Cleaning Your Moka
The moka is made up of three pieces — the boiler, the funnel filter and the upper container which will hold the brewed coffee.
The boiler has a truncated conical shape and the upper part is threaded so that it can be screwed onto the upper container. One side of the boiler contains a pressure-release safety valve that relieves any excessive pressure inside of the boiler.
The funnel filter is inserted into the boiler and contains the ground coffee. Water is placed into the boiler. When heated, the water from the boiler is forced up through the neck of the filter and, after the infusion, reaches the upper container.
The upper container, which has a second filter, is screwed onto the boiler and a gasket provides a tight seal. The filter on the lower part of the container prevents the coffee grounds from moving into the upper container that holds the brewed coffee. There is a column in the center of the upper container which enables the coffee to exit into the container.
On the first use, sterilize the moka by placing 1 or 2 teaspoons of baking soda (bicarbonate) in the funnel filter. Fill the boiler with water up to 1 cm below the valve, screw the upper container onto the boiler and place it on the heat source, as you would when making coffee. When the bicarbonate water has all moved up into the upper container, remove the moka from the heat source and let it to cool. Then, wash all the pieces with cold water. Now, make two or three coffees and leave them in the boiler and in the upper tank for a day. Discard this coffee. This step seasons the moka serves remove the metallic taste that results from the manufacturing process.
The moka should be washed at least once a week using a neutral, non-perfumed degreasing detergent. The filter of the container must also be removed,
and the inside of the column must be washed with a small brush. Before storing the moka, it must be thoroughly dried to avoid the formation of mold and bacteria.
If you are not going to be using the moka for a long period of time, it is a good idea to insert a teaspoon of coffee and sugar into the boiler, the funnel filter, and the upper container. This will enable any remaining moisture to be absorbed by this mixture of ground coffee and sugar.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME…….
