Troubleshooting Problems With a Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker
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How to Fix and Care for a Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker
© Redberry Sky
Maybe your moka pot is hissing and spitting steam or your coffee is too weak. Here are the ways to fix the most common problems with a Bialetti to make sure your morning brew is everything you expect.
Why is my Bialetti hissing and shooting a jet of steam out of the safety valve?
Three possible reasons: Either the safety valve is clogged, you’ve filled the reservoir above the fill line, or the filter may be clogged up so that the water isn’t escaping into the jug part of the pot as it should.
What to do: Take the whole pot apart, including the gasket and filter, and rinse thoroughly, wiping off any stray or stuck coffee grounds with a sponge. Also check to see if your safety valve has a tiny protuberance (like a little metal stick that you can push from the inside)—some of my older pots had this, but my newer one doesn’t. If so, push this in a few times (it springs back again) to dislodge the blockage. If the problem continues, you might have to send the pot back or buy a new one, depending on whether it’s still under warranty.
Why is only a trickle of coffee coming up into the top part of the pot?
Two possible reasons: Either the pot isn’t sealing properly (so that there’s not enough pressure to force the water through) or there’s a blockage in the filter or in the basket that holds the coffee grounds.
What to do: Again, take the pot apart completely, clean each part with hot water and a sponge, and check the filter and gasket and replace these parts if necessary.
Why is liquid hissing and spitting out where the top part screws into the bottom part?
Two solutions: Check that there are no stray coffee grounds in the grooves of the screw parts of the reservoir and pot that are preventing a tight fit when you screw them together. Alternatively, it might be time to replace the gasket.
Why does my coffee taste odd?
Two possible reasons: If you’ve cleaned the pot too enthusiastically, you might have scrubbed the ‘seasoning’ coating off, which can result in a metallic-tasting coffee. You'll have this same problem if the pot is brand new.
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What to do: Season or re-season your pot by making a couple of pots using cheap coffee grounds and throwing the resulting coffee away.
Why does my coffee taste too weak?
What to do:
- Try putting more grounds in the basket when you make the coffee (though if you fill the basket to about three-quarters full, this should be sufficient).
- Make sure you’re only filling the reservoir up to the fill line—about a half a centimetre below the safety valve.
- Use a dark roast coffee, which has a fuller, richer flavour.
Why are there black bits in my coffee?
- If the bits are tiny, they are just a few stray coffee grounds that rise into the pot with the steam and hot water. A few tiny grounds is normal in any freshly-brewed coffee.
- If there are lots or clumps of coffee grounds, replacing the pot's filter will help.
- If the bits are large, flat pieces of solid coffee, these are flakes of built-up coffee from the inside of the pot. Give the inside of the pot a good hard wipe with a dish sponge, but don't scrub too hard, because you want to keep some of the natural coffee oils as seasoning so that your coffee doesn't taste metallic.
Why is coffee spilling out of the pot as it brews?
This means your coffee is boiling; turn down the heat when you put the pot on and this problem will go away.
Why is the Bialetti producing hot water only, no coffee?
You’ve likely forgotten to put coffee grounds in the basket!
It's been on the stove a long time but still, I see no coffee. . .
You’ve probably forgotten to put water in the reservoir. We shall say no more about it. Because we are classy.
Are You Using Your Bialetti Properly?
It's not hard to make a great cup of coffee with these machines, but there are specific things you must do, including seasoning it, loading it properly, and keeping it clean. Read How to Make Perfect Stovetop Espresso Coffee With a Bialetti Moka Pot to learn more.
© 2012 Redberry Sky
