Do you know any Italian family without moka coffee-maker at home? The most famous old fashion style pot in Italy.

The moka coffee-maker is more than a traditional object. It allows us to prepare cups of pure pleasure. A tiny caffè that talks about childhood and places of the heart.  The iconic coffee-maker, the Moka as we commonly call it. It evokes rituality and sociality gestures connected to our history. It works with a simple boiler full of water, a filter with coffee powder, lined by a screw system. Put the machine on fire and after a few minutes, Nonna shouts: È pronto il caffè (Coffee is ready).  Coffee powder for the moka is available at the supermarket, as well as modern pods. However, unlike the latter, it can be bought fresh in roasting houses.

The Roasting house is a mystical place.

The scent of freshly roasted coffee pervades the environment, the roaster machine shows proudly its age. Green coffee beans are roasted in this traditional workshop, crackling, and releasing wonderful scents. As in all fields, coffee also has its admirers, or boasted experts who, sometimes, turn themselves into real supporters. Obsessed with quality and single origin, willing to spend hundreds of Euros for a Kopi Luwak coffee package. The extreme ones will certainly roast the grains personally, but in general, most of the enthusiasts will go to the roasting house.

A fascinating profession.

The Italian artisan coffee roasters also supply the bars. Differently from a few decades ago, they are increasingly found in the suburbs. This is due to the difficulties related to the installation of machinery and the control of fumes in central or historical areas. When in Rome it is possible to visit two shops in the heart of the historic centre: Torrefazione Tazza d’oro and Sant’Eustachio. The latter, however, no longer carries out the roasting operation inside the historic building where it resides. Both are, for all the roman citizens places of the hearth, always crowded. There are others, at least one in each neighbourhood. While in the near village of Ciampino, there is an excellent artisan roaster: Rinaldi. There is nothing more beautiful than buying a package of freshly roasted coffee, which releases sweet and evocative aromas.

The coffee for the macchinetta is different.

The coffee powder for the moka must have brew and grated to allow the coffee-maker to extract all the flavour. Moka machines, to clarify, extrat coffee using a lower pressure than in the espresso bar machine or in the home machine. Therefore special roasting and graining is necessary. In conclusion, when we buy coffee for this system, better to specify it to the seller.

What do we know about this famous coffee machine?

Firstly,  it is an Italian patent. Recorded in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti. This simple coffee machine had an extraordinary success, quickly replacing the well-known Neapolitan coffee maker. While the Neapolitan coffee-maker worked with a gravity system, the Bialetti moka used pressure. Thanks to this system he was able to extract more flavour and essential oils from the powder. The coffee was richer and creamier. The industrial design of the  Modulo Bialetti soon became one of the most famous design projects in the world. The Moka is present, in fact, in the permanent design exhibitions at the Milan Triennale and at the MoMA in New York. The name of the pot seems to have been inspired by that of a Yemeni city: Mokha. As is well known, Yemen is one of the original countries of the Arabica variety, one of the finest coffee varieties in the world.

An ingenious invention.

It seems that the basis of the idea of ​​using pressure to bring the water back through the filter took place at home. Right in the house of Professor Bialetti, from the observation of his wife washing machine. The cute coffee-maker has been produced in millions of copies and different materials and shapes, not only by the Bialetti company. Over the years, many other companies have therefore wanted to compete in the creation of real works of design art.

From domestic accessory into a cult object.

Certainly, the wonderful 9090 moka designed by Richard Sapper in the 1970s should be mentioned. This marvel boasts the honour of making a fine show of itself at the MoMA in New York. Next to its progenitor, the Bialetti’s one. In the 1980s followed by the model called la Conica by Aldo Rossi. Rossi, about ten years later, signed the coffee maker called la Cupola for Alessi too. Many designers have tried their hand at creating different designs, such as Carlo Giannini, Mario Trimarchi. As well as the amazing designers David Chipperfield, Michele de Lucchi, Alessandro Mendini and many others . s you can imagine, a real collector’s market was born around coffee-makers. In short, beautiful, and practical, they remain an essential object to collect. Or better to use it daily.

Did you know? Since 2013 Gourmetaly is guiding thousends of foodies in the world of italian coffee tradition. When in Rome do not miss to join us on the Espresso tour in Rome city. Book today