Moka Express

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Moka Express
Manufacturer	Bialetti
Release date	1933

The Moka pot (or Espresso pot, or Moka Express), is a stovetop espresso maker, based on the principle of preparing coffee with pressurized boiling water. It was invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933 and while there are currently many manufacturers, his company Bialetti continues to market the leading model, known by the brand name Moka Express. They are made from aluminium with bakelite handles.

In Italy, where Bialetti is based, the moka pot is in almost every home; elsewhere, it is known as an iconic design, displayed in modern industrial art museums, such as the Science Museum in London. Mokas come in different sizes, from one to eighteen coffee cups.^[1]

Contents 1 Brewing coffee with a Moka Express 2 Moka coffee vs. drip coffee 3 Maintenance 4 Variations 4.1 Brikka 4.2 Mukka Express 4.3 Other brands 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Brewing coffee with a Moka Express

Water is poured in the boiler (marked A in the diagram) and the funnel-shaped metal filter (B) is inserted. Finely ground coffee is added to the filter as shown below. The upper part (which has a second metal filter at the bottom) is tightly screwed on the base. By placing the pot on a heat source, the water is brought close to boiling point creating steam in the boiler. A gasket ensures a tightly closed unit and allows for pressure to safely build up in the lower section, where a safety valve provides a necessary release in case this pressure would get too high (with clean filters, that should not happen).

The steam eventually reaches a high enough pressure to gradually force the surrounding boiling water up the funnel through the coffee powder and into the upper chamber (C), where the coffee is collected. When the lower chamber is almost empty, steam bubbles mix with the upstreaming water, producing a characteristic gurgling noise.

As with percolators, the pot should not be left on the stove so long that the coffee boils. Ideally, with a little practice, it should be removed from the heat before it actually starts gurgling--usually, when only about half of the top chamber has been filled.

[edit] Moka coffee vs. drip coffee

The coffee produced by a moka pot is a form of espresso known as stovetop espresso. ^[2] The flavor of moka pot espresso depends greatly on bean variety, roast level, fineness of grounds, and the level of stovetop heat used. Due to the higher pressures involved, the mixture of water and steam reaches temperatures well above 100°C, causing a more efficient extraction of caffeine and flavours from the grounds, and resulting in a much stronger brew when compared to that obtained by drip brewing. However, since a typical moka cup is about 30ml, the actual amount of caffeine per serving is smaller.

[edit] Maintenance

Moka pots require periodic replacement of the rubber seal and the filters and a check that the safety release valve is not blocked.

After use, a coat of greasy coffee residues is left lining the interior of the stems, filters and upper chamber. This thin layer protects the coffee from contact with the aluminum wall, which might otherwise give a slight metallic taste to the coffee.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Variations

Moka pots are normally made of aluminium for use over an open flame or on an electric range. However, Bialetti now makes several electric moka pots and several stainless steel stovetop espresso machines of a somewhat different design.^[3]

[edit] Brikka

Brikka is an improved Moka pot by Bialetti. It incorporates a weight on top of the nozzle that causes pressure to build up inside the water tank in a manner similar to old style pressure cookers. It is designed to give a crema foam similar to that of an espresso machine. It produces less espresso than similar sized moka pots, is more expensive, and is more complicated to use. ^[4]

[edit] Mukka Express

Mukka Express is an improved Moka pot by Bialetti. It has a special valve that froths milk while the coffee is being made. The result is a coffee drink similar to a latte.

[edit] Other brands

Alessi is another Italian manufacturer of Kitchen wares that is known for their Moka pots. Bodum has added a 'Stove Top Espresso Maker' to their Chambord line of kitchenwares. There are many makers of generic moka pots based on the original Bialetti design.

[edit] See also

• Coffee percolator
• Espresso

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Rombauer, Irma S.; Marion Rombauer Becker; Ethan Becker (August 1997). Joy of Cooking. Scribner, 28-29. ISBN 0-684-81870-1. 

[edit] External links

• Bialetti web site
• Tips for Moka brewing (PDF)
• The story of Bialetti Moka Express
• Bialetti USA - information about Bialetti from the US importer

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