Hi Sweet Friend,
Happy National Coffee Day! I really believe that Coffee Day is a state of mind (and therefore I celebrate it every single morning 😂).
While there are a number of ways to celebrate National Coffee Day, if you’re looking for a way to take your coffee to the next level, Moka Pots are a fun and exciting addition to the festivities. Read on to learn how to make coffee with a Moka Pot.
What is a Moka Pot?
The Moka pot is a stove-top coffee maker, commonly used in many countries around the world. The Moka pot creates espresso-like coffee by boiling water and passing it through a steam chamber containing ground, finely tamped coffee beans. The boiling water creating steam passes over the ground beans, causing them to expand and release their oils into the vapor. These oils are pushed up through an expresso-sized tube at high pressure where they mix with hot water drawn from below the grounds to create what is believed to be an espresso or “caffé” without needing to brew or press the brewed coffee first.
The Moka Pot was invented by Italian engineer Alfonso Bialetti and soon after became a staple in Italian culture.
Where Can I Find a Moka Pot?
Moka pots are fairly cheap and easy to find but often sold as “home-brewing” equipment. A Bialetti Moka pot might be available at a specialty kitchen supply store, such as Sur La Table or Williams-Sonoma; or online from places like Amazon.com.
We got ours from Eataly Dallas for about $36. It quickly became my favorite part of my morning routine.
Tips To Make a Great Cup of Coffee
I learned these tips from James Hoffmann on his super informative Youtube channel. If you’re into coffee, I highly recommend you check him out!
– make sure to fill the bottom pot with hot water just below the safety valve/knob
– use a towel when screwing on the top portion of the Moka Pot to protect from injury/burn
– keep the lid open and patiently wait for a flow of delicious coffee
– take off heat when it gurgles and run cold water over bottom pot to stop extraction
Click below to view the animation with step by step instructions!
If you’d like to learn how to paint a delicious cup of coffee, check out my book Watercolor Snacks, which has a chapter on coffee.
