Three Reasons Why You Should Use a Moka Pot
There are many ways to make coffee. From simple drip coffee to a Starbucks latte, all coffee drinkers have their favorite method of brewing. One of my personal favorite methods often gets overlooked, however. Many American coffee drinkers are unfamiliar with the moka pot; a stovetop coffee maker. Despite its relative unpopularity and obscurity, there are many reasons why all coffee drinkers should consider using a moka pot.
1. At home lattes
Although it is weaker than espresso, moka pot coffee makes a strong and concentrated brew that makes an excellent substitute for espresso. While a moka pot latte will not taste quite the same as one from your favorite coffee shop, moka pots are far cheaper and more convenient than an espresso machine. Also, making coffee at home is far cheaper than picking it up. In addition to lattes, I have had excellent results making other drinks that traditionally require espresso, such as affogatos—a dessert consisting of espresso and ice cream.
2. User friendly
As previously mentioned, moka pots are convenient to use. To brew coffee, you just fill and assemble the pot then heat it on the stove. Because it is a manual coffee pot, there can be a learning curve to using a moka pot. Despite this learning curve, the moka pot is one of the simpler manual methods of brewing coffee and is fairly simple to use. While more complicated methods of brewing coffee, such as the pour-over method, can be an enjoyable experience, they can be a lot of work to do every morning before you have had any coffee.
3. Long-lasting
Whereas many coffee makers have glass components such as carafes, the moka pot is constructed from metal. This makes it far more durable than other coffee makers which are fairly easy to break. Also, the lack of electric components means that—apart from being physically damaged—a moka pot will not just stop working like other coffee pots can.
I personally love my moka pot. It is an easy way for me to brew an intense and concentrated cup of coffee at home, whether I want to sip it black or turn it into a cozy pumpkin spice latte.
The one drawback these stovetop coffee makers have is that you cannot brew half a pot of coffee. Whichever size pot you purchase is how many servings you have to make at one time. While this may not be an issue if you drink a large amount of coffee, split it with roommates or buy a small pot, this is something to keep in mind. Despite this drawback, I highly recommend the moka pot-style coffee maker for people looking for a drink similar to espresso that they can make in the comfort of their own home or dorm.
