Was the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on your screen? Among all the lights, snow, and top athletes, there was something very special to notice – a huge, shiny symbol on the stage that we all know: the coffee maker .
The Italians have proudly shown the world that coffee is not just a drink, but a cultural heritage. And with this icon in the spotlight these days, it's a good time to take a deeper look into its secrets.
🇮🇹 From humble beginnings to global icon
The story of the cafetiere dates back to 1933. Engineer Alfonso Bialetti was inspired by observing laundry being washed in an old kettle, where boiling water traveled up a pipe.
The question arose: "What if we made coffee the same way?"
The Moka Express was born . With its distinctive octagonal Art Deco shape, Bialetti achieved the impossible – the democratization of coffee. Suddenly, for a premium, strong drink, all you needed was a stovetop, not an expensive and huge machine. Today, the moka pot reigns supreme in museums of contemporary art, but its main place remains the home kitchen.
⚙️ Little physics: How does this process work?
The coffee maker works like a small steam engine. It consists of three parts that work in perfect harmony:
Lower kettle: This is where the water is heated and creates steam pressure .
Funnel with filter: As pressure builds, it pushes hot water up through the ground coffee.
Upper container: This is where the magic happens as the coffee flows through the tube in the form of a small fountain.
The pressure in the coffee maker reaches around 1.5 bar . This is just enough for a distinct taste and rich aromas that brighten up every morning.
💡 Barista tricks for the ultimate ritual
Even without a giant Olympic-grade coffee maker, you can make winning-tasting coffee. You can avoid the bitterness by following these three steps:
1. Start with hot water: Pour hot water into the bottom part. This will reduce the time the coffee in the filter is exposed to heat and prevent it from getting a "burnt" taste.
2. No pressing: Just flatten the coffee in the filter. Pressing hard (tamping) prevents the water from flowing evenly, which worsens the taste.
3. Cold finish: As soon as the first bubbling begins, remove the coffee maker. Place the bottom part under cold water - this "shock" immediately stops the extraction and only the most beautiful aromas are captured.
