasher with ease. You won't get the metallic taste from the manufacture when you first cook. Just wash it with a little detergent and you're good to go.

Not to be all praise here, the downsides include the fact that they still don't conduct heat as well as aluminum andyou'll pay extra toget them .

When you get an aluminum moka pot, do a couple of cooking cycles before consuming. Always discard the contents afterwards. This will flush out any manufacturing contaminants that may still be in the container.

As for the design - that's the icing on the cake. They can be purchased in a wide range of colours and it's up to you whether you want to spice up its appearance.

Heating source

As already mentioned, when choosing a kettle, the heat source you intend to use is important. You can choose both aluminium and stainless steel kettles forgas and ceramic hobs. Forinduction hobs, due to their magnetic nature, only choose astainless steel kettle.

Of course, there is also an interesting alternative in the form of a model with built-in heating. Just plug in the electricity and the kettle will take care of the extraction itself. In some electric kettles you will also find the gadget of a timer.

Volume and serving size

Another factor to consider when choosing a is thevolume of the kettle, usually given in terms of the number of cups prepared. It is important to know that every time you prepare a cup, you will always have to prepare the maximum amount, which seems to be a disadvantage. Since the maximum amount of water and ground coffee creates the necessary pressure in the pot, it is not possible to reduce this amount.

It is therefore important to consider for whom you will bepreparing coffee - for yourself and your partner, your household or perhaps your work team? Sizes vary. Preparation can range from one to perhaps eighteen servings.

For mocha teapots, as a rule, one cup equals 30-50 ml of coffee. Of course, how much coffee a mocha potultimately extracts is individual.

Have you heard of the " 9Barista Espresso machine"? The machine is deceptive in appearance - to the eye it looks like a more complex moka pot, but it is already a small coffee machine. Due to the development of 9bar pressure ,real espresso preparation is possible here . You can read about it in the article Moka pot for real espresso: 9Barista Espresso Machine.

A word in conclusion

We've told you how to approach choosing a coffee pot. Finally, we'll answer what specific mocha kettle to choose for your home.

If you have an induction hob, you definitely won't go wrong with the " Bialetti New Moka Induction" or perhaps the red " Bialetti Moka Induction".

For a ceramic or gas hob you can choose the classic " Bialetti Moka Express" and a great choice for an electric hob is the " Bialetti Moka Elettrika Standard".

The above recommended teapots are designed for two people. If you want a larger capacity, you can find the same types of teapots on our website, but with a variety of prepared cups.