There are all sorts of theories and beliefs in the world of coffee, one of which is that you should never wash your moka pot or it’ll compromise the quality of your brew.

Lots of people say that leaving your moka pot unwashed adds to the flavour of the coffee and lots of people believe them.

They’re all wrong.

It’s time to set the record straight once and for all: as well as giving it a regular rinse, you should wash your beloved little coffee maker just like your frying pans, glasses, crockery and cutlery. Maybe not quite as often, but you should definitely wash it. What’s more, you can even use detergent: either a special product for moka pots or normal washing up liquid, as long as it isn’t too fragrant and you rinse it off thoroughly.

 

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What’s the secret to washing a moka pot? Which mistakes should you avoid? How can you get rid of coffee grounds, dirt and – most importantly – limescale in the filter and the inside of the coffee maker?

 

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First of all, grab a soft sponge or a microfibre cloth and a toothpick, then very patiently start taking apart the moka pot so that you can thoroughly clean the filter and the upper and lower chambers.

If you want to take a greener approach, use natural ingredients instead of detergent or washing up liquid.

The outside doesn’t need to be cleaned as carefully as the inside. Simply use a little white wine vinegar diluted in a cup of hot water. You can use neat vinegar on the bottom, where the flame from the hob leaves a dark patch. Add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda and it’ll soon be sparkling again.

The filter often gets clogged up. One great way to clean it is to soak it in boiling water and citric acid for 30 minutes. If the holes are really jammed, poke a pin or a toothpick through them. Obviously you need to give it a good rinse in running water afterwards.

 

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The process for cleaning the bottom chamber and the smaller parts is like making coffee! Fill the bottom chamber with a mixture that’s half water and half white vinegar, add a pinch of fine salt, screw on the top of the pot and put it on the hob to heat. Wait until all of the mixture has reached the upper chamber, bringing the limescale with it. If your moka pot is made of aluminium, use citric acid instead of vinegar.

To get the rubber seal looking brand new, rub a cloth soaked in neat vinegar over it. That should clear away all of the burnt coffee remnants. However, if you realize that it’s worn out then it’s best to replace it.

You should aim to clean your moka pot like this at least once a month. Afterwards, always remember to do a “dry run” by making some coffee – even with just a teaspoonful in the filter – and then pouring it away. It’ll “prime” the pot and ensure the following brews taste great.

 

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Before you put your moka pot back in the cupboard, always remember to check that it’s nice and dry. If there’s even just a little bit of moisture inside, it can end up covered with mould-like grey stains. If you don’t expect to use it for a few days after you wash it, leave it totally disassembled so all of the parts dry properly.

 

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Everything starts to get shiny and glistening at this time of year, so make sure your coffee maker’s sparkling in time for the festive season. Happy Moka everyone! Why not buy a red or black Manuel Caffè moka pot from our shop? Take a look here: shop.manuelcaffè.it

 

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#CoffeeStyle #ManuelCaffeBlog #PausaJournal #ManuelCaffe

 

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