Foo - My new (coffee) toy!!

I'm going to enjoy some of this goodness tonight!


Bialetti Mukka Express (http://www.bialettishop.com/MukkaMain.htm)

http://www.bialettishop.com/Pictures/MukkaExpressLarge.jpg

So...let me get this straight. It steams the milk with the water that's making the coffee too. And then the two mix when you pour it?
If that's correct, neat!

KT
Oh boy Cappuccino at your place?
I had a regular mocha type pot made excellent coffee.

hmm, might have to go fire up the espresso machine now.

I use a Moka pot, but in the American style. I use very good light to medium roast coffee with as coarse a grind as my grinder can make. I don't fill the coffee reservoir, or tamp the coffee down. Because there is so little pressure, tamping is
not important here.

It works quite well.

Looks like a nice toy. I have one of the classic Moka Express and it makes a nice cup of coffee.

So...let me get this straight. It steams the milk with the water that's making the coffee too. And then the two mix when you pour it?
If that's correct, neat!Yep...pretty much. You can do it under pressure for a cappucino or without for a simple cafe au lait.



KT
Oh boy Cappuccino at your place?
I had a regular mocha type pot made excellent coffee.

hmm, might have to go fire up the espresso machine now.
I've never had coffee from a moka pot before.....so its one I wanted in my arsenal (ibrik, vacuum pot, french press, manual drip, etc....). I have a regular espresso machine too.


I use a Moka pot, but in the American style. I use very good light to medium roast coffee with as coarse a grind as my grinder can make. I don't fill the coffee reservoir, or tamp the coffee down. Because there is so little pressure, tamping is
not important here.

It works quite well.With course grind? It's meant for espresso grind only.....seems that would come out weird.....weak tasting.


Looks like a nice toy. I have one of the classic Moka Express and it makes a nice cup of coffee.
I think this is the same as the classic Moka Express....just the latest and greatest model.

Hmm. I have never used or had coffee from one of these. I will be interested to see the reports.

My parents gave me their mukka express when they couldn't figure out how to use it without leaking. Basically they just didn't tighten it enough, as I have run it maybe 15 times without a leak.

But, after those 15 tries, I've given up on it. I started with preground espresso, then got my own burr grinder and started using fresh roasted beans. Tried light roast, then medium, then dark. Every SINGLE time the results were basically the same: a hazy, murky drink with little body. I just wasn't impressed. I tried different amounts of water in the bottom and different amounts of milk. I loosely filled and tried packing tight the coffee holder. I finally gave up.

I'll be curious how yours turns out!

...my arsenal (ibrik, vacuum pot, french press, manual drip, etc....). I have a regular espresso machine too.

SRLSY, you some sort of seattlite or sumthin?

:thumb: good on ya', I'm saving up for a good bur grinder myself.

I don't understand. Why would you want to sully up your coffee with things like milk?

I've never had coffee from a moka pot before.....so its one I wanted in my arsenal (ibrik, vacuum pot, french press, manual drip, etc....). I have a regular espresso machine too.


What are you using for espresso?

I don't understand. Why would you want to sully up your coffee with things like milk?

OMG! Coffee goes better with milk.
Ernest

OMG! Coffee goes better with milk.
Ernest

No it doesn't. It tastes like crap with milk. If I wanted to taste milk, I'd drink milk, but I don't because I like coffee.

Coffee is good with milk and without milk. Really depends on the coffee and the mood I'm in.
Either way, Coffee ice cream is the best flavor of ice cream.....don't care what anyone else says.

OMG! Coffee goes better with milk.
Ernest

:eek: Adding milk to coffee is a surefire way to ruin a good cup. I drink milk. I like milk. Just keep it the he** away from my coffee.

The only time I put milk in is if I am making a latte or capp at home. For my drip and French press, I like my coffee the way I like my women: hot, strong and black.

coffee stout + half n half topped with cheese whiz and a cracker ass.
http://www.angrywhiteboy.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/cracker.jpg

j/k :p

Is it made by Gateway? :p

Looks like fun, KT!

The only time I put milk in is if I am making a latte or capp at home. For my drip and French press, I like my coffee the way I like my women: hot, strong and black.

That beats dark and bitter... :)

very nice.

I`m stuck at work with nothing but Folgers to drink.

With course grind? It's meant for espresso grind only.....seems that would come out weird.....weak tasting.


Nope, I have the opposite problem. It's never weak, but if I'm not careful about how much coffee I grind I can get it too strong. It's basically a percolator used that way.
Only thing wrong with percs is that they're slow, this isn't.

