While I was skeptical about a moka pot first, I came around very quickly after I bought one. I purchased a bialetti 4-cup stainless steel moka pot and I immediately used put it to work.
The moka pot doesn’t make espresso as some think, it just doesn’t have the pressure necessary to make crema from the grinds. I think the moka pot generates around 1 bar of pressure which falls short of the approximately 9 bar required for espresso. That being said, the moka pot makes a wonderfully strong shot of coffee with great flavor that never seems to be bitter.
I chose the stainless steel model at the higher price of $29 because I didn’t want the aluminum of it’s cheaper cousin. This is still incredibly cheap when you consider, you will spent anywhere from $600 and up for a good quality espresso machine. My Elektra Microcasa was around $1100.
The first 4 shots of coffee I made from the moka pot were absolutely splendid. I grinded as I would for my espresso and filled the filter a little over the top and let the top of the pot squeeze it down as I screwed it on. I did use filtered water in the base of the pot because filtered water makes a world of difference in making coffee.
The great thing about the moka pot I bought is that it makes exactly 4 shots which with some hot water can become 4 cups of coffee which is just the amount my wife and I drink each morning, so no coffee is wasted like we often have when using a french press.
In the afternoon, I make more and drink all 4 shots without dilution as a pick me up. I do this when I am too lazy to make a latte or an espresso with a machine.
After loading the espresso ground coffee and water into the pot and sealing it tight, you will want to heat it on high. It should take about 5 minutes and you will hear gurgling to signal that the coffee is ready.
I often thought that in Italy every household had an espresso machine, but this is not true. Espresso machines are for restaurants, cafes and the aficionado and moka pots are for the every day joe who wants a cup of his namesake.
While the pot may not make espresso, it sure as heck makes a great cup of coffee and I recommend that you should have one of these right alongside your french press.
