Where to Place Filter Paper in a Moka Pot? Is Sediment Normal in Moka Pot Coffee? What to Do If There's Insufficient Pressure? Is Filter Paper Necessary for Moka Pots?

To be frank, FrontStreet Coffee believes that coffee filters can truly be considered one of the most versatile tools. This is because not only pour-over coffee, but also iced drip coffee, cold brew coffee, espresso, and even some friends use them when making coffee with a moka pot!

At this point, some friends might have questions. They can understand the first few examples. But why does a moka pot also need filter paper? What purpose does adding filter paper serve?

The Purpose of Using Filter Paper in Moka Pots

Actually, the purpose of adding filter paper is nothing more than two things: filtering out coffee grounds and allowing water to extract more evenly. The same is true for using filter paper in moka pots! However, just like with espresso machines, the effect of the filter paper changes depending on its position.

When Filter Paper is Placed at the Bottom of the Filter Basket:

Because the hot water in a moka pot is pushed upward by steam to achieve extraction, when filter paper is placed at the bottom of the filter basket, it can further disperse the hot water, making the extraction more even. However, FrontStreet Coffee's actual tests show that this effect brought by the filter paper isn't significantly noticeable.

Compared to making extraction more even, FrontStreet Coffee actually prefers another effect—it makes it easier to knock out the coffee grounds and cleaning becomes much more convenient!

Because the water outlet holes at the bottom of the moka pot filter basket are relatively large, coffee grounds often get stuck in these holes after making moka pot coffee, making cleaning very troublesome. When we place filter paper at the bottom of the moka pot, the amount of coffee grounds getting stuck in the holes is significantly reduced, making cleaning more convenient. But whether it's necessary to specifically add filter paper just to reduce cleaning... that's entirely a matter of personal preference~

When Filter Paper is Placed on Top of the Coffee Puck:

Friends who frequently make moka pot coffee might have observed that the brewed coffee liquid often contains a small amount of coffee grounds. Similarly, this is also a result of the larger filter holes. When we place filter paper on top of the coffee grounds, it can effectively reduce the presence of coffee grounds in the coffee liquid. Because the filter paper has stronger filtering capabilities, it can effectively prevent coffee grounds from overflowing, making the coffee taste cleaner.

In addition, adding filter paper can slightly increase the pressure during extraction. Because the channel for coffee liquid to pass through becomes smaller, greater pressure is needed to break through, which can directly lead to an increase in coffee extraction pressure. Although the increase in value isn't much, when our coffee grounds aren't ground fine enough, or when we don't use much coffee, this might not be a bad method to increase the extraction rate.

Conclusion

In summary, everyone can now understand that filter paper can also play a role in making moka pot coffee. When placed at the bottom, it can disperse water flow, making extraction more even while making cleaning easier; when placed on top of the coffee grounds, it can reduce impurities in the coffee, making the taste cleaner and providing a small boost to extraction pressure. However, regardless of which effect, the impact on the coffee won't be too significant. So whether to use filter paper for these small improvements entirely depends on personal preference~

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473