The Complete Guide to The De'Longhi Moka pot

Singaporeans love having coffee at home, and there are about a thousand ways to get your morning cup of joe. However, with pump espresso coffee machines and fully automatic coffee solutions abundant in Singapore cafés and restaurants, it can be easy to have the Moka pot fly under your radar — a shame, really, for its well-suited as the perfect coffee machine for Singapore homes.

To many, the Moka pot is an Italian symbol of a home coffee machine, having been featured in places like MoMA and the London Science Museum. It works like an espresso coffee machine, but in reverse. Instead of having water pushed down through a portafilter, you have hot water pushed up into a collecting container during the brewing process.

Because there is less pressure compared to an espresso coffee machine, a Moka pot can bring out more of the coffee beans’ inherent flavour. Of course, the final taste depends on a whole volley of factors, from grind size to bean profile and more, but you can generally expect a more caffeinated cup of coffee with a pleasantly bitter aftertaste with a Moka pot.

De’Longhi’s take on the classic Moka pot pays homage to its long Italian history while innovating on a few fronts. The De’Longhi Alicia Electric Moka Pot Coffee Maker is completely electric, eliminating the need for a stove, but also automated to give you great coffee without any overflowing or bean burning that can easily happen with traditional Moka pots. 

And to further help those obsessed about getting that perfect cup of coffee, we at De’Longhi Singapore have listed out a few things you can do on your end to ensure the perfect cup with the De’Longhi Moka Pot – from choosing the right grind size to properly maintaining and caring for your Moka pot coffee machine:

Step 1: Fill the Boiler up with Water

The first thing you can do is fill the boiler of your coffee machine with water (the boiler is the lowest chamber that’s installed on the base). A good cup of coffee starts with great water. And while water might seem like a no-brainer, the water you use can actually affect the flavour profile of your coffee. As with most extractions, water that’s too hot might result in burnt coffee and water that’s too cold can result in a weak cup.

Professional baristas recommend preheated water, but if you want the authentic Italian treatment, you can get away with just using regular room temperature water. The De’Longhi Alicia manual also recommends you use fresh and soft water as salty or hard water will weaken the flavour.

Step 2: Grind Coffee Beans to Appropriate Size

Moka pots traditionally favour medium to light roasts. Because a Moka pot can get very hot as traditional ones utilise a stove, beans tend to burn quite easily. That’s not to say you can’t get a good cup with a dark roast, but the risk of burnt grounds is higher if you’re working with coffee beans that have already been ‘cooked’. 

Changing up the grind size or water temperature can help compensate if you only have access to darker roasts. As with most things, experiment and see what works best for you.

But if you’re going for a medium or light roast, a good rule of thumb for traditional Moka pots is to use a finer grind size. However, the De’Longhi Alicia works best with fresh medium-ground coffee. Regardless, because the De’Longhi Alicia is completely electronic, pretty much any coffee grounds you use will produce a fine cup of coffee. 

Step 3: Carefully Place the Coffee Beans

The next step is to insert the filter into the boiler. The De’Longhi Alicia gives you six cups of coffee each batch by default, but if you only want three, you can install the adapter disk into the funnel filter. Now, fill the filter up with your coffee grounds. We recommend filling it in a little at a time to prevent any spillage. You also won’t have to worry about tamping when using Moka pots, but it’s no harm to give the filter a few taps on your countertop so the coffee is evenly distributed. 

Note that traditional Moka pots tend to produce cups with more coffee sediments. To some, this might be an acquired taste. If you prefer a cleaner cup of coffee, consider experimenting with a disposable coffee filter. However, take extra care to ensure it doesn’t affect the normal functions of your coffee machine. Check out De’Longhi’s range of coffee machine accessories for any additional equipment you require in this regard.

Step 4: Correctly Install Your Moka Pot

Moka pots are also notorious for sputtering hot water. As such, it’s important to ensure your De’Longhi Moka pot is correctly installed before starting the extraction process.

