You can prepare coffee using one of several appliances - from an ordinary Turkish coffee machine to a large coffee machine. But not everyone likes the Turk because of the large amount of grounds, and the coffee machine is very bulky and expensive. A drip coffee maker is not much cheaper, and not everyone likes the drink prepared in it. For many coffee lovers, a geyser coffee maker can be an excellent solution, the operating principle of which we will consider in more detail.
What is a geyser coffee maker
A geyser-type coffee maker (moka) is a device that prepares rich coffee using hot steam. It has a relatively compact size and a simple operating principle. It began to be used in the first half of the 19th century. The process of creating the device was quite lengthy. Therefore, its authorship is attributed to different people. Some of them created the original version, others made it more perfect. The author of the idea was Louis-Bernard Babot, the Frenchman Jacques-Augustin Gandet, Samuel Parker from England, and the Italian Alfonso Bialetti worked on the design of the device.
The device got its name because the process of preparing a drink in it resembles the eruption of a geyser.
Geysernya coffee maker consists of 3 parts:
- Water containers located below. It usually has an octagonal shape
- Filter funnels into which ground coffee is poured
- A container in which a ready-to-drink drink is collected.
A rubber gasket is installed in the upper part of the device, at the point of contact between the two tanks. It does not allow the finished drink to leak into the lower part from the upper part. Inside the water container there is a stainless metal tube through which water rises from the bottom to the top during the preparation of a coffee drink.
The lower part of the coffee maker is made of aluminum, stainless steel or ceramic. The last option is the most effective in terms of design, but is also vulnerable to mechanical stress. The reservoir for ready-made coffee, in addition to aluminum and steel, can be made of glass or plastic. This allows you to visually control the process of preparing the drink.
What is a modern geyser coffee maker
The first examples of such coffee makers appeared in the 19th century. Initially, the apparatus included two vessels for water and coffee beans, connected to each other. Subsequently, the design was improved: a third compartment for the prepared drink was added. The Italian geyser coffee maker has proven itself exclusively on the positive side due to the taste of the drink produced.
Modern “geyser” for making coffee
The design of a geyser coffee maker resembles a standard kettle; its operating principle is to prepare a drink using water steam. The compactness of the device and its low cost are the main advantages of the “geyser”, and washing the filter elements of the coffee maker after preparing the drink is a disadvantage of the device.
Types of geyser coffee makers
Among such modern devices, two main types can be distinguished:
- Electric coffee maker – requires AC power to operate.
Electric geyser coffee maker - Gas-type coffee maker - to use it, you need a gas burner or other source of open fire (use on an induction cooker is also allowed).
The second type of product is perfect for making coffee at outdoor events (fishing, hiking, picnic, outdoor activities, etc.).
A device powered by the network will prepare a drink much faster than its gas counterpart, but its use is limited to rooms (home, office) equipped with electrical outlets.
Components of the device
The body of geyser coffee makers was originally made from aluminum alloys, but modern technologies make it possible to make coffee pots from ceramics and steel alloys that are protected from corrosion.
Design diagram of a coffee making machine
How does a household geyser coffee maker work?
The device consists of the following main components and parts:
- the lower (largest) container into which water is poured and where it is subsequently brought to a boil;
- the upper container intended for the finished coffee drink (it is in this part of the device that the main process of preparing coffee takes place under the influence of rising water vapor);
- between the containers there is a special funnel-shaped filter device (designed to clean ground coffee beans);
- another additional filter located at the bottom of a special tube connecting both containers (when the liquid boils, steam squeezes some of it into the upper container through this device, due to which the coffee drink is brewed).
All filter elements of coffee devices are the most vulnerable parts. They require cleaning after each brew, as well as periodic replacement with new parts. A dirty valve may cause the device to explode.
Disassembling the device for further cleaning and checking the filters
"Geysers" made of aluminum may cause a slight metallic taste in the drink. It is not recommended to completely clean such devices from residual coffee oils, which settle on the inner walls of the device and prevent this unpleasant moment.
Operating principle of a standard geyser-type coffee maker
When certain temperatures are reached, the water turns into a vapor state, which is the main condition for making coffee. The steam actively strives to the top and periodically bursts out from under the lid of the device, reminiscent of a real natural geyser.
The coffee drink prepared in this way differs in its taste from analogues prepared in the standard way using conventional brewing with boiling water, and has a richer taste and aroma.
Kinds
All geyser-type coffee makers can be divided into the following groups according to the heat source:
- Gas . Can be installed not only on a gas stove, but also on any open fire. You can make coffee in it over a fire or stove, which is heated with wood. It does not require connection to an outlet or electrical network.
- Electrical. The devices operate from the network. This allows you to quickly prepare coffee at home or in the office.
- For induction cookers . Coffee makers made of stainless steel or cast iron can be placed on an induction hob. To make sure. To ensure that it is suitable for such a stove, apply a magnet to the bottom. If it does not fall off, you can install it on an induction device.
Geyser coffee maker device
Structurally, a geyser-type coffee maker consists of three main parts:
- The upper reservoir is initially empty, the finished drink will be poured there;
- The middle part where a portion of ground coffee is placed;
- The lower container where water is poured.
The upper part is separated from the middle by a special filter, so that almost no grounds fall into the cup, unless the grinding was chosen too fine. But usually after the first brew you will realize something is wrong and will be able to grind your coffee more coarsely in the future.
Turkish coffee or oriental brewing grinds are not suitable for cooking in a geyser!
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of a geyser coffee maker:
- Simple design that does not require special skills or detailed instructions
- can be left on the stove while cooking, the coffee will not run away, as is the case with cezve
- Easy to prepare: water is poured to a certain volume, the powder is added so that it fills the filter
- The finished drink is not bitter and has a richer taste than the one prepared in a Turk. There's no thickness in it
- Compact size and cooking over an open fire allow you to take the coffee maker with you on a trip or hike.
- The drink does not burn due to the design features of the device
- The temperature of the prepared coffee does not decrease for a long time
- Takes up little space in the kitchen
- The aluminum and steel from which the moka is made are durable, so it will last a long time
- There are different models
- You can buy a device of the required volume, from one cup to 1 liter of drink
- The coffee maker is easy to care for
- Low price. Geyser is the most budget coffee maker.
Pros and cons of a geyser coffee maker
Geyser is a fairly popular type of home coffee maker. Its advantages include the following:
- Affordable price. A good model can be purchased for one and a half to two thousand, which cannot be said about other types of coffee makers.
- Convenience. When cooking, there is no need to constantly monitor the process, and closer to the end of cooking, the geyser will notify you of this with a kind of gurgling sound.
- Coffee quality. The drink turns out stronger and more concentrated, essentially being pure espresso, only in a larger volume, which depends on the size of the coffee maker. In addition, the resulting coffee does not contain coffee grounds.
But, of course, there are also a number of disadvantages, namely:
- Inability to control and change the strength and volume of the drink. Each model is designed for a strictly defined amount of ground coffee and water, for example, two or four cups of espresso, and to get a different final result you need to purchase a different model.
- Difficult to care for. Due to its design, the geyser is quite difficult to thoroughly clean. In addition, most often the material it is made of is aluminum, dishes from which cannot be washed in the dishwasher (or used on an induction hob). It is also necessary to periodically replace the filter and gasket, as their wear significantly affects the quality of coffee and the performance of the device.
- Difficulty in selecting grinding. It should be such that, on the one hand, it does not get stuck in the filter, and on the other hand, it must allow the taste and aroma of the drink to be fully revealed.
The operating principle of the geyser is based on steam pressure. The housing consists of two parts that are screwed tightly together.
Note! One serving of espresso is 30 ml.
To better understand how this coffee maker works, you can read reviews from those who use it. Thus, the following is most often noted:
- the best possible alternative to drinking good coffee at home;
- strong dependence on grinding;
- metallic taste in aluminum models;
- compactness and noiselessness;
- small drink output;
- intuitive use;
- strong heating of the lower part, which does not allow you to wash and cook several servings in a row at once.
If you are using an electric stove, on which, unlike a gas stove, it is more difficult to monitor the temperature, then it is advisable to choose the smallest burner and set the medium mode.
Note! The formation of a coffee film will allow you to get rid of the metallic taste, for which you should not wash the upper reservoir, but simply rinse it.
How to properly brew coffee in a geyser coffee maker
Before using the coffee maker for the first time, carefully read the instructions. Then unscrew the top of the device and remove the strainer-shaped filter. Purified water is poured into the lower reservoir, from which the drink will be prepared. Its quantity should not exceed the mark placed inside the container.
The upper and lower tanks are screwed to each other. A filter is installed between them, into which ground coffee is poured to the top. Its quantity should not be reduced if you are going to prepare less drink. The coffee is not compacted, only pressed lightly so that the surface is loose. This is necessary to make it easier for hot water to pass through the layer of powder. The edges of the filter are cleaned of powder.
Additional functions
At the bottom of the geyser-type coffee maker there is a valve that is activated in an emergency. Sometimes water is not able to pass through the powder layer. This can happen if very finely ground coffee is used. In this case, high steam pressure is created in the lower part, which can lead to undesirable consequences and cause burns to the owner. To prevent this from happening, steam is released through an emergency valve.
A geyser coffee maker can be used not only for making coffee. You can brew tea or medicinal herbs in it. They are placed in a strainer instead of coffee powder. The further process is similar to making coffee.
Modern geyser-type coffee makers are equipped with additional functions that make working with the device more comfortable:
- Timer
- Display
- Sound indicator
- The indicator light shows whether the device is connected to the network
- Automatic shutdown
- Protection against voltage surges will extend the life of the device
- The digital timer allows you to set the coffee preparation time. After the process is completed, the device will turn off itself.
- Reheating previously prepared coffee after unplugging
- A strength regulator is rare. It allows you to independently regulate the amount of ground coffee used
- Cappuccino maker for making foam.
Care
In order for your coffee maker to work as long as possible, you need to properly care for it:
- Before turning on the electrical appliance, check the tightness and correct assembly
- After cooking, the portions are allowed to cool, then unrolled, the used powder is removed, and the containers are washed with warm water.
- Clean the safety valve regularly to prevent the device from exploding if the pressure increases.
- After each preparation, check the condition of the filter and gasket.
- The filter is cleaned with dishwashing detergent or baking soda.
- The device must be cleaned manually only. It cannot be placed in the dishwasher
- After washing, wipe all parts with a clean soft cloth.
- When using a coffee maker on a gas stove, do not turn on the gas at full power.
Caring for a geyser coffee maker does not involve removing oily deposits from the walls of the container; it prevents the formation of an unpleasant aftertaste.
