Moka pot not working?

Scam · 28 Dec 2022 at 23:19

I was bought a moka pot for Christmas, unfortunately not a Bialetti but it looks very similar. I’d borrowed a friend’s moka before and didn’t have any issues with it. It was a while ago but I believe I ground at about 10 on the scale of my Baratza Encore grinder (it goes from 0.5 to about 30, and I grind for my Aeropress at 0.5-1.5 depending on beans).

But anyway, using the Hoffman method of filling with boiled water for better extraction, it never used to take more than a minute or so (I think) on a low heat to start spluttering through. But absolutely nothing comes out the top of this moka pot :confused:

My friend recommended I try with no coffee. I did but nothing comes up/through still even after I can hear it boiling. After a few minutes I get antsy and just want to turn it off lol. I do get steam out through the top of the funnel which apparently isn’t a good sign…

What could be going wrong? :confused:

Raymond Lin · 28 Dec 2022 at 23:38

if you are water in it then it has to boil. If there coffee (or the basket) is choking it then it would come out of the release valve. Otherwise you would have made a pressure cooker/grenade lol

if it's leaking everywhere then the seals gasket needs replacing.

Scam · 29 Dec 2022 at 09:25

Raymond Lin said:
Otherwise you would have made a pressure cooker/grenade

This is my fear! If you put boiling water in a moka and stick it on the lowest heat in a gas hob, it shouldnt take more than a couple of minutes to brew right? This was going way longer and I started to fear for my life!

Do the release valves unscrew? Look like they do?

Scam · 30 Dec 2022 at 12:27

Ok guys help me out here. If you start with boiled water in the base (per Hoffman) and put the moka on a lowest gas heat, how long until liquid comes out the top? I’m leaving it for like 5-6 minutes and nothing- even with no coffee in it. I get steam out the spout at the top and a slight boiling sounds… but nothing :confused:

I checked the valve and I can push in the ball thing with a paper clip and blow through it (lol), so that does work. But I’m still unsure why it’s taking so long and still thinking it might blow up on me lol

Raymond Lin · 30 Dec 2022 at 12:52

Start with cold water, heat it for 5mins…should boil and see water come out the top? Does it not?

Scam · 30 Dec 2022 at 15:01

Raymond Lin said:
Start with cold water, heat it for 5mins…should boil and see water come out the top? Does it not?

Update: Tried putting rubber bands around the bit that holds the coffee as there was a bit of movement between that and the bottom water vessel. That helped; I got water out the top where the coffee should come from - but also plenty of leakage around the screw/seal between the main water vessel and the top spouty/main bit. So I think that’s the issue - too much pressure escaping out the sides.

I think perhaps I need to ask my mum if she kept the receipt!

Raymond Lin · 30 Dec 2022 at 15:25

Scam said:
Update: Tried putting rubber bands around the bit that holds the coffee as there was a bit of movement between that and the bottom water vessel. That helped; I got water out the top where the coffee should come from - but also plenty of leakage around the screw/seal between the main water vessel and the top spouty/main bit. So I think that’s the issue - too much pressure escaping out the sides.

I think perhaps I need to ask my mum if she kept the receipt!

So there's not tight enough seal then?

Electrical tape in the thread would work in a pinch but it's would be like a temporary fix, if the gasket is not tight then it's just no good.

Scam · 30 Dec 2022 at 17:21

Raymond Lin said:
So there's not tight enough seal then?

Electrical tape in the thread would work in a pinch but it's would be like a temporary fix, if the gasket is not tight then it's just no good.

Yeah. The seal between the two main parts of the pot itself seem fine. I think it’s the fact that pressure can escape up the sides of the filter that holds the coffee :confused:

Meh, buy cheap buy twice.. Harsh but true in this instance!

robj20 · 30 Dec 2022 at 17:45

Scam said:
Yeah. The seal between the two main parts of the pot itself seem fine. I think it’s the fact that pressure can escape up the sides of the filter that holds the coffee Meh, buy cheap buy twice.. Harsh but true in this instance!

I had a Bialetti one that never worked, to this day it was the biggest waste of money ever went straight in the bin. Never bothered looking for another.