Using a Stovetop Expresso Maker

The stovetop espresso maker, also known as "macchinetta", is still the most popular way of making espresso at home.

It works by creating pressure through heat to force water through finely ground coffee and into a serving chamber.

How much is 1 cup? A traditional espresso is about 1.5 ounces. A 6-cup espresso maker would thus make approximately 9 oz. of that delicious liquid. Though espresso cups may hold 3 to 4 oz., it is customary to only partly fill the cup.

macchinettaBecome familiar with the parts of your macchinetta. Take it apart and examine how each part fits in place before you wash and use it the first time.

To maintain the macchinetta in good condition, wash all the parts with hot sudsy water, and rinse thoroughly. Before first use, and regularly (though not necessarily every time), also remove and wash the rubber gasket and round flat filter plate. Use a dull knife point, or small screwdriver, to remove the gasket, and to get to the filter plate. When the gasket dries or cracks, replace it. A telltale sign of a needed replacement gasket will be that some steam will begin to escape from the screw threads between the top and bottom pieces of your macchinetta.

Occasionally scour the inside of the macchinetta to remove mineral deposits. Or soak with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water, then rinse thoroughly.

Gaskets are likely to last at least a year if they are cleaned on a regular basis. Keep a note of the name of the manufacturer of the espresso maker, its model name and size; this will help in obtaining replacement gaskets. If you can't find a replacement, get a sheet of rubber in a similar thickness (from your local hardware or plumbing supply store), and use the old gasket to cut out a template on the sheet of rubber.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• espresso
• coffee
• instruction
• howto
• steam
• cafeteras
• macchinetta
• moka
• pot
• drink

[giantgreenmonkeyface]

Thanks, really usefull. just got an expresso maker and I needed to know how to use it. :)

[piraibaband]

This was very helpful. Got one for Xmas with no box or instructions! Thanks