Cleaning stovetop espresso maker or Moka pots is really easy! It can be cleaned with little effort. Cheap and durable, these pots can be used for a very long time. There is a misconception, however, that they will not need to be cleaned. If not cleaned regularly, stainless steel or aluminum pots will corrode. The units will degrade if they are exposed to water. Don’t let these units air dry, and make sure they stay dry at all times.
Several oils and particulates are left in your coffee maker after every brew, and if you don’t clean it, they will oxidize and burn. Trying to make freshly brewed coffee with burnt coffee taste will ruin your coffee.
Cleaning Stovetop Espresso Before the First Use
It is a good idea to baptize your stovetop espresso maker before brewing your first cup. All the parts of your stainless steel or aluminum moka pot should be washed in hot water.
You should then use any old beans to brew a cup of coffee and discard the coffee. Aluminum will be sealed and no metallic flavor will enter your coffee because of the coffee oils.
Cleaning your Moka Pot After every brew is 100% a good idea. Apparently, the leftover coffee oils will increase the flavor of your drink. Aluminum is a porous metal and will absorb coffee oils over time. In the presence of oxygen, aluminum oxide will always remain on the surface, which prevents corrosion and soapy tastes from lingering. It is important to clean any leftover coffee oil from previous batches off of the metal by using soap.
Do not use strong, commercial, or concentrated cleaning products. Dish soap will suffice to de-grease the coffee maker and remove left over coffee oils.
All parts of your stovetop espresso maker should be properly cleaned and sanitized after being disassembled. Under the gasket, coffee grounds and oils may collect. Remove the gasket and clean underneath. To hand dry each item, use a clean towel once it has been cleaned and rinsed. Water left on the surface of the metal will cause corrosion over time.
Moka Pot Descaling / Limescale Removal This applies only to people living in hard water areas. The water in your stovetop coffee maker may contain high levels of minerals, causing it to malfunction or clog. Usually, hard water is caused by limestone, which deposits calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates, and sulfates in the water when it percolates through it.
Using vinegar as a cleaning and descaling agent for your moka pot is the best option. This is because white vinegar cleans, disinfects, and removes minerals naturally without leaving behind any chemicals or odors.
Rinse and wipe your coffee maker with vinegar if you can reach those places with a towel. Wipe it dry again after rinsing it with water.
When cleaning the inside of the spout of the Moka pot, you should use a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water and brew as usual, but without any coffee grounds. Allow the mixture to boil and then pass through the collection funnel and the spout into the pot. Continue doing this until you are sure your Moka pot has been thoroughly cleaned and descaled.
Cleaning a Burned Stovetop Espresso Maker
If you forget about your coffee or leave your coffee pot over the stove for too long, you might end up with burnt coffee inside and a melted handle. To remove any burnt coffee residue from your pot, you’ll have to use vinegar again.
You must first soak your Moka pot in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water for one whole day. Rinse and scrub your stovetop espresso maker with a soft sponge or cloth afterwards. Metal will remove the layer of aluminum oxide on the surface of your pot. As soon as all of the residue has been removed, you can boil the vinegar mixture to clean the inside of the pot. In case you need recommendation for best stovetop espresso maker, we have list for it.
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