Frankly, espresso evolved in an age where coffee had lost most of it's flavor by the time it got to Europe. We don't have that problem anymore, so there is no need to burn the crap out of it.

Opened a lovely bag of Ethiopian this morning, never had an Ethiopian with a nutty quality to the taste before.

http://www.terroircoffee.com/images/labels/ademebedaneffsml.jpg

Nope, I have the opposite problem. It's never weak, but if I'm not careful about how much coffee I grind I can get it too strong. It's basically a percolator used that way.
Only thing wrong with percs is that they're slow, this isn't.

Frankly, espresso evolved in an age where coffee had lost most of it's flavor by the time it got to Europe. We don't have that problem anymore, so there is no need to burn the crap out of it.

Opened a lovely bag of Ethiopian this morning, never had an Ethiopian with a nutty quality to the taste before.

http://www.terroircoffee.com/images/labels/ademebedaneffsml.jpghow do you burn espresso? Steam, forced through coffee grounds, will not burn it.

how do you burn espresso? Steam, forced through coffee grounds, will not burn it.

Steam will in fact burn it, but I think he's talking about over-roasting.

Steam will in fact burn it, but I think he's talking about over-roasting.

Indeed,
part of the flavor is in the aromatic oils which dissipate or burn at high temperatures.

Let us know how it turned out, KT.

My next coffee purchase will probably be a SS moka pot from Bialetti.

I have another question for you KT. You say you have an Ibrik. Is your grinder able to grind fine enough for Turkish coffee? I think we have the same grinder (Capresso Infinity), and even on the finest grind setting, it is too coarse for Turkish, it just doesn't seem right. How does yours turn out?

I don't understand. Why would you want to sully up your coffee with things like milk?I only do this for latte/cappacino. I don't drink regular "coffee" with milk. You need to expand your horizons....there are more ways to prepare the bean of life than "just" regular coffee. There's latte/cappacino, turkish coffee, iced coffee, Vietnamese Style iced coffee (the BEST), etc....


OMG! Coffee goes better with milk.
ErnestNo, typically not. Milk completely removes most of the "flavor" of good coffee.


The only time I put milk in is if I am making a latte or capp at home. For my drip and French press, I like my coffee the way I like my women: hot, strong and black.Exactly! Although, I have to admit, I do still sweeten a little. I haven't been able to quite take that step yet.


very nice.

I`m stuck at work with nothing but Folgers to drink.I'd rather not drink at all. :innocent:


Steam will in fact burn it, but I think he's talking about over-roasting.
Yes, I suspect he was talking about over roasting. I find it funny when people want "french roast" coffee. French roast was started during a time in Europe when the beans that were coming were often tainted with some disease (forget which one, salmonella?) and France started roasting them really hot and long to ensure they burned off the disease. French Roast coffee is generally about 20-30% carbonized (according to a book on coffee I read).

I prefer to taste the bean, not the charcoal. I strongly prefer medium roast coffee than longer roasted beans. Yes, it's some what of a preference, but the longer roasted beans are usually ones that are better for their body than the flavor (which is fine, but not "my" style).

Also, I usually prefer single origin coffees...so I can taste that coffee, not a blend of different ones. Single origin coffees you still taste the stronger elements, as with blends, they are often all dulled out to have an "average" flavor (no particularly high or low qualities). At least that's my opinion.

As to why I got it......first of all, I didn't buy it, the mukka pot was a gift. A wedding gift that came a bit late. I did however, put it on our registry. It wasn't that I expected the best coffee making device or drink from it.....I just like to collect coffee toys like this.

That being said, I thought it was decent, but not overwhelmingly fantastic. It's not really a true cappuccino that it makes...but a decent facsimile. I thought it was nice because it would be easier than the regular espresso machine (I have Saeco Aroma), but it wasn't. In the end, it's just as much, if not more, work than a standard espresso machine.

It's a fun novelty I'll use once in a while, but I won't (and never intended to) use it on a regular basis.

As to why I got it......first of all, I didn't buy it, the mukka pot was a gift. A wedding gift that came a bit late. I did however, put it on our registry. It wasn't that I expected the best coffee making device or drink from it.....I just like to collect coffee toys like this.

That being said, I thought it was decent, but not overwhelmingly fantastic. It's not really a true cappuccino that it makes...but a decent facsimile. I thought it was nice because it would be easier than the regular espresso machine (I have Saeco Aroma), but it wasn't. In the end, it's just as much, if not more, work than a standard espresso machine.