Make sure the coffee maker is tightened correctly. You can try holding the boiler with one hand and turning the container clockwise with the other. The most important element is the disk filter – never use the machine without the disk filter! Doing so can result in splashes of hot water that can cause burns which require medical attention. Once your machine is placed correctly on the base, close the lid and turn the machine on. 

Step 5: Extract!

Now, if you’re using an old-school Moka pot, place the pot on a heated stove. Make sure to keep an eye on your Moka pot and ensure that the water doesn’t overflow. Occasionally check your water temperature and confirm that it isn’t too hot such that your beans end up burnt.  

However, if you’re using the De’Longhi Alicia, it’ll definitely be a much easier task since almost everything is automated. All you need to do is flip the switch and let the coffee machine do the work. The De’Longhi Alicia also comes with a manual control so that you can adjust the settings accordingly for the caffeinated results you desire.

You may also notice that the De’Longhi Alicia comes with a transparent container, so there’s really no need to be constantly monitoring your coffee. As an extra precaution, the De’Longhi Alicia features an automatic shut-off function that prevents any overflowing. All in all, after turning the machine on, you should have a container filled with delicious home-brewed coffee in just a few minutes.

Step 6: Serve Your Coffee Immediately

As coffee tends to lose flavour due to oxidisation, the best time to have coffee is immediately after brewing. Before serving, open the lid of your Moka pot and use a spoon to stir the coffee in the container. This will help even out any inconsistencies in the taste and texture.

You’ll also be happy to know that the De’Longhi Alicia has a handy ‘keep warm’ function which keeps your coffee nice and toasty for up to 30 minutes after brewing. So, even if you’re busy doing something else, you won’t have to worry about coming back to lukewarm coffee. You can even bring your De’Longhi Alicia Moka Pot to your working table if you prefer to consume your cups of coffee in several bouts; its cool-touch base lets you place it on any surface without ever having to worry about burning your tabletop or the likes, and its 360-degree rotational base means you’ll have easy access to your needed coffee refills no matter where along your working table you may stray as you work.

Step 7: Keep Your Moka Pot Clean After Each Use

Like all machines, a little maintenance goes a long way if you want to keep everything running at maximum efficiency. The good news is that the De’Longhi Alicia is designed to be easy to care for. With the exception of the electrical components, most of the parts that make up the De’Longhi Alicia can be washed under the sink like your standard dinner plate. Just remember to only wash the Moka pot when it’s fully cooled to avoid any nasty burns. 

Be sure to also check periodically that your gasket isn’t showing signs of wear or deterioration. Not only will a faulty gasket ruin your coffee, but it may also break your Moka pot altogether. Also, be sure to check that the holes in the disk filters are not obscured. It’s a simple fix if you do find something – just use a toothpick or pin to clean the filter. And if you’d like to replace any of the parts, it’s always best to contact our authorised service centre and check your warranty policy to make good use of it. If you’ve done everything listed to care for your De’Longhi Alicia, you’ll be making great coffee for years to come.

The Moka Pot Makes Great Coffee Easily Accessible for All.

For most of Singapore, the Moka pot is a game-changer. Not only is it one way to enjoy premium coffee beans without having to operate a large espresso machine, but it also gives you a better sense of what your coffee beans truly taste like. 

On top of that, the De’Longhi Alicia makes it easier than ever to introduce luxurious coffee brews into your morning routine. With just a push of a button, you can get enough coffee to power up your day, and then some. So, if you like the caffeine buzz without being caffeine-busy, the Moka pot is the coffee machine soulmate for you. 

But of course, we haven’t forgotten about the other 999 coffee brewing methods. Everyone’s got their favourites, so if you feel that the Moka pot isn’t your thing, maybe it’s best you start your coffee journey with the De’Longhi Coffee Home Trial. You’ll get a monthly supply of café-grade coffee beans and your very own espresso machine sent to your home. You’ll also have full access to your very own personal live coffee expert who will guide you through the entire process.

The best part? If you have second thoughts at any point, you can simply let us know and we’ll send you a cash refund. No questions asked. The De’Longhi Coffee Home Trial is a risk-free way to get your foot into the wonderful world of coffee, so sign up today!