MokaJoe Junior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Thailand Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed Feb 27, 2013, 11:55pm Subject: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
I've only been drinking coffee for a few years and have slowly worked my way up from instant to a stove top pot.
When I bought the stove put, I got the biggest generic one they had, which said it was a six cup one. I thought this strange as it only holds one mug of water.
When using it, I fill the bottom with water (one mugs worth).
Then I put some ground beans on the filter bit - just enough to cover the bottom.
Then put it on the heat and wait until the top if full. Pour the water into my mug and drink.
Now, after a while I was looking online and it occurred to me I might be doing it the wrong way.
I saw people who were using the tiny 1 cup models and packing the filter area with coffee.
Then heating it and pouring the coffee into a mug and then either drinking the tiny amount or adding hot water to make a full mug.
I'm just after a nice tasting mug of black coffee in the mornings. Am I doing it wrong with my stove top pot?
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,605 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Thu Feb 28, 2013, 3:20am Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
Welcome to CoffeeGeek!
If the coffee you brew tastes good to you, you must be doing something right, because that's what really counts in the end. However, you might experiment with different doses of ground coffee or by adding water or hot milk to your moka, which will give you a coffee drink that is close to an Americano or a traditional Italian latte. Maybe you'll find a new favourite.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
AntWilliams90 Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2013 Posts: 43 Location: Warwickshire, UK Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Mahlkonig Vario Home Roaster: Dieckmann Rostmeister
Posted Thu Feb 28, 2013, 8:46am Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
Agreed, if it tastes good to you, then you can't be doing it wrong.
A couple of things to note;
6 cups means 6 shots of espresso, which can be used to make 6 drinks (I use a 6 cup and like you drink the whole thing without diluting/adding milk)
When you say that you put "ground beans on the filter bit - just enough to cover the bottom" do you literally mean a thin layer of ground beans, just enough to hide the holes in the filter? In my opinion, despite my opening sentence, I would say that this is the wrong way to do it - you aren't going to get anything more than coffee flavoured hot water! I fill the filter with ground coffee to the top, like this which is a brilliant video on how to use a moka pot anyway!!
As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
CMIN Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 500 Location: South FL Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Thu Feb 28, 2013, 9:56am Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
Moka "cups" are around 2oz per cup not necessarily a normal cup that most would think of, that's why you'll see people using smaller versions. But yeh I'm not sure what you mean by how many grinds your using, but you should be at the top of the filter). Moka Pots have to have the correct amount of water (fill line) and correct amount of coffee in the different filters that come with the different sizes (1 cup, 3 cup, 6 cup etc) or they won't work right, if you just barely covering the filter on a 6 cup that's way over-extracting/burning the small amount of grounds for what will taste like burnt coffee flavored water like mentioned above.
If that's too much coffee you may need to look into getting a smaller one like a 2 cup etc, or if you want the amount the 6 cup does, use the right amount of grounds and you'll get a nice strong flavorful cup. Moka can make awesome coffee but only with the right amounts.
two good comments at the bottom of that vid too: 1.fill the coffee little over the top of the filter, but never press down!
never use full heat, take off the fire while itīs still coming out slowly! if you leave it till end like this video it will overheat and make the coffee bitter.
MokaJoe Junior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Thailand Expertise: Just starting
Posted Tue Mar 5, 2013, 6:09am Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
Thanks for the replies.
I watched the videos and from them and what you have all said I'm doing it wrong!
I have what looks like the same size as those in the video but I'm putting in about a third of what they are in terms of coffee grounds.
Tomorrow I will try and use more coffee and see what it tastes like. Like I said I've only recently started drinking 'proper' coffee so not sure what to expect.
As long as it tastes better than Nescafe instant I've been happy so far!
I will probably get a smaller 1 or 2 cup maker at some point as it looks like a lot of beans are needed for a 2-3 mugs a day.
I also use an electric hob but put it on 3 (out of 6) so not doing it too hot.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,652 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Mar 5, 2013, 7:40am Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
You need to make a full pot using the correct volume of coffee in a Moka pot so if you are not filling the basket, you are not using enough coffee. It may be a bit stronger than what you are getting now!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
MokaJoe Junior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Thailand Expertise: Just starting
Posted Tue Mar 5, 2013, 9:29pm Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
calblacksmith Said:
You need to make a full pot using the correct volume of coffee in a Moka pot so if you are not filling the basket, you are not using enough coffee. It may be a bit stronger than what you are getting now!
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,652 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 3:20pm Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
If it is a 6 cup maker, make 6 cups, do not try to make 3 or 2. Some people make less than the full volume of a drip machine and can get away with it depending on the machine but the way a moka pot works, it is designed for one volume of coffee and that is it, it has to do with water flow through the coffee bed, contact time etc.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
MokaJoe Junior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Thailand Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 11:03pm Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
Thanks. I've been adding more coffee now and it doesn't taste much different or stronger but I'm working my way up to a full filter.
I'm using mugs rather than cups for drinking from though. The bottom bit where the water goes only holds one mugs worth. There is no way you would get six of anything from it, apart from maybe thimbles.
I will try and pick up a 1 or 2 cup version on the weekend.
I've been adding coconut oil to my morning cuppa recently too.
CMIN Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 500 Location: South FL Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Thu Mar 7, 2013, 5:12am Subject: Re: Stove Top Moka Style: am I doing it wrong?
Like I said, Moka 'cups' are espresso based, 6 cup would be like 6 espresso shots, not "6 full mugs/cups" of coffee. But your still not filling the filter full, only way Moka works, each "varying cup" size Moka pot has a different size filter, but that filter has to be full. Otherwise its just going to burn and overextract since there isn't enough grounds.
Should look into a pour over setup like the Chemex if you want more.
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