One of the most popular drinks throughout today's world is espresso. Available in many different versions, it can be purchased in a number of coffee shops as well as made at home. One of the latest versions of the latter is a stove top espresso maker which is also called a Moka pot. These pots are available in 2,4 and 6 cup sizes which makes them suitable for just one person or more. They were invented in 1933 and are especially popular in Italy and are often called the 'poor man's espresso maker'. This model can be used where there is no electricity, such as on a camping trip. The original version of this type of machine, for home use, was difficult to use and did not produce a very satisfactory drink. One reason is that they brew under pressure which is different from the plug-in machines. There is a difference in the use of pressure and steam for brewing with this model brewing under lower pressure.
A regular, home model of the espresso machine uses 1.5 bars rather than 9 bars of pressure. In addition, it uses boiling water and steam above 100 degrees C which is much higher than the regular machine. It is generally agreed that they do not have the quality brewing that a regular machine does. This is because the brewing is done at excess heat and uses insufficient natural pressure.
The parts to a stove top model are the bottom chamber, middle chamber, filter basket, bottom changer, and filter basket. The bottom chamber holds water and it is the heat from the stove that pushes the water upward into the filter basket, which holds the ground coffee. This then goes into the top chamber and the process is completed.
It is recommended that, when purchasing one of these pots, attention is paid to the material from which it is made. Aluminum moka pots, for example, while cheap, will add a very bad taste to the coffee. It is better to spend the extra money to buy a good stainless steel model which will produce a more satisfactory product.
Careful reading of any labels on these pots is also recommended as sometimes there are special instructions as to how they are to be used. These instructions will vary such as saying to start with cold water, others will say hot water. It is only by experimenting that a person will find out exactly which way produces the kind of coffee they like. One thing that all pots say is that it should not be put in the dishwasher. It needs to be taken apart and washed in a mild detergent and water after every use as well as dried thoroughly.
An added suggestion is that every few weeks running vinegar through a regular brewing cycle will remove any mineral deposits caused by hard water. A visit to the Internet will show things such as trouble shooting problems, making coffee correctly, the correct coffee grind and many other things which will help one enjoy espresso coffee made on their stove top espresso maker.
A regular, home model of the espresso machine uses 1.5 bars rather than 9 bars of pressure. In addition, it uses boiling water and steam above 100 degrees C which is much higher than the regular machine. It is generally agreed that they do not have the quality brewing that a regular machine does. This is because the brewing is done at excess heat and uses insufficient natural pressure.
The parts to a stove top model are the bottom chamber, middle chamber, filter basket, bottom changer, and filter basket. The bottom chamber holds water and it is the heat from the stove that pushes the water upward into the filter basket, which holds the ground coffee. This then goes into the top chamber and the process is completed.
It is recommended that, when purchasing one of these pots, attention is paid to the material from which it is made. Aluminum moka pots, for example, while cheap, will add a very bad taste to the coffee. It is better to spend the extra money to buy a good stainless steel model which will produce a more satisfactory product.
Careful reading of any labels on these pots is also recommended as sometimes there are special instructions as to how they are to be used. These instructions will vary such as saying to start with cold water, others will say hot water. It is only by experimenting that a person will find out exactly which way produces the kind of coffee they like. One thing that all pots say is that it should not be put in the dishwasher. It needs to be taken apart and washed in a mild detergent and water after every use as well as dried thoroughly.
An added suggestion is that every few weeks running vinegar through a regular brewing cycle will remove any mineral deposits caused by hard water. A visit to the Internet will show things such as trouble shooting problems, making coffee correctly, the correct coffee grind and many other things which will help one enjoy espresso coffee made on their stove top espresso maker.
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