Introduction-
My first home brewing experience happened with a moka pot. Even though I had watched a colleague brew with the moka pot a few times before this day, it felt new and strange as I set up my tools to brew my first home-brewed coffee.
I scoured YouTube, watching video after video of home brewing methods. Then I narrowed my search to home brewing using a moka pot.
I learned about grind size, water levels, and the importance of patience. My colleague, a coffee enthusiast, had once explained the process to me during lunch, showing me how to assemble the pot and position it on the stove. Feeling excited and slightly nervous, I gathered my supplies: ground coffee, water, and a moka pot.
The First Brew
With my phone propped up on the counter to record the experience (and as a safety net in case I forgot a step), I carried out my plan.
First, I put some coffee beans in my grinder and crushed them to smitterings. Then I unscrewed the moka pot and added hot water to the base, making sure it didn’t go above the pressure valve. I filled the filter basket and gently levelled it off, resisting the urge to pack it down as they warned.
As I screwed the top and bottom parts together, I realized it was a simple process. Every detail mentioned in the tutorial video was important – like holding the bottom of the moka pot with a napkin to avoid burns. Pouring hot water in the bottom part of the pot makes it hot immediately.
After placing the moka pot on the stove, I left the cover open to monitor the progress. I waited in anticipation for the coffee to start bubbling up. It seemed to take forever. I turned the heat to medium as instructed in the YouTube videos.
When the coffee finally started sputtering out, I felt a rush of pride – kind of like the one I feel every time I hit publish on a blog.
I closed the moka pot’s cover and listened for the sound before putting the gas off. I poured my freshly home-brewed experiment into my mug, added a splash of milk, and took a sip. It wasn’t perfect—it felt very bitten but it didn’t matter. I did it. That was my home-brewed experiment in the flesh.
The Journey to Consistency
That first cup sparked something in me. The next morning, I tried again, tweaking the grind size slightly and paying more attention to the brewing time. I started noticing patterns: how the sound of the moka pot changed when the coffee was nearly done or how different coffee blends affected the flavour.
Home Brewing became a daily ritual. Every day, I’d set up my moka pot and record little snippets on my phone, observing what worked and what didn’t. The process became second nature—grind, water, assemble, brew, pour. The more I practiced, the faster and smoother it became, and before I knew it, I could whip up a cup of coffee in under 10 minutes without even thinking about it.
Lessons Learned
Looking back, I realize my journey into home brewing taught me more than just how to make coffee. It taught me more about patience, attention to detail, and the joy of creating something with my own hands.
For anyone looking to start, my advice is simple:
- Start Small: A moka pot is an affordable and beginner-friendly tool.
- Experiment: Play around with grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, and heat levels.
- Be Consistent: The more you brew, the better you’ll get.
- Enjoy the Process: Home brewing isn’t just about the coffee; it’s about the experience.
Now, every time I sip my morning coffee, I’m reminded of that first attempt and how far I’ve come. If I can do it, so can you. So grab that moka pot, watch a few videos, and take the plunge—you might discover a new appreciation for your daily cup.
Remember, you can get all your coffee needs at the store.
Until next time,
Happy Brewing!
