Coffee talk...How to make the best cup of coffee with a Moka pot.

Plus, a bit of This & That.

Next Level Moka

By Andre Vippolis

Try staying at any rental or AirBnB in Italy without coming across at least one Moka pot. Invented in 1933 by Italian Engineer Alfonso Bialetti, this coffee maker created a home brewing revolution across Italy, as it could produce rich, espresso-like coffee without the need for complex machinery. Before the Moka pot's arrival, espresso was mainly available in cafés and required expensive, bulky machines, but Alfonso's invention allowed Italians to brew strong coffee at home easily and affordably. In the post-war era, Italy experienced much economic hardship, and the Moka pot's low cost made espresso-like coffee accessible to the masses, increasing its popularity throughout the country. To this day, not only is the Moka a fixture ingrained into everyday life, but it's also now something you can find being used throughout the world.

Years ago, when we were living in Denver for a short period, we started using the Bialetti Moka pot to make our coffee instead of getting a coffee machine. I followed a more traditional and basic method when preparing coffee in the Bialetti during that time, but over the years, as my obsession with all things coffee has grown, many things about how I approach it have changed, starting first and foremost with the beans.

Like most people who are probably using this contraption, I used to drink run-of-the-mill coffee from a poorly brewed Moka pot and thought it was fine because I didn't know at the time how much better it could be. I would buy pre-ground beans from the Illy or Lavazza's of the world and drink a cup of muddy, burnt-tasting espresso. When my interest in coffee beans and brewing deepened, I realized what a huge difference using really good coffee beans could make. And, if you're going to go to the trouble of making the Moka in the more fanatical way detailed below, you should definitely do it with high-quality beans - blend or single origin; as it's a total waste of time and energy otherwise. Start with an exceptional product, and you have a great chance of bringing out all the flavors the coffee beans offer. Now that I'm a full-blown coffee snob, wherever I am living, I obsessively seek out specialty coffee shops and roasters selling exceptional beans, especially if I will be using them in my Moka. Shitty coffee is shitty, and starting your day with a bad cup is one of the saddest ways to begin stepping into the magic of another day! You deserve to brew a great cup!

So, if you're like me (and since you are still reading this, you must be!) and want your cup of coffee made in your Moka pot to be the absolute best it can be, here is the ultimate guide to get you there.

HOW TO USE YOUR MOKA POT TO IT'S FULL POTENTIAL