Last updated : February 2021.
So, you have finally realized that you have been spending vast amounts of your hard earned cash buying your fresh brew from your favourite coffee shop (hence, helping the rich get richer whilst you struggle endlessly to ends meet) and have finally decided to join the MARVELLOUS of making your own fresh brew at home by purchasing a Bialetti coffee machine.
Good for you! Making this decision is definitely worth it as it will not only make the process of accessing a great cup of Java much easier than before (remember queuing in line?) but also eliminate most of the coffee-related expenditures that have seriously put a dent in your monthly budget.
However, it is worth noting that as far as saving money goes, making the choice to purchase your Bialetti coffee machine is only the first step. The second involves proper unit maintenance (duh!). If you consider the fact that improper (or lack thereof) unit maintenance will eventually lead to your unit’s untimely demise and force you to either go back to buying fresh brews or buy another unit to replace the one you already have, learning how to properly care for, as well as the various do’s and don’ts relating to the unit’s use, is VITAL.
Since most of us rarely take the time (or simply don’t have the time) to read the fine print that is typical of most user manuals today, in this article, I will provide experiential advice relating to how to “cure” your unit to rid it of its newness and in order to ensure that your unit brews great-tasting coffee each time. I will also give you advice on how to properly care for and maintain your Bialetti coffee maker in a way that will keep in in tip top condition for a lengthy period of time.
“Curing” Your New or Over-Clean Bialetti Coffee Machine
Contents
Most times, a new or extremely clean Bialetti unit needs to be “cured” to rid its interior of the fresh aluminum coating. Any time a new unit is used to make a fresh brew, the end result tends to taste bad (in fact, the brew actually has a metallic taste to it) because the unit’s interior does not have a “seasoning” coating of the essential coffee oils that work to make a brew taste richer and give it a more flavorful aroma.
In order to cure your unit, you will first have to rinse out all of the unit’s components with hot water (this procedure is mainly applicable for those who have new/ never used before Bialetti units).
Next, put aside your preferred coffee grinds aside and purchase a much cheaper pack. Use these cheaper coffee grinds to make brews several times (you will most probably have to dump the resulting brew down the drain since it will have the metallic taste I have already mentioned PLUS, cheap grinds also make ghastly cups of Joe). Essentially, what you are doing is coating the unit’s interior with the essential coffee oils that prevent the fresh brew from coming into direct contact with the metal that makes it taste funny.
Of course, the main reason why I advise that you purchase a cheaper brand of coffee grinds is to save on costs. If you are worried that this will be an unnecessary purchase, rest assured that at some point in time, you will have to thoroughly clean out the unit and be forced to repeat the same curing procedure. All in all, there will be no wastage, and no additional expenses required.
How to Clean Your Bialetti Coffee Machine
After your unit has completed its brewing process, it is important that you rinse it out with clean water in order to remove any used coffee grounds. This should be done each time you use the unit.
An additional note to remember is that the interior of aluminum Moka pots suffer from corrosion (this is typical of units made out of aluminum such as the Bialetti coffee machine and not those made out of stainless steel) when they are left to sit whilst still containing water.
Brews made with units in this condition taste ghastly so be sure to NEVER leave any water in the unit after rinsing it out. If you notice that your unit’s interior surface has turned white, it’s most likely suffering from this condition and requires a good scrubbing and curing process to replenish any lost “seasoning”.
To clean the unit, take it apart and wash each component using warm soapy water and a sponge. Be careful not to scrub as this only works to remove the natural coffee oils that we have discussed above. After each rinse or cleaning, wipe the unit’s interior dry using a clean cloth after cleaning to prevent corrosion spots.
N.B. Please, please do not use the unit’s handle while unscrewing the top and bottom chambers apart as this can EASILY cause the handle to break.
How to Deal with Lime scale Deposits
For those who live in areas where hard water is the norm, you will probably encounter the problem of lime scale deposits (typically forms inside the unit’s bottom water chamber). Lime scale deposits tend to be the most common cause of permanent damage and should be prevented at all costs by following the following de-scaling procedure:
Step 1 – Fill up the unit’s lower chamber with clean water (should be filled up to the unit’s safety valve)
Step 2 – Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and vinegar (an alternative to these two ingredients is citric acid)
Step 3 – Without adding any coffee grinds to the unit’s funnel shaped filter, assemble the unit as usual and allow the contained solution to heat up into the unit’s top storage chamber (do not let it over boil)
Step 4 – Take the unit apart and dispose of the heated solution. Rinse it out the unit thoroughly under running water
Step 5 – Pour in clean water into the unit and reassemble the unit without placing any grinds in its filter basket and heat. Allow the heating water to rise up into the top storage compartment and pour out the heated water once the brewing process is complete.
This final step is important because it removes any remnants of the acidic solution (lemon juice and vinegar/ citric acid) and ensures that the next brew the unit makes will taste fantastic!
Additional Maintenance Recommendations
– There is a rubber gasket (looks like an O-ring) located in the unit’s interior that requires regular replacing so keep an eye on it and look for visible signs of deterioration.
– Do not take too long to replace this part once you have noticed that it is deteriorating as you will have a harder time removing it.
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