What Is a Moka Pot?
A Moka Pot is a type of manual espresso maker used to brew coffee by passing boiling water pressurized by steam through ground coffee. It is most commonly used in the home, but is also available in some cafes.
How Does a Moka Pot Work?
The Moka Pot is made up of three main parts: a base, an upper chamber, and a filter. The base contains boiling water, and when the Moka Pot is placed on the heat source, the steam pressure forces boiling water up through the filter and into the upper chamber. This lower chamber contains the ground coffee, which the hot water passes through, producing espresso.
Is a Moka Pot A Percolator?
The answer is no. A percolator is a type of manual brewing device that cycles boiling water up and through ground coffee for multiple times until desired strength is achieved. This produces a strong, usually bitter, cup of coffee.
Moka Pots, on the other hand, only pass the boiling water up through the grounds once. This produces an espresso that is much smoother than a traditional percolator brewed coffee.
The Advantages of Using a Moka Pot
A Moka Pot has many advantages over both a manual percolator and an automatic espresso maker. They include:
- Ease of use: A Moka Pot is incredibly easy to use and doesn’t require any special equipment or techniques to make a delicious cup of espresso.
- Cost: A Moka Pot can cost significantly less than an automatic espresso maker, making it an ideal choice for those who want to make espresso without breaking the bank.
- Flavor: Moka Pot brewed espresso is known for its smooth and robust flavor, which is often superior to espresso made with an automatic machine.
Conclusion
A Moka Pot is a type of manual espresso maker that is incredibly easy to use and produces delicious, smooth espresso without requiring any special equipment or techniques. Though it is not a percolator, it does produce a superior cup of espresso than one made with a percolator.
