Mokapot + '92 La Corona Panatela = yum

[muziq]

I can thank Mr. Maduroo for bullying me to the mokapot in 8 easy steps...

I can thank Lenguamor for the '92 La Corona Panatela...

...and...

I will gladly thank all of you for your advice and suggestions. Thanks to y'all, I'm now sliding down *two* slopes at the same time!

So this was my first experience with a mokapot. I followed the steps as outlined in the thread above, and the result was about 70% satisfactory; about half the resulting beverage was great, but it had a bitter edge to it. When I unscrewed the top basket, I saw a slight cavitation on one side of the puck. I'm guessing I under-packed that side, and that contributed to incorrect pressure and subsequent slight distaste. Yes, no, maybe?

The other variables:

Beans - fresh roasted, ground yesterday afternoon
Water - filtered
Boil - over a gas flame, watched carefully, heat reduced at first signs of bubbling, some slight crema but not as much as the photos in Mr. Maduroo's mokapot thread. Brewing lasted about 45 seconds, spurting a little.

Thoughts, tips, suggestions? I'll be searching around on CS and in the links provided in this forum to see how I might improve my technique...but even for a not-entirely-successful first attempt, I think I'm gonna like this!

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by muziq

I can thank Mr. Maduroo for bullying me to the mokapot in 8 easy steps...

I can thank Lenguamor for the '92 La Corona Panatela...

...and...

I will gladly thank all of you for your advice and suggestions. Thanks to y'all, I'm now sliding down *two* slopes at the same time!

So this was my first experience with a mokapot. I followed the steps as outlined in the thread above, and the result was about 70% satisfactory; about half the resulting beverage was great, but it had a bitter edge to it. When I unscrewed the top basket, I saw a slight cavitation on one side of the puck. I'm guessing I under-packed that side, and that contributed to incorrect pressure and subsequent slight distaste. Yes, no, maybe?

The other variables:

Beans - fresh roasted, ground yesterday afternoon
Water - filtered
Boil - over a gas flame, watched carefully, heat reduced at first signs of bubbling, some slight crema but not as much as the photos in Mr. Maduroo's mokapot thread. Brewing lasted about 45 seconds, spurting a little.

Thoughts, tips, suggestions? I'll be searching around on CS and in the links provided in this forum to see how I might improve my technique...but even for a not-entirely-successful first attempt, I think I'm gonna like this!

That last little bit of clear/tan froth or "brew" is pretty bitter. Stop the brew a few seconds before it runs pale and sputters. You won't miss that last 1/8 ounce. That will make a difference.

What I did was, pot after pot - maybe over three tries - to progressively add more coffee and tamp until, finally, one pot blew the safety valve. It made a mess, but at least I figured out where the high side was, too.

Overfill the filter, tamp evenly to make a modest dome and have at it. Even, careful tamping prevents water from channeling. After brewing, the puck in the filter should have a flat top and be pretty darn solid. Less that a solid, uniform puck means you used too little coffee.

Third try is a charm. Or try a PM to Tristan, the current mokamaster.

(Do not contact the heretic Jack1K on this - he is bitter and misguided (like his moka).)

[MrJerry]

muziq, life is good!

[muziq]

Yep--it's early AM, nice outside, and I'm about to brew another pot and spark up a HdM Petite Robusto to start the day off right

Edit: ooof, the two pots I made this morning did NOT go well. I'm over-caffinated, so I guess I'll be trying again tomorrow morning...