It's a fun novelty I'll use once in a while, but I won't (and never intended to) use it on a regular basis.

feel free to send it to the east coast for a more constant use. :innocent:

Let us know how it turned out, KT.

My next coffee purchase will probably be a SS moka pot from Bialetti.

I have another question for you KT. You say you have an Ibrik. Is your grinder able to grind fine enough for Turkish coffee? I think we have the same grinder (Capresso Infinity), and even on the finest grind setting, it is too coarse for Turkish, it just doesn't seem right. How does yours turn out?

It's not the best grinder for anything, but acceptable for most things. I've made some pretty decent Turkish with it. One hard lesson I learned was to take it slow. It's not easy to grind Turkish with that grinder....and it will overheat quickly. Let it rest and cool down before trying to finish the grind. I was forcing it to continue and burning the coffee for a while.

Don't forget to get some cardamom to add to your coffee once its ground (don't grind whole cardamom in your grinder....probably taste it in every cup of coffee for a year if you do that).

If you don't have an Ibrik yet.....I strongly recommend Natasha's Cafe if you buy it online. If you have a local Greek/Turkish grocery to get one from...even better (support the local peeps).

All that being said....my Infinity burr just got locked. I can't get it out to clean it (unless I take it apart probably) and ironically, happened at the time I am finally about to upgrade most likely. If the wife's house sale goes through (should be today or tomorrow), I'll be ordering the Baratza Vario grinder. :)

I can't believe that UA and <3 2 Ride ganged up on me and and tag teamed, yes tag teamed on me with heathenous voices about not putting milk in their coffee!
Half a mug of milk with your best coffee only adds to the richness and flavor of the coffee! I can't believe I heard such an outrage as not putting milk in coffee! Heathenism, I say! Pure heathenism! :D

I can't believe that UA and <3 2 Ride ganged up on me and and tag teamed, yes tag teamed on me with heathenous voices about not putting milk in their coffee!
Half a mug of milk with your best coffee only adds to the richness and flavor of the coffee! I can't believe I heard such an outrage as not putting milk in coffee! Heathenism, I say! Pure heathenism! :D

My Dear Big_e....worry not. Your coffee tastes will evolve and then you will understand. Be patient, padawan. :thumb::lol:

My Dear Big_e....worry not. Your coffee tastes will evolve and then you will understand. Be patient, padawan. :thumb::lol:

Oh good grief! I'm surrounded!
Seriously though, I'm thinking of getting an ibrik which means I'll have to look for a grinder. My work puts me in some contact with refugees from the Middle East and when they brew coffee, it smells heavenly and has this creamy look to the cups.

Oh good grief! I'm surrounded!
Seriously though, I'm thinking of getting an ibrik which means I'll have to look for a grinder. My work puts me in some contact with refugees from the Middle East and when they brew coffee, it smells heavenly and has this creamy look to the cups.
Maybe you haven't seen this around here before...but we take our coffee seriously in Foo!!!! :thumb:

Middle Eastern (usually Turkish style) coffee IS one of the most heavenly concoctions on the planet! The difficult problem is that to make it right, takes a very, very, very fine grind. Think baking flour type texture.

The Capresso Infinity that Taerom mentioned (same grinder I currently have) can probably "just" get a close enough grind for that. That grinder is about $90....about the cheapest grinder you'll find with good enough quality. If you want a truly good quality grinder, you're getting in to the $400 range - minimum.

Vietnamese Style iced coffee (the BEST)
how do you do this? I tried once with sweetened condensed milk and I forget the rest.

how do you do this? I tried once with sweetened condensed milk and I forget the rest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_iced_coffee
http://steamykitchen.com/492-vietnamese-iced-coffee.html

Forget what the gadget is called that is used, but I have one of those too. :thumb:

ahh, i thought you had to add more spices or something, I never got the right flavor out of it. Did you use the special coffee they suggest?

ahh, i thought you had to add more spices or something, I never got the right flavor out of it. Did you use the special coffee they suggest?

Are you using the coffee with chicory? Many Vietnamese places use the coffee (often from New Orleans) that contains chicory.

I did not, I'll have to see if thats something that can be added (like a spice?) or try to find the coffee locally.

I did not, I'll have to see if thats something that can be added (like a spice?) or try to find the coffee locally.

Cafe Du Monde was the brand I remember being used sometimes.
http://shop.cafedumonde.com/coffee.html

Cafe Du Monde was the brand I remember being used sometimes.
http://shop.cafedumonde.com/coffee.htmlYou can find this coffee in any Asian market.