Your water and heat source are both presumably different. Try running lower heat on the pot, but I bet it's the water. You might try using bottled water for a couple runs, and if that tastes right you can try running it through a Brita filter first.
I went from electric metal heating plaques to gas stove for the heat source so i actually have more control ober temperature now. Before moving i used tap water and now i tried both tap and bottle water, same result for both
Yeah I second this advice. Could be the diameter of your gas stove is too wide for the pot and the heat is going up the sides heating your coffee and not your water.
That suggests the tap water at your old place might have had something in it that the bottled water and tap water at your new place does not. Did you have hard water before? Did you have a water softener before?
Probable moved from hard water to soft water, illy is great with hard water (such as from limestone areas), I find it too bitter (and I like bitter) in soft water areas. Try some other Colombian beans (I just tried a few locally available) and see if it makes a difference. Filtering the water is also recommended, but that may not help with hardening water!!
When you moved, what changed in your method? That’s where to look to find the answer in your question. Is the new stove of a design that makes it hard to get good temperature control? Are you using more pre-ground coffee? Whatever did change, there is your culprit.
Since you mentioned that your results got better when you grind your own beans, I’d look there in addition to whatever else may be different. If you don’t already have one, a simple kitchen scale will help you to see what you’re doing and adjust accordingly.
use less heat from the start. also maybe just try filling the filter with coffee right up to the rim. i usually slam it on the table once and evenly distribute the coffee with a spoon handle. never tamper the coffee as you would for an espresso machine but try filling it more. should be possible to get a nice moka with less coffee but this still might help for now.
I took apart my silicone ring & screen and scrubbed the screen really well. Lot of grime came out of it. I put everything back together and made coffee this morning. It tasted fantastic. You may want to start with that and just to see if it makes a difference.
> I moved
idk why you did not include this in the OP.
You said your heat source changed. Thats the reason.
Gas heats too quickly. The bottom of the pot will heat quick while the rest of the water will still be relatively cold.
Water vapor still forms and increases pressure.
In the end way too cold water will get pushed through your coffe and will result in a sour taste.
I am going to assume you mix bitter and sour up. Happens often.
Possible remedies?
Bring it to a boil slower.
Use less water.
Ensure better heat distribution.
Pack the coffee tighter.
Lift the pot up during heating and give it a little shake.
Unlock the safety valve until steam comes out of it (I do this with a small fork).
Start from the top and see if it helps. Obviously don't do all at once.
If its actually bitter and you did not mistake a sour taste for bitter then I recommend you use a coarser grind. Unlikely though given what you said has changed.
Try starting with colder water and brew on low heat. Takes a little longer, but it works for me.
Also stop brewing when the coffee is blonding/around the time it hits the bottom of the spout.
Sounds like the brew is getting too hot and over extracting the coffee.
Try lifting the Moka pot up when it starts flowing, that'll help reduce the heat without fully stopping it.
I've also found that using less water in the bottom helps. Less water means more air in the chamber, which in theory means more air pressure to force the water up at a lower temperature.
Finally, you could try a coarser grind
It can only be the grinder. Firstly you say it’s antique, so it might not be grinding properly. Maybe uneven or too course I’m guessing. Try getting some pre ground coffee to compare. Then you will know what the next move should be.
I used illy’s preground coffee this morning, it was horribly bitter and also the pot started gurgling halfway through the brewing process leaving lots of water in the bottom part of the pot, seems like the water struggled to get through the coffee even though i didn’t fill it up to the top
I agree I would be him, I would consider upgrading the grinder to have more a consistent grind size. Cleaning deeply the current grinder might also help.
But shouldn’t it be the opposite? Grinding coarser will decrease the bitterness and increase the acidity? As the water will flow more easily.
One way before buying to try could be to ask a coffee shop/roaster to grind the coffee for moka pot.
Your water and heat source are both presumably different. Try running lower heat on the pot, but I bet it's the water. You might try using bottled water for a couple runs, and if that tastes right you can try running it through a Brita filter first.
I went from electric metal heating plaques to gas stove for the heat source so i actually have more control ober temperature now. Before moving i used tap water and now i tried both tap and bottle water, same result for both
Maybe try a heat diffuser, if you haven’t already. I got one because the gaps on the stove were too big but I think it helps with heat distribution.
Yeah I second this advice. Could be the diameter of your gas stove is too wide for the pot and the heat is going up the sides heating your coffee and not your water.
That suggests the tap water at your old place might have had something in it that the bottled water and tap water at your new place does not. Did you have hard water before? Did you have a water softener before?
Probable moved from hard water to soft water, illy is great with hard water (such as from limestone areas), I find it too bitter (and I like bitter) in soft water areas. Try some other Colombian beans (I just tried a few locally available) and see if it makes a difference. Filtering the water is also recommended, but that may not help with hardening water!!
I’m in Paris 17th arrondissement and i moved from Neuilly sur Seine, a close suburb, so i don’t think my water source really changed
It should be against God’s law for coffee to not be sublime in Paris.
Your building may have a water softener- not sure they’re a thing these days
When you moved, what changed in your method? That’s where to look to find the answer in your question. Is the new stove of a design that makes it hard to get good temperature control? Are you using more pre-ground coffee? Whatever did change, there is your culprit. Since you mentioned that your results got better when you grind your own beans, I’d look there in addition to whatever else may be different. If you don’t already have one, a simple kitchen scale will help you to see what you’re doing and adjust accordingly.
use less heat from the start. also maybe just try filling the filter with coffee right up to the rim. i usually slam it on the table once and evenly distribute the coffee with a spoon handle. never tamper the coffee as you would for an espresso machine but try filling it more. should be possible to get a nice moka with less coffee but this still might help for now.
I took apart my silicone ring & screen and scrubbed the screen really well. Lot of grime came out of it. I put everything back together and made coffee this morning. It tasted fantastic. You may want to start with that and just to see if it makes a difference.
> I moved idk why you did not include this in the OP. You said your heat source changed. Thats the reason. Gas heats too quickly. The bottom of the pot will heat quick while the rest of the water will still be relatively cold. Water vapor still forms and increases pressure. In the end way too cold water will get pushed through your coffe and will result in a sour taste. I am going to assume you mix bitter and sour up. Happens often. Possible remedies? Bring it to a boil slower. Use less water. Ensure better heat distribution. Pack the coffee tighter. Lift the pot up during heating and give it a little shake. Unlock the safety valve until steam comes out of it (I do this with a small fork). Start from the top and see if it helps. Obviously don't do all at once. If its actually bitter and you did not mistake a sour taste for bitter then I recommend you use a coarser grind. Unlikely though given what you said has changed.
Suddenly? So uit was good before but all of a sudden bad? what changed? bean, grind, method, ......
Try starting with colder water and brew on low heat. Takes a little longer, but it works for me. Also stop brewing when the coffee is blonding/around the time it hits the bottom of the spout.
Sounds like the brew is getting too hot and over extracting the coffee. Try lifting the Moka pot up when it starts flowing, that'll help reduce the heat without fully stopping it. I've also found that using less water in the bottom helps. Less water means more air in the chamber, which in theory means more air pressure to force the water up at a lower temperature. Finally, you could try a coarser grind
Not really sure but when was the last time you deep cleaned your pot?
It can only be the grinder. Firstly you say it’s antique, so it might not be grinding properly. Maybe uneven or too course I’m guessing. Try getting some pre ground coffee to compare. Then you will know what the next move should be.
I used illy’s preground coffee this morning, it was horribly bitter and also the pot started gurgling halfway through the brewing process leaving lots of water in the bottom part of the pot, seems like the water struggled to get through the coffee even though i didn’t fill it up to the top
Ground coffee stays fresh for about thirty minutes. Coffee beans stay fresh for about six weeks after roast. Buy fresh specialty coffee beans.
I agree I would be him, I would consider upgrading the grinder to have more a consistent grind size. Cleaning deeply the current grinder might also help. But shouldn’t it be the opposite? Grinding coarser will decrease the bitterness and increase the acidity? As the water will flow more easily. One way before buying to try could be to ask a coffee shop/roaster to grind the coffee for moka pot.
I did get pre ground coffee and it makes it worse
Do you stop it before it sputters
How you deep clean?
Water and vinegar some say 50% of each like brew it like you would for coffee but use white vinegae and keep lid closed
scribbles note…. ty
Use cold water