bialetti moka safety valve manufacturer

The devil is in the details. It is often the smallest things, the particularities, that make all the difference. This is also the case in regards to the preparation of a good coffee, a ritual in which all the steps and every single component play a fundamental role. Among all, one of the most important elements is the Moka valve. Often ignored, it is vital not only for the quality of the coffee, but also for the safety of those who prepare it.

The valve was born with the invention of the Moka Express in 1933. It is a safety valve positioned on the bottom chamber. To better understand the importance of the valve and its use, we need to take a step back and illustrate step by step

This is where the valve of the Moka comes into play. It must open when the pressure is too high. By doing so, it allows the steam to escape regularly, without causing any damage. In short, the Moka’s safety valve provides security. Hence, it should only intervene when the coffee maker is used under abnormal operating conditions.

A long-standing and debated question: how far can you fill the bottom chamber for a state-of-the-art coffee? The Moka valve can come in handy to answer this dilemma. Another important role of the valve is that it acts as a "measuring cup". Its position on the bottom chamber is not accidental. Rather, it indicates to those who prepare the coffee the correct amount of water to use. The only exception is for some special coffee pots that are already equipped with a measuring cup. Ideally the water should reach just below the safety valve.

The Moka valve, therefore, is not a decoration or a mere design element. Rather, it is a very important component for the correct functioning of the coffee maker. It guarantees safety and plays a part in the making of an excellent coffee.

Consequently, it is necessary to keep it clean and maintain it regularly. For example, using tap water to make coffee brings with it the risk of limescale deposits obstructing the hole in the valve. The resulting danger is that it could get clogged.

We have seen that one can simply use hot water to clean the Moka valve. To avoid limescale obstructions, simply move the piston that comes out of the valve along its axis when washing it. To ensure the Moka functions correctly, it is recommended to repeat this checkup periodically.

How to prepare coffee: fill the boiler up to the safety valve with water, insert the funnel tank and add the ground coffee for moka without pressing; close the moka pot and place it on the hob. Wait for coffee to gurgle as it rises to the collector (upper chamber), turn off the gas and, finally, enjoy your delicious coffee!

A size for every need: Bialetti Venus sizes are measured in espresso cups; coffee can be enjoyed in espresso cups or larger cups, according to your needs. This is why Bialetti Venus is available in different sizes (2 (no induction), 4, 6 and 10 cups). Number of ml per format: 85 ml - 170 ml - 235 ml - 460 ml

Exploding coffee makers—especially when they’re pressurized—tend to be day-ruiners. Yeah, cleaning isn’t that fun, but trust me…. it’s necessary, especially when it comes to moka pots. Safety and cleaning are actually interconnected with this brewer.

In this quick guide, I’ll show you how you can keep your moka pot in tip-top shapeandhow to stay safe so you never have to worry about a surprise kitchen explosion. Don’t worry—it’s all actually pretty simple.

Moka pots don’t just immerse coffee grounds in water. They create a ton of pressure that generates steam—and this pressure can be troublesome if your brewer’s not in good shape.

Now, moka pots do have asafety valvethat’s designed to keep too much pressure from building up in the device. Once more pressure than is necessary is generated, it starts to shoot out of the valve in the form of steam.

The valve is clogged with coffee grounds. If grounds happen to fall into the valve, they’re probably going to get stuck there. Over time, this can cause blockage in the valve and compromise its safety.

The valve is clogged with water gunk. If your local water source is ‘hard’ (has a high level of calcium and magnesium), you’re bound to see white gunk build up inside your moka pot over time. This gunk can be pretty stubborn and can clog the safety valve.

You tamped the grounds. Moka pots, unlike espresso machines, do not require you to tamp the grounds to get a balanced extraction. Tamping the grounds down into the filter basket can cause excess pressure to be generated. Just don’t tamp—you don’t need to.

You covered the safety valve with water. Over-adding water can cover the safety valve, which keeps it from being able to let out steam. Always leave a small amount of space between the water level and the safety valve.

Thankfully, cleaning your moka pot is a very simple process. It only takes a few minutes of your time, but it keeps your moka pot from destroying your kitchen—or worse—destroying your coffee’s flavor.

Over time, coffee oils and micro-grounds build up all over the insides of the moka pot. These are harmless when it comes to your health (unless those grounds are in the safety valve), but they do impact your brew’s flavor. Those old oils can go rancid and the grounds continually impart bitter flavors into later brews.

Once your moka pot cools, disassemble it and remove the filter basket. Toss the spent grounds into the garbage and thoroughly rinse and dry the filter basket. Now give the other pieces a good rinse and dry too. You can use a paper towel to wipe away and stubborn grounds from the basket or seal.

Don’t put the moka pot in the dishwasher. Don’t scrub the moka pot with an abrasive material. There’s a coating on aluminum moka pots that keeps your coffee from taking on a metallic taste, and you don’t want to accidentally scrub that off.

This basic process is really the key to a clean moka pot, but may not be enough if your water source is pretty hard. If it is, you’re going to want to give your moka pot a deeper clean twice a year or so if you use it regularly.

These two acids are strong enough to break down hardened calcium deposits but are generally considered safe for use with moka pots, both stainless steel and aluminum models. You can also use a dedicated coffee machine descaler, but chances are you already have these two acids available.

Add lots of water. Fill the lower chamber, cover the safety valve, and keep adding until the water line hits the coffee filter basket (that way the oils can be cleaned from there at the same time).

Pour out some of the water. Make sure the safety valve is no longer covered—you’re about to do a plain water brew cycle and want the valve to work if needed.

While the process takes a few hours overall, there’s really only 5-10 minutes of hands-on cleaning—and it goes a long way. Now your brew will be untainted by old grounds, your moka pot won’t have a faulty valve, and you can brew will complete confidence.

The Bialetti Brikka Stovetop Coffee Maker is an aluminum Moka Pot that utilizes an innovative "Brikka-System" system to consistently deliver delicious, rich stovetop coffee with a wonderful aroma. Bialetti’s patented dual safety valve ensures perfect froth every time by regulating the pressure of water flowing through grounds for a richer-tasting coffee.

Been using my Vigano stovetop coffee pot on an electric stove for about 6 years. When I first got it I meticulously filled it to just below the safety valve yet was still scared to death of the thing blowing up if I left it too long on the hot ring. Immediately it began to glub and blub Id take it from the hot ring and stand back until it became quiescent.

That was then! I gradually discovered that as long as one does not too strenuously tamp the coffee in the basket (an unnecessary step in any case), filling the base to above the valve and leaving the pot on a low, low setting after it has "perked", is perfectly safe and gives me several cups of HOT coffee instead of one hot and the rest increasingly cooler.

Before you start, fill your kettle with drinking water and bring it to the boil. Using hot water in a Moka pot avoids giving the coffee a metallic taste, which is often the result of boiling cool water in the Moka pot and “cooking” the coffee.

The first step in preparing coffee in a Moka pot is weighing and grinding your coffee beans. For a four-cup Bialetti Moka pot, you’ll need 15 to 17 grams of coffee, ground to the same fineness as you would require for an espresso machine.

Weigh and grind your coffee, then set it aside for a moment. Once your kettle comes to the boil, pour the boiling water into the bottom of the Moka pot, making sure you fill the pot to just below the safety valve.

Insert the metal filter into the bottom section of the Moka pot. It should sit on top of the bottom piece of the Moka pot. Gently pour your ground coffee into the filter and evenly distribute it using your finger so that the top of the ground coffee is flat.

Once you’ve spread the coffee throughout the filter, screw on the top section of the Moka pot. The hot water will have made the bottom section quite hot to the touch, so you may want to wear an oven glove or use a dishtowel for a safer grip.

After you’ve assembled the pot, put it on the stove with the lid closed and bring it to a medium heat. As the hot water in the bottom section of the pot starts to boil, the pressure will force it through the coffee and into the top section of the Moka pot.

The coffee should gradually start to flow into the top section. If it comes through too quickly and spills out of the Moka pot’s spout, the heat is too high. If it barely comes through at all, you’ll need to turn up the heat.

Give the coffee a moment or two to cool down, and then pour it into your favourite coffee mug and enjoy. If you’re using a gas stove, check that the handle of the Moka pot has cooled before you pour it, as it can occasionally pick up heat from the flame.

Moka Express is the most classic model made by Bialetti, the world"s leading manufacturer of coffee makers. This is the coffee pot that made the Italian manufacturer famous in 1930s. To this day it is the most popular moka model in the world, as more than 200 million pots have been produced so far.

HOW DOES MOKA POT WORK? The coffee maker consists of a top sealed chamber, a filter and a bottom chamber. Put ground coffee beans in the filter, pour water into the bottom chamber below the safety valve level and connect all the elements. Put the coffee pot on the stove and wait a few minutes. Hot water moves to the top chamber, flowing through the ground beans. Your delicious and aromatic espresso is ready!

This cast aluminum coffee pot has a classic design that has remained unchanged for decades and will add a touch of originality to any kitchen. The black plastic knob and handle provide a comfortable grip for handling and serving the coffee once it is ready. The Moka Express is made in Italy and can be used on gas or electric hobs. Simply place the pot on the hob, making sure that the handle is out of reach of the heat.

The Moka Express works by using a top sealed tank, a filter, and a bottom tank. Simply add ground coffee beans to the filter, pour water into the bottom tank below the safety valve level, and connect all the elements. Place the coffee pot on the stove and wait a few minutes. The hot water will move to the top tank and flow through the ground beans to create a delicious and aromatic espresso.

The original Moka coffee pot: Moka Express is the original stovetop espresso maker, it provides the experience of the real Italian way of preparing a tasteful coffee, its unique shape and the inimitable gentleman with mustache date back to 1933, when Alfonso Bialetti invented it.

Made in Italy with an ergonomic handle and a patented safety valve which makes it easy to clean. Available in many sizes and suitable for gas, electric and induction (with the Bialetti induction adapter plate)

How to prepare the coffee: fill the boiler up to the safety valve, fill it up with ground coffee without pressing, close the Moka pot and place it on the stovetop, as soon as Moka Express starts to gurgle, turn the fire off and coffee will be ready

Cleaning instructions: The Bialetti Moka Express must only be rinsed with clean water after use, with no detergents, the product is not to be washed with a dishwasher as it will be irremediably damaged and the taste of coffee altered