Do you know whether you can wash your Moka pot in the dishwasher? If it's made of stainless steel, then yes, there aren't going to be any issues about that. Aluminum is a different story, though, and you might end up with a ruined Moka pot. Read this article to find out why.
What Must You Know About Washing Your Moka Pot?
The best way to make sure your stovetop espresso maker will keep giving you a delicious cup of coffee every morning is to make sure it's clean after every use. You must always make sure there are no loose coffee grounds left behind on the safety valve, the rubber seals and in the upper chamber. This may give you a burnt or bland coffee and even make your coffee maker explode if you've been neglecting it for long.
This could potentially happen if your coffee pot's safety valve is filled with coffee grounds or if it doesn't come equipped with one. As stovetop espresso makers generate a lot of pressure for coffee brews, some of it is excessive and will have to go out. The safety valve is designed to release all the excessive pressure out and make sure there's just the right amount of pressure in the pot.
Usually a quick rinse with warm water will be enough to get rid of all the ground coffee left behind but every now and then you'll want to give your coffee maker a more thorough cleaning. How you clean your pot thoroughly depends on the model and the metal it's made of.
Stainless Steel Moka Pot
A stainless steel stovetop coffee maker is built like a tank. Stainless steel in general is a very tough metal that doesn't oxidize. As it's a nonporous metal you won't have to take extra care when washing and can even throw most models in the dishwasher.
Generally how you wash a stainless steel coffee maker is the same way you'd wash any piece of kitchen equipment. You should only be careful not to drop it as, even though it's unlikely, it may cause cracks or bends on the surface.
When it comes to putting the coffee pot in the dishwasher, you should make sure you own a high quality model. If yours is a cheaper one, the metal might not be pure and it might be an alloy instead. This might mean that the surface could get ruined. Additionally, when the pot is washed and you're ready to brew you might want to make sure that the rubber gasket hasn't moved. This may happen because of the water pressure in the washing machine.
Aluminum Moka Pot
Aluminum stovetop espresso makers are a little more required when it comes to washing. Before we start we should mention that under no circumstances should you put your aluminum Moka pot in the dishwasher. Aluminum is a significantly softer and more fragile metal and its surface can be ruined easily by strong detergents.
If you use strong dish soap for your aluminum stovetop coffee maker you could (and probably will) ruin the surface of the metal. This will make it turn black and give your coffee a bad taste. In addition it might be dangerous for your health to drink it.
The best way to wash an aluminum stovetop coffee maker is to use a dish soap that's not very strong. Additionally you'll want to be careful not to scratch the surface or use a sponge that's too hard.
What you could also do is use a mixture of lemon juice (or baking soda) and water, just like the one you'd use for descaling the pot. You could also use vinegar but it tends to leave a strong smell behind.
After you're done thoroughly cleaning your espresso maker, you'll want to season it. This is done because the coffee from aluminum pots usually has a metallic taste because of tiny particles released by the metal. To avoid that, you should brew a few rounds of coffee and throw them out. This will build a thin layer of coffee inside the tower and on the upper chamber and will prevent these particles from ending up in your Moka pot coffee.
Descaling your Moka Pot
Descaling is the process of removal of limescale. It builds up on the surface of the stovetop coffee maker with continuous use. This process may happen because of the so-called hard water which contains particles of limescale.
To get rid of it you'll want to:
- Mix hot water with a few teaspoons of lemon juice
- Let it soak at night.
- Brush all the corners of the pot where you can still limescale.
- Throw out the mixture and pour in a new one.
- Go through the brewing process as if you were making a cup of coffee.
- If there's still limescale in the boiler chamber of the pot, give it an additional brush.
- Wash the coffee maker thoroughly. If it's an aluminum model don't use any strong detergents.
How Do You Polish a Moka Pot?
To polish a Moka pot you'll want to use warm water and lemon juice or baking soda. Just like for descaling, you'll want to make a mixture for it and gently scrub the pot. This should bring the shine.
Top 4 Best Dishwasher Safe Moka Pots
1. LuxHaus
The LuxHaus stovetop espresso maker is arguably the best dishwasher safe Moka pot that money can buy. It comes in three different sizes - 3, 6 and 9 cups and a lifetime quality guarantee. What this means is that if, at any point after your purchase, you're not fully satisfied with your product you'll get a full refund. No questions asked.
Additionally the pot is made of the purest food safe stainless steel. This won't only mean that you can put the coffee maker in the dishwasher, but also that you can use it for years to come on any stovetop, be it induction, gas or electric.
If all of that isn't enough, the LuxHaus Moka pot has a beautiful glossy design that'll fit perfectly in any kitchen. This would also make it a great gift for any coffee enthusiast. All of that for just $31 for the 3-cup model
2. Bialetti
Alfonso Bialetti created the Moka pot and the company's coffee makers are still produced and they've come a long way in the past 80 years. One of their best models is the Bialetti Musa. It's a stainless steel Moka pot that comes in sizes for 2, 4, 6 and even 10 cups of brew.
Just like the LuxHaus pot, this one will work on any stove and you won't have to worry about putting it in the dishwasher. A disadvantage the Bialetti pot has, though, is that it's significantly more expensive. A small 2-cup pot will set you back a whopping $47.91 and the biggest 10-cup model comes at a price of $66.54.
3. Grassed
Grassed offers the only glass and steel Moka pot on our list. Just like the previous two models, it's safe to wash it in the dishwasher and will work any stovetop you put it on. It has a few downsides though.
This beautiful design comes at a price. Not only is the pot one of the more expensive ones you can find ($49.99 for a 6-cup model), but also the glass isn't as tough as stainless steel. If you end up buying this pot you'll want to be extra careful when transporting it or washing it as you might crack the glass. Additionally, despite the fact that the pot is dishwasher safe, with prolonged use you might notice some scratches on the surface of the glass.
4. Grosche
The Grosche Milano coffee pot is a premium Moka pot that will give you delicious coffee with every use. It'll work just fine on any stove you throw it on and it's beautiful but there were a few complaints among the Amazon reviews.
The biggest complaint of all was the quality of the safety valve. Some users claimed that it didn't open and the pot exploded. While an explosion is a bit of an overstatement, you don't want that happening in your kitchen.
Another complaint was that the pot took too long to brew coffee, even on the highest setting of a gas stove. This could potentially mean that the metal isn't of the best quality or that it's an alloy. In both cases it's a disadvantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does a Moka Pot Make Coffee?
A Moka pot works by heating water in the bottom chamber and generating pressure. Then it pushes the steam up through the coffee grounds in the filter basket. As the coffee is extracted it finds its way through the tower and into the upper chamber
What Benefits Do Moka Pots Have Over Other Coffee Makers?
The biggest benefits of the Moka pot are that it makes strong coffee, that it's cheap, and that it only takes a few minutes to have your brew ready. In fact, the coffee is nearly as strong as an espresso.
What Are the Drawbacks of the Moka Pot?
The biggest drawback that the Moka pots have is that it might be tricky to learn how to make good coffee in one. This is because you need to be very precise with the brewing time and the amount of water and coffee you're pouring in.
How Do You Know if Your Moka Pot Is Aluminum or Stainless Steel?
If you're unsure whether your pot is made of stainless steel or aluminum, the easiest way to find out is to take a magnet and try to stick it to the side of the pot. If it sticks, then the pot is made of steel, if it doesn't - it's aluminum.
Conclusion
Washing a Moka pot can be pretty annoying if you own an aluminum pot. Stainless steel pots, on the other hand, can even be put in the dishwasher, making your life a whole lot easier. Get yours now.