Our Little Lavazza Moka Pot

Once and a while I come across a tool that has been forgotten, but proves its worth and comes back into my consciousness again. This weekend, I was reminded how wonderfully useful our little Lavazza Carmencita stovetop moka pot is.

Gail, Nathan and I traveled up to a friend's cabin for the long 4th of July weekend, to get away from the city, spend some time sailing on their boat and just hanging out with friends. On a lark, I grabbed the Lavazza moka pot and some Café Goya espresso for the trip. I wasn't sure how much use it might get, yet I talked myself into taking it along.

The Lavazza is small and light, yet simple and effective. It's a coffee pot made of heavy-gauge stainless steel, designed for brewing delicious espresso-like coffee on a stovetop. Really, it would even work on a campfire or anything that can generate sufficient heat (maybe even an engine block).

Making coffee is dead-easy: Simply unscrew the upper and lower portions from each other, and the lower chamber is filled with water just below the steam release valve. A metal filter drops into the water chamber and receives the loose, ground coffee. Next, screw on the upper part of the pot and put on medium heat.

The upper portion of the pot has a filter and circular rubber gasket to hold it in place. Heated coffee escapes past the filter (which traps the grounds) and travels upward through a long narrow tube, and is deposited at the top of the tube, into the upper chamber of the pot.

Once brewing is done, the pot grows quiet and the can be removed from the heat source. The top section of the pot has a handle, which is used for pouring coffee into your favorite mug — and boy-o-boy is it tasty!

Cleanup is quite easy: just dump the grounds and wash the pot off to make it ready for the next batch of tasty, rich coffee.

I understand from Italian friends, that these types of moka pots are quite popular in Italian kitchens, and I can see why. If you love good coffee and have a chance to try one out, give it a spin!

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Comments

[Nola]

Cool coffee pot. Where'd you find it? Nick's brother in law has one similar, I think. his is more hexigon shape. Don't know if they are the same, but his makes good coffee :)

[Ian McKenzie]

They're a little more "forgiving" than a regular espresso maker and, with a kettle of boiled water you can easily make a decent Americano.

[Mike Rohde]

Nola, I was given this particular Lavazza by German friends at our wedding, and I'm coming to understand that they are hard to find outside of Europe.

I did find a very similar moka pot at Amazon (link below credits me if you happen to buy one BTW):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000D154R/therohdesignwebs

The hexoganal one you saw was aluminum and is very similar -- I prefer the stainless steel version though, as it's nicer and probably safer as well in the long run.

Ian: yep, it's pretty easy to use and works great for those who don't want a thick coffee -- just add hot water to taste. :-)

[Roberto Cruz]

In Spain was usual to have it, is known by the name of the mayor manufacturer Melita.

At home we have two, we drink as much coffe as in EEUU but always expresso

[craig kernan]

I have the above picuted Carmilata pot.It needs a pressure valve (threads 8 x .75 mm).

Does anyone know where to get a replacemnt pressure valve? craig@facework.com

[Mike Rohde]

Craig, no idea where to look. My best suggestion would be a visit to a local neighborhood hardware store (if you can cloate one) and bring the moka pot along. Maybe they, seeing the steam head, can suggest a part for it.

My other suggestion would be to contact Lavazza directly, or a distributor who might have parts or offer service.

Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

who maybe interested in these coffee pots you can find them in malta from a coffee shop in hamrun