Moka Pot Heat Control

A moka pot fooled me for years — I treated it like an espresso machine and scorched every batch. It runs on steam pressure, so heat control is basically the whole game. Here's what I do.

What to do

Start medium, and lift it off heat as the stream turns pale and sputters. Letting it gurgle scorches the coffee.

The only rule I follow

Heat is everything with a moka pot, and that's not my opinion — it's how the stubborn thing works. I pull it off the burner the second it starts to sputter. Scorched coffee is a waste of good beans, and I've learned that the hard way.