Does your Moka pot have odd black spots on its surface? That's probably mold and it will most certainly ruin your coffee. Don't worry, though, it's easy to clean. Let's see how you can keep your Moka pot clean and how you can get rid of build up mold.
How Often Should You Clean Your Moka Pot?
Keeping your Moka pot clean is crucial for making delicious coffee each time. We know that you're probably drinking your coffee in the morning when you have so much to do and so little time, but taking these extra few minutes to wash your Moka pot are well worth it.
You should know that stainless steel Moka pots are significantly easier to clean. That's why it's worth investing in a high quality Moka pot.
Speaking of high-quality Moka pots, our Lux Haus stainless steel Moka pot is a perfect choice. It's not just easy to clean, but also designed to deliver a rich, authentic coffee experience. Made with premium stainless steel, our Moka pot is durable and resistant to rust and corrosion. Invest in a Lux Haus Moka pot today and enjoy the perfect cup of coffee every morning.
Cleaning after Each Round of Coffee
You should clean your Moka pot after each use if you want it to brew you a delicious cup of coffee with each use. Don't worry though, this simple everyday clean is only going to take you around a minute and you'll make sure that there are no old coffee grounds left behind.
Cleaning your Moka pot on a daily basis is straightforward. You'll simply need to take it apart (that includes the bottom chamber, filter and top chamber), rinse your pot under warm running water and let it try.
In the rinsing stage you might want to use a wet sponge to clean off any coffee that's stuck on the Moka pot. If you own an aluminum pot you shouldn't use any dish soap. This will ruin the metal and the Moka pot will start to oxidize.
If your Moka pot is made of stainless steel you can freely use dish soap to wash it. The metal is significantly more robust and you'll need much more than a detergent to damage it.
Under normal circumstances, though, you won't need to use dish soap to clean the Moka pot. If there's no old coffee from a previous brew, it'll still be wet and easy to remove. That's why a rinse under running water will suffice.
Thorough Cleaning
Every now and then you'll need to thoroughly clean your Moka pot. How often you'll have to do it depends on how much coffee you brew in it. If you go for a cup every day, a proper wash once per month will be enough. There's something you should know here though. If you wash an aluminum Moka pot with dish soap you'll probably remove the seasoning.
For aluminum Moka pots it's important that there's a thin layer of built up coffee on top of the metal. This is because otherwise aluminum will give your coffee metallic taste. If you've just washed your aluminum Moka pot with dish soap, though, don't worry. To get your coffee back to its right taste you'll simply need to brew a few rounds. We recommend throwing the first one or two out as, not only are they going to have an unpleasant taste, but if your Moka pot is of low quality it might release some unhealthy particles into your brew.
How do you clean an aluminum Moka pot then?
- You start by waiting for it to cool down before you open it.
- Remove all separate parts from the pot, including the filter, the basket, all gaskets and screens. Rinse them with warm water.
- For the next step you can use a weaker dish soap or make a mix of water and lemon juice and we recommend the latter. You can also use other acidic (or basic) solutions but we wouldn't recommend cleaning your Moka pot with vinegar.
You'll need to heat up some water and add a teaspoon of lemon juice for every 100 ml of water (around 3.4 oz). Then take a soft-haired brush and clean your Moka pot.
- Rinse your pot well to get rid of all lemon juice or vinegar still on the coffee maker.
- Let your Moka pot dry. In no time you should have a brand new pot that will keep giving you great coffee.
What about a stainless steel Moka pot?
Washing a steel pot is significantly easier than washing an aluminum one. Here you can use almost everything you like. That includes stronger detergents and stiff brushes.
The process is virtually the same. You take the pot apart, wash it with either the lemon juice solution or a detergent, rinse and let dry. As simple as that.
Indeed, it's as simple as that with our Lux Haus stainless steel Moka pot. Its robust construction allows for easy cleaning with a variety of methods, ensuring you can maintain its pristine condition with minimal effort. Plus, its superior heat distribution guarantees a perfect brew every time.
How to Descale a Moka Pot?
Even if you wash your Moka pot regularly and there is absolutely no coffee left behind after you've used, some limescale could still build up. This won't happen to everyone as it mainly depends on the water you're using. The so called hard water, has more calcium carbonate particles inside and with time they tend to build up.
How you know your Moka pot needs to be descaled is if you see white spots on the inside, it's probably built up some limescale. Even if you don't see any spots but you're doing everything right and your coffee still tastes funny, descaling the pot might be worth a try.
While this isn't necessarily unhealthy, it will probably affect the taste of your coffee and if left unattended may even decrease the capacity of your pot. So how do you get rid of it?
- Pour water in the bottom chamber of your Moka pot. Make sure you don't cover the safety valve.
- Add two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and stir (for a three-cup Moka pot).
- Let your Moka pot sit for a few hours (or overnight)
- Brew a cycle as if you were making coffee. Obviously don't put any coffee in the pot.
- Let the Moka pot cool down, disassemble it, rinse well and dry.
Why Do Some Moka Pots Have Black Spots?
There are two reasons why a Moka pot might have black spots: oxidation and mold. Let's see what happens in each case and how you can fix it.
Cleaning Mold off a Moka Pot
If you don't wash your Moka pot regularly or if it's been left with old coffee inside some mold might build up. That's no big issue though, as you can easily wash it off with just water and vinegar or soap.
- You start by completely disassembling your Moka pot. Remove the two chambers, the filter and all the gaskets.
- Fill both chambers with boiling water. This will kill off some of the mold and make the whole process easier. Additionally, it'll reach the hard to reach places.
- Add two tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar to the hot water. When it's cool enough to touch, take a brush and scrub off the rest of the mold.
- Pour the water out and check if there's any mold left. If yes, repeat the process. If you have a stainless steel Moka pot you can use dish soap for that.
- Once all the mold is gone, rinse your pot with warm water and let it dry.
How Do You De-Oxidize a Moka Pot?
We should mention that only an aluminum Moka pot can oxidize. This happens because aluminum is a porous metal and its surface can easily be damaged. How do you fix an oxidized pot, though?
- Start by washing the Moka pot with warm water. You can add a few drops of mild dish soap.
- Scrub the pot with a solution of water and white vinegar or even better, lemon juice.
- Rinse the pot with clean water.
- Dry the Moka pot. If you don't dry it properly, some new oxidation spots may appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Keep Bialetti Moka Pots from Oxidizing?
The original Moka pot - the Bialetti Moka express was made of aluminum. There were a few good reasons for that, but despite them, that might cause you some issues. One of them is oxidation. How do you make sure it doesn't happen?
The most important thing you can do is not use any strong detergents or hard brushes when cleaning. This is what damages the aluminum and causes oxidation.
Can You Clean Your Pot with Soap?
If you own a stainless steel Moka pot you can use any soap you want to clean it. If yours is an aluminum model though, you'll only want to use weak detergents or water to clean the pot.
Conclusion
Keeping your Moka pot clean and intact only requires a few minutes per day but it's well worth it. Nevertheless, you should be careful with an aluminum Moka pot. They are prone to oxidation which will give you a bad coffee.
That won't happen with stainless steel Moka pots. If you're on the lookout for a stainless steel Moka pot head over to our store and get your high quality LuxHaus Moka pot now.
We hope this guide has been helpful in maintaining the cleanliness and longevity of your Moka pot. Remember, the key to a great cup of coffee is not just a clean Moka pot, but also a high-quality one. Our Lux Haus stainless steel Moka pot is designed with precision and ease of use in mind, making it the perfect choice for your coffee brewing needs. Explore more about our Moka pot and elevate your coffee brewing experience.