Moka pot not working?

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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

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?

 

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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?

 

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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

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

 

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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!

 

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