Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder USB-C

I posted about my Bialetti Moka Pot a few weeks ago. I realised when I puchased the Moka Pot that I need a grinder for the coffee beans. I learned that the coffee powder cannot be too fine as it will go through the perforated holes in the funnel tank of the Moka Pot.

I bought this Electric Stainless Steel USB coffee bean grinder online.

The reasons I got this are
- it is ultra portable as it uses Li-Ion battery via a USB-C port.
- the charging is very fast and there is a light indicator from red to green which indicates that it is charged.
- it has 4 level of grind, as you can see from the picture. Near the bottom of the grinder, there are dots indicating the grind size. You twist the indicator below the dots to select the grind size. 

- it is stainless steel, which goes well with most kitcher decor. It exudes a professional feel and the weight of the item is not that heavy.

- the coffee beans go through the top and the grinded coffee comes out below. The container below can be removed to take out the coffee powder.

Just 2 removable parts, the cover to put in the beans
and the container below it for the grinded coffee.

The USB-C port for charging the grinder and the 
small bulb above it to indicate the status.

The only disadvantage I have is, I am not able to clean the inside part of the grinder. The whole body is fixed and I have to get a brush to remove the old coffee in the grinder chamber. 
Is it suppose to be that way?

Do you have a manual grinder?
How do you clean it?

Bialetti Moka Express Pot

I did a family trip to Italy in Dec 2022. One of the things that the wife and I really enjoy is the espresso over there. I have had espresso before but the ones in Italy opened my eyes and my tastebuds. Italians really make a very good espresso.

When I got back home, I decided to get a Bialetti Moka Express. This is the original coffee maker made in Italy. According to their official website, its unique shape dates back to 1933. 

It has a unique shape that has not change much since it was created in 1933.

There are 3 parts to the Moka pot. From left, the water chamber, the filter and
the coffee pot.

Water is filled up to the pressure valve. Hot water preferred as the duration
of the coffee preparation is shorter.

Ground coffee is place in the filter. The coffee cannot be too fine as it will 
enter the holes of the filter.

Place on the stove with a slow heat, which I prefer. Once it is ready, coffee will
start coming out from the spout.

With a low heat, coffee will slowly pour out from the spout.

There are several things I learned from making coffee on the Moka pot
- the coffee beans, and how fresh it is makes a taste difference.
- the grinding of the beans cannot be too fine as it will clog the filter. A suitable grinder is very important.
- the Moka Pot cannot be washed with dishwashing detergent, just water. When the coffee is made, there will be coffee oil generated. The coffee oil protects the Moka pot, ensure its lasting usage and flavour. Using dishwashing detergent will remove this oil. That is why, you will see household Moka pot heavily stained. It is done on purpose.
- the minute it starts gurgling out, it has to be removed from the stove to prevent the coffee from having a 'burnt' taste. 
- the heat for the Moka pot cannot be too strong as the coffee will have a burnt smell. The coffee will also spurt out from the spout
- the minute the gurgling is heard and coffee starts coming out from the spout, remove the Moka Pot and serve. That is the best coffee.

Do note that the Moka pot does not produce espresso-type coffee due to the pressure difference. The moka pot does not produce the crema. That is only obtained from an espresso machine where it will push the water at 6-8 bar pressure. The moka pot only pushes the water at 2 bar pressure. But even then, the taste is really wonderful. 

I do not have space for an espresso machine in my kitchen. But for the moment, the Bialetti Moka pot is a very good replacement. I really enjoy the coffee it produced. 

Belissimo!