Your moka pot has 2 reasons why it may taste burnt. If the moka has been left on a heat source after the water has finished brewing, you will have a burnt taste. The other reason is that you have old coffee residue inside the pot, this will make the moka pot smell burnt. Make sure to clean your moka pot after each use and do a deep clean once per week to ensure you get rich and flavorful coffee every time.
Moka pots are a fantastic and cheap option to make quality coffee. But you’ve had yours for a while now and noticed it’s not producing the same quality anymore. Your coffee tastes a bit burnt and the smell of the pot too. Don’t worry because I’m here to tell you all about this issue and how to fix it.
Let’s get started.
Contents
Why Your Moka Pot Tastes Burnt
The explanation for why your moka pot tastes burnt is quite simple. If the moka pot is left on a heat source after the water has finished brewing, you will have a burnt taste. Dry heat will cause burnt bean aromas to make their way into the upper chamber of the pot. Another reason that could be the cause is that you don’t clean your moka pot frequently. It’s best to clean your moka pot after every use.
My Coffee Tastes Burnt
A burnt coffee taste is caused by leaving your moka pot on the heat source when the brew has been completed already. This causes the bean to burn and send burnt aromas and flavors into the coffee.
Moka pot coffee has a shorter brew duration than other coffee-making methods since it’s recommended to start with boiling water in your moka pot on a heat source.
My Moka Pot Smells Burnt
If your moka pot smells burnt then you haven’t cleaned your moka pot properly in a while. The smell comes from burnt aromas and flavors on the uncleaned aluminum surfaces rather than from the beans. Aluminum can’t burn at the heat that is used for coffee so it’s due to old coffee residue that was not properly cleaned in the moka pot.
It’s recommended to clean your moka pot after every use. Give it a good rinse after each use and do a deep clean once per week where you disassemble the pot. I have a more in-depth explanation of how to clean your moka pot in this article later on.
How To Prevent Your Moka Pot From Tasting Burnt
A simple thing you can do to prevent your moka pot from tasting burnt in the future is to pour it immediately after brewing or by simply lowering the heat source during brewing. This will prevent the dry burning of the beans.
Pouring it Out of The Moka Pot Straight After Brewing
As you may know by now, the burnt coffee taste comes from the heat burning the beans after the brewing process is complete.
The best thing you can do is to remove the moka pot off the heat source as soon as the brew is complete. Simply pour it into your cup or a larger coffee pot. This will prevent your coffee from having any burnt flavors or smells.
A nice trick to know if this is the cause of the burnt taste is if your moka pot sputters or hisses. This is a good indication that you’re leaving the moka pot for too long on the heat source after the brew has been completed.
Lower Your Heat Source Temperature
A moka pot is fast at brewing coffee since you’re starting with boiled water on a hot heat source. Unfortunately, this increases the chance of your forgetting about the pot altogether in time.
It’s recommended to start your heat source at 75% and then reducing the heat towards the end of your brew. This ensures that you don’t forget about it but it also produces a more pleasant tasting brew and reduces the chance of burnt flavors making their way into the coffee.
How To Prevent Your Moka Pot From Burning
A burnt-smelling moka pot is likely caused by a build up of old coffee beans that haven’t been properly cleaned out of your moka pot. Let’s have a look at how we can fix that.
Take it Off The Heat Source After Brewing
Again, taking it off the heat immediately after brewing will prevent any excess build up of coffee grime. The longer an empty moka pot sits on the heat, the more likely that coffee will burn and stick to the surfaces of your moka pot.
Pour Cold Water Over The Bottom Chamber After Use
When the brew is complete and you’ve poured it into your cup, then it’s best to place your moka pot under cold water, especially the bottom part. This will cool down the pot and prevents coffee grounds from burning inside.
Cleaning Your (Burnt) Moka Pot
A clean moka pot means excellent coffee. This is why it’s important to clean your pot after every use and do a deep clean once per week.
Luckily deep cleaning your moka pot is an easy process. Remember to NEVER use soaps/detergents or put them in the dishwasher as this will damage the pot over time and give you an unpleasant coffee taste. You can find more information on that in another article I wrote about moka pots and dishwashers.
Basic Cleaning Your Moka Pot After Each Use
After you’ve used your moka pot, it’s time to clean it.
- Rinse the moka put under hot running water.
- After it has cooled down, disassemble it by removing the funnel.
- Rinse each component of the pot thoroughly.
- Use a clean cloth to dry the moka pot parts.
- Reassemble the parts back together once they are completely dry.
Deep Cleaning Your Moka Pot Once Per Week
Besides the basic activity, it’s important to do a deeper clean once a week. This ensures that the moka pot is always in its full glory and always functions at its best.
Cleaning The Filter Plate of The Moka Pot
It’s recommended to check every now and then that the filter’s holes are free of any obstructions. If they are clogged, they can be cleaned using a toothbrush with delicate bristles. A needle works well too.
Cleaning The Bottom Chamber of The Moka Pot
Fill your boiler with water. Add 2 teaspoons of citric acid or vinegar. Reassemble the moka pot and, without adding any coffee powder, brew. Discard the abstained solution. Wash the moka pot with running water and proceed with the preparation of the coffee.
Cleaning of The Gasket
For effective cleaning of the gasket, simply remove it from the moka pot and wipe its entire surface with a cloth soaked in water.
The Bottom Line
Your moka pot tastes burnt because you either leave it too long on the heat or you have old coffee residue in it by not cleaning your moka pot properly. It’s important to do a basic clean of your moka pot after each use and a deep clean once a week. This ensures a rich and flavorful cup every time.
