Turk, geyser coffee maker or French press: what to brew coffee in?

What is a geyser coffee maker?

There are as many different ways to make coffee as there are fans of it. You can cook using either natural gas or hot sand, manually or automate the process. The variety and functionality of such devices is amazing. One of the ancient methods is coffee in a geyser coffee maker.

Geyser coffee maker (moka) is a type of coffee maker in which hot water, displaced by steam pressure, rises from the lower reservoir to the upper through the compartment with ground coffee.

The coffee maker can be electric or classic for heating on the stove.

The invention of the Italian Alfonso Bialetti has been decorating kitchens all over the world for more than 80 years with its traditional faceted design.

The body material is predominantly stainless steel and aluminum. Together they define the main characteristics of the utensil:

hygiene;
thermal conductivity;
ease of care.

For those who cannot imagine waking up without an invigorating cup in the morning, at an important business meeting or with friends, it means a little more than just a drink.

The ceremony of its creation begins with the preparation of water. It must be filtered and free of impurities, as they directly affect the taste.

Conclusion

In general, geyser coffee makers are an excellent alternative to both classic Turkish coffee machines and modern electric coffee machines. Being very affordable, geyser coffee makers are easy to use and do not have parts that could break. The coffee turns out to be of decent quality, and there is no need to closely monitor the process of its preparation, because the prepared coffee will not “run away” and will not stain the stove.

How does a geyser coffee maker work?

Anyone who doesn’t yet know how to brew coffee in a geyser coffee maker will appreciate the simple principle of its operation. The entire structure consists of three main parts: two vessels separated by a container equipped with a filter strainer.

The engine of the entire process is water vapor pressure. It is formed from boiling water in the lower section. Its increasing concentration puts pressure on the liquid. Rising to the top like a geyser, it passes through grinding and a filter to emerge at the top as a ready-to-drink drink.

How to make coffee at home

Grinding degree. To make coffee in a geyser coffee maker, it is best to use medium-ground coffee: a fine grind will fill the cup too tightly, which will make it difficult for water to pass through, and a coarse grind will allow liquid to pass through too quickly.

The degree of roasting of the beans should be chosen based on their taste preferences: heavily roasted coffee will give a richer and stronger drink, but may be slightly bitter.

How to brew correctly?

How much coffee should I add? The ground coffee is poured into the bowl to the top edge, but it should not be compacted, since the pressure in the system is not as high as in espresso machines, and the water will linger in the bowl longer than it should. The coffee will turn out sour, and if you compact it too hard, the water may not pass through the cup at all and will boil away, releasing excess steam through the valve. If you prefer not too strong coffee, then the cup should not be filled completely.

How much water to pour? Water should be poured to the edge of the valve. If you pour more, the water will get into the bowl with the grains even before boiling, which will negatively affect the quality of the final drink, and when boiling, excess hot water will begin to splash through the valve hole.

How to cook on a gas/induction stove

Slab type. Geyser coffee makers are universal and, since the body is almost entirely made of metal, they are equally suitable for making coffee on both gas and induction (and electric) stoves.

Power. The burner should be turned on to maximum power, and after boiling, switch the stove to medium heat and wait until the coffee pot is completely filled with coffee.

Important: you need to handle the coffee maker with care immediately after making coffee - the metal body gets very hot and there is a risk of getting burned.

How to brew coffee in a geyser coffee maker?

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

Pour water into the lower part strictly up to the mark.
We install a funnel with a filter on it.
Pour in ground coffee.
Place a bowl on top to collect the prepared coffee.
We check the tightness of all connections.

Having combined all the components together, tightly connecting them to each other, you can set the coffee maker to warm up. A gas or electric stove can be used for this. If the design allows, you can place it on a special heating base. To obtain the desired taste and aroma, none of this matters. However, there are some subtleties here too.

How to brew coffee in a geyser coffee maker.

I want to greet the autumn morning cheerfully and of course only a mug of coffee at home can help with this. Therefore, if the only coffee device you have is a geyser coffee maker, or as it is otherwise called “Moka”, and you decide to make coffee in it, then this article will help reduce the time as much as possible. So, as I’m telling you, is it possible to make espresso at home with this device?

The operating principle of such a coffee maker is based on steam pressure, which is formed when water located at the bottom of the device is heated. Moreover, steam serves precisely as a lever for the release of water - i.e. It is water that passes through the layer of coffee (which we pour into the filter of the coffee maker), and not the steam itself.

But since brewing coffee in a geyser coffee maker is not a rather complicated process, you just need to select a grind that is not too fine and preheat the water before placing it in the brewing vessel.
Then put it on low heat and as soon as the drink begins to appear at the top of the vessel, having a bright brown-honey color, remove the device from the stove and let it cool slightly, wrapping it in a damp towel. We decided to experiment and answer the question: is it possible to make espresso with this device? You can see about experiments in making espresso with other devices such as AeroPress and Staresso here.

For the experiment on brewing espresso in a Moka coffee maker, we chose beans from Brazil, naturally processed, 15 days after roasting. Espresso from this bean is enveloping and dense with notes of cocoa and chocolate, leaving behind a light, light aftertaste of tropical fruits.

The coffee maker at our house is quite small - for 1 serving, i.e. the coffee compartment can hold a maximum of 12 grams of coffee, and water, if everything is done according to the rules of a geyser, about ml. 70. But this is enough, because, as in previous experiments, we will take 9 grams of coffee and 50 ml of water. So, how to brew espresso in a geyser coffee maker and is it possible?

Part one. Water 50 ml, coffee 9 g. medium grind i.e. like coarse sugar, less than a French press, but more than an espresso. Pour 50 ml of hot water into the lower compartment, you can take cold water. We insert the top part and pour coffee into the filter; in the first version I did not compact it. We screw everything in and place it on the tile. After 1 min. In 10 seconds I already had a drink ready. Pour into a mug and try. Honestly, it matches the volume, but is completely lacking in cream. But I like the result of the first cup, it is very similar to espresso (but without cream) - the density, compared to a coffee machine, is very similar, but the taste is clearly more sour than this bean produces on a professional coffee machine. The aroma has not fully developed, but overall it gives off a very pleasant cocoa, milk chocolate taste and a little citrus. Part two. Here, as part of the experiment, I decided to change only the fact that I would temper the coffee as much as possible (turn it into a dense tablet), leaving all other factors unchanged. As a result, the brewing time increased to 1.30, and the taste became a little less acidic. In principle, I would have left this drink, it turned out to be quite pleasant, but still went a little into the acidity. Part three. Varying some knowledge of “over-extract-under-extract”, which is absolutely not necessary for a person who simply prepares coffee at home (but it was useful as part of the experiment), I decided that the grinding should still be made smaller. Water 50 ml, coffee 9 g - grind for espresso, coffee at maximum temperature. Brewing time – 1.20. The drink turned out to be boring, the taste and aroma are still weak, but good density, medium acidity with notes of orange and bergamot, milk chocolate and cocoa. Honestly, I was surprised, I didn’t think that such a result could be achieved in a geyser coffee maker.

The average cost of such a device will cost you 600-700 rubles. depending on volume, material and brand. Preparing for brewing is not difficult, but cleaning is not very convenient, especially because the bottom part gets hot and you have to wait until it cools down to clean the device. You won’t be able to get espresso with it, however, you are definitely guaranteed a drink with bright density. But without a hint of cream.

If you are still looking for an espresso coffee maker, then it is better to try Staresso. And you can save time and create cream with it just like in a coffee machine. It is also very convenient to clean and clean. Available here. Do you have a geyser coffee maker at home? How do you brew with it? How do you make espresso at home? Leave a comment below! I will answer any questions. Have a nice day, everyone! Barista Alina @firsik_ee was with you #freelancebarista! Add me on Youtube channel.

Some important tips

How to brew coffee in a geyser coffee maker correctly - you ask. There is nothing complicated, just keep in mind some tricks:

The coffee grind should be medium. If the grind is coarse, the water will pass to the top very easily and will not brew. If it’s small, the water may not pass through at all.
It is better to use hot water immediately.
Monitor the temperature constantly. If you are using a gas stove, then turn the heat to minimum.
Remove from the heat not when the coffee pot is already making strange noises, but when the coffee just begins to flow into the upper bowl. Unfortunately, this point can only be determined experimentally.
Don't worry if there is some liquid left in the container after cooking. This phenomenon is normal.

Useful tips

These tips will tell you how to properly brew coffee in a geyser coffee maker.

It is better to grind coffee immediately before preparing it, choosing a medium or coarse grind. This will improve the quality and taste of the finished drink.

It is better to use pure spring or bottled water for making coffee. The quality of water also greatly affects the taste of the drink.

It is advisable to wash the coffee maker after all preparations of the drink so that any remaining coffee oils or grounds do not spoil the taste of the new drink. Do not use detergents or harsh washcloths. Simply rinse well with warm water.

The more tightly the coffee is pressed and the stronger the coffee maker is assembled, the better and tastier the finished drink will be.

It is better to pour the finished coffee drink into heated mugs. Thanks to this, the coffee will taste even better.

Do not open the coffee maker until the brewing process is complete. You might get burned.

If the drink is weak and liquid, then you should reduce the grinding of the beans.

There should be no sediment left in the coffee drink. If it appears, then you need to increase the grinding.

If the coffee maker is new, then the first couple of cups of coffee should be poured into the sink.