I felt just like the shopper in the famous Ikea TV commercial when I received my new Grosche Milano Stone moka pot, primarily because I purchased it on an amazing sale and it is so beautiful! I love the robin's egg blue colour and the stone enameled finish is so worth the additional cost, both to protect the aluminium surface and look great in the kitchen.
My previous moka pot was a generic unbranded stainless steel pot which made 9 cups. My experience with the stainless pot was not great. It had many sharp edges which resulted in cutting my hands on more than one occasion trying to wash it. It didn't make enough espresso for my needs and the stainless pot took forever to come to a boil on the stove.
Thus far, the Milano Stone pot has proven to make excellent espresso. My first impressions are that aluminium allows the pot to come to a boil much sooner than stainless steel, the valve and boiler are much more quiet than in my previous pot, and the finishes are next level beautiful for a moka pot. There was a bit of a learning curve to get the brew just right. I'll share my suggestions for brewing to ensure a smooth operation:
1) Only fill WATER to just BELOW THE VALVE. Never fill water to above the valve, or you are guaranteed to have a leak during brewing.
2) Only fill the COFFEE FILTER to about 3/4 FULL. Completely pack the filter with coffee and water flow will be impeded, resulting in a small volume of concentrated espresso and water remaining in the lower chamber.
3) Be sure to INSERT SILICONE GASKET CORRECTLY. Wash silicone gasket and filter with soapy water after each use. There seems to be a right and wrong side for the silicone gasket. One side is smooth and the other side has a slightly grooved texture. The side with the grooved texture should face up (towards you) when inserting, and seat around the filter so that the filter protrudes slightly above the gasket.
4) Use the FINEST ESPRESSO SETTING on your GRINDER (fine powder).
5) TIGHTEN WELL when screwing upper chamber to lower chamber. Tighten until upper chamber has no more give. This is important to ensure a proper seal so that no pressure is lost in the brewing process and to prevent any leaking during brew.
6) DO NOT OPEN UPPER CHAMBER LID DURING OR FOLLOWING BREWING. Opening the upper chamber lid during or after brewing will most certainly result in water leaking onto your stove and or counter. This is because steam builds during the brew and the lid design keeps it contained unless you decide to open the lid, in which case the condensation will run down the sides of the pot.
7) YOU'LL KNOW BREWING IS DONE WHEN YOU HEAR THE GURGLE AND SEE THE STEAM. When you hear a gurgling sound and start to see steam coming from the spout, immediately remove the pot from the stove burner and let stand for a few minutes before pouring.
8) HAND WASH AND DRY after each use. Dry the pot and accessories immediately after washing by hand with soapy water. Drying the pot and accessories immediately after washing protects the exposed aluminum parts from oxidation.
I want to also mention that it feels good to support a Canadian company that also has a mission to supply clean drinking water to those in need. Good job Grosche! I think this pot will last a lifetime if cared for properly.